Gilgit-Baltistan's dangerous roads are mostly narrow jeep tracks cut into cliff faces above a river, not the paved Karakoram Highway itself. The Fairy Meadows track, the Shimshal road and the approach to Deosai are the ones that come up most, and the risk on all of them is a mix of loose surface, no barrier, and an oncoming vehicle on a blind bend. The highway is a different kind of risk: mostly a well-built road, but one that runs through gorges where landslides and rockfall close it without warning.
This guide sets out which roads earn the reputation, what actually causes accidents on them, and who should and shouldn't get behind the wheel.
| Road | The risk | Who should drive it |
|---|---|---|
| Fairy Meadows jeep track | Steep, narrow, a drop to the gorge, no barrier | Local union drivers only; private cars are not allowed |
| Shimshal road | Cliff-edge track, river crossings, rockfall | Experienced 4x4 drivers, or a local driver |
| Deosai approach (Skardu side) | Loose stone track above Sadpara, no phone signal | A local jeep, not a private sedan |
| Naltar lakes track | Rocky, with meltwater streams to cross | A local jeep or a confident 4x4 driver, morning only |
| Karakoram Highway, Kohistan section | Landslides, rockfall, narrow gorge stretches | Any careful driver, daylight only, check road status first |
| Babusar Top (N15) | High pass, snow and fog outside summer | Confident mountain drivers, in season only |
Which roads have the worst reputation?
Two places come up in almost every list of Pakistan's dangerous roads: the jeep track into Fairy Meadows and the road to Shimshal in upper Hunza. Both are narrow tracks cut into a mountainside with a long drop on one side and no crash barrier, and both carry local jeeps, motorbikes and the occasional determined 4x4 rather than ordinary traffic. Neither is somewhere to take a rented sedan or a driver unfamiliar with the route.
The Fairy Meadows jeep track
The 15 km track from Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway up to Tato climbs steeply above the Raikot gorge on loose stone and bare rock, with tight switchbacks and no barrier between the track and the drop. Private vehicles are not allowed on it; every visitor rides in a jeep run by the local drivers' union, which is one reason the road works as well as it does. On 1 June 2026 a jeep went into the gorge and seven people died, a reminder that the track carries real risk even with an experienced local driver. Our Fairy Meadows jeep track guide covers the fare and the ride in detail.
The Shimshal road
The road from the Karakoram Highway at Passu up to Shimshal village runs about 56 km along a route widely reported as one of the most exposed jeep tracks in the world. It hangs on a narrow shelf cut into the cliff above the Shimshal river gorge, barely wide enough for one vehicle in places, with hundreds of metres of rock above and several points where the track drops to the riverbed and crosses glacial meltwater. Rockfall is a constant risk, and ice can sit on shaded sections outside summer. Drivers who take it on themselves need real 4x4 experience and should not go alone; a breakdown here can leave you far from help with no phone signal. Our Shimshal Valley guide has more on the village and the trek beyond it.
The Karakoram Highway itself
The KKH is a properly engineered, mostly paved road, and not in the same category as the tracks above. Its risk is different: stretches through Kohistan, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the approach to Gilgit-Baltistan, are prone to landslides, rockfall and washouts that close the road for hours or days, especially after rain and in spring snowmelt, and fatal accidents on this stretch are reported most years. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel on the KKH between Mansehra and Chilas, via Battagram, Besham, Dasu and Sazin; check current advice before travelling this section, and check road status before setting out anywhere on the highway. Our guides to driving the Karakoram Highway and whether the KKH is safe cover the route section by section.
Deosai, Naltar and other jeep tracks
Several other tourist roads are rough rather than exposed. The track onto the Deosai plateau above Sadpara Lake, the last stretch above Naltar Bala to the lakes, and side-valley roads such as Basho and Hushe are loose, stony jeep tracks with river crossings and no phone signal, without the sheer drops of Fairy Meadows or Shimshal. The real risk is a stuck or broken-down vehicle with nobody able to reach you, which is why local advice is to leave a private car in town and hire a jeep with a driver who knows the route. Our jeep hire guide covers where a 4x4 is genuinely needed.
What actually causes accidents
Accident reports on these roads point to a small set of recurring causes: an overloaded jeep, a driver going too fast for the surface, travelling after dark or in heavy rain, and a mechanical fault such as worn brakes on an old vehicle. None of these is inherent to the road; they are decisions a driver, an operator or a passenger can push back on. Ask about the vehicle's condition before you get in, and say so if a driver is going faster than you're comfortable with.
Who should drive these roads, and who shouldn't
Local union or hired drivers who work the Fairy Meadows and Deosai routes every week are the safest choice on those tracks, and on Fairy Meadows they are the only legal choice. Experienced 4x4 drivers with mountain-driving background can manage Shimshal, Naltar and similar roads, ideally with a second vehicle or a local guide. Anyone driving a sedan, anyone nervous on a cliff-edge road, and any first-time visitor should hire a local driver instead; it costs little against the rest of a trip and removes most of the risk. Our mountain driving tips cover the basics, and our travel guide has more on altitude, signal and planning for days on the road.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous road in Gilgit-Baltistan?
The Shimshal road and the Fairy Meadows jeep track are the two most often named, both narrow cliff-edge tracks with long drops and no barrier. The Karakoram Highway's Kohistan gorges carry a different risk, from landslides and rockfall.
Can I drive to Fairy Meadows in my own car?
No. Private vehicles are not allowed on the 15 km track from Raikot Bridge to Tato; every visitor travels in a jeep run by the local drivers' union.
Is the Karakoram Highway safe to drive?
Most of it is a well-built paved road, but sections in Kohistan are prone to landslides and rockfall, and one stretch currently carries a UK government advisory against travel. Check current road status before setting out and avoid driving after dark.
Do I need a 4x4 for the Shimshal road?
Yes. It is a narrow, exposed track with river crossings and loose surfaces, and it is best driven by an experienced mountain driver or a local guide rather than attempted for the first time alone.
Is it safe to drive in Gilgit-Baltistan at night?
Not on the jeep tracks, and it's best avoided on the highway too. Landslide damage, animals on the road and unlit vehicles are much harder to see after dark, and most serious accidents reported in the region happen on roads driven too fast or too late in the day.
