Guides & Tips
Driving from Lahore to Hunza? Get the distance, Besham and Babusar routes, a day-by-day plan, best season, the right SUV and rates to rent a car with driver.
Driving from Lahore to Hunza? Get the distance, Besham and Babusar routes, a day-by-day plan, best season, the right SUV and rates to rent a car with driver.
Hunza is the trip many Lahore families, overseas Pakistanis and foreign travellers dream about: the Karakoram peaks, Baltit and Altit forts, the turquoise water of Attabad Lake and the road up to the Khunjerab Pass on the China border. It is also one of the longest drives in Pakistan, so planning matters.
This guide explains the distance from Lahore to Hunza by road, the two main routes, realistic travel time, where to stop overnight, the best time to go, which car suits the mountains and how to rent a car with driver for Hunza from 1 Call Cabs.
Lahore to Karimabad, the main town in central Hunza, is usually quoted at roughly 950 to 1,000 km by road, depending on your starting point in Lahore and the route you take. The driving time alone is commonly 18 to 22 hours, before meals, prayers, photo stops and any delays on the mountain sections.
Leg | Road | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
Lahore to Islamabad area | M-2 Motorway | Fast motorway with regular service areas |
Islamabad area to Thakot or Mansehra | M-1 and the Hazara Motorway | Good motorway past Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra |
Thakot to Chilas | Karakoram Highway via Besham and Dasu | The slowest section, narrow in places and busy with trucks |
Chilas to Gilgit to Karimabad | Karakoram Highway | Better surface, with Rakaposhi views on the final stretch |
Because of the distance, almost nobody drives Lahore to Hunza in one go. Plan on two days each way, or three with small children or elderly parents.
The main route runs from Lahore up the M-2 towards Islamabad, then onto the M-1 and the Hazara Motorway to Thakot. From there the Karakoram Highway, often called the KKH, follows the Indus through Besham, Dasu and Chilas, then on to Gilgit and up to Hunza. If you have driven our Lahore to Islamabad by car route before, the first day will feel familiar.
This is the route used outside summer, because it does not cross a high pass. The section between Thakot and Chilas is the part to respect: it is a mountain road above the river, it can be affected by landslides after rain, and it is best driven in daylight.
In summer there is a second option. You leave the Hazara Motorway at Mansehra, drive up the Kaghan Valley through Balakot and Naran, cross Babusar Top and come down to rejoin the Karakoram Highway at Chilas. It is more scenic and gives you an easy overnight stop in Naran. Our Lahore to Naran by car guide covers the first half of this route in detail.
The catch is that Babusar is seasonal. It is normally open only from early summer until the first heavy snow in autumn, and it can close for a few days after bad weather. Always check that it is open before choosing this route.
The most comfortable way to do the Lahore to Hunza road trip is to split the drive into two days and give yourself at least three full days in Hunza. A typical plan looks like this:
Day 1: Lahore to Besham or Mansehra on the KKH route, or Lahore to Naran in summer.
Day 2: On to Chilas, Gilgit and Karimabad, arriving before dark if you leave early.
Day 3: Karimabad, Baltit Fort, Altit Fort and the Eagle's Nest viewpoint.
Day 4: Upper Hunza: Attabad Lake, Gulmit, the Passu Cones and Hussaini suspension bridge.
Day 5: A full day to the Khunjerab Pass and back, in season.
Days 6 and 7: The return drive to Lahore, again with one night on the way.
Seven days is the practical minimum by road. Nine or ten days lets you add Skardu or Fairy Meadows, or simply travel without rushing. If you would rather follow a set plan, our Hunza Valley tour from Lahore and Skardu and Gilgit tour pages show ready-made itineraries we can arrange.
Hunza can be visited for much of the year, but each season feels very different:
Spring: blossom season, when the apricot and cherry trees flower. Nights are still cold.
Summer: the peak season, with open roads, long days and the busiest hotels. Babusar Pass is usually open, so the Naran route is possible.
Autumn: many travellers' favourite, with golden poplars, clear skies and fewer crowds. Days get shorter and nights colder as the season goes on.
Winter: quiet, very cold and snowy. Babusar is closed, so only the KKH route works, and some hotels shut for the season.
