Any northern areas trip plan from Islamabad comes down to four roads out of the city: the Karakoram Highway north to Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu; the Kaghan valley road to Naran and over the Babusar Pass; the Swat Motorway west to Swat and Chitral; and the Murree Expressway east to the Galiyat and Kashmir. How many days you have decides which. With three or four days, stay within six hours of the city. With a week, Hunza or Skardu become possible. With ten days or more, you can combine them.
This guide sets out what each road is like, how far it takes you in a day, and which routes fit each trip length.
| At a glance | Way out of Islamabad | Main destinations | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karakoram Highway | M-1, Hazara Motorway to Thakot, then the N-35 | Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Khunjerab | All year, with closures |
| Kaghan road and Babusar | Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, then the N-15 | Shogran, Naran, Babusar, on to Chilas | Naran from about late April; the pass from late May or June to autumn |
| Swat Motorway | M-1, then the M-16 at the Karnal Sher Khan interchange | Mingora, Malam Jabba, Kalam, Dir, Chitral | All year to Mingora |
| Murree Expressway | E-75 from Bhara Kahu | Murree, Nathia Gali, Muzaffarabad, Neelum | All year, snow closures in winter |
The four roads north, and what each is like
The Karakoram Highway
The main road to Gilgit-Baltistan and the only one open all year. From Islamabad you take the M-1 towards Peshawar, turn north at Burhan onto the Hazara Motorway, and meet the Indus at Thakot. From there the N-35 runs through Kohistan to Chilas, then on to Gilgit and Hunza. The Skardu road leaves it at Jaglot.
- Islamabad to Besham: about 250 km, 4 to 6 hours.
- Islamabad to Chilas: about 460 km, 10 to 13 hours with stops.
- Islamabad to Gilgit: about 600 km, two days.
- Islamabad to Karimabad or Skardu: two days, arriving on the afternoon of day two.
The slow, weather-exposed part is Kohistan, between Besham and Chilas. Our Karakoram Highway road trip guide takes the whole highway section by section.
The Kaghan valley and the Babusar Pass
The Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, then the N-15 up the Kunhar river through Balakot, Kiwai and Kaghan to Naran, six to seven hours from Islamabad on a normal day and eight or more on a summer weekend. Beyond Naran the road climbs to Babusar Top at 4,173 metres and drops to the Karakoram Highway at Chilas.
This road does two jobs. It is a destination in itself, for Shogran, Naran and Saif-ul-Malook, and in summer it is the scenic shortcut to Gilgit-Baltistan that avoids Kohistan. The pass opens in late May or June once the snow is cleared (25 May in 2026), closes with the autumn snow, and is a daylight-only crossing.
The Swat Motorway: Swat, Dir and Chitral
The M-1 west, then the M-16 north from the Karnal Sher Khan interchange through the Malakand hills to Chakdara. From there the N-95 goes up the Swat valley to Mingora, three and a half to four hours from Islamabad, and on to Kalam, 8 to 10 hours in all. The N-45 branches off towards Dir, the Lowari tunnel and Chitral, 10 to 12 hours from Islamabad.
The motorway half is quick; the valley roads are slow, and the road above Bahrain to Kalam is still damaged in places. Security is a real consideration on this side in 2026: after a suicide bombing in Kabal in August, check the news before committing to Swat, and read our guide to whether it is safe to travel to the northern areas for the regional picture.
The Murree Expressway: the Galiyat and Kashmir
The E-75 climbs from Bhara Kahu to Murree in about an hour. From there one road runs along the ridge through the Galiyat to Nathia Gali, about 85 km and two and a half hours from Islamabad, and another drops to the Jhelum at Kohala and follows it to Muzaffarabad, three and a half to four and a half hours from Islamabad. The Neelum valley road starts at Muzaffarabad: Keran is six to seven hours from Islamabad and Kel eight to nine.
These roads are the gentlest in the north, at altitudes that never trouble anyone, but they are the busiest on weekends and holidays. The Neelum road follows the Line of Control, so check that it is open to tourists before you leave.
Which route for how many days?
| Trip length | Best options from Islamabad | Longest day at the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 3 days | Murree and the Galiyat; Muzaffarabad and Pir Chinasi; Shogran | 2.5 to 5 hours |
| 4 to 5 days | Naran and Babusar Top; the Neelum valley; Swat and Malam Jabba | 6 to 9 hours |
| 6 to 8 days | Hunza by road; Skardu by air; Naran plus Fairy Meadows | 10 to 13 hours |
| 9 to 12 days | Hunza and Khunjerab with Skardu; the KKH up and Babusar back | 10 to 13 hours |
| 14 days or more | A grand loop through Chitral or Swat, Hunza, Skardu and Babusar | 10 to 12 hours |
Two or three days
Stay on the Murree Expressway or the lower Kaghan road. Nathia Gali, Murree, Muzaffarabad with Pir Chinasi, and Shogran above Kiwai are all within about five hours, and none needs a mountain pass. Our guide to weekend getaways from Islamabad compares them.
Four or five days
This is the right length for one valley. Naran needs a day each way and gives you two or three days for Saif-ul-Malook, Lulusar and Babusar Top in between. The Neelum valley works the same way, with Keran on the first night and Kel or Arang Kel at the top. Swat and Kalam fit too, if the security news is quiet. What does not fit comfortably is Hunza by road: two days each way leaves barely a day in the valley.
Six to eight days
Now Gilgit-Baltistan comes into reach. By road, the classic week is Islamabad to Chilas, Chilas to Karimabad, three days in Hunza including Khunjerab, and two days back. For Skardu, fly: the hour's flight saves two days each way and leaves five days for the lakes, Shigar and Deosai.
Nine days or more
With nine to twelve days you can drive up the Karakoram Highway, spend time in both Hunza and Skardu, and come back over Babusar through Naran in summer, so the road home is new. Past two weeks, the loop can start through Chitral and the Shandur Pass instead.
Leaving Islamabad: timing and the first hour
- Leave early. For any day over six hours, be on the road by 5 or 6 am. It gets you through the motorway before the heat and through the slow valley roads in daylight.
- Friday afternoons are the worst time to leave for Murree, the Galiyat or Kashmir. The Murree Expressway backs up for hours before long weekends and Eid.
- Get an M-Tag. The NHA made tags mandatory on its motorways from June 2026, and every route north starts on one.
- Check for road closures in the city itself. Political protests can shut the exits: in late September 2026 the M-1, the Hazara Motorway and the GT Road were closed ahead of a planned march, cutting off the Karakoram Highway, Kaghan and Swat routes at once.
- Fill up before the motorway ends. Service areas are reliable; valley stations are not.
When flying beats the road
From Islamabad, PIA flies to Gilgit and PIA, Airblue and AirSial fly to Skardu, each in about an hour. Flying makes most sense when the trip is short and the destination is far:
- Skardu: fly both ways on a trip of a week or less. The road is two long days each way.
- Hunza: fly to Gilgit and drive two to two and a half hours to Karimabad, but only with a spare day, because the Gilgit flight is cancelled whenever cloud closes the valley.
- Mixed: drive up and fly back, or the reverse, to save a day and a half without losing the road entirely.
Nothing flies to Naran, Swat, Kashmir or the Galiyat, so those are road trips whatever your time.
Which plan should you choose?
For a first trip north with a week, the Hunza week by road is the classic: long drives, but the best scenery in the country and no dependence on flights. With less time and young children, Naran or the Neelum valley is kinder, with shorter days and gentler altitude. For older parents, fly to Skardu and base yourselves in one hotel.
If you have ten days, don't try to see everything. Hunza with Khunjerab and one other valley is plenty. Our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour spends nine days on that one road, starting from Gilgit so you can fly in and skip the long drive through Kohistan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best northern areas trip from Islamabad for 3 days?
Stay close: Nathia Gali and Murree, Muzaffarabad with Pir Chinasi, or Shogran above Kiwai. All are within five hours of Islamabad, and none needs a long mountain drive.
How many days do you need for Hunza from Islamabad by road?
At least six or seven. The drive is two days each way, so anything less leaves too little time in the valley and no spare day for landslides.
Which is better from Islamabad, the KKH or Babusar?
In summer, Babusar through Naran is shorter and more scenic and avoids Kohistan. From about November to late May, or when heavy rain is forecast, the Karakoram Highway is the only choice.
Can I go to Skardu and Hunza in one trip from Islamabad?
Yes, with nine days or more. Drive up to Hunza, cross to Skardu via Gilgit and Jaglot in a long day, and fly back from Skardu or drive home over Babusar in summer.
Which northern area is closest to Islamabad?
Murree, about an hour away on the expressway, followed by the Galiyat around Nathia Gali at about two and a half hours. Muzaffarabad and Balakot are three to four hours away.
Do I need a 4x4 for a northern trip from Islamabad?
Not for the main roads, which are paved to Naran, Hunza, Skardu, Kalam and Keran. You need local jeeps for side trips such as Saif-ul-Malook, Fairy Meadows, Deosai and the upper Neelum.
