Bahawalpur → Skardu → Hunza → Khunjerab

The Ultimate Northern Pakistan Road Trip — 9 to 10 Days

🚗 Hyundai Tucson (AWD) 👥 5 Travelers 📅 April 2026 🌙 No Night Driving

Planned & organized by Azhar Ali

🚗 Vehicle Capability — Hyundai Tucson

Your Tucson handles 90% of this trip. Here's the honest breakdown:

Road TypeStatusNotes
Motorways (M2, M4, M5)✔ PerfectSmooth, fast, safest roads
Hazara Motorway✔ PerfectExcellent highway
KKH to Hunza & Khunjerab✔ SafeFully paved, well-maintained
Skardu Road (from Jaglot)⚠ CautionNarrow, cliffs — drive slow
Skardu internal / village roads⚠ CautionSome rough patches
Deosai interior tracks✘ Do NotHire a local 4x4 jeep
Off-road / mud / snow✘ Do NotAWD cannot handle this

📅 Daily Itinerary Overview

Day 1
Bahawalpur → Islamabad
~600 km • Full motorway • 8–9 hrs
Day 2
Islamabad → Chilas
~420 km • Mountain entry • 10–12 hrs
Day 3
Chilas → Skardu
~200 km • Scenic cliffs • 7–8 hrs
Day 4
Skardu Exploration
Lakes, desert, forts • Full day
Day 5
Deosai National Park
Jeep day • Sheosar Lake • Critical
Day 6
Skardu → Hunza
~290 km • KKH beauty • 6–7 hrs
Day 7
Hunza Exploration
Forts, lakes, glaciers • Full day
Day 8
Khunjerab Pass
~100 km one-way • China border • Epic
Day 9–10
Return Journey
Hunza → Chilas → Islamabad → Home
Reference
Essentials & Costs
Budget, packing, risks, rules

💰 Estimated Trip Budget

CategoryEstimated Cost (PKR)
⛽ Fuel (~3,000 km)100,000
🏨 Hotels (8–9 nights)120,000
🍽 Food (5 persons)70,000
🚙 Deosai Jeep Hire15,000
🎫 Misc (tolls, tickets, tips)20,000
Total Estimated: ~325,000 PKR (~65,000 per person)

🔥 Golden Rules for This Trip

  1. Start early — Leave by 7:00 AM every driving day
  2. No night driving — Mountain roads have no lights, no barriers
  3. Keep fuel above half — Petrol stations are rare after Besham
  4. Book hotels in advance — April is peak season
  5. Carry cash — ATMs are unreliable or nonexistent past Gilgit
  6. Download offline maps — No mobile signal for long stretches
  7. Respect locals — Conservative areas, dress modestly