Road Trips
Drive the world's most spectacular mountain highways
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Epic Mountain Road Trips
Road trips in Pakistan are among the most rewarding ways to see the country's northern mountains, and the Karakoram Highway road trip sits at the centre of them all. The KKH threads the Indus and Hunza river gorges past Rakaposhi, Passu Cathedral and Attabad Lake before climbing to the 4,693 m Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border. As a licensed local operator based in Gilgit-Baltistan, we run these scenic drives as unhurried journeys, with time to stop wherever the view demands it.
The question most travellers ask is self-drive vs guided. Foreign visitors cannot easily rent a self-drive car for the northern areas, and the mountain roads, with their landslide zones, unlit tunnels and single-lane sections, reward local knowledge. Every one of our road trips is run in a private vehicle with an experienced mountain driver, so you keep the freedom of the open road without the stress of navigating it yourself.
Beyond the KKH, our scenic drives cover Babusar Pass and the Kaghan Valley, the long Shandur Pass route between Chitral and Gilgit, and the high plains of Deosai. Every itinerary is fully customisable in length, pace and comfort level, from a one-week Hunza-and-Khunjerab loop to a two-week grand tour of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Road Trip Packages
Karakoram Highway Complete
Hunza to Khunjerab
Skardu Scenic Route
Route Highlights
Karakoram Highway
The "Eighth Wonder of the World" -- 1,300km of engineering marvel through the Karakoram mountains.
Khunjerab Pass (4,693m)
The highest paved international border crossing, with panoramic views and occasional Marco Polo sheep sightings.
Attabad Lake
A stunning turquoise lake formed in 2010, now one of the most photogenic stops on the KKH.
The Great Pakistan Road Trips
The Karakoram Highway is the classic Pakistan road trip. Officially the N-35, it runs roughly 1,300 km from Hasan Abdal near Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass, making it one of the highest paved international roads on earth. Built jointly by Pakistan and China over two decades, it is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World, and it carries you through the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush ranges on a single unbroken drive.
Not every great drive follows the KKH. Babusar Pass (4,173 m) links the pine-forested Kaghan Valley to the north and gives among the most dramatic approaches to Gilgit-Baltistan. The Shandur Pass route crosses to the highest polo ground in the world at around 3,700 m between Chitral and Gilgit, and the road onto the Deosai plateau, the second-highest in the world, is an adventure in its own right. We link these into road trips of any length.
Best Time & How We Run Road Trips
The road-trip season runs from May to October, when the main valleys are green and the highway is clear. The high passes have a shorter window: Babusar and Shandur are usually only open from roughly July to September, once the winter snow has melted. We drive you in a private 4x4 with an experienced mountain driver, which is far safer than self-driving on roads prone to rockfall and sudden weather. Most road trips run between seven and fourteen days, long enough to acclimatise gently and take the scenic stops without rushing.
Pakistan Road Trips: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karakoram Highway?
The Karakoram Highway (KKH), or N-35, is a roughly 1,300 km paved road connecting northern Pakistan with western China over the 4,693 m Khunjerab Pass. Built jointly by the two countries, it follows the ancient Silk Route through the Karakoram mountains and is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is the backbone of almost every Pakistan road trip we run.
Can I self-drive in northern Pakistan, or is a driver better?
For most foreign visitors a driver is strongly recommended. Self-drive rentals for the northern areas are hard to arrange, and the mountain roads have landslide zones, unlit tunnels, high passes and narrow single-lane sections that reward local experience. We provide a private vehicle with an experienced mountain driver, so you enjoy the scenery while someone who knows the road handles the driving.
When are the mountain passes open?
The main season is May to October. The Karakoram Highway as far as Hunza and Gilgit is generally open year-round, weather permitting, but the high passes have a shorter window. Khunjerab Pass, Babusar Pass and Shandur Pass are typically open from around July to September, once the winter snow has cleared. We plan each itinerary around the passes you want to cross.
How long is a Pakistan road trip?
It depends on the route. A Hunza and Khunjerab loop can be done in about a week, while a full Karakoram Highway journey from Islamabad to the Chinese border and back, or a grand tour taking in Skardu, Deosai and Shandur, usually runs ten to fourteen days. Because everything is customisable, we match the length to your available time and the regions you most want to see.
Is the Karakoram Highway safe to drive?
The Karakoram Highway is a well-travelled, fully paved road, and northern Pakistan is a peaceful, welcoming region for tourism. The main hazards are natural rather than human: occasional rockfall, landslides after rain, and high-altitude weather. With an experienced local driver, a well-maintained 4x4 and sensible daily distances, it is a comfortable and safe drive, which is exactly how we run every trip.
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