A motorbike trip to Gilgit-Baltistan from Islamabad takes two riding days to Gilgit and a third to Hunza. Motorbikes are not allowed on Pakistan's motorways, including the Hazara Motorway, so you ride the old road through Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. From late May to the autumn snow most riders cross the Babusar Pass through Naran; the rest of the year the way is the Karakoram Highway through Kohistan. A 125cc or 150cc bike in good order will manage it if you keep the days short and ride only in daylight.
This guide is for riders coming up from the plains: the route, daily distances, bike preparation, gear, and the hazards that are different on two wheels.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route from Islamabad | Old road (N-35) to Mansehra, then Babusar in summer or the KKH through Besham all year |
| Motorways | Closed to motorbikes of every size |
| Islamabad to Gilgit | Two long riding days |
| Highest points | Babusar Pass 4,173 m; Khunjerab Pass 4,693 m |
| Best months | June to September |
| Sensible day in the mountains | 150 to 250 km |
| Bike | 125cc at the least; 150cc is easier with luggage |
| Papers | CNIC, driving licence, the bike's original registration papers |
Which route should you ride?
Getting out of the plains. In November 2022 the Supreme Court upheld the ban on heavy bikes on the motorways, and smaller bikes were never allowed on them. From Islamabad, take the GT Road towards Hasan Abdal, then the old N-35 through Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. From Lahore, the GT Road to Rawalpindi is a full day on its own, so most Lahore riders spend a night in Islamabad.
Over the Babusar Pass, in summer. From Mansehra the N-15 runs through Balakot and Naran, over the pass and down to the KKH at Chilas, about 240 km in all. It is shorter, cooler and far quieter than Kohistan. In 2026 the pass reopened on 25 May and was open to traffic only between 7 am and 6 pm. Our guide to whether Babusar Top is open or closed explains how the dates move.
Along the Karakoram Highway, all year. The old road continues from Mansehra through Battagram to Thakot, then follows the Indus through Besham, Dasu and Kohistan to Chilas. It is slower, busier with trucks and rougher in places, and the construction zone at Dasu has at times opened only in set windows. Our Islamabad to Gilgit road guide covers the stops on both routes.
Both routes meet at Chilas, about 130 km short of Gilgit.
How far should you ride each day?
On mountain roads, expect to average 30 to 40 km an hour once you count checkposts, slow trucks and tea. That makes 150 to 250 km a full day, with room left for a puncture or a landslide.
| Day | Stage | Roughly | Riding time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamabad to Naran | 250 km | 7 to 9 hours |
| 2 | Naran over Babusar to Chilas | 120 km | 4 to 6 hours |
| 3 | Chilas to Karimabad, via Gilgit | 230 km | 6 to 7 hours |
Strong riders often push day two on to Gilgit, but that means the hot Indus valley in the afternoon, when you are most tired. Chilas, at about 1,265 metres, is very hot in June and July, so leave at first light.
Beyond Hunza:
- Khunjerab Pass. Sleep in Passu or Sost the night before, and fill the tank in Sost; there is no fuel beyond it. Our Khunjerab Pass guide covers the season and the checkpoint.
- Skardu. The Jaglot to Skardu road is 167 km of paved road up the Indus gorge, four to five hours from Gilgit, with rockfall the main risk.
- Deosai. A stony, rutted track with no fuel, no workshop and no signal. Night camping on the plateau was banned in 2025, so ride it as a day crossing.
- Fairy Meadows. Private vehicles are not allowed on the jeep track from Raikot Bridge. Leave the bike at the bridge.
Preparing the bike
A 70cc bike can make the trip but struggles on long climbs with luggage. A 125cc is the common choice and the easiest to get fixed anywhere in the north; a 150cc is more comfortable two-up. Parts for large imported bikes are mostly found in the big cities, not in Gilgit.
Get it serviced a week before you leave, so there is time to ride it in:
- Chain and sprockets checked, and the chain adjusted
- Brakes and brake cables in good condition, because the descents are long
- Tyres with plenty of tread
- Fresh oil and a clean air filter for the dust
- A working headlight and a loud horn
Carry a spare tube or plug kit, a pump, clutch and throttle cables, a spark plug, chain lube, your spanners, cable ties and tape. Mechanics are easy to find in Gilgit, Aliabad and Skardu, less so in between.
