Hunza to Skardu by road is about 320 km from Karimabad, and every route goes through Gilgit. You drive 102 km down the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit, 47 km more to Alam Bridge near Jaglot, then 171 km up the Indus on the Skardu road. Allow seven to eight hours with a lunch stop. It is one long day from Karimabad or Aliabad; from Gulmit or Passu, or with small children, a night in Gilgit makes it two easier ones.
The drive is the hinge of any trip that takes in both Hunza and Baltistan. This guide covers the route, how long each part takes, when to break it, the hazards on the way, and the summer alternative across Deosai.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 320 km from Karimabad; about 355 km from Gulmit |
| Route | KKH to Gilgit and Alam Bridge, then the Skardu road (S-1) |
| Driving time | 7 to 8 hours from Karimabad with a stop; add about an hour from Gulmit |
| Road | Paved throughout |
| Where to break it | Gilgit |
| Best start | 7 am |
| Worst months for closures | July and August |
| Summer alternative | Via Astore and Deosai, by jeep, over two days |
The route from Hunza to Skardu
There is only one paved road between the two regions, and it runs through Gilgit to the Indus.
- Karimabad to Gilgit, 102 km. Down the Karakoram Highway past Aliabad, Hassanabad, the Rakaposhi viewpoint at Ghulmet, Chalt and Nomal.
- Gilgit to Alam Bridge, 47 km. South on the Karakoram Highway, down the Gilgit river valley, to the confluence with the Indus.
- Alam Bridge to Skardu, 171 km. The Skardu road leaves the highway, crosses the Gilgit river and follows the Indus east through the gorge to Skardu. Our guide to the drive from Gilgit to Skardu covers this part stop by stop.
The distances are from the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department's distance chart. Upper Hunza adds to them: Gulmit is 36 km beyond Karimabad and Passu 50 km, both through the Attabad tunnels.
How long does it take?
| Stage | Distance | Realistic time |
|---|---|---|
| Karimabad to Gilgit | 102 km | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Gilgit to Alam Bridge | 47 km | About 1 hour |
| Alam Bridge to Skardu | 171 km | About 4 hours |
| Lunch and short stops | 45 minutes to 1 hour | |
| Total | About 320 km | 7 to 8 hours |
A typical day from Karimabad:
- Leave at 7. The highway down the Hunza valley is quiet early.
- Gilgit by about 9.30. Fuel up, and buy water and snacks for the gorge.
- Alam Bridge by about 10.30. A short stop at the viewpoint over the confluence of the Gilgit and Indus rivers.
- The Skardu road through the middle of the day, with a tea or lunch stop along the way.
- Skardu by mid-afternoon, with enough light for Kachura or the Katpana dunes if you still have energy.
One day or two: should you stop in Gilgit?
From Karimabad or Aliabad, most adults manage it in one day, and it is how most itineraries do it. Break the journey in Gilgit if:
- You are starting in Gulmit, Passu or further up, which makes it nine hours or more.
- You are travelling with small children or older parents. Two days of three to five hours are far easier than one of eight.
- It is winter. With the sun setting before 5 pm in December, eight hours of driving leaves no margin at all.
- You came down from Khunjerab the day before, or are starting late for any reason.
- The Skardu road is under a flood or rain warning. Gilgit is a comfortable place to wait with plenty of hotels, and our guide to hotels in Gilgit covers where to stay.
If you stop, leave Gilgit by 8 the next morning, so the Skardu road is done in daylight with plenty of margin.
Road cautions on the way
The whole route is paved and ordinary cars drive it every season, but three stretches deserve attention.
Hassanabad, below Aliabad
The Shishper glacier above Hassanabad has sent repeated floods down its stream, and in May 2022 one swept away the Karakoram Highway bridge there. In the melt season, and especially when a glacial flood warning has been issued, check that the crossing is open before you leave Karimabad.
Gilgit to Alam Bridge
A good road, but as everywhere in the region, rock can come down after rain. Drive it with the same care as the gorge.
The Skardu road
This is the part that closes most. The road was rebuilt and widened by 2021, but it still runs under steep, loose slopes, and rockfall, debris flows and floods block it every summer. In July 2026 flood damage closed it until a temporary steel bridge was installed. Our guide to the Skardu road condition explains where the problems come from and how to check before you set off.
Three rules cover most of the risk:
- Drive in daylight only. If you are delayed, stop in Gilgit for the night rather than start the gorge in the afternoon.
- Check the road the evening before and in the morning. Call the Tourist Police on 1422 and ask your hotel in Skardu.
- Keep a spare day in July and August, when closures are most frequent.
Which direction is better?
The drive itself is the same either way. What changes is the trip around it.
Hunza first, then Skardu, suits people driving up from Islamabad or Lahore and flying home. It ends the trip at Skardu airport, which takes jets from three airlines and is the more dependable northern airport to fly out of.
Skardu first, then Hunza, suits people who fly into Skardu and drive home down the Karakoram Highway. It also puts the altitude in a sensible order. Our 10-day Hunza and Skardu itinerary is built this way, with the crossing day in the middle.
The summer alternative: via Astore and Deosai
From about June to early autumn, while the Deosai plateau is open, there is a second way to reach Skardu: from Gilgit south to Jaglot and Bunji, up the Astore valley, and across Deosai from the Chilim side. Astore is about 110 km from Gilgit on the tourism department's chart, and Astore to Skardu across the plateau is about 152 km.
It is much slower than the Skardu road, and it is a different kind of trip:
- You need a jeep or high-clearance 4x4 for the plateau, with a driver who knows it.
- It is two days from Hunza, with a night in Astore, since night camping on Deosai has been banned since September 2025.
- It is at over 4,000 metres for hours, which is hard on anyone not yet used to altitude.
For people who want Deosai anyway, it replaces the separate Deosai day from Skardu and turns the transfer into the highlight of the trip. Our Astore to Deosai guide covers the route.
Is it worth combining Hunza and Skardu by road?
Yes, if you have at least nine or ten days. Hunza and Baltistan feel very different, one of villages, forts and orchards along the highway, the other of wide valleys, dunes and a high plateau, and the drive between them is the only way to see both without going back to Islamabad.
With a week or less, it isn't. Two long days of driving, one each way, take too much from a short trip, and you are better off choosing one region. Our seven-day Skardu and Deosai trip gives Baltistan a week of its own, from PKR 90,000 per person, and our nine-day Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour does the same for Hunza.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Skardu from Hunza by road?
About 320 km from Karimabad: 102 km to Gilgit, then 218 km from Gilgit to Skardu. From Gulmit or Passu it is roughly 35 to 50 km more.
How many hours is Hunza to Skardu?
Seven to eight hours from Karimabad with a lunch stop, and an hour or so more from Gulmit or Passu. Landslides or roadworks can add several hours in summer.
Is there a direct road from Hunza to Skardu?
No. Every road route goes through Gilgit and joins the Skardu road at Alam Bridge, near Jaglot. In summer you can also go via Astore and Deosai, by jeep.
Where should I stop between Hunza and Skardu?
Gilgit, if you break the journey. It is about two to two and a half hours from Karimabad and has the widest choice of hotels on the route.
Can a normal car go from Hunza to Skardu?
Yes. The Karakoram Highway and the Skardu road are paved throughout. Only the alternative route across Deosai needs a jeep.
Is the Hunza to Skardu road safe?
The road is good; the hazards are rockfall and floods, mostly in July and August. Drive in daylight, check the road before you leave, and keep a spare day in summer.
