A northern areas trip from Peshawar has three realistic directions: the M-16 Swat motorway north into Swat, the N-45 through the Lowari Tunnel to Chitral, or a shortcut via Mardan and Swabi to join the Karakoram Highway towards Gilgit-Baltistan, avoiding a detour through Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Which one to take depends on where in the north you're heading, and the current security picture matters more from Peshawar than it does starting from Lahore or Karachi.
This guide covers the three route options and what to check before you set out.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Peshawar to Swat (via M-16) | About 3.5 to 5 hours, depending on your final destination in Swat |
| Peshawar to Chitral (via Lowari Tunnel) | About 365 km, roughly 8 hours; the tunnel keeps this route open year-round |
| Peshawar to KKH via Mardan and Swabi | Joins the Karakoram Highway near Thakot without going via Islamabad |
| Security | Peshawar itself is on the UK's "avoid all travel" list; check current advice before this trip |
Option 1: North to Swat via the M-16 motorway
The M-16 Swat motorway connects the M-1 near Nowshera to Chakdara, cutting what used to be a three-hour stretch to about an hour and making Swat itself around 3.5 to 5 hours from Peshawar depending on your final stop. This is the most straightforward of the three options if Swat is your destination rather than a route further north; our Peshawar to Swat guide has the full route.
Option 2: West to Chitral via the Lowari Tunnel
The N-45 to Chitral, through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel, is about 365 km and roughly 8 hours from Peshawar. The tunnel has made this a year-round route, unlike the old Lowari Top track, which closed for months at a time under snow; it can still close briefly for maintenance or after heavy weather, so check locally before relying on it in winter. Our Peshawar to Chitral guide covers this drive stage by stage.
Option 3: Shortcut to the Karakoram Highway via Mardan and Swabi
For travellers heading to Gilgit-Baltistan rather than Chitral or Swat, the route via Mardan and Swabi to Thakot joins the Karakoram Highway without the detour south to Rawalpindi and back north that an Islamabad-first route involves. From Thakot, the KKH continues through Besham towards Chilas and on to Gilgit and Hunza; our Karakoram Highway road trip guide covers that stretch in full.
This is the shortest route on paper, but it's also the one that carries the current UK advisory, covered below, so weigh the distance saved against that before choosing it over a route via Islamabad and Naran.
Is it safe to start this trip from Peshawar?
This needs a direct answer, because it affects the whole plan. As of September 2026, the UK government advises against all travel to Peshawar itself, and against all but essential travel to Mardan, Nowshera and Swabi, three of the districts this route passes through. It also advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, via Besham and Dasu, which is the road this shortcut joins.
On 2 August 2026 a suicide bomber attacked a police station in Swat during a peace rally, killing 17, and there have been other attacks in the wider region through 2026, including at Kohat and Bannu. Pakistani travellers continue to travel through and from Peshawar, and the routes north remain in regular use, but this is not a picture to plan around casually.
Our guide to whether Peshawar is safe has more detail on the current picture. If you are travelling from Peshawar, check current local news and police advice before setting out, and consider routing via Islamabad instead, using Naran and Babusar Pass to reach Gilgit-Baltistan, which avoids both the Mansehra–Chilas stretch of the highway and keeps you off the shortcut through Mardan and Swabi. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's current travel advice before this trip, since it may advise against parts of it, and travelling against that advice can affect your travel insurance.
Which route fits your trip
- Swat only: the M-16 motorway is quick and doesn't touch the areas above.
- Chitral: the Lowari Tunnel route is now a year-round option, and doesn't pass through Peshawar itself once you're on the N-45 heading west.
- Gilgit-Baltistan: weigh the Mardan–Swabi shortcut against the longer route via Islamabad and Naran, given the current advisory on both Peshawar and the Mansehra–Chilas highway stretch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Peshawar to Swat?
About 3.5 to 5 hours via the M-16 Swat motorway, depending on where in Swat you're headed.
Is the Lowari Tunnel route to Chitral open all year?
Generally yes; the tunnel has replaced the old Lowari Top track, which used to close for months under snow. It can still close briefly for maintenance, so check locally before winter travel.
Is it safe to travel from Peshawar to the northern areas right now?
Peshawar itself is on the UK's "avoid all travel" list, and Mardan, Nowshera and Swabi carry an "essential travel only" advisory. Pakistani travellers do use these routes, but check current local news and police advice before setting out, and consider routing via Islamabad instead.
What's the shortest way from Peshawar to Gilgit-Baltistan?
Via Mardan, Swabi and Thakot to join the Karakoram Highway. It's the shortest route on paper, but it passes through areas under a current UK travel advisory, so weigh that against a longer route via Islamabad and Naran.
Do foreign nationals need to be more cautious starting this trip from Peshawar?
Yes. Check your own government's current travel advice before the trip, since it may cover Peshawar and parts of this route specifically, and travelling against that advice can affect your travel insurance.
