Scenic Drives in Gilgit-Baltistan Worth the Detour

The best scenic drives in Gilgit-Baltistan are the Karakoram Highway from Gilgit through Hunza to Khunjerab Pass, the rebuilt Gilgit to Skardu road through the Indus gorge, the Skardu to Khaplu road along the Shyok, the summer crossing of the Deosai plateau from Skardu to Astore, the Ghizer road from Gilgit to Phander and Shandur, and the Babusar route from Naran down to Chilas. They range from smooth tunnels beside a lake to rough tracks across a plateau at more than 4,000 metres.

This guide gives the distance, road surface and season for each, what makes it worth driving, and what to check before you set out.

Distances are from OpenStreetMap routing and official road lengths. Treat any app's driving time as a minimum: narrow sections, roadworks and photo stops all add to it.

Gilgit to Khunjerab Pass on the Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway (N-35) follows the Hunza river north from Gilgit through Aliabad and Karimabad, past Attabad Lake, through Gulmit and Passu, and climbs to the Chinese border at Khunjerab, where the pass stands at 4,693 metres.

The road itself is part of the attraction. It was built between 1962 and 1979 and opened to the public in 1986, and about 810 Pakistani and 200 Chinese workers died during its construction, mostly in landslides and falls. Attabad Lake is newer still: a landslide on 4 January 2010 killed 20 people and blocked the Hunza river, creating a lake up to 21 km long. The highway was rebuilt around it through five tunnels known as the Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels, opened in September 2015, and that stretch, with the water on one side and the Passu Cones ahead, is the drive's most photographed section.

Most people do not drive it end to end in one go. From Karimabad the pass is about 173 km, so the usual plan is to base yourself in Hunza and do Khunjerab as a separate long day. Our Khunjerab Pass guide covers opening dates and what to expect at the top, and our Attabad Lake guide covers the lake.

Gilgit to Skardu through the Indus gorge

For decades this was the drive people dreaded. The S-1, or Baltistan Highway, leaves the Karakoram Highway near Jaglot and runs 167 km east to Skardu, squeezed between the Indus and sheer rock walls for much of the way. Army engineers built the original road between about 1970 and 1982.

The Frontier Works Organization rebuilt it from 2017, widening it from 3.6 metres to 7.3 metres, and it was inaugurated on 16 December 2021 at a cost of about PKR 31 billion. The journey that used to take about ten hours now takes about four in good conditions. Planned tunnels were dropped from the upgrade, so landslides can still close it for hours or days after rain.

The gorge, with the river far below and green villages where side valleys open, is the point of the drive. Our Gilgit to Skardu distance guide and Skardu road condition guide cover the practical side.

Skardu to Khaplu along the Shyok

This drive heads east from Skardu along the Indus and then the Shyok, through villages and apricot orchards, to Khaplu, the old capital of the Yabgo rulers of Ghanche. It is quieter than the Karakoram Highway, with fewer vehicles and a rural feel.

The road is paved and about 93 km long, an easy half-day each way. It is at its best in spring, when the apricot trees flower, and in autumn, when the poplars and orchards turn yellow; our apricot blossom guide covers the timing. Finish at Khaplu Palace, and see our Skardu to Khaplu guide for stops along the way.

Skardu to Astore across Deosai

This is the most dramatic drive in the region and the most seasonal. From Skardu the road climbs past Satpara Lake onto the Deosai plateau, which has an average height of 4,114 metres, crosses it past Bara Pani and Sheosar Lake, and drops through Chilam to the Astore valley. The total is about 140 km.

Deosai has been a national park since 1993, set up to protect the Himalayan brown bear; the bear count rose from 19 in 1993 to 78 in 2022. The plateau is open only in summer, and parts of the track are unpaved, so the vehicle matters. Our Deosai by car guide covers what can make the crossing and Deosai open or closed covers the season.

Gilgit to Phander and Shandur

The Gilgit to Shandur road, numbered N-140, runs 216 km west from Gilgit along the Ghizer river through Gahkuch and Gupis to Phander, a wide green valley with a lake, and then climbs to Shandur Pass on the border with Chitral, home of the Shandur polo ground.

Expect a mix of surfaces, with the roughest stretches beyond Phander. The road is also exposed to floods: in July 2026 the National Highway Authority built a temporary bypass at Yangal in Ghizer after floodwater swept away a bridge, and reported the road fully restored on 24 July, with repair work continuing at other bridges. Check the latest before you go.

Phander is about 165 km from Gilgit and works best as an overnight trip rather than a rushed day. Our Gilgit to Phander guide and Gilgit to Shandur guide cover the route in detail.

Naran to Chilas over Babusar Pass

Many visitors enter Gilgit-Baltistan this way. The N-15 climbs from Naran through the upper Kaghan valley to Babusar Pass at 4,173 metres, then drops steeply to Chilas on the Indus, about 114 km in all. From Chilas the Karakoram Highway continues north to Gilgit.

The pass is open only in the warmer months, and the long, steep descent towards Chilas is hard on brakes. Our guides to Babusar Pass and whether Babusar Top is open cover the season.

This route also matters for safety advice. The UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, via Battagram, Besham and Dasu, and Babusar avoids that stretch in summer. Gilgit-Baltistan itself is not on the UK's list. Pakistani travellers use both routes, but check current local advice, and if you hold a foreign passport, read your own government's guidance, because travelling against it can void insurance.

Which drive suits your trip?

• First trip, limited time: the Karakoram Highway from Hunza to Khunjerab, in one long day.
• Going to Skardu by road: plan a daylight crossing of the gorge and a buffer day for landslides.
• Already done Hunza: Skardu to Khaplu, an easy half-day with a historic town at the end.
• Summer, sturdy vehicle: Deosai from Skardu to Astore, the most memorable crossing in the region.
• Extra days, few other tourists: Gilgit to Phander, and on to Shandur if the road allows.

With elderly parents or small children, think about altitude: Khunjerab and Deosai are both above 4,000 metres, where headaches and breathlessness are common, so keep stops there short.

What to check before you set out

A paved road can be blocked by a landslide at any time of year. Check locally the evening before, especially outside June to September, and do not attempt Deosai or the stretch beyond Phander in an ordinary saloon. Leave with a full tank and cash, since fuel stations and ATMs thin out quickly beyond the main towns. Our Gilgit-Baltistan road trip guide and travel guide cover the rest.

Frequently asked questions