Planning a road trip from Lahore to the northern areas

Pick your season

The season decides almost everything: which roads are open, what you will see and how busy it will be.

Months	What to expect	Good for
March to May	Spring. Blossom in Hunza around April. Upper valleys still cold, some roads opening	Hunza, Swat, Murree
June to September	Summer. Babusar Pass open, Deosai accessible from about July. Peak crowds	Naran, Babusar, Hunza, Skardu, Kalam
July and August	Monsoon rain. Higher landslide and flood risk	Keep spare days, avoid river banks
October and November	Autumn colours in Hunza and Skardu. Clear skies, colder nights	Hunza, Skardu, photography
December to February	Winter. Snow in Murree, the Galiyat and Malam Jabba. Naran valley and Babusar closed	Murree, Malam Jabba, snow trips

Babusar Pass usually opens roughly from June to October, depending on snow. When it is closed, Gilgit-Baltistan is reached on the Karakoram Highway instead.

The main roads explained

• M-2 (Lahore to Islamabad): the starting point of every northern trip, about 375 km of motorway.
• M-1 and Swat Expressway: from near Islamabad west and then north into Swat.
• Hazara Motorway: from the M-1 north past Havelian and Abbottabad to Mansehra and beyond.
• Murree Expressway: from Islamabad up to Murree.
• N-15 Kaghan Valley Road: from Mansehra through Balakot, Kaghan and Naran, over Babusar Pass to Chilas. Seasonal above Naran.
• N-35 Karakoram Highway (KKH): the year-round route north through Besham, Dasu and Chilas to Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab.
• Jaglot to Skardu Road: branches off the KKH at Jaglot and follows the Indus gorge to Skardu.

How many days to plan

Driving days from Lahore, at a comfortable pace in daylight:

• Islamabad: half a day. See Lahore to Islamabad.
• Murree: most of a day. See Lahore to Murree.
• Naran: one long day. See Lahore to Naran and Kaghan.
• Swat: one day. See Lahore to Swat.
• Hunza: two days. See Lahore to Hunza.
• Skardu: two days. See Lahore to Skardu.

Sample itineraries

• 5 days, Naran and Babusar (summer): Lahore to Naran; Saiful Muluk by jeep; Lulusar and Babusar Top; Naran to Lahore over one long day or with a night in Islamabad.
• 8 days, Hunza: Lahore to Naran; over Babusar to Hunza; four days for Karimabad, Attabad, Passu and Khunjerab; back over two days.
• 8 days, Skardu: Lahore to Chilas or Naran; on to Skardu; four days for Shangrila, Shigar, Khaplu and Deosai; back over two days.
• 12 days, Hunza and Skardu: combine both through Jaglot, with spare days for weather.

Always add one or two spare days on longer trips. Landslides, rockfalls and snow can close roads for hours or days.

Choosing the car

• SUV or 4x4 (Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prado): the right choice for Naran, Babusar, Hunza and Skardu. Ground clearance, strong brakes for long descents, and power at altitude.
• Crossover or compact SUV (Honda BR-V, Kia Sportage): comfortable for Murree, Swat and Naran in summer.
• Sedan: fine for Islamabad and Murree in good weather. Not the right tool for high passes or gravel.
• Van or coaster (Toyota Hiace, Toyota Coaster): groups and big families, on the main roads. See van and coaster rental.

For deep valleys, rough tracks and places like Saiful Muluk, Fairy Meadows or Deosai, local jeeps are the normal way in. Your car waits in town.

Why a driver matters in the mountains

Mountain driving is a skill. A driver who knows the KKH and Babusar road knows where the road narrows, how to use engine braking on long descents, which stretches to clear before dark, and where to stop for fuel and food. He also takes the strain of long driving days off you, so you can enjoy the views. That is why we recommend a car with a driver for every northern trip.

Safety on mountain roads

• Drive in daylight only. Plan departures so the mountain stretches are done before dark.
• Check before high passes. Weather on Babusar or Khunjerab can change in an hour.
• Respect landslide zones. Do not stop under loose slopes, and follow the instructions of road crews.
• Altitude: above 3,500 metres, go slowly, drink water and come down if anyone has a strong headache, nausea or breathlessness.
• Monsoon: stay away from river banks during heavy rain and watch for flash flood warnings.
• Fuel and cash: fill up in bigger towns like Mansehra, Chilas, Gilgit and Skardu. Carry enough cash, as ATMs and card machines are limited.
• Phone signal: coverage is patchy between valleys. Share your plan and expected arrival times with family.
• Documents: Pakistanis carry their CNIC, foreign visitors their passport with visa. Expect police check posts. Some border areas need extra permits for foreigners, so check the latest rules.

Packing list

• Warm layers, even in July: nights are cold and passes can be near freezing
• Rain jacket and sturdy shoes
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat for the strong mountain sun
• Personal medicines, a basic first aid kit and motion sickness tablets
• Power bank and charging cables
• Snacks and drinking water for long stretches
• Offline maps downloaded before you leave Lahore
• Copies of CNIC or passport

What a northern trip costs

Northern trips use our outstation pricing: each 24-hour day at the car’s outstation rate with a driver, a fixed night allowance for each night the driver is away, and fuel, tolls and parking at actual cost. Further down this page you will find the current rates for the SUVs and vans we recommend. For a full explanation, read how much it costs to rent a car in Lahore.

Book early for summer and Eid holidays: SUVs and vans are the first cars to go.