Naran to Skardu via Deosai is a scenic back route that swaps the Karakoram Highway for a higher, slower road over Babusar Pass, through Astore, and across the Deosai plateau. It only works from around June to September, needs a 4x4 for the Deosai leg, and is best treated as a two-day journey rather than a long single push.
This guide sets out each stage of the route, when it's open, what vehicle you need, and how to plan a realistic two-day version of the drive.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route | Naran, over Babusar Pass, to Chilas, Astore, Deosai, Skardu |
| Season | Babusar roughly June to mid-October; Astore–Deosai leg only June to September |
| Vehicle | Normal car to Astore in summer; 4x4 required for the Deosai crossing |
| Astore to Skardu via Deosai | About 150 to 155 km, roughly 7 to 8 hours in a 4x4 |
| Suggested pace | 2 days, with an overnight in Astore or on Deosai |
The route stage by stage
Naran to Babusar Top, about two hours on a paved but winding road, open roughly June to mid-October and closed the rest of the year by snow. Our Babusar Pass guide covers this stretch on its own.
Babusar Top to Chilas, around an hour down onto the Karakoram Highway, with the steepest, most careful driving of the whole trip on the Chilas side of the pass.
Chilas towards Astore, following the KKH a short way before turning off near Raikot Bridge onto the Astore road, which is good as far as the KKH junction and rougher for the final stretch into Astore Valley itself.
Astore to Skardu via Deosai, the heart of this route: a 4x4-only crossing of about 150 to 155 km over the Deosai plateau, at altitudes above 4,000 metres for long stretches, taking roughly 7 to 8 hours of driving. This leg is only open from around June to September; snow of several metres closes the plateau the rest of the year. Our Astore to Deosai and Deosai National Park guides cover this stretch and the plateau itself in more detail.
Why choose this over the direct road
The more common way into Skardu is the direct Gilgit–Skardu road, reached via the Karakoram Highway. This Naran–Astore–Deosai route is longer and slower, but it adds Babusar Pass, the Astore valley and a crossing of Deosai itself to the journey, rather than treating Deosai as a separate side trip from Skardu later. It suits travellers who want the plateau to be part of the arrival, not an afterthought.
It is not a faster way to Skardu, and it is not available outside summer. If your dates fall outside June to September, or you'd rather not manage a 4x4 crossing on the way in, the direct Gilgit road is the reliable choice, and our Skardu and Deosai tour reaches Deosai as a side trip from Skardu instead.
Vehicle and jeep needs
A normal car can manage Naran to Astore in good summer weather, though the final approach into Astore town is rough enough that many drivers prefer a higher-clearance vehicle. The Astore–Deosai–Skardu leg is 4x4 only: the track crosses open, largely unpaved high ground with washed-out sections in places, and there is no fuel or mechanical help along the way. Most travellers either bring their own 4x4 or hire a jeep and driver in Astore for this leg specifically.
A realistic two-day plan
- Day 1: Naran to Astore. Leave Naran early, cross Babusar Top by mid-morning, and reach Astore by mid-afternoon after Chilas and the Astore road. Overnight in Astore or push on to Rama Meadows if you have time and daylight left.
- Day 2: Astore to Skardu via Deosai. Leave early to cross the plateau in daylight, since weather on Deosai can turn quickly even in summer. Stop for the wide views and, if you're camping, consider a night on the plateau itself before finishing into Skardu the following morning instead of pushing straight through.
Trying to do the whole route from Naran to Skardu in a single day is possible in good conditions but leaves no room for a closure, a breakdown or simply wanting to stop. Build in the second day.
What to carry
- Extra fuel and water; there is nothing to buy between Astore and Skardu
- Warm clothing regardless of the month; Deosai is cold even at midday in summer
- Cash, since there are no ATMs on this stretch
- A full tank from Chilas or Astore before starting the Deosai crossing
Is this route worth it?
For travellers with a 4x4 or a hired jeep, decent time, and an interest in Deosai as a destination rather than a box to tick, yes. It turns the journey into part of the holiday rather than a means of getting from one place to another. Families with young children, anyone pressed for time, or a group without a suitable vehicle should take the direct Gilgit–Skardu road instead and treat Deosai as a separate day trip from Skardu.
This route uses the Babusar Pass rather than the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, so it avoids the stretch the UK government currently advises against travelling on.
Frequently asked questions
Can a normal car drive from Naran to Skardu via Deosai?
As far as Astore, yes, in good summer conditions. The Astore to Skardu leg over Deosai needs a 4x4, since the track is unpaved and crosses high, exposed ground.
When is the Naran to Skardu route via Deosai open?
Roughly June to September for the Deosai crossing, and a little longer, into mid-October, for Babusar Top on its own. Confirm both sections locally before you set out, since dates move with the snow each year.
How long does the whole route take?
Plan on two days: one from Naran to Astore, crossing Babusar Pass, and a second from Astore to Skardu across Deosai, which alone takes 7 to 8 hours of driving.
Is this route safer than the Karakoram Highway through Kohistan?
It avoids the stretch of the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas that the UK currently advises against, since it uses Babusar Pass instead. The Deosai crossing carries its own risks from altitude, weather and the remote, unpaved track.
Do I need to book a jeep in advance for the Deosai crossing?
It helps in July and August, when demand is highest, but jeeps and drivers are generally available to arrange in Astore with a day's notice.
