Getting from Gilgit to Skardu by bus means a shared van or coaster rather than a scheduled coach: locally run vehicles that leave from Gilgit's main bus stand once they have enough passengers, rather than to a fixed timetable. The road is paved the whole way and the ride takes roughly four and a half to five hours, but there is no single ticket counter and no published fare list, so this guide is about knowing what to expect and how to get a seat without wasting a morning.
This is the local hop between Gilgit and Skardu, a different journey from the long-distance NATCO coach that runs overnight from Rawalpindi and bypasses Gilgit altogether. If you are coming from Rawalpindi or Islamabad, see our Rawalpindi to Skardu bus guide instead.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Shared HiAce vans and coasters, not a fixed-schedule coach |
| Leaves from | Gilgit's general bus stand |
| Departs | Once full, mornings are most reliable |
| Distance | Roughly 200 to 220 km |
| Journey time | About 4.5 to 5 hours; longer with stops or a hold-up |
| Fare | Not fixed or published; confirm at the stand |
| Route | KKH south to Alam Bridge, then the Skardu road along the Indus |
How the Gilgit to Skardu vans actually work
Unlike the overnight NATCO service that connects Rawalpindi with Skardu, there is no single well-advertised operator running a fixed timetable purely between Gilgit and Skardu. What you find in practice is a stand of shared vans and coasters that fill up with passengers and leave once full, in the way most intercity public transport in Gilgit-Baltistan works away from the main NATCO trunk routes.
That means mornings are the most reliable time to travel, since vans fill fastest early in the day and a vehicle that leaves by mid-morning gives you daylight for the whole drive. There is no online booking for this leg: you turn up at the stand, ask for a seat to Skardu, and either wait for the van to fill or pay for the empty seats yourself if you want to leave sooner. Schedules also loosen outside the June to September season, when fewer vans run and waiting can take longer.
Ask at your hotel the evening before roughly what time vans have been leaving that week, since this shifts with demand rather than a printed timetable.
Where to catch the van in Gilgit
Shared vans and coasters for Skardu leave from Gilgit's general bus stand, the same area used for services to other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. If you are staying centrally, a short taxi ride gets you there; ask your hotel to point you to the right stand for Skardu specifically, since Gilgit's transport hub handles several different routes and it is easy to end up asking the wrong driver.
Arriving with some flexibility in your morning helps. Vans leave when full rather than on the hour, so being first at the stand does not guarantee being first to leave, and a bit of patience is part of the trip.
How much does it cost?
There is no fixed, published fare for this specific route, and what you pay depends on the vehicle, the season and a certain amount of local bargaining. Don't rely on fares quoted for the long-distance Rawalpindi–Skardu coach, which covers a much longer route on a different service.
Ask two or three people at the stand what others are paying that day before you agree a price, and expect a private taxi or a hired car with driver to cost several times more than a shared seat. If a firm budget matters more than flexibility, arrange a car with a driver through your hotel instead, at a price agreed before you set off.
How long does the ride take?
The distance from Gilgit to Skardu is roughly 200 to 220 km, following the Karakoram Highway south to Alam Bridge near Jaglot and then the Skardu road east along the Indus gorge. On a van that keeps moving, budget about four and a half to five hours. Add time for the driver's own stops for fuel, passengers or tea, and a morning departure can become an afternoon arrival.
The road itself is paved for the whole distance, rebuilt as a two-lane road through the gorge in 2021, so the time you lose is almost always about waiting for the van to fill and the driver's own schedule, not the road surface. Our guide to Gilgit to Skardu distance breaks the drive down stop by stop if you are doing it in your own car instead.
Comfort and what to expect
A shared van is a practical way to travel, not a comfortable one. Seats are close together, the vehicle stops for other passengers along the way, and air conditioning or heating cannot be relied on depending on the vehicle's age. Carry water, snacks and a jacket regardless of season, keep valuables and medication in a bag you hold rather than stowed luggage, and keep your CNIC, or for foreign nationals a passport and visa, ready for the checkposts along the route.
Is the bus or van worth it?
For a single traveller or a pair moving light and on a budget, yes: it is the cheapest way to cover the distance and needs no planning beyond turning up at the stand in reasonable time. For a family, a group with a lot of luggage, or anyone who wants to stop for photographs along the Indus gorge, a hired car with a driver is more comfortable and barely different in total cost once several fares are added up. Our travel guide covers transport options across the north in more detail, and if you would rather have the whole leg arranged for you, our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour and Skardu and Deosai trip both include ground transport.
Frequently asked questions
Does NATCO run buses from Gilgit to Skardu?
NATCO's well-known Skardu coach runs overnight from Rawalpindi and does not pass through Gilgit. Travel between Gilgit and Skardu specifically is by shared van or coaster, run more informally from Gilgit's general bus stand.
How much does a van from Gilgit to Skardu cost?
There is no fixed, published fare for this route. Confirm the going rate at the stand on the day, and don't assume it matches fares quoted for the much longer Rawalpindi–Skardu service.
How long does the drive from Gilgit to Skardu take?
About four and a half to five hours for the roughly 200 to 220 km drive, on a paved road, plus extra time for the van filling up and any stops the driver makes along the way.
Is there a fixed schedule for Gilgit to Skardu vans?
No. Vehicles generally leave once full rather than to a timetable, and mornings are the most reliable time to find a van leaving soon.
Is it better to hire a car than take the shared van?
For families, groups with luggage, or anyone who wants to stop for photographs, a hired car with a driver is more comfortable and easier to plan around, at a higher but fixed cost agreed in advance.
