A bike tour in Pakistan almost always means riding north in summer. The classic route runs from Islamabad through Naran, over the Babusar Pass to Chilas and up the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit, Hunza and the Khunjerab Pass, with Skardu and the Deosai Plains as the second great ride. The window is roughly June to September, when the high passes are clear of snow. Motorbikes are not allowed on Pakistan's motorways, so the whole trip is on national highways and older roads.
This guide is the overview: which routes riders actually do, when to go, the rules and papers, fuel and rentals, and the current safety picture. Each route has its own detailed guide, linked as we go.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Main season | June to September, when Babusar, Deosai and Khunjerab are open |
| Classic route | Islamabad, Naran, Babusar, Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza, Khunjerab |
| Second route | Gilgit to Skardu, then across Deosai to Astore |
| Highest points | Khunjerab 4,693 m, Babusar 4,173 m, Deosai plateau about 4,114 m |
| Motorways | Closed to motorbikes, including heavy bikes |
| Papers | CNIC, driving licence, original registration book |
| Foreign riders | Passport, visa and, for a foreign-registered bike, a carnet de passages |
What are the classic bike routes in Pakistan?
Most Pakistani riders do one of five routes. They differ a lot in road quality, remoteness and current security advice, so pick the route first and plan the bike around it.
| Route | Best months | Character | Security note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad to Hunza via Babusar | June to September | Paved almost throughout, one high pass | Babusar avoids the KKH stretch the UK advises against |
| Gilgit to Skardu and Deosai | July to September | Mountain road, then gravel plateau at 4,000 m | Gilgit-Baltistan not on the UK list |
| Chitral and Shandur | June to September | Rough roads beyond Chitral, long gaps between towns | UK advises against the N45 Mardan to Chitral |
| Neelum valley, Azad Kashmir | May to October | Narrow valley road, broken in upper reaches | Most of the valley within 10 miles of the LoC |
| Makran Coastal Highway | October to March | Long, flat, empty desert coast | UK advises against all travel to Balochistan |
Islamabad to Hunza and Khunjerab over Babusar
This is the ride most people mean by a northern bike tour. From Islamabad you ride the old road through Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra, then up the Kaghan valley to Naran. Above Naran the road climbs to Babusar Top at 4,173 metres and drops steeply to Chilas on the Indus, where it joins the Karakoram Highway north to Gilgit.
From Gilgit the KKH is in good condition through Hunza, past Attabad Lake and Passu, to Sost and the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 metres. Our motorbike trip to Gilgit-Baltistan guide covers day stages, bike preparation and the hazards on this route in detail.
Skardu and the Deosai Plains
Riders who have reached Gilgit often add Skardu. The road from the Jaglot junction follows the Indus gorge to Skardu, and from there a track climbs onto Deosai, the high plateau that sits at an average of about 4,114 metres. Crossing Deosai and coming down to Astore lets you ride a loop instead of retracing the gorge road. Deosai is gravel and stream crossings, not tarmac, and it is only passable in summer. A lighter bike with good ground clearance handles it better than a heavy road tourer.
Chitral, Shandur and the Kalash valleys
Chitral is reached through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel, opened in 2017, which keeps the route open beyond the old pass season. From Chitral the Shandur Pass route continues to Gilgit, a remote and rough ride with long gaps between fuel stops. Our Chitral by motorbike guide covers the tunnel, fuel and roads, but read the safety section below first, because this route is under a current UK advisory.
Neelum valley and the Makran coast
The Neelum valley in Azad Kashmir and the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan are both popular with Pakistani riding groups and both have their own guides: the Neelum valley bike trip and the Makran Coastal Highway bike trip. Both are also under current advisories. The Makran coast is the one winter route on this list, ridden in the cool months when the north is under snow.
When is the season for a bike tour in Pakistan?
The northern season is set by snow on the passes. Babusar usually opens to traffic in early summer once it has been cleared and closes again with the first heavy autumn snow, so the dates move every year. Deosai is open for a shorter window, broadly July to September. Khunjerab is usually open to visitors from about May into November. Check our page on whether Babusar Top is open before you set a start date.
For a rider, July and August bring the most reliable passes but also monsoon rain on the lower roads, which means landslides in Kaghan, Kohistan and the Indus gorge. September is often the best month on two wheels: drier roads, clear air and fewer crowds, with cold mornings above 3,000 metres. Our seasons guide covers what each month brings across the north.
Avoid riding north over Eid and the big summer holidays if you can. The Naran road and Babusar fill with cars, and traffic jams on single-lane mountain roads are harder on a loaded bike than on a car driver.
Can you ride a motorbike on the motorway?
No. Motorcycles are banned from Pakistan's motorways under the National Highway Safety Ordinance. In November 2022 the Supreme Court upheld that restriction and overturned an earlier Islamabad High Court decision that had let heavy bikes above 600cc use the motorways under conditions. That means no M-2 from Lahore, no M-1 and no Hazara Motorway.
In practice:
- From Lahore, riders take the GT Road (N-5) to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
- From Karachi, it is several days of riding up the N-5 or N-55 before the mountains start, which is why many Karachi riders rent a bike in Islamabad instead.