The Khunjerab Pass is generally open to visitors only from about May to October or early November, depending on snow. If seeing the China border is a priority, plan your dates around that window and confirm it before you leave Lahore.
The roads to Hunza are paved, so you do not strictly need a 4x4. What matters most on a trip this long is comfort, luggage space, ground clearance for rough patches and a vehicle that handles long climbs well. For most families an SUV is the sensible choice, while larger groups are better off in a van with a driver.
These are the starting daily rates currently listed on our fleet page. Your final quote depends on the dates, route, number of days and availability.
Vehicle | Seats | Daily rate from | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
Honda BRV | 7 | PKR 7,000/day | Budget-minded families in summer |
Kia Sportage | 4 | PKR 11,000/day | Couples and small families wanting SUV comfort |
Hiace Grand Cabin (with driver) | 13 | PKR 15,000/day | Extended families and friends' groups |
Toyota Fortuner | 7 | PKR 18,000/day | Mountain roads with room for luggage |
Toyota Prado TX | 7 | PKR 20,000/day | Premium comfort and high clearance |
Toyota Landcruiser V8 | 7 | PKR 25,000/day | VIP trips and top-end comfort |
For the mountains, the Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Prado TX are the most requested choices. A group of eight or more travels more comfortably, and often more cheaply per person, in the Hiace Grand Cabin. You can compare more options on our SUV cars for rent in Lahore page.
For a trip this long, most of our customers choose to rent a car with driver in Lahore. A driver who knows the Karakoram Highway handles the long days, the mountain bends and the checkposts, while you look after the family and enjoy the views.
Self drive is possible for experienced drivers. Under our current terms and conditions, self drive rentals have a minimum of 5 days, full payment before handover and a security cheque, and overseas clients and foreign nationals deposit their original passport.
Driver food and residence: on a with-driver trip, the client provides the driver's meals and accommodation. If you do not provide them, a charge of PKR 2,000 per day applies.
Outstation charges: trips outside Lahore on non-monthly bookings carry extra charges that are agreed at booking, and our standard running allowance is 150 km per day, so a long trip like Hunza is always quoted as an outstation car rental.
Fuel, tolls and parking: these are client expenses unless your quote says otherwise.
Driver duty hours: up to 10 hours per day unless agreed otherwise, which is another reason to split the drive into two days.
Drive in daylight: leave early each morning and plan to stop before dark, especially between Thakot and Gilgit.
Carry ID: Pakistanis should carry their CNIC. Foreign visitors should carry their passport and visa plus a few photocopies, as checkposts along the Karakoram Highway may record visitor details.
Keep cash: card machines and ATMs become scarce in Upper Hunza, and the Khunjerab National Park gate charges an entry fee.
Build in a spare day: landslides or weather can close a section for hours, so do not plan a flight or wedding back in Lahore for the day you return.
Check the road: confirm the latest road status the night before each driving day.
Visiting from abroad? Our guide on how to rent a car in Lahore as an overseas Pakistani or foreign visitor explains documents and airport pickup before the trip begins.
Tell us your travel dates, number of passengers, luggage and whether you want the Naran or Besham route, and we will suggest the right vehicle and send a clear quote. You can choose your car on the book a car page, call or WhatsApp us on +92 303 0160840, or send your plan through our contact page. Book early for summer and autumn, when SUVs and vans are in highest demand.
Roughly 950 to 1,000 km to Karimabad, depending on where you start in Lahore and whether you take the Besham route or the summer route through Naran and Babusar.
Expect about 18 to 22 hours of driving, plus stops. Most travellers split it over two days with a night in Besham, Mansehra, Naran or Chilas, and allow the same for the return.
The main roads are paved, so a sedan can make the trip in good weather. An SUV such as the Fortuner or Prado is more comfortable for the mountain sections, carries more luggage and has better ground clearance for rough patches.
No. Babusar Pass is normally open only in the summer months and closes after the first heavy snow in autumn. Outside that window, use the Karakoram Highway via Besham.
The client provides the driver's meals and accommodation. If you prefer not to arrange them, a charge of PKR 2,000 per day applies instead.
Foreign visitors on a valid Pakistan tourist visa generally do not need a separate permit for Hunza, but you should carry your passport, visa and photocopies for checkposts and hotel registration. Check the latest rules before you travel, as requirements can change.
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