Your Pakistan. Your Journey.
What this journey costs
Rs 86,500 to Rs 113,000
- Toyota Fortuner, four-wheel-drive diesel
- Rs 86,500
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Rs 113,000
Published fares for this route, by vehicle. Your exact pick-up and drop-off set the fixed all-in fare, which you see before you pay. Check that passengers and luggage fit the vehicle; a change to the route, time, stops or vehicle after booking needs an agreed revised fare before travel.
There are two ways to reach Skardu and they fail in opposite directions. The flight takes forty-five to fifty-five minutes and is cancelled often. Road travel also depends on weather, closures and current route conditions. Most people who end up hiring a car with a driver for Skardu do so because the aircraft did not go.
The route from Islamabad or Rawalpindi is 635 to 650 km: the E-35, also designated M-15, Hazara Motorway, then the N-35 Karakoram Highway as far as Jaglot, then east on the S-1 Skardu Road for the final 167 km. Sources disagree about the total time, giving anything from twelve to twenty hours. The honest answer is twelve to sixteen in good conditions, longer in bad, and most drivers split it over two days.
The Skardu Road is not what it was
The Gilgit to Skardu section used to be the worst part of the journey and took around ten hours. It was widened from 3.6 to 7.3 metres at a cost of about Rs 31 billion and inaugurated on 16 December 2021, and the same run is now roughly four hours. That single project is why a road trip to Skardu is a reasonable proposition rather than an ordeal.
It is worth knowing the caveat that came with it: the project omitted certain safety features, and landslide closures on the S-1 remain possible. Faster is not the same as guaranteed, and an itinerary into Baltistan should carry a spare day whichever way you arrive.
What the travel advice says about this road
One section of the route carries a formal advisory and it belongs on this page rather than in the small print. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, naming Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin. That is precisely the stretch this drive uses between the Hazara Motorway and Chilas. Checked against gov.uk on 3 September 2026.
Gilgit-Baltistan itself is not restricted. Skardu does not appear on the FCDO list of places it advises against travelling to, and neither does Baltistan. The advice concerns one length of highway, not the destination. That distinction gets lost when people read a headline and cancel a trip they could reasonably have taken.
In summer there is a way round it. Leaving the KKH at Mansehra for the N-15 through Balakot and Naran, over the Babusar Pass and back onto the KKH at Chilas, avoids the named section altogether. Babusar sits above 13,000 feet, opened on 25 May for the 2026 season and closes again each winter. Outside that window there is no route to Skardu that avoids the stretch the FCDO names.
What this means in practice depends on your passport. It is not a legal bar, and for Pakistani nationals and residents this is an ordinary domestic road driven every day. If you hold a foreign passport the consequence that actually bites is insurance: travel against FCDO advice could invalidate your travel insurance. That is worth settling with your insurer before you book rather than after. We will tell you which road your dates allow, and if we would not run the journey we will say so rather than take the booking.
Why the flight fails
Skardu is a visual-flight-rules airport. There is no instrument landing system, the terrain makes a precision approach impractical, and aircraft fly a narrow valley and a bend to line up with the runway at an elevation of around 7,316 feet. The pilot has to see the runway, so cloud, fog or wind cancels the flight even when Islamabad is perfectly clear.
The seasonal pattern reported by operators is consistent: fewest cancellations in summer, June to August; generally reliable in autumn, September and October; common in spring, March to May; and frequent in winter. There is no credible published cancellation rate and we will not invent one. PIA typically runs two to three services a day in peak season, with Airblue also on the route, and the standard advice from every operator who works the region is to build a buffer day.
Planning a road alternative
If your dates are fixed, book the road as the primary option rather than the fallback. If you fly, hold a road contingency, and tell us when your flight is scheduled so a car can be ready if it does not depart.
Which vehicle, and for how long
Confirm the actual vehicle variation, passenger and luggage fit, and current road suitability for the complete Baltistan itinerary before booking.
Skardu bookings are almost always multi-day. The usual arrangement is a driver who stays with the vehicle for the whole trip, which matters on roads where local knowledge is the safety margin, and which is exactly what the FCDO recommends for mountainous regions in Pakistan. Tell us the itinerary, not just the arrival, and we will quote the days, the driver’s accommodation and the return together.
For price context, inDrive’s City to City pages recommend about Rs 10,720 from Islamabad and about Rs 10,680 from Rawalpindi, quoting fifteen hours and twenty hours respectively for origins five kilometres apart. These are reference figures rather than a confirmed fare for your itinerary. Check the current offer, driver and vehicle details, and whether a return is included.
Enter your exact pickup address and Pakistan-local time to see the fare and book. You pay at secure checkout, and your card is only charged once the vehicle and driver are confirmed.
The journey in figures
- Distance
- 635 to 650 km from Islamabad or Rawalpindi
- Drive time
- 12 to 16 hours in good conditions, longer in bad. Most drivers split it over two days
- Road
- E-35 / M-15 Hazara Motorway, then the N-35 Karakoram Highway to Jaglot, then the S-1 Skardu Road
- Gilgit to Skardu
- About 4 hours since the road was widened in December 2021, down from around 10
Skardu airport is a visual-flight-rules airfield at about 7,300 feet with no instrument landing system, so a pilot has to see the runway. Cancellations are frequent in winter, common in spring, and fewest between June and August. Road travel also depends on current weather, closures and route conditions.
