NATCO Bus to Gilgit: Classes, Luggage and Booking

The NATCO bus to Gilgit is booked through the NATCO app, through Bookme, at the Pir Wadhai terminal in Rawalpindi, or by phone, and which of those suits you best depends mostly on whether you want to choose your own seat. NATCO, the Gilgit-Baltistan government's own transport company, runs the route on a mix of Yutong, Daewoo and Hino coaches, and the one you're booked onto matters more for comfort than anything else about the trip.

This guide is about booking NATCO specifically: the coach types, what you can carry, where it leaves from, and how to reserve a seat. For fares, exact timings and how NATCO compares with private operators such as Mashabrum Tours and Silk Route, see our full guide to the Rawalpindi to Gilgit bus.

What kind of bus will you get?

NATCO doesn't run a single standard coach on the Gilgit route. Depending on the day and the schedule, you may be booked onto a Yutong, a Daewoo or an older Hino, and the three are not the same experience.

• Yutong coaches are the newest in the fleet, with air conditioning and the most comfortable seating for an overnight ride.
• Daewoo-branded coaches (a bus type NATCO runs, not the separate Daewoo Express company) are the other common AC option on this route.
• Hino buses are older stock. They still run the route reliably, but the seats and the ride are more basic, and they're worth avoiding for an overnight trip if you have a choice.

When you book, ask which coach is assigned to your date. It isn't always shown clearly on the booking apps, and the difference between a Yutong and a Hino on an 18-hour ride is significant.

Where the bus actually leaves from

NATCO's departure point for both the Rawalpindi and Islamabad ends of the route is the Pir Wadhai terminal in Rawalpindi, the city's main inter-city bus stand. NATCO also keeps a separate booking office in Islamabad (051 4864041), but that is for buying tickets rather than a second departure point, so confirm at booking exactly where your coach leaves from and get there at least 30 minutes early.

At the other end, NATCO's Gilgit terminal is in Jutial, on the main road into town, with taxis readily available for the last leg to your hotel.

Journey time and fare, briefly

NATCO's Gilgit coaches have been listed at around PKR 5,500 one way in 2026, on both the Daewoo and Yutong services, with the ride taking roughly 18 to 20 hours along the Karakoram Highway when the road is clear. That can stretch well beyond a day if there's a landslide or a closure near Kohistan. Fares move with fuel prices, so treat any figure, including this one, as a guide and confirm the current price when you book. Our Rawalpindi to Gilgit bus guide sets this alongside the private operators and covers the route in detail.

Luggage rules

NATCO's standard allowance for checked luggage has been reported at roughly 40 to 50 kg per passenger, carried in the coach's hold. Above that, NATCO offers a separate courier service for extra bags and boxes rather than loading them onto the passenger coach, which is worth knowing if you're bringing supplies north or bulky items back down.

A few practical points:

• Keep anything you'll want on the overnight ride, a warm layer, snacks, medication, with you in the cabin rather than in the hold.
• Label checked bags clearly; buses stop at several terminals and towns on the way north.
• Ask about the courier option at booking if you expect to be over the limit, rather than turning up at Pir Wadhai and finding out then.

Choosing a seat

NATCO's booking apps normally show a seat map, and it's worth spending a minute on it rather than accepting whatever is offered first. Seats over the wheel arches sit a little higher and can feel bumpier on the rough stretches through Kohistan; seats near the front give the steadiest ride and the best view once the mountains start. Women travelling alone are usually seated next to other women, and families are kept together, but it helps to say so when you book rather than leaving it to be sorted out at the terminal.

If you're prone to motion sickness, a seat closer to the front over the axle is the more comfortable choice for the long, winding night through Kohistan, and it's worth taking medication before the bends start rather than after.

How to book a NATCO seat

• The NATCO app. Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store as "NATCO – Ticket Booking," it lets you pick a route, a date and a seat, and pay by card, JazzCash or Easypaisa.
• Bookme. NATCO sells seats through Bookme's website and app alongside its own channels, and it's often the easiest way to compare available coaches and times at a glance.
• At Pir Wadhai. You can buy a ticket in person on the day, but a seat isn't guaranteed, especially in summer, around Eid or on long weekends. Book ahead if you can.
• By phone. Rawalpindi's NATCO office is on 051 9334556 and the Gilgit terminal is on 05811 920435, both numbers listed on the NATCO website.

Carry your CNIC to book and to travel. Foreign nationals need their passport and Pakistani visa, plus a few photocopies, since checkposts along the Karakoram Highway ask for one.

Is the NATCO bus the right choice?

For a solo traveller or a couple who don't mind an overnight ride and want the cheapest way to Gilgit, yes. NATCO is the longest-running operator on the route, it has offices at both ends if something goes wrong, and it keeps running through the off-season when some private coaches don't. For a family with young children, anyone who struggles to sleep sitting up, or a group in a hurry, a private car with a driver or a flight (when it's running) is more comfortable, even at a higher cost. Our guide to hiring a car with a driver for the northern areas covers that option.

Frequently asked questions