Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are often planned as one trip, but there is no direct road between the Neelum Valley and Hunza or Skardu: you go back through Islamabad and out again. A combined Kashmir and northern areas itinerary works best as two legs joined at Islamabad rather than one continuous loop, and needs at least 10 to 12 days to do both properly.
This guide covers why the two halves don't connect directly, how to sequence them, and how many days each leg realistically needs.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Regions | Neelum Valley (Azad Kashmir) and Hunza or Skardu (Gilgit-Baltistan) |
| Link between them | Islamabad, both ways; no direct road |
| Minimum for both | 10 to 12 days |
| Comfortable for both | 14 to 16 days |
| Best months | June to September, for Deosai, Khunjerab and the upper Neelum road all to be open |
| Off-road shortcut | Noori Top jeep crossing, summer only, for experienced groups |
Why you can't drive straight from Neelum to Hunza
The Neelum Valley runs north-east from Muzaffarabad along the Line of Control, hemmed in by the border on one side and mountains on the other. It does not connect by paved road to the Kaghan valley or the Karakoram Highway. The only link is the Noori Top jeep track, an unpaved, summer-only crossing from Sharda to Jalkhad near Naran that needs a 4x4 and an experienced local driver; our Noori Top guide covers what that crossing involves. It is not a route for a family itinerary with a fixed schedule.
For everyone else, the practical route is back down the Neelum Valley to Muzaffarabad, on to Islamabad, and out again on the Karakoram Highway or via Naran and Babusar towards Gilgit-Baltistan. Treat the two halves as separate legs that share Islamabad as a hub, not as one drive.
How the combined trip sequences
Most travellers do Kashmir first, since it is the shorter and closer leg from Islamabad, then head north for the longer Gilgit-Baltistan half. Reversing the order works equally well; it comes down to whether you'd rather end on the higher, more remote scenery of Hunza or Skardu, or ease back into a shorter drive home through Kashmir.
A typical structure:
- Islamabad to Muzaffarabad and the Neelum Valley, 4 to 5 days: Muzaffarabad, Kel, Arang Kel and Sharda, with a night or two at each stop rather than a single long loop.
- Back to Islamabad, a day, ideally with a night's rest before the next leg.
- Islamabad north into Gilgit-Baltistan, 6 to 8 days: either Hunza and Khunjerab, or Skardu and Deosai, depending on which suits your time and interests.
- Return to Islamabad, closing the loop.
Choosing Hunza or Skardu for the second leg
Both pair well with Kashmir; which one fits depends on time and appetite for driving.
- Hunza and Khunjerab suits a slightly shorter second leg. The Karakoram Highway is a long but well-paved drive, and our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour covers it over nine days from Islamabad.
- Skardu and Deosai suits travellers with a bit more time and an interest in the Deosai plateau, which only opens roughly June to September. Our Skardu and Deosai tour runs this leg over seven days.
Combining both Hunza and Skardu with Kashmir in a single trip is possible but pushes the total past three weeks; most people choose one northern region per trip and save the other for next time.
Best time for both halves to be open
June to September is the one window when everything lines up: the Neelum Valley road is clear, Khunjerab Pass is open, and Deosai is accessible if that's part of your route. Outside this window, the Kashmir leg is still usually possible, but Deosai and Khunjerab may be closed by snow, so check current status before building a fixed itinerary around them.
Is it safe?
As of September 2026, the UK government advises against all travel in Azad Kashmir within 10 miles of the Line of Control, which covers most of the Neelum Valley, and against all but essential travel to the rest of Azad Kashmir. The 2026 Joint Awami Action Committee protests brought road blockades and long internet shutdowns to parts of AJK, and the government asked visitors to leave during the worst of it in June. Gilgit-Baltistan itself carries no such advisory, and nor does the Babusar route into it, but the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, via Besham and Dasu, is advised against; the summer Babusar road avoids that stretch.
Pakistani travellers visit both regions every summer, and identity checks are routine in the Neelum Valley, so carry your CNIC. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's current travel advice before you go, since travelling against it can void your insurance. Check local news and current police advice for both legs before setting out.
Is combining them worth it?
For travellers with 10 days or more, yes: it makes efficient use of one long journey from the rest of the country, and the two regions look and feel different enough that neither steals the other's shine. For a trip of a week or less, pick one region and do it properly rather than rushing both.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive directly from Neelum Valley to Hunza?
Not by a normal road. The only link is the Noori Top jeep crossing from Sharda to Jalkhad, a summer-only, unpaved 4x4 route. Everyone else returns to Islamabad and heads north again from there.
How many days do I need for Kashmir and the northern areas together?
At least 10 to 12 days for a reasonable pace across both, and 14 to 16 for a comfortable one. Less than 10 days usually means rushing one leg or cutting it out.
Which is easier to combine with Kashmir: Hunza or Skardu?
Hunza is the slightly shorter northern leg from Islamabad. Skardu adds the Deosai plateau but needs a little more time and only opens fully from around June to September.
Is it safer to visit Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan?
Gilgit-Baltistan carries no UK travel advisory. Parts of Azad Kashmir near the Line of Control do, so check current advice for the Neelum Valley specifically before you travel, whatever passport you hold.
Do I need separate permits for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan?
Pakistani citizens need only their CNIC for both. Foreign nationals need a valid Pakistani visa, and should expect identity checks in the Neelum Valley given its proximity to the Line of Control.
