A Gilgit-Baltistan tourist map makes sense once you see that the region is built around two hub towns, Gilgit and Skardu, joined to each other and to the rest of Pakistan by a handful of roads that follow the rivers through the mountains. Almost every tourist route is a variation on one idea: reach Gilgit or Skardu, then push up a side valley until the road ends.
This guide lays out how the districts and roads fit together, with road distances we measured between the main points, so a printed or downloaded map reads clearly once you're on the ground.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Divisions | Gilgit, Baltistan, Diamer (10 districts) |
| Hubs | Gilgit in the west, Skardu in the east |
| Spine | Karakoram Highway (KKH), from the plains to the Khunjerab Pass |
| Gilgit to Karimabad (Hunza) | About 99 km |
| Gilgit to Skardu | About 210 km, via Alam Bridge |
| Airports | Gilgit and Skardu |
| Summer-only links | Babusar Pass, Deosai, Shandur, Khunjerab |
The three divisions and ten districts
Gilgit-Baltistan is split into three divisions with ten districts between them:
- Gilgit division: Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and Ghizer.
- Baltistan division: Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang and Ghanche.
- Diamer division: Diamer and Astore.
Older maps show fewer districts, which confuses people. Astore was split from Diamer in 2004, Hunza-Nagar from Gilgit in 2008, and in 2015 Shigar and Kharmang were separated from Skardu while Hunza-Nagar became two districts. A map that shows "Hunza-Nagar" or a single huge "Skardu" district is out of date, though the roads on it are the same.
For a visitor, this maps onto two travel circuits. The Gilgit division covers Hunza, Nagar, Naltar and the Ghizer valleys towards Shandur, all reached from Gilgit town. The Baltistan division covers Skardu, Shigar, Khaplu and Deosai, all reached from Skardu. Diamer and Astore sit between the two, along the Karakoram Highway and the Babusar and Deosai routes.
The Karakoram Highway: the spine of the region
The Karakoram Highway runs up from Hasan Abdal through Besham, Chilas and Gilgit to Karimabad, Passu and Sost, and on to the Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border at 4,693 metres. The pass is 75 km beyond the immigration post at Sost. The KKH is the only all-weather road into Gilgit-Baltistan, though it is not landslide-proof.
Two junctions on it matter more than any town:
- Raikot Bridge, about 77 km south of Gilgit, where jeeps leave for Fairy Meadows.
- Alam Bridge, about 44 km south of Gilgit near Jaglot, where the Skardu road leaves the KKH and follows the Indus east.
That second junction is why a trip to Skardu from Gilgit begins by driving south. Our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour follows the KKH north; our Skardu and Deosai tour takes the Indus road to Baltistan.
Two ways in from Islamabad
There are two road routes into the region, and the choice shapes a whole itinerary:
| Route | Islamabad to Gilgit | Open | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKH via Besham and Dasu | About 594 km | All year | UK advises against all travel between Mansehra and Chilas |
| Kaghan and Babusar Pass (4,173 m) | About 480 km | Summer only | Avoids the Besham to Dasu stretch |
Distances are by OSRM from central Islamabad. In summer many travellers drive via Naran and Babusar, splitting the trip with a night in the Kaghan valley. In winter the KKH is the only road. Foreign-passport holders should check their own government's advice on the KKH south of Chilas, because travelling against it can void insurance. Our Babusar or KKH comparison covers the trade-offs.
Road distances between the main hubs
These are road distances we measured with the OSRM routing engine. Its driving times assume a clear road, which mountain roads rarely are, so the right-hand column is our planning time with stops, checkpoints and slow sections.
| Route | Distance | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Gilgit to Karimabad (Hunza) | 99 km | 2.5 hours |
| Karimabad to Sost | 86 km | 2 hours |
| Karimabad to Khunjerab Pass | 170 km | 4 hours one way |
| Gilgit to Skardu | 210 km | 5 to 6 hours |
| Skardu to Shigar | 30 km | 45 minutes |
| Skardu to Khaplu | About 95 to 103 km | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Gilgit to Chilas | 137 km | 3 hours |
| Gilgit to Astore | 113 km | 3 hours |
| Skardu to Astore via Deosai (summer) | 142 km | A full day |
| Gilgit to Naran via Babusar (summer) | 236 km | 6 to 8 hours |
| Gilgit to Shandur Pass (summer) | 211 km | 6 to 7 hours |
Our Karakoram Highway distance chart breaks the KKH down stop by stop.
How the valleys branch off
Once you're at either hub, most onward travel follows one valley road to its end:
- From Gilgit: north on the KKH to Hunza, Nagar and Khunjerab; west through Ghizer, Gupis and Phander towards Shandur and Chitral; a rough side road to Naltar's lakes.
- From Skardu: north to Shigar and its fort; east up the Shyok to Khaplu and the Hushe valley; south past Sadpara Lake and up onto the Deosai plateau, open only in summer, and across it to Chilam and Astore.
- Diamer and Astore: Chilas sits on the KKH and is where the Babusar road comes down. Astore is reached by a side road off the KKH south of Gilgit, and is the way to Rama Lake and the Rupal side of Nanga Parbat. Fairy Meadows is not reached from Astore but from Raikot Bridge on the KKH.
There is no direct road between Hunza and Skardu. You drive back down to Alam Bridge and then east, which is why most itineraries treat Hunza and Skardu as two separate legs.
The seasonal map
A map of Gilgit-Baltistan in January looks very different from one in July. Deosai National Park, established in 1993 at an average height of about 4,100 metres, is accessible only in summer. Babusar and Shandur close with the snow. Khunjerab is usually closed to all vehicles from late December to 1 April and to heavy vehicles for longer, though the dates move with the snowfall. The KKH to Hunza and the Skardu road stay open in winter, and flights to Gilgit and Skardu continue when the weather allows. See when to go for month-by-month detail.
Using a map on the ground
A downloaded offline map (Google Maps or Maps.me, saved before you lose signal) is worth more than a paper one for route-finding. A printed regional map still helps for planning, since it shows how the valleys relate to each other in a way a phone screen doesn't. Mobile signal is reliable in Gilgit, Skardu, Karimabad and the main towns, and drops out on higher roads, side valleys and most of the way to Khunjerab and Deosai, so download what you need before setting out each day.
Our travel guide has more on road conditions, permits and what to check before travelling into any of these valleys.
Frequently asked questions
How many districts does Gilgit-Baltistan have?
Ten: Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and Ghizer in Gilgit division; Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang and Ghanche in Baltistan division; and Diamer and Astore in Diamer division.
How long does it take to drive from Gilgit to Skardu?
It is about 210 km by road: 44 km south on the KKH to Alam Bridge, then about 168 km along the Indus. Plan five to six hours with stops.
Is there a direct road between Hunza and Skardu?
No. The route is back down the KKH past Gilgit to Alam Bridge and then east to Skardu, which is why Hunza and Skardu are usually two separate legs of a trip.
Which is shorter from Islamabad to Gilgit, the KKH or Babusar?
Babusar, at about 480 km against about 594 km on the KKH, but it is open only in summer. The KKH is the year-round route.
Is the Karakoram Highway route safe for overseas visitors?
Pakistani travellers use it all year, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, through Besham and Dasu. In summer the road over the Babusar Pass avoids that stretch. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice before you go, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Everyone should check local news and road conditions before setting out.
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