Islamabad to Chilas by Road: Distance and Overnight Plan

Chilas is roughly 375 to 450 kilometres from Islamabad by road, depending on which source you trust, and the drive takes about 8 to 11 hours with stops. It is the natural overnight halt on the way to Skardu, Gilgit and Hunza, because it splits the long journey north into two days.

There are two ways to get there, and they are very different. This guide covers the distance, the timing, the road, the safety picture and how to plan the night. For hotels, fuel and sightseeing we point to our other guides rather than repeat them.

How far is Chilas from Islamabad?

Online distance figures range from about 375 km to about 445 km. The difference comes from the route: whether the count starts at Islamabad or Hasan Abdal, and whether the source uses the Hazara Motorway. Plan for roughly 400 km and treat any exact number with caution.

What matters more is time. Sources give Islamabad to Besham at about 220 km and four to five hours, and Besham to Chilas at about 155 km. Some accounts say three to four hours for that second leg, others say five to seven, because the road is narrow, slow and interrupted by checkposts and works. Allow the longer figure and you will rarely be disappointed.

The route: Motorway, Abbottabad, Besham, Dasu

The usual route is Islamabad, the Hazara Motorway to Abbottabad, then the Karakoram Highway through Mansehra, Thakot, Besham, Dasu and Chilas. The Indus runs beside you for most of the second half.

Once you leave Besham the road runs through Kohistan. It hugs the Indus gorge, and in places it is a single lane cut into steep rock, with a long drop on one side. Surface quality changes from stretch to stretch, and construction around Dasu slows traffic. After Chilas the road to Gilgit is generally much better. Our guide to the Kohistan road condition goes into more detail.

Is it safe? What the UK advice says

The UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, which includes Besham, Dasu and Sazin (advice updated in September 2026). Many other governments advise similarly. This is the stretch you drive through to reach Chilas from the south.

Pakistani travellers still use this road every day, as do buses and cargo trucks, and Chilas itself is a routine overnight stop. But you should check local news and current police advice before you set out, and drive it only in daylight. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice first, because travelling against it can void your travel insurance.

Our guide to whether the Karakoram Highway is safe covers this in more depth.

The Babusar alternative

From Islamabad you can also reach Chilas by way of Mansehra, Naran and the Babusar Pass, using the N-15, which comes out on the KKH near Chilas. That route runs about 240 km from Mansehra to Chilas and avoids the Besham to Dasu stretch, which is the point of taking it. Babusar is a high pass that is closed by snow in winter, and many sources put the usual season at roughly June to October, so check its status before you leave. The road is steep and demanding in its own way.

Our comparison of Babusar Top and the KKH helps you choose, and the Islamabad to Gilgit by road guide covers both in more detail.

Timing the day

If you want to reach Chilas in daylight, leave Islamabad early, ideally by 5 or 6 in the morning. A realistic plan looks like this:

1. Islamabad to Abbottabad by motorway, about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.
2. Abbottabad to Besham, with tea and a meal stop, several hours.
3. Besham to Chilas, slow going, with checkposts. Plan for at least four hours.

Aim to be through Dasu with enough light to finish the drive. Starting at 9 or 10 in the morning risks driving the Kohistan stretch at night, which is the mistake to avoid. Our note on driving the KKH at night explains why.

Fuel and food on the way

Fill your tank before Besham and again before you leave Chilas; the gaps beyond Besham are long enough to matter. Our guide to petrol pumps on the Karakoram Highway lists where to fill up.

Food stops are simple roadside places at Besham and Dasu. Carry water, especially in summer, because summer days in the Indus gorge get very hot. See our Chilas weather guide for what to expect.

Planning the night in Chilas

Chilas is a small town with a handful of hotels and guesthouses along the highway, and a few more in the bazaar. Rooms are simple. Our guide to hotels in Chilas covers what exists and what to check before you book. A few points are worth knowing:

• Book ahead in summer and around Eid and long weekends, since Chilas is a stop for almost everyone heading north.
• Air conditioning matters between May and September.
• Arrive before dark, park securely and keep documents handy for checkposts.

In the morning you can spend an hour at the prehistoric carvings beside the Indus before continuing. See Chilas rock carvings and places to visit in Chilas.

Should you stop at Chilas or Besham?

Besham is roughly halfway and about 4 to 5 hours from Islamabad. Stopping there gives you an easier first day, but it leaves the hardest stretch to the morning. Chilas gets you through Kohistan on day one, and it shortens the next day to Gilgit, Hunza or Skardu. The trade-off is a long first day.

Our guide on Islamabad to Skardu by road shows where each option fits in a full trip. If you want to skip the drive, flying to Skardu avoids the KKH altogether.

Frequently asked questions