- From Islamabad, the route north is the old road through Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra.
Check with the National Highways and Motorway Police before you go if you hear the rule has changed, because the debate comes back every few years.
What papers do you need?
Pakistani riders need their CNIC, a valid motorcycle driving licence and the bike's original registration book. If the bike is not in your name, carry a signed letter from the owner with a copy of their CNIC, because police at checkposts can ask for proof that you are allowed to ride it. Keep photocopies of everything in a waterproof bag, separate from the originals.
Foreign riders need a passport and Pakistani visa, and a foreign-registered bike needs a carnet de passages for temporary import. Some areas require foreigners to register at checkposts or travel with a police escort; our guide to police escorts for foreigners explains where that applies. Crossing into China at Khunjerab on your own bike needs separate Chinese permissions arranged well in advance, not just a visa.
Wear a full-face helmet and proper riding gear. Helmets are a legal requirement, but the real reason is the gravel on every bend above Naran.
Should you rent a bike or ride your own?
Most Pakistani riders take their own bike, often a 125cc or 150cc. That works on the paved Babusar and KKH route if the bike is in good order and the rider keeps daily distances sensible. Our guide to whether a 125cc bike can make it north is honest about the limits.
Renting is the choice for overseas Pakistanis, riders from Karachi who don't want to ride the length of the country, and anyone who wants a bigger or newer bike. Rental outfits in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan offer a range of bikes with deposits and conditions that vary widely. Read our bike rental guide for what to check before you hand over a deposit.
Fuel, servicing and spares
Fuel is easy along the main route: Abbottabad, Mansehra, Balakot, Naran, Chilas, Gilgit, Aliabad and Sost all have pumps. Sost is the last fuel before Khunjerab. The gaps are on the remote routes: Deosai, Shandur and the upper Neelum. Carry a spare litre or two there and fill up at every town, not when the gauge is low.
Fuel quality in small mountain towns can be poor, and some sell from drums. A fuel filter that you can check is worth having. For servicing, Gilgit and Skardu have mechanics who work on the common Japanese and Chinese bikes, and every bazaar town can fix a puncture. For a heavy bike, carry the spares you would struggle to find: brake pads, a clutch cable, a chain link and the right tubes.
Is a bike tour in Pakistan safe?
On the classic Babusar and Hunza route, the main risks are the road and the weather, not security. Landslides after rain, falling stones in the gorges, glacial streams that run across the road on hot afternoons, loose gravel on bends and trucks on the KKH all ask for daylight riding and modest daily distances. Altitude also slows reactions and makes cold more dangerous, so dress for winter above 3,500 metres even in August.
The security picture matters on the other routes. The UK government's travel advice, updated in September 2026, advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas (through Battagram, Besham and Dasu), on the N45 from Mardan to Chitral including the Kalash valleys, in all of Balochistan and in Azad Kashmir within 10 miles of the Line of Control, which covers most of the Neelum valley. Gilgit-Baltistan itself and the Babusar route are not on that list. Swat, where a suicide attack at the Kabal police station killed 17 people in August 2026, is also under an all-travel advisory.
Pakistani riders still travel on all of these routes. Check local news and current police advice before setting out, and ask at checkposts about the road ahead. In summer, the Babusar route lets you avoid the Kohistan stretch of the KKH entirely. Overseas visitors should know that their own government's advice may say not to go, and that riding against it can void travel insurance.
Who is a bike tour in Pakistan right for?
It suits riders with some experience of long days, mixed surfaces and fixing small problems themselves. The Babusar and Hunza route is a realistic first big tour for a careful rider on a sound bike. Deosai and Shandur are better as a second trip, ideally in a group with a support vehicle or at least a second bike.
It is not a good choice for a rider who has never done more than a few hours at a time, for anyone who must stick to fixed dates over Eid, or for a pillion who dislikes cold and long days. Groups should read our guide to riding the north as a group, which covers formations and fuel planning. If you would rather see the same mountains without riding, our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour covers the KKH by road in nine days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best route for a bike tour in Pakistan?
Islamabad to Hunza over the Babusar Pass and up the Karakoram Highway, ridden between June and September. It is paved almost all the way and avoids the Kohistan stretch of the KKH that the UK advises against.
Can motorbikes go on Pakistan's motorways?
No. Motorcycles of every size are banned from the motorways, a restriction the Supreme Court upheld in November 2022, so riders use the GT Road and national highways.
What is the best month for a motorbike trip to the northern areas?
September is often the best balance of open passes, drier roads and fewer crowds. July and August have the most reliable passes but more monsoon landslides on the lower roads.
Do I need a permit for a bike tour in Pakistan?
Pakistani riders need only a CNIC, driving licence and the bike's registration book. Foreign riders need a visa, a carnet for a foreign-registered bike, and in some areas checkpost registration or a police escort.
Is a 125cc bike enough for the northern areas?
On the paved Babusar and KKH route, a well-maintained 125cc can make it with patient riding and short days. For Deosai, Shandur or two up with luggage, a bigger bike makes the trip safer and less tiring.
Where is the last petrol pump before Khunjerab?
Sost, in upper Hunza. Fill the tank there, because there is no fuel between Sost and the border.
