Fuel for a Northern Areas road trip from Islamabad costs roughly PKR 25,000 to 40,000 for a return trip to Hunza or Skardu in a mid-size car in 2026, at the current petrol price of around PKR 390 a litre, and more for a larger 4x4 or on routes that add Deosai or Khunjerab. The bigger variable than the price per litre is how far you're actually driving and how thirsty the car is on mountain gradients, so this guide works from distance and consumption rather than a single flat figure.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Petrol price | About PKR 390 per litre (September 2026) |
| Islamabad to Hunza (Karimabad), one way | Roughly 620 km |
| Islamabad to Skardu, one way | Roughly 600 to 700 km depending on route |
| Last fuel stop before Khunjerab | Sost |
| Last fuel stop before Deosai | Skardu or Astore side, depending on route |
Working out your own fuel cost
Fuel cost comes down to three numbers: the distance, your car's consumption, and the price per litre. As a rough method:
- Total round-trip distance. Islamabad to Karimabad and back is roughly 1,240 km; Islamabad to Skardu and back is roughly 1,300 km, depending on the exact route and any side trips.
- Consumption on the route you're driving. A small sedan or hatchback typically manages noticeably fewer kilometres per litre on the Karakoram Highway's climbs and switchbacks than it would on a flat motorway; a loaded 4x4 or an older engine drinks more again, especially on the unpaved stretches toward Deosai or up the Fairy Meadows jeep track.
- Current petrol price, which in Pakistan has moved to daily adjustment rather than the old fortnightly review, so check it close to your travel date rather than relying on last month's figure.
Multiply distance by your car's litres-per-100km, then by the price per litre, and add a margin for detours, idling in traffic through towns, and the inevitable extra loop to find a viewpoint.
What it costs by route
Islamabad to Hunza and back (about 1,240 km): a small car doing this comfortably manages the trip on a full tank plus one or two top-ups, putting the fuel bill roughly in the PKR 25,000 to 35,000 range at current prices. A larger SUV or an older vehicle with higher consumption can run closer to PKR 40,000.
Islamabad to Skardu and back (about 1,300 km, and typically slower going because of the road surface on parts of the route): similar territory, roughly PKR 27,000 to 38,000 for a mid-size car, more for a 4x4.
Add-ons that push the total up: a side trip to Khunjerab Pass from Hunza adds roughly 175 km return; a Deosai crossing from Skardu is a shorter distance but much higher consumption because of the unpaved, high-altitude terrain. Both are worth budgeting as extra tankfuls rather than folding into the main-route estimate.
If you've hired a car with a driver instead of taking your own, fuel is almost always charged separately from the day rate — see our car with driver rates for how that split usually works, and our Prado rental guide for the consumption difference a 4x4 makes on rough tracks specifically.
Where the pumps actually are
Fuel stations thin out fast once you're off the main highway. On the Hunza route, Sost is the last reliable fuel stop before Khunjerab Pass, and there's no pump beyond it, so fill up there even if the tank looks fine. Chilas and Gilgit are the main stops along the Karakoram Highway itself. On the Skardu side, fuel is available in Skardu town, but stations become sparse on the roads out toward Astore and the Deosai approach, so top up in Skardu before heading out rather than assuming you'll find a pump partway.
Carrying a spare fuel canister is common practice for drivers heading onto Deosai or other tracks without pumps along the way, though it should be stored and carried safely, away from passengers and heat.
Petrol vs diesel
Most rental sedans and jeeps in the north run on petrol, and diesel-powered 4x4s and Hiace vans are common for hired transport. Diesel has historically priced somewhat differently from petrol per litre in Pakistan and the gap moves with each price revision, so if you're comparing a petrol car against a diesel-engined hire, check both current prices rather than assuming the older PKR-per-litre gap still holds.
Comparing fuel cost against a hired car's day rate
It's worth doing this sum before deciding between your own car and a hired one with a driver. A hired car's day rate already covers the vehicle and driver but not fuel, so the true cost of a hired-car trip is the day rate plus a fuel bill close to what your own car would use over the same route — sometimes a little more, since hired vehicles are often larger. Where a hired car saves money isn't the fuel line at all; it's not having to run your own vehicle over rough, high-altitude roads that are harder on tyres, brakes and suspension than ordinary driving, and not needing a second driver for the return leg.
Does a hybrid or small-engine car help?
It can, particularly on the flatter stretches, but the Karakoram Highway's climbs and the unpaved sections around Deosai and jeep tracks flatten out a lot of the advantage a small engine has in city driving. What matters more for the fuel bill than engine size is avoiding unnecessary detours, keeping tyre pressures correct (low pressure increases consumption noticeably on long drives), and not idling for long stretches at checkpoints with the air conditioning running.
Frequently asked questions
How much fuel does an Islamabad-to-Hunza trip use?
Roughly PKR 25,000 to 35,000 at current 2026 prices for a mid-size car doing the full round trip of about 1,240 km, more for a larger or older vehicle and less for a smaller, efficient one.
Where's the last fuel stop before Khunjerab Pass?
Sost, about 85 km before the border. There's no pump beyond it, so fill up there regardless of how much fuel is left in the tank.
Is fuel included in a hired car or jeep rate?
Usually not. Day rates for a car with driver, a Hiace or a Prado typically cover the vehicle and driver only, with fuel charged separately and settled against receipts or an agreed estimate.
Does driving on Deosai use much more fuel?
Yes, noticeably more per kilometre than paved roads, because of the unpaved surface, altitude and the driving style the terrain demands. Budget it as its own tankful rather than folding it into the main Skardu-route estimate.
Is the petrol price the same everywhere in the north?
Prices can run a little higher in remote towns than in Islamabad or Lahore, reflecting the cost of transporting fuel that far. It's a modest difference rather than a large one, but it's worth having a small margin in the budget for it.
