How to Get to Hunza from Islamabad: Flights, Road and Buses (2026)
Pakistan Locals Team
13 August 2026 · 3 min read
At a glance
- Location
- Hunza Valley
- Region
- Gilgit-Baltistan
- Best time
- May to October for the smoothest travel, though the road runs year-round via Besham
- Duration
- Allow a full day of travel each way
There is no airport in Hunza, and no shortcut. Getting there from Islamabad is either a short, moody flight or a long, glorious drive, and choosing between them is the first real decision of any northern trip. Here is exactly how each option works, what it costs, and which one we would pick.
Option 1: fly to Gilgit
The fast way is to fly Islamabad to Gilgit with PIA. It takes about an hour, there are roughly 17 flights a week, and the descent past Nanga Parbat is one of the great short flights anywhere. From Gilgit airport it is then a 2 to 3 hour drive north to Karimabad in Hunza.
The big catch: this flight flies by sight and is cancelled often when the weather closes in, sometimes for days. If you fly, build in a buffer, keep a spare night at each end, and do not book anything tight on the far side. Plenty of travellers fly one way and take the road the other, which is a smart compromise.
Option 2: the Karakoram Highway by road
The overland route follows the legendary Karakoram Highway, and it is a trip in its own right. From Islamabad it is roughly 14 to 20 hours to Gilgit, usually split over two days with a night in Naran, Besham or Chilas. In summer you can go the shorter, prettier way over the Babusar Pass via Naran, and the rest of the year you take the year-round Besham route. Near Hunza the road slips through the Attabad tunnels that bypass Attabad Lake.
Buses and coaches
You do not need your own car. Reliable coach companies run daily up the KKH:
- NATCO, the government service, and Faisal Movers both run comfortable coaches from Rawalpindi or Islamabad to Gilgit, roughly PKR 2,000 to 4,600 depending on the class of service.
- From Gilgit, shared vans and Hiace wagons run the last stretch to Karimabad for around PKR 400 to 700, or you can hire a private car.
Overnight coaches let you sleep through part of the drive, though you miss the scenery. Day travel is slower but far more beautiful.
Private car or a hosted trip
The most comfortable option is a private car with a driver for the whole journey, which lets you stop for photos, break where you like, and take the scenic Babusar route in summer. Many travellers book this as part of a hosted trip that handles the driving, the stops and the stays, which takes all the logistics off your plate.
So which should you pick?
If your time is tight and your dates are firm, take the road, because the flight is too unreliable to build a schedule on. If you have a buffer day or two, fly up to save a full day and drive back so you still get the Karakoram Highway. If the journey is the holiday, drive both ways and enjoy every hour of it.
Quick answers
Fastest way to Hunza? Fly Islamabad to Gilgit (about an hour), then drive 2 to 3 hours, weather permitting.
Most reliable way? The Karakoram Highway by coach or private car, 14 to 20 hours to Gilgit.
Cheapest way? A NATCO or Faisal Movers coach, roughly PKR 2,000 to 4,600 to Gilgit, then a shared van to Karimabad.
Do you need a permit? No, Hunza needs no permit. Just carry your passport or CNIC for highway checkposts.
Written and fact-checked by the Pakistan