A Northern Areas trip from Karachi costs roughly PKR 70,000 to 110,000 per person for a week in Skardu or Hunza in 2026, flying to Islamabad and joining a car or tour from there, and closer to PKR 55,000 to 85,000 if you can find a seasonal direct flight to Skardu. Driving the whole way from Karachi is a different trip entirely: it's over 1,400 km and around 18 to 20 hours to Islamabad alone, before the mountain roads even start, and almost nobody does it as a holiday drive.
This guide compares the fly-drive route against the long road option, and prices out a realistic week from Karachi.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Karachi to Islamabad by road | About 1,450 km, 18 to 20 hours driving |
| Karachi to Islamabad by air | About 2 hours |
| Karachi to Islamabad flight (economy) | Roughly PKR 16,000 to 30,000 return (2026) |
| Karachi to Skardu (seasonal direct) | Runs on limited days; book well ahead |
| Recommended route | Fly to Islamabad or Skardu, then road or tour from there |
Why almost no one drives from Karachi
The road distance from Karachi to Islamabad is roughly 1,450 km, and most route estimates put the drive at 18 to 20 hours before stops. That's before you've reached Abbottabad, let alone Hunza or Skardu, which each add another six to ten hours beyond Islamabad. Spread over two or three days with proper rest, it's possible, but it eats most of a week's holiday just getting there and back, on top of tolls and fuel for a car that then has to make the same drive home.
For almost every Karachi-based traveller, flying to Islamabad (or, when the seasonal service runs, direct to Skardu) and picking up transport there is the only realistic option for a week-long trip.
Flying in: the two routes
Fly to Islamabad, then go north by road. This is the standard route. Economy fares from Karachi to Islamabad run roughly PKR 16,000 to 30,000 return in 2026, depending on the airline and how far ahead you book; September is typically one of the cheaper months to fly this route. From Islamabad it's a full day's drive to Hunza (around 12 to 14 hours) or Skardu (around 12 hours plus, or with an overnight stop), by hired car, coach, or as part of a tour.
Fly directly to Skardu. PIA runs flights from Karachi to Skardu on a limited schedule, seasonally, and they're often routed via Islamabad or Lahore rather than nonstop. When a direct or near-direct service is running, it saves the long road leg from Islamabad, but seats go quickly in the summer season and the flight can be cancelled at short notice if the weather at Skardu isn't clear enough for the approach. Build a spare day into your plan either side if you're relying on it, and check the current PIA schedule before booking anything else around it.
There's no equivalent direct service to Gilgit for Hunza-bound travellers; that route is by road from Islamabad, or by flying to Skardu and connecting overland, which is a longer detour than it looks on a map.
A fly-drive budget for a week
For a couple flying from Karachi to Islamabad, then joining a hired car and driver for a week in Skardu or Hunza, staying in simple to mid-range hotels:
- Flights (return, both people): roughly PKR 32,000 to 60,000
- Car with driver, Islamabad to the north and back, plus days there: roughly PKR 70,000 to 130,000 for the week, depending on the vehicle — see our car with driver rates for the breakdown by car type
- Rooms, a week, mid-range: roughly PKR 60,000 to 100,000 for the two of you
- Food, fuel already in the car rate, fees and extras: roughly PKR 15,000 to 25,000
That puts a fly-drive week at roughly PKR 90,000 to 160,000 per person once split. Joining an organised tour instead of arranging a car separately often works out close to the same total with less coordination; our Skardu and Deosai itinerary is priced from PKR 90,000 per person and already includes the road transport once you're in the north.
Cutting the cost from Karachi
The flight is the one cost a Karachi traveller pays that someone starting from Islamabad doesn't, so it's worth booking early. Fares move a good deal with how far ahead you book, and travelling outside the June-to-August peak and Eid weeks brings both flights and hotel rates down. A NATCO or similar coach from Islamabad onward is cheaper than a hired car if your group is small, though slower; see our trip cost for a couple for how that compares once split two ways.
Booking around the weather
Flights into Skardu and Gilgit are more weather-dependent than most domestic routes in Pakistan, because the approach through the mountains needs clear visibility. A Karachi traveller connecting through Islamabad has a fallback if a mountain flight is delayed: continue by road instead, which costs a day but not the whole trip. Someone booked on a direct or near-direct Karachi–Skardu service with a tight return date has less room to absorb a cancellation, so it's worth choosing flexible or refundable fares for that leg specifically, even if they cost a little more, and avoiding a same-day connection onward to another flight.
Is it worth flying direct to Skardu?
If the seasonal Karachi–Skardu service is running on dates that suit you, yes — it saves a long day of road driving and gets you into the mountains faster. But it's a schedule to build a trip around rather than one to depend on: weather cancellations at Skardu are common enough that a rigid itinerary with a same-day onward connection is a risk. Flying to Islamabad first, with the option to go north by road if a Skardu flight falls through, is the safer plan for a first trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth driving from Karachi to the Northern Areas?
For most travellers, no. The road distance to Islamabad alone is around 1,450 km and 18 to 20 hours, before the mountain roads to Hunza or Skardu even begin. Flying to Islamabad and arranging transport from there is far more practical for a normal holiday.
How much does a flight from Karachi to Islamabad cost?
Roughly PKR 16,000 to 30,000 return in economy in 2026, depending on the airline and booking window. Prices move a lot with demand, so book as early as you can for peak season.
Does PIA fly direct from Karachi to Skardu?
There's a seasonal, limited-schedule service, and it's sometimes routed via Islamabad or Lahore rather than truly nonstop. Check the current PIA schedule before relying on it, and keep a spare day either side in case of weather cancellations.
What's a realistic total budget from Karachi for a week?
Roughly PKR 90,000 to 160,000 per person for a week in Skardu or Hunza in 2026, flying to Islamabad and travelling by hired car with mid-range hotels. A tighter budget using a coach and simple guesthouses brings that down considerably.
Is Gilgit reachable by direct flight from Karachi?
No. Karachi has no direct Gilgit service; the route to Hunza is by road from Islamabad, or by flying to Skardu and continuing overland, which adds significant driving time rather than saving it.