Every way of making this journey
We are one row in this table, and not the cheapest one. Use these reference options to compare a current offer for your own journey.
| Option | Typical cost | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly, PIA or Airblue | Reported Rs 12,000 - 40,000 | 45 to 55 min | Two to three flights a day in peak season, fewer in winter. Fare range is from a single third-party source and is very wide. Build a buffer day. |
| Bus, NATCO or Silk Route | Rs 5,000 - 10,000 | 18 to 20 h | From Pir Wadhai in Rawalpindi. |
| inDrive City to City | Rs 10,680 - 10,720 | 15 to 20 h | Check the current offer, driver and vehicle details, and whether a return is included. inDrive quotes 15 hours from Islamabad and 20 from Rawalpindi for what is a 5 km difference in origin. |
| iDrive.pk, car with a driver | Rs 86,500 to Rs 113,000 | — | The accepted fare covers the agreed journey and stated inclusions. Once assigned, review the driver photograph and vehicle registration, confirm the meeting instructions, and do not board a different vehicle. Check passenger and luggage fit against the approved vehicle details. |
Comparison reference date: August 31, 2026. These figures are not a current offer. Check the operator’s current fare, timetable, booking requirements and inclusions before travel.
Which vehicle actually fits
These model examples do not confirm the capacity or availability of a particular vehicle. Give the passenger count and the number and size of bags, and check the approved vehicle variation before confirmation.
- Suzuki WagonR 3 passengers, 2 cases Short city transfers on a budget. The tall boot helps more than the engine does.
- Toyota Yaris or Corolla 3 to 4 passengers, 2 to 3 large cases The workhorse. City work, airport transfers and the motorway run between Lahore and Islamabad.
- Honda BR-V 5 passengers with luggage, or 7 with almost none Family airport transfers on paved routes. The third row eats the boot, so it suits children or short hops rather than seven adults with cases. Not a mountain vehicle.
- Toyota Fortuner 5 passengers with full luggage, 7 travelling light For a mountain itinerary, confirm the actual vehicle variation, drivetrain and current route suitability before booking.
- Toyota Land Cruiser 4 to 5 passengers with full luggage Confirm the actual vehicle variation, passenger and luggage fit, and current route suitability before booking.
- Toyota Hiace Grand Cabin 13 passengers plus the driver The group and family vehicle. Gulf arrivals into Sialkot and Peshawar with heavy luggage, tour groups, weddings, long intercity runs.
- Toyota Coaster 25 to 29 passengers with hold luggage For a group journey, confirm the actual vehicle capacity and whether the accepted fare includes tolls.
How booking works
- 01 Tell us the journey Where from, where to, when, how many of you and how much luggage. Precise addresses matter more than you would think, because a Rawalpindi address and an Islamabad address twenty minutes apart are very different journeys.
- 02 Review the fare or quote Where offered, online fares and written quotes show the journey and vehicle class they cover. Check tolls, waiting time and extras before you confirm.
- 03 Check your confirmed details Keep your booking reference or written quote. Confirm the vehicle, driver where applicable, and pickup or collection instructions before travel.
- 04 You travel Follow the confirmed meeting or collection instructions. Check the vehicle and, where a driver is provided, their identity before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a travel advisory on the road to Skardu?
Yes, on one section. The FCDO advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas via Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin, checked on 3 September 2026. Gilgit-Baltistan and Skardu themselves are not on the FCDO list at all. In summer the Naran and Babusar route avoids the named section; outside that window there is no road to Skardu that does. Most UK travel insurance is void against FCDO advice, so check your policy.
How long is the drive from Islamabad to Skardu?
About 635 to 650 km. Twelve to sixteen hours in good conditions, longer in bad, and most drivers split it over two days.
What is the route?
The E-35, also designated M-15, Hazara Motorway, then the N-35 Karakoram Highway to Jaglot, then east on the S-1 Skardu Road for the final 167 km.
How long is Gilgit to Skardu now?
About four hours. The S-1 was widened from 3.6 to 7.3 metres and inaugurated on 16 December 2021, cutting a journey that previously took around ten hours.
Is the Skardu Road reliable?
It is much better than it was, but the widening project omitted certain safety features and landslide closures remain possible. Carry a spare day in any Baltistan itinerary.
Why are Skardu flights cancelled so often?
Skardu operates under visual flight rules with no instrument landing system. The approach runs through a narrow valley at around 7,316 feet and the pilot must see the runway, so cloud, fog or wind cancels the flight even when the weather in Islamabad is clear.
When are cancellations least likely?
Operators report fewest in summer, June to August, and generally reliable conditions in autumn. Spring cancellations are common and winter ones frequent. There is no published cancellation rate and we will not quote a percentage.
Can you collect us if our flight is cancelled?
That is one of the most common reasons people book this journey. Tell us your scheduled flight when you book so a road plan can be held rather than arranged from scratch at the airport.
What vehicle do you use?
A Toyota Fortuner 2.8 diesel four-wheel-drive for most trips, and a Land Cruiser where the itinerary includes Deosai, Shigar, Khaplu or the higher valleys. The 2.7 petrol Fortuner is two-wheel-drive and is not the same vehicle for this work.
Does the driver stay with us?
Yes. Skardu trips are quoted as multi-day hire with the same driver throughout. UK government advice for Pakistan specifically recommends experienced local drivers in mountainous regions.
Can we go on to Deosai, Shigar, Khaplu or Shangrila?
Yes. These are the usual onward runs and they are best planned as day trips from a Skardu base. Deosai in particular is seasonal and needs the right vehicle.
Is it cheaper to fly and hire a car in Skardu?
Sometimes, and for short trips it can be the better plan. The trade-off is the cancellation risk. If your dates are fixed, road travel also depends on current conditions and closures.
Is the price fixed for a multi-day trip?
The accepted fare covers the agreed journey and the inclusions stated in your booking or written quote. Changes to the route, time, stops or vehicle require an agreed revised fare before travel.
Tell us the journey and we will price it
Send the route, date, passenger count and luggage details. We will show an available live price or prepare a quote with the vehicle class and terms it assumes. Check the final offer before confirming; if the journey is unavailable, we will tell you.