For a first-time northern areas trip, the choice usually comes down to four places: Hunza, Skardu, Naran and Swat. They are not versions of the same trip. Hunza and Skardu are in Gilgit-Baltistan proper, a full day or more from Islamabad by road or an hour by air, high, dry and dramatic. Naran and Swat are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, closer, greener, lower and easier to reach on a shorter trip, but with their own things to know before you go.
This guide sets out what each one is actually like for someone who has never been, so you can pick the right first trip rather than the most photographed one.
| At a glance | Hunza | Skardu | Naran | Swat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Gilgit-Baltistan | Gilgit-Baltistan | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| From Islamabad by road | About 600 km, 14–18 hours, usually split over 2 days | Similar, via Chilas, or a 1-hour flight | About 250–260 km, 6–8 hours | About 320–330 km, 6–8 hours |
| Character | High, dry valleys, forts, glaciers | Cold-desert scenery, lakes, gateway to K2 | Alpine lake and meadow scenery | Green valley, rivers, Buddhist-era sites |
| Typical altitude | Karimabad around 2,500 m | Skardu around 2,200 m | Naran around 2,400 m | Kalam around 2,000 m |
| Best season | June to September, plus spring blossom | June to September | June to September | April to October |
| Getting there | Karakoram Highway, or fly to Gilgit | Fly to Skardu, or 2 days by road | Self-drive or hired car only | Self-drive or hired car only |
Hunza: the classic first trip north
Hunza is usually what people mean when they picture the northern areas: terraced apricot orchards, the forts above Karimabad, and the Karakoram Highway running through it toward the Chinese border at Khunjerab. It suits a first trip well because there is a clear, well-worn route through it, a wide choice of guesthouses, and enough to see over five to seven days without repeating yourself.
The main thing a first-timer underestimates is the distance: reaching Hunza by road is a two-day drive from Islamabad, or a one-hour flight to Gilgit followed by a couple of hours by road, and either way it deserves more than a long weekend. Our Gilgit and Hunza guide is the place to start planning.
Skardu: bigger landscapes, more of a commitment
Skardu trades Hunza's valley scenery for something starker: cold-desert dunes at Katpana, the Shangrila and Kachura lakes, and the Deosai plateau above the town, open only from around June to September. It is also the way in to K2 and the Karakoram's other giants for anyone going further, though most first-time visitors stay in the valley.
Skardu is reached by air from Islamabad in about an hour when the weather allows, or by the same two-day road route north. Flights are cancelled often enough in poor weather that a first trip to Skardu should always carry a spare day, particularly if you are flying in and out on a short schedule.
Naran: the easiest introduction, with its own limits
Naran is the closest of the four to Islamabad, and for many Pakistani families it is the first hill trip that goes beyond Murree: Lake Saif-ul-Malook, the drive up to Babusar Top, and a valley that feels dramatic without needing a flight or a week off work. It suits a first trip that has to fit into three or four days.
What catches first-timers out in Naran is the road itself, narrow and often congested in peak season, and the altitude at Babusar Top, over 4,000 metres, reached in a car with no time to adjust. It rewards an early start and a realistic idea of how long the drive really takes.
Swat: green, accessible, and worth a safety check first
Swat is the gentlest landscape of the four, a wide river valley with Gandharan-era stupas in the fields and a ski resort at Malam Jabba above the treeline. For a first trip focused on scenery and history rather than altitude, it is an easy choice, reached in a day from Islamabad on a mix of motorway and hill road.
Swat also needs a plain safety note before anyone books. On 2 August 2026 a suicide bomb attack at a peace rally in Kabal, Swat, killed 17 people (Dawn, Al Jazeera), and as of September 2026 the UK government's travel advice advises against all travel to Swat district. Pakistanis continue to travel to Swat, and the situation can change; if you are considering it, check recent local news and current police advice before you go, and if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice, since travelling against it can affect your travel insurance. Don't let this stop you from asking the question, but don't skip asking it either.
What every first-timer should know, wherever you go
- Distances are longer than they look on a map. None of these four are a two-hour drive from Islamabad, and treating the journey as an afterthought is the most common planning mistake.
- Mobile signal is patchy once you leave the main towns, more so in Gilgit-Baltistan than in Swat or Naran. Tell someone your rough plan before you lose signal for the day.
- Altitude matters even without a trek. Deosai, Babusar Top and Khunjerab are all reached by road, and a fast climb with no time to adjust can still cause a headache or breathlessness at the top.
- Book your first night before you travel. Guesthouses fill fast in peak season, especially around Eid, and arriving without a booking in an unfamiliar town is a poor start to a first trip.
- Build in a spare day, especially if any part of the trip depends on a flight or a mountain pass. Weather causes more delays in the north than anything else.
Which one should a first-timer choose?
If you have a week or more and want the trip most people picture when they think of the northern areas, choose Hunza. If big, empty landscapes and a plateau above the treeline matter more to you than valley scenery, choose Skardu, and fly if your schedule is short. If you only have three or four days, Naran is the realistic option closest to Islamabad. If you want green hills, history and an easy drive, and you have checked the current situation, Swat is worth it.
Our travel guide goes further into planning any of these four as a full trip, from permits and packing to how long each one really needs.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for a first trip: Hunza or Skardu?
Hunza has an easier, more established route and more to see within a shorter drive. Skardu has bigger, starker landscapes and is easier to reach quickly by air, but flights are cancelled often enough that a short trip needs a spare day built in.
Is Naran a good first trip to the north?
Yes, if your time is limited to three or four days. It is the closest of the four to Islamabad and does not require a flight, though the road can be slow in peak season.
Do I need a permit for a first trip to the northern areas?
No special permit is needed for Pakistani citizens travelling to Hunza, Skardu, Naran or Swat. A CNIC is enough; foreign nationals should carry their passport and visa.
Is it safe to travel to Swat right now?
Pakistanis continue to travel to Swat, but the UK government currently advises against all travel there following a bombing in Kabal in August 2026. Check recent local news and current police advice before travelling, and check your own government's advice if you hold a foreign passport.
How much time should a first northern areas trip take?
At least five to seven days for Hunza or Skardu once travel time is included, or three to four days for a shorter trip to Naran or Swat. Anything less mostly becomes a driving trip rather than a trip to the place itself.
