Raikot Bridge is the point on the Karakoram Highway where you leave your own vehicle and switch to a local jeep for Fairy Meadows. It crosses the Indus in Diamer district, roughly 60 km north of Chilas and about 65 km south of Gilgit, and a small junction village has grown up around it with a handful of hotels, shops and the jeep stand itself.
For most visitors, Raikot Bridge is a stop of an hour or two rather than an overnight, but knowing where to leave the car, how the jeep booking works and when to arrive makes that stop far less stressful. This guide covers all three.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Karakoram Highway, over the Indus, Diamer district |
| From Chilas | About 60 km, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours |
| From Gilgit | About 65 km, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours |
| What happens here | Park the car, hire a jeep to Tato |
| Jeep to Tato | About 1.5 to 2 hours, union-run, booked on arrival |
| Facilities | A few hotels, small shops, a mosque, tea stalls |
| Best arrival time | By early afternoon, to catch the jeep and daylight on the track |
Where to park your car
Private cars are not allowed on the jeep track up to Tato, so everyone driving their own vehicle to Fairy Meadows leaves it at Raikot Bridge. There are two practical options:
- The hotels along the highway, several of which let guests and day visitors park inside their compound, usually for a fee or as part of a room booking. This is the simplest choice if you are also eating or resting there.
- Raikot Sarai, a separate camping and cottage property just off the highway with a dedicated parking area for hikers heading up to the meadow. Parking there has been reported at around PKR 500 a night, though it is worth confirming the current rate on arrival.
Whichever you choose, agree the price before you leave, take a photo of the car and its parking spot, and don't leave valuables inside it. Police at the bridge may also ask for your details before you go up.
How the jeep stand works
The jeeps to Tato are run by a local drivers' union at a fixed fare for the round trip, not by individual owners, so there is no haggling and no discount for booking in advance. You can only arrange the jeep in person at the stand when you arrive; nothing can be booked from a distance. Agree your return day with the driver, write down their name, phone number and the jeep's number plate, and take a photo of the vehicle so you can find it again at Tato.
The ride itself climbs about 15 km of unpaved gorge road to Tato, the last village before the walk to the meadow begins. Our guide to the Fairy Meadows jeep track covers the current fare, how the seats are shared and what the ride and the safety record are actually like.
Hotels and places to stay at Raikot Bridge
The junction village around the bridge has a few hotels, small restaurants and a mosque, enough for a meal, a rest or an unplanned night if you arrive too late to go up. The best-known is Shangrila Fairymeadows Raikot Inn, part of the long-established Shangrila group, with air-conditioned rooms, a restaurant serving Pakistani, Chinese and continental food, and secure parking with CCTV. It positions itself as the natural departure point for an early jeep, with breakfast before the ride up.
Raikot Sarai, mentioned above for parking, also has simple cottages and space for tents if you prefer to camp rather than take a room.
None of these is a destination in its own right. They exist to let you eat, sleep or wait comfortably while the jeep and the day's daylight line up.
Timing your arrival
Everything after Raikot Bridge is slow: the jeep takes 1.5 to 2 hours to Tato, and the walk on from there takes most people another two to four hours. Work backwards from dusk rather than forwards from when you happen to arrive.
- Reach the bridge by early afternoon if you plan to go up the same day. Arriving much after about 2 or 3 pm leaves too little daylight for the jeep and the walk together.
- If you arrive later, stay the night at one of the hotels here rather than pushing on. Neither the jeep track nor the footpath from Tato is somewhere to be after dark.
- Fill the tank and draw cash before you reach the bridge. There is no fuel station or ATM at Raikot Bridge, and none on the meadow either.
- Confirm your return time with the driver before you go up, since phone signal is unreliable beyond the bridge.
Is Raikot Bridge worth stopping at for its own sake?
Not really. It is a functional stop rather than a sight: a bridge, a jeep stand, a few hotels and a view up the gorge you are about to climb. Its value is entirely practical, as the hinge point of a trip to Fairy Meadows, and the time to spend here is only as long as it takes to park, book the jeep and have a meal.
If your goal is Fairy Meadows itself, treat Raikot Bridge as a well-organised changeover rather than a destination, and put your planning effort into arriving early and matching your return jeep to the daylight. Our Fairy Meadows destination page covers the trip beyond the bridge.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my own car beyond Raikot Bridge?
No. The 15 km track from Raikot Bridge to Tato is open only to the local union's jeeps. Private cars, including hired ones, are left at Raikot Bridge.
Where do I park at Raikot Bridge?
At one of the hotels along the highway, several of which offer parking to guests and day visitors, or at Raikot Sarai, a separate property with a dedicated parking area. Agree the fee before you leave the car.
Can I book the Fairy Meadows jeep in advance?
No. The jeep is arranged in person at the stand at Raikot Bridge when you arrive. There is no way to book ahead of time.
How far is Raikot Bridge from Chilas and Gilgit?
About 60 km, roughly an hour to an hour and a half, from Chilas, and a similar distance and time from Gilgit. Both are on the paved Karakoram Highway.
Is there anywhere to eat or sleep at Raikot Bridge?
Yes. A small junction village around the bridge has a few hotels and restaurants, including the established Shangrila Fairymeadows Raikot Inn, useful for a meal or an unplanned night if you arrive too late to go up.
