Islamabad International Airport is the best airport to fly into for northern Pakistan, for both foreign visitors and Pakistanis coming from Lahore or Karachi. It has the shortest road distance to the Karakoram Highway, the most direct domestic flight connections to Gilgit-Baltistan, and it's simply closer to everywhere you're actually heading. This guide compares Islamabad with Lahore and Karachi and sets out your onward options once you land.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Best international/domestic arrival airport | Islamabad International (ISB) |
| Road distance, Islamabad to Hunza | About 600 km, roughly 14–18 hours of driving, usually split over two days |
| Domestic flights from Islamabad | Direct to Skardu and Gilgit, several times a week |
| Flight time, Islamabad to Skardu | About 1 hour |
| From Lahore or Karachi | Fly into Islamabad first, or connect through it to Skardu/Gilgit |
| Weather dependency | Domestic flights to Skardu and Gilgit are visual and can be delayed or cancelled |
Why Islamabad is the right airport
Islamabad International Airport, near Rawalpindi, sits at the start of the road north. From here, the Karakoram Highway runs up through Abbottabad and on toward Gilgit-Baltistan, making Islamabad the shortest and most practical starting point for any northern-areas trip, by road or by connecting flight.
It's also the airport with the best domestic connections into the mountains themselves. Direct flights run from Islamabad to both Skardu and Gilgit, several times a week, cutting what would otherwise be a one- to two-day drive down to about an hour in the air, weather permitting.
Islamabad versus Lahore and Karachi
If you're arriving from abroad, or from elsewhere in Pakistan, Islamabad still comes out ahead of the country's other major international airports for a northern-areas trip:
- Lahore is roughly twice as far from Hunza and Skardu by road as Islamabad, adding a full extra day of driving if you go overland. Lahore does have onward flight connections, but they typically route through Islamabad rather than flying direct to Skardu or Gilgit.
- Karachi is far further still, at the opposite end of the country. A Karachi arrival makes a connecting flight to Islamabad, or a direct domestic flight where available, the only realistic way to reach the north without losing days to travel.
For a visitor flying in from overseas with the northern areas as the main goal, booking into Islamabad rather than Lahore or Karachi, even if it costs slightly more or has fewer options, generally saves a full day of onward travel.
Getting from Islamabad to the northern areas
You have three broad options once you land:
- Domestic flight to Skardu or Gilgit. The fastest option by far, at around an hour in the air, but the flights are visual, meaning they depend on clear mountain weather and are cancelled or delayed more often than a typical city-to-city flight. Build a spare day or two into your schedule if your whole trip depends on this flight. Our guide to flights to Gilgit and Skardu covers routes, frequency and how to plan around weather delays.
- Drive the Karakoram Highway. From Islamabad, it's roughly 600 km and 14 to 18 hours of driving to reach Hunza, almost always split over two days with an overnight stop along the way. This is also how our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour is run, building in the stops that make the drive worthwhile rather than just a long transit day.
- Fly one way, drive the other. A common approach: fly to Skardu or Gilgit to save time at the start of the trip, then drive back down the Karakoram Highway, seeing the valley scenery on the way out instead of doubling up on flights.
If your route north follows the Karakoram Highway through Kohistan, note that the UK government currently advises against all travel on the stretch between Mansehra and Chilas; the Babusar Pass road offers a way around it while it's open, roughly June to October. Check current advice before you commit to a route, particularly if you're travelling on a foreign passport, since some governments' advice can affect travel insurance.
Should you fly or drive?
If your time is limited, flying into Skardu or Gilgit from Islamabad is the better use of it, and worth building flexibility around in case of weather delays. If you have the days to spare and want to see the Karakoram Highway itself — Besham, Chilas or Babusar, and the run into Hunza — driving is part of the trip rather than just a way past it. Our guide to flying or driving to the northern areas weighs this up in more detail for a range of trip lengths.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best airport to fly into for Hunza and Skardu?
Islamabad International Airport. It has the shortest road distance to Gilgit-Baltistan and direct domestic flights to both Skardu and Gilgit.
Can I fly directly from Lahore or Karachi to Skardu or Gilgit?
Direct options are limited and change over time; the more reliable route is via Islamabad, either driving from there or taking a connecting domestic flight.
How long does it take to drive from Islamabad to Hunza?
Roughly 14 to 18 hours of actual driving over about 600 km, almost always split across two days with an overnight stop rather than done in one push.
Are flights to Skardu and Gilgit reliable?
They're visual flights that depend on clear mountain weather, so delays and cancellations happen more often than on a standard city route. Build a spare day into your plans if your schedule depends on the flight.
Is it better to fly or drive to the northern areas?
Flying saves time and suits a shorter trip; driving suits travellers who want to see the Karakoram Highway itself and have the extra days to spend on it.
