Getting from Islamabad to Northern Pakistan

By air

Skardu and Gilgit have flights from Islamabad. They are the fastest way in and appear in most Baltistan programmes and several Hunza ones, but they are weather-dependent, so every flight day in our itineraries has a road alternative.

By road

The road route follows the Karakoram Highway north, with Chilas as the usual overnight stop. Many itineraries describe the Babusar Pass road through the Kaghan Valley as an alternative way to reach Chilas. From Chilas, the road continues to Gilgit and Hunza, or turns off towards Skardu.

Itinerary days that travel the road north

• K2 Base Camp Trek

  02: Islamabad to Skardu

  Morning flight to Skardu (weather permitting) or drive via Chilas/Babusar Pass if flight is cancelled. Overnight stay in hotel at Skardu.

• K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek

  02: Fly or drive to Skardu

  Morning flight to Skardu, which depends on the weather; if it does not operate, the group travels by road via Chilas and the Babusar Pass. Overnight in a hotel in Skardu.

• Snow Lake Trek

  02: Islamabad to Skardu

  Flight to Skardu, or overland drive via Chilas/Babusar Pass if flight is cancelled. Overnight stay in hotel at Skardu.

• Snow Lake Trek

  20: Naran to Islamabad

  Drive via Babusar Pass back to Islamabad. Overnight stay in Islamabad.

• Fairy Meadows Trek & Hunza Tour

  02: Islamabad to Chilas

  After breakfast, we will leave for Chilas via Kaghan Naran and Babusar Pass. Overnight stay in a hotel at Chilas.

• Fairy Meadows Trek & Hunza Tour

  10: Chilas to Islamabad

  After breakfast, we will drive via Babusar pass to Islamabad. We start early in the morning to cover the 12 hours-long drive. Short stay in Naran for lunch. By evening, we shall reach Islamabad. Overnight stay at Islamabad.

• Great Karakoram Traverse

  03: Skardu

  In case a flight has operated, we will go for a sightseeing tour of Skardu, and in case of no flight, the day will be used for overland travel from Chilas to Skardu. Overnight stay in a hotel at Skardu.

• Great Karakoram Traverse

  30: Chilas to Islamabad

  In the early morning, we will depart for Islamabad, vis Babusar pass. Overnight stay in a hotel in Islamabad.

Where each programme starts