Photo: merry Raza / Unsplash
Lahore to Skardu by car
About 1,040 km and 21 hours of driving (over two days) from Lahore via the M-2 Motorway and Hazara Motorway. A clean car and a driver who knows the road, at a price you see before you book.
- Distance, about
- 1,040km
- Driving, about
- 21hoursover two days
- Typical trip
- 8days
- Outstation with driver
- Rs 15,000/dayFrom, Toyota Hiace
- Roads
- M-2 Motorway, Hazara Motorway, N-15 via Babusar Pass
- Best time
- May to October
The route, stop by stop
The usual way our drivers take. On the day, they adjust for traffic, weather and road works.
- M-2 Motorway
- Hazara Motorway
- N-15 via Babusar Pass (summer)
- N-35 Karakoram Highway
- Jaglot to Skardu Road
- LahorePickup at your door: home, hotel, office or the airport
- Islamabad
- Naran (summer route)
- Babusar Top, June to October
- Chilas
- Jaglot and the junction of three mountain ranges
- The Indus gorge road
- SkarduDestination
Before you go
- Best time to go
- May to October. Deosai Plains are usually accessible only from about July to September.
- Road and weather
- Reach Chilas over Babusar Pass in summer or on the Karakoram Highway the rest of the year, continue to Jaglot, then take the Jaglot to Skardu road along the Indus gorge. The gorge road is narrow in places with sheer drops and rockfall risk, so drive it in daylight and expect the occasional stop for clearing.
- Tolls
- Tolls on the M-2 and the Hazara Motorway are collected at the toll plazas (M-Tag on the motorways). They are charged at actual cost on top of the car rate, along with any park or local entry fees. Check the current NHA rates before you travel.
Skardu is the gateway to Baltistan: wide valleys between huge mountains, cold desert dunes, blue lakes and old forts. It is also one of the longest road trips you can take from Lahore, and one of the most rewarding.
The drive
The first day follows the northern routes out of Lahore: the M-2 to Islamabad and the Hazara Motorway towards Mansehra. In summer, most travellers cross Babusar Pass from Naran to Chilas. When Babusar is closed, the Karakoram Highway through Besham and Dasu reaches Chilas instead.
From Chilas, the Karakoram Highway follows the Indus to Jaglot, where you can stop at the viewpoint for the junction of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya ranges. Here the Jaglot to Skardu road turns east and follows the Indus through a deep gorge for most of the way to Skardu. It is one of the most dramatic drives in Pakistan.
What to see around Skardu
- Shangrila and Lower Kachura Lake: the famous resort lake a short drive from town.
- Upper Kachura Lake: clear, deep and quieter, with a short walk down from the road.
- Shigar Fort: a restored fort and village in the Shigar valley.
- Khaplu: a quiet valley town with its own palace and mosque, a few hours east of Skardu.
- Sarfaranga cold desert: sand dunes in the middle of the mountains.
- Deosai Plains: high alpine plateau, usually accessible from about July to September.
- Manthokha waterfall: a popular day trip with a roadside stop.
Planning and safety
- Daylight only on the Babusar road, the Karakoram Highway and the Indus gorge road.
- Spare days: rockfalls and landslides can stop traffic for a few hours or longer. Keep one or two buffer days.
- Altitude: Babusar and Deosai are high. Take it slowly and keep water, snacks and medicines handy.
- Cash and fuel: fill up in Chilas and Skardu, and carry enough cash for the trip.
- Documents: CNIC for Pakistanis, passport with visa for foreigners. Expect police check posts.
Choosing a car
A Toyota Fortuner or Prado is the right car for Skardu: ground clearance, strong brakes for long descents and comfort on two long driving days. For groups, a Toyota Hiace works well on the main roads. For Deosai and rough side tracks, local jeeps are often the better tool. Read our northern areas road trip guide before you plan dates.
Combine with Hunza
Skardu and Hunza share the route as far as Jaglot. With ten to twelve days, you can see both without rushing.
Which car for Skardu?
Mountain roads reward ground clearance and power. These are the cars we recommend for this trip, with live rates from our fleet.
Representative image Toyota Fortuner
SUVs7 seats3 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 18,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 1,500 per night
Representative image Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Luxury7 seats4 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 32,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 2,000 per nightToyota Hiace
Vans14 seats8 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 15,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 1,500 per night
Sample fleet: cars and prices are placeholders until the real catalog is published.
How outstation pricing works
Four simple rules, the same for every outstation trip. Your quote lists every item before you confirm.
Every 24 hours is one day
Outstation days are counted in 24-hour blocks from your pickup time, not by calendar date. Leave at 6 am Friday, back by 6 am Sunday: that is two days.
The outstation day rate
Trips out of Lahore use each car's outstation rate with a driver. It covers the car and the driver for every 24-hour day.
from Rs 15,000 per dayDriver night stay and food
For every night away from Lahore there is a fixed night allowance that covers the driver's stay and meals, so you never have to arrange them yourself.
from Rs 1,500 per nightFuel and tolls at actual cost
Fuel, motorway tolls (paid by M-Tag) and parking are charged at actual cost, with no mark-up. Your quote explains how they are settled.
Background: Badshahi Mosque, Lahore. Photo: Haris khan / Unsplash
Get a quote for Lahore to Skardu
Choose a car and your dates. We confirm the price, the route and the driver on WhatsApp.
- 01Tell us the car, dates and pickup point
- 02We reply on WhatsApp with a clear price
- 03Confirm, and the car arrives on time
Lahore to Skardu: questions
How long does it take to drive from Lahore to Skardu?
About 21 hours of driving, done over two days. A typical plan is Lahore to Naran or Chilas on day one and on to Skardu on day two. The Indus gorge stretch from Jaglot is slow, so allow a full day for the second leg.
Is the road to Skardu safe?
It is a mountain road with steep drops and rockfall risk, but it is travelled every day. Drive in daylight, with an experienced driver, and keep a spare day in case the road is closed for clearing.
Can we visit Deosai in our car?
Deosai is usually accessible from about July to September, depending on snow. Many visitors take a local jeep from Skardu because the tracks are rough. Ask us and we will plan the day with you.
How many days do we need for Skardu?
Eight days is a comfortable minimum: two days each way and four days for Shangrila, Upper Kachura, Shigar, Khaplu and Deosai. Add buffer days for weather.
Can we combine Skardu and Hunza?
Yes. Both are reached through Jaglot on the Karakoram Highway. Allow at least ten to twelve days to see both properly without long driving days.