A carburettor bike runs rich in thin air and feels noticeably weaker near Babusar and Khunjerab, so use a lower gear than you expect on the climbs. Fill up in Naran, because beyond Batakundi you should not count on fuel until Chilas, and carry a litre or two in a proper container for the side valleys.
Riding gear
The temperature range is the hard part: close to 40°C around Chilas in July, and near freezing at the top of Babusar or Khunjerab the same week.
- A full-face helmet that fits
- An armoured jacket, with a thermal layer and neck warmer for the passes
- Summer gloves and a warm waterproof pair
- Boots that cover the ankle
- A rain suit, which also cuts the wind at altitude
- A buff for dust, and a reflective vest for tunnels and dusk
Rawalpindi has the widest choice of riding gear. Buy it there rather than hoping to find it in Gilgit.
Hazards on two wheels
- Trucks and buses own the KKH. Hold your line, give way on climbs and never overtake on a blind bend.
- The Babusar descent drops steeply for a long way on the Diamer side. Use engine braking, stop if the brakes fade, and watch for gravel on the bends.
- Water on the road. Glacier-fed streams run highest in the afternoon, so cross early, and walk a crossing first if you can't see the bottom. In July 2025 a flash flood down Thak Nala on the Chilas side of Babusar killed several tourists.
- Rockfall. Don't stop under loose slopes or ride in heavy rain. Check the Karakoram Highway road status and the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department's advisories before each riding day.
- Tunnels. Headlight on, dark glasses off, before the Attabad tunnels.
- Night. Don't ride after dark anywhere in the mountains.
Is it safe to ride to Gilgit-Baltistan?
Riders from all over Pakistan make this trip every summer, and most of the risk is the road itself. The security picture along the KKH still needs a plain word.
The KKH passes through Besham in Shangla district, where the UK government advises against all but essential travel. In March 2024 a suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying Chinese engineers near Besham, killing five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver. Gunmen attacked a passenger bus near Chilas in December 2023, killing ten, and in February 2026 a bomb attack on a Frontier Works Organization vehicle in Chilas killed one person. The Babusar route avoids Shangla and Kohistan, but both routes pass Chilas.
Check local news and current police advice before each riding day, and follow instructions at checkposts. Foreign riders should know that their government's advice may say not to go to some districts on the way, and that ignoring it can void travel insurance.
Papers and checkposts
Carry your CNIC, a driving licence with the motorcycle category, and the bike's original registration papers. If the bike is registered to someone else, a signed letter from the owner with a copy of their CNIC saves an argument. Foreign riders need a passport with a valid visa and photocopies to leave at checkposts.
Who this trip suits
It suits riders with long highway days behind them, who can fix a puncture at the roadside and ride with at least one other bike. Two bikes are far safer than one in a gorge with no signal.
It is a poor first long ride, hard with a child on the back, and hard for anyone who wilts in heat. If the riding in the mountains is what you want, consider driving or flying north and hiring a bike there: rental shops in Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu hire out 125cc and 150cc bikes. Ask what papers and deposit they need, and check the brakes before you pay. Our travel guide has more on altitude and weather across the north.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride a motorbike on the motorway to Gilgit?
No. Motorbikes of every size are banned from Pakistan's motorways, including the Hazara Motorway. Ride the GT Road and the old N-35 through Abbottabad and Mansehra instead.
How many days does it take to reach Gilgit by motorbike?
Two riding days from Islamabad, with a night in Naran or Chilas, and three to reach Hunza without rushing. From Lahore, add a day on the GT Road.
Is a 70cc bike enough for Gilgit-Baltistan?
Riders do it, but it is slow on the climbs and struggles with luggage or a pillion. A 125cc is the practical minimum.
Is Babusar or the KKH better on a motorbike?
In summer, Babusar is shorter, cooler and has far fewer trucks. It is open only in daylight and only from about late May to the autumn snow; the rest of the year the KKH is the only way.
Is it safe to ride to Gilgit-Baltistan?
Thousands of riders make the trip every summer, and the main dangers are traffic, weather and falling rock. There have also been attacks near Besham and Chilas, so check current advice before you set off and never ride at night.
