Lahore to Hunza to Skardu
Hunza & Skardu Grand
- Duration
- 9 days, 8 nights
- Rating
- from
PKR 145,000
- Next departure
- 12–20 May
3 of 16 seats left
- Difficulty
- Easy walking, long road days
- Group size
- Up to 16 travellers
- Departs from
- [Pickup point], Lahore
- Best season
- April – October
- Transport
- Coaster, with jeeps for Deosai
Nine days up the Karakoram Highway to Hunza and Skardu
We drive up from Lahore on the motorway and the Karakoram Highway. Then we spend three nights in Hunza under Rakaposhi, and cross to Skardu for its lakes and the high Deosai plains.
This is a road trip at heart. The drive between stops is part of the trip: the Indus gorge, the place where three mountain ranges meet, the turquoise of Attabad. Your driver and guide set the pace, plan around the weather and know where to stop for chai.
Who this trip is for
- First-time visitors who want Hunza and Skardu in one trip
- Families with school-age children, and parents who like a planned pace
- Couples and friends who would rather not drive the Karakoram Highway themselves
- Corporate teams (private departures on request)
Who it may not suit
- Travellers who dislike long road journeys. Days 2 and 9 are 11 hours or more
- Anyone after a real trek (see the Fairy Meadows Trek)
- Serious heart or breathing conditions at altitude. Check with your doctor first
- Travellers who need luxury hotels every night; Chilas is simple
What you’ll see along the way
Baltit Fort
The centuries-old fort above Karimabad
Altit Fort
Hunza’s oldest fort, on a cliff above the river
Passu Cones
Jagged peaks along the upper Hunza road
Rakaposhi viewpoint
A huge mountain face, seen from your tea stop
Shangrila
Lower Kachura Lake and its famous resort
Deosai Plains
One of the world’s highest plateaus, by jeep
The route, day by day
Day 01
Lahore → Islamabad
Leave Lahore early and head north on the M-2 through the Salt Range. The evening in Islamabad is free.
- Overnight
- Islamabad
- Meals
- Dinner
- Drive
- 4–5 hrs
Day 02
Islamabad → Chilas
Onto the Karakoram Highway past Abbottabad and Besham, then along the Indus into the mountains. A long day, with plenty of stops for tea.
- Overnight
- Chilas
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 11–12 hrs
Day 03
Chilas → Hunza
Stop at the Nanga Parbat viewpoint and the place where the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush meet. Then on through Gilgit to Rakaposhi viewpoint and Karimabad.
- Overnight
- Karimabad, Hunza
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 6–7 hrs
Day 04
Hunza
Baltit and Altit forts in the morning and Karimabad bazaar after lunch, then sunset from Eagle’s Nest above the valley.
- Overnight
- Karimabad, Hunza
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 1–2 hrs
Day 05
Upper Hunza
A boat on Attabad Lake, then the Passu Cones and the Hussaini suspension bridge for those who want to try it.
- Overnight
- Karimabad, Hunza
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 4–5 hrs
Day 06
Hunza → Skardu
Back through Gilgit, then east on the Skardu Road, high above the Indus gorge.
- Overnight
- Skardu
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 7–8 hrs
Day 07
Deosai & Shangrila
Jeeps up to the Deosai plains and Sheosar Lake, then Shangrila and Upper Kachura on the way back down.
- Overnight
- Skardu
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 6–7 hrs incl. jeep
Day 08
Skardu → Chilas or Naran
Back down the Skardu Road and the Karakoram Highway to Chilas, or over Babusar Top to Naran when the pass is open (usually June to September).
- Overnight
- Chilas or Naran
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
- Drive
- 9–10 hrs
Day 09
Chilas or Naran → Lahore
The final stretch to the motorway, arriving in Lahore in the late evening.
- Overnight
- Home
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Drive
- 12–14 hrs
StartLahore
LahoreIslamabadChilasGilgitHunzaAttabadSkarduDeosai
Schematic · roads simplified
What the price includes
Included
Hotels
8 nights in 3-star hotels, twin sharing
Breakfast and dinner
Day 1 dinner to Day 9 breakfast
Transport
Air-conditioned coaster from Lahore and back
Guide
Tour guide throughout the trip
Jeeps
Jeeps to Deosai and Shangrila
Not included
Lunch
We stop at good places; you pay as you go
Personal expenses
Snacks, shopping, laundry, tips
Entry tickets
Baltit and Altit forts, Attabad boating
Flights
An optional flight home from Skardu to Islamabad
Where you’ll stay each night
Night 1 · Islamabad
Hotel in Islamabad
3-star · city centre · twin sharing
Night 2 · Chilas
Hotel in Chilas
Simple, clean rooms by the Indus · twin sharing
Nights 3–5 · Hunza
Hotel in Karimabad
3-star · valley view · twin sharing
Nights 6–7 · Skardu
Hotel in Skardu
3-star · garden · twin sharing
Night 8 · Chilas or Naran
Hotel in Chilas or Naran
Simple, clean rooms · twin sharing
All rooms are twin sharing as standard. Triple and quad rooms cost less per person (see below).
Upcoming departures and prices
- 12–20 May
3 of 16 seats left
PKR 145,000
- 26 May – 3 Jun
9 of 16 seats left
PKR 145,000
- 9–17 Jun
Sold out · waitlist open
Join waitlistPKR 145,000
- 23 Jun – 1 Jul
14 of 16 seats left
PKR 145,000
Room sharing
- Twin sharingBase price · 2 per room
- PKR 145,000
- Triple sharing3 per room
- PKR 135,000
- Quad sharing4 per room · good for families
- PKR 127,000
Prices are per person. Children under 5 share their parents’ room free.
What travellers said after this trip
4.9 average · 128 reviews
“Deosai was the highlight. The jeep drivers knew exactly where to stop for the lake, and the guide had chai ready.”
“Our guide in Skardu knew every lake by name and timed Deosai so we had it almost to ourselves.”
“They told us upfront that day two is long. The coaster was comfortable, and the driver stopped whenever my father needed a break.”
Hold your seats with a 30% advance
Or message us first. Most families plan this trip with us on WhatsApp.
- DTS licence
- No. [DTS licence number]
- Departs from
- [Pickup point], Lahore
- We accept
- Cash · Bank transfer
Questions people ask before booking
What should I pack?
Layers. Mornings and nights are cold even in summer, and Deosai can be near freezing. Bring a warm jacket, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, any personal medicines and a power bank. We send a full packing list on WhatsApp after you book.
Will the altitude affect me?
All overnight stops are below about 2,500 m. The highest point is the Deosai plateau, around 4,000 m, which we visit for a few hours only. Most travellers feel fine; drink water and take it slowly. Tell us about any heart or breathing conditions before you book.
What are the roads like? What if the weather delays us?
The Karakoram Highway is paved but mountainous, and landslides can close sections, especially in spring. Your driver adjusts the plan and we keep you updated on WhatsApp. If a closure adds a night, we arrange the hotel and agree the cost with you before you decide.
How do payment and the advance work?
Pay a 30% advance to confirm your seats, by cash or bank transfer. The balance is due 7 days before departure. You get a receipt on WhatsApp for every payment.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Cancel 14 or more days before departure for a full refund of your advance. Between 7 and 13 days, 50% is refunded. Within 7 days the advance is non-refundable. If we cancel a departure, you get a full refund or a free move to another date.
Can we travel with children?
Yes. Children aged 5 and over count as travellers; younger children share their parents’ room free. Tell us their ages when you book and we’ll plan the stops around them.
