The drive from Islamabad to Hunza is around 600 km and 12 to 14 hours on the road, too long for most people to do safely in one day, so your overnight stops on the way to Hunza depend mainly on what time you actually leave. A very early start can reach Chilas or even Gilgit by evening; a late one is better broken at Besham, well short of the harder driving through Kohistan.
This guide works through the options in order along the route, and what departure time makes each one realistic.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Islamabad to Hunza (Karimabad) | About 600 km, 12 to 14 hours driving |
| Islamabad to Besham | About 220 to 270 km, 4 to 5 hours |
| Islamabad to Chilas | About 470 km, 8 to 10 hours |
| Islamabad to Gilgit | About 600 km, most of a full day |
| Best rule | Never plan to drive the Kohistan stretch after dark |
| Common pattern | One night at Besham or Chilas, second day into Hunza |
Why you need to stop somewhere
The road north from Islamabad is fast as far as Besham, on the Hazara Motorway, and much slower through Kohistan, the narrower, harder stretch of the Karakoram Highway between Besham and Chilas. Add a landslide delay, which is common in summer, and a same-day drive from Islamabad to Hunza is unrealistic for most travellers and unwise even for those who could physically manage it. Our guide to driving on the Karakoram Highway explains why finishing before dark matters on this road.
Most people split the journey into two days, with the overnight stop chosen to avoid driving Kohistan, the section between Besham and Chilas, at the end of a long day.
If you leave Islamabad after lunch: stop at Besham
Besham is about 220 to 270 km from Islamabad, four to five hours on the motorway and the first stretch of the KKH, and is the standard first-night stop for anyone leaving Islamabad in the afternoon. It sits at the start of the harder Kohistan driving, so stopping here means you tackle that stretch fresh the next morning rather than tired at the end of a long day.
Besham has a small range of hotels along the highway, including the long-established PTDC motel overlooking the Indus, plus a handful of other options in the town. Facilities are basic rather than comfortable: expect a clean room and simple food, not a resort.
If you leave Islamabad early: stop at Chilas
Chilas is about 470 km from Islamabad, roughly 8 to 10 hours of driving including the slower Kohistan stretch, and is a realistic single day's drive for a group leaving by 6 or 7 in the morning and not stopping for long at every photo opportunity. Stopping at Chilas rather than Besham means the next day's drive to Hunza is noticeably shorter, since Chilas to Gilgit is about 135 km on the better, rebuilt part of the highway, and Gilgit to Karimabad another 100 km or so beyond that.
Chilas has a wider choice of accommodation than Besham, including an established resort-style hotel on the Indus as well as smaller lodges along the highway through the bazaar. Our Chilas to Gilgit guide covers the stops and sights on the next morning's drive.
If you leave Islamabad very early and everything goes right: push on to Gilgit
Reaching Gilgit, about 600 km and most of a full day's driving from Islamabad, in a single day is possible only with a genuinely early start, a fast Kohistan stretch and no significant delay at a checkpost or a landslide. It is not a plan to build a trip around, because any of those things going even slightly wrong, and delays on this road are common rather than rare, means arriving after dark, which is the outcome the whole plan is meant to avoid.
Gilgit itself has the widest choice of hotels on the route, from simple guesthouses to more established mid-range options, and useful facilities including the airport and better mobile coverage than most of the drive.
What we recommend
For most travellers driving from Islamabad, we plan two nights on the road: Besham or Chilas on the way up, depending on departure time, and the same in reverse on the way back. It is a more comfortable pace, it builds in slack for a landslide delay without wrecking the schedule, and it means nobody is driving Kohistan on tired legs at the end of a 12-hour day.
If your dates are tight and you would rather not spend a night in Besham or Chilas, flying into Gilgit or Skardu and picking up a car there avoids the question entirely. Our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour is built around exactly this kind of paced schedule, with an overnight stop worked into the itinerary rather than left to chance.
Booking ahead
Hotels in Besham and Chilas serve a steady flow of through traffic rather than destination tourists, so rooms are rarely fully booked, but Eid and other long weekends are the exception, when demand along the whole route spikes. Book ahead if you are travelling over a holiday period, and confirm by phone the day before if you can, since signal and online booking systems are not always reliable this far from the cities.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive from Islamabad to Hunza in one day?
It is possible only with a very early start and no delays, and it is not something we recommend. Most travellers split the journey over two days, stopping at Besham or Chilas.
Where is the best place to stay overnight between Islamabad and Hunza?
Besham if you leave Islamabad in the afternoon, Chilas if you leave early in the morning. Both have basic to mid-range hotels aimed at travellers passing through.
How far is Besham from Islamabad?
About 220 to 270 km, roughly four to five hours by motorway and the first stretch of the Karakoram Highway.
How far is Chilas from Islamabad?
About 470 km, roughly 8 to 10 hours of driving including the slower Kohistan stretch between Besham and Chilas.
Is it better to stop in Besham or Chilas?
Chilas if you can reach it in daylight, since it shortens the next day's drive to Hunza. Besham if a later start or a slow first day means you would otherwise be driving Kohistan after dark.
Should I fly instead of driving to avoid the overnight stop?
Flying to Gilgit or Skardu and arranging a car locally is a good option if your dates are tight or you would rather not break the drive at all, though flights are weather-dependent and can be delayed or cancelled.
Is the Karakoram Highway route safe for overseas visitors?
Pakistani travellers use it all year, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, through Besham and Dasu. In summer the road over the Babusar Pass avoids that stretch. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice before you go, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Everyone should check local news and road conditions before setting out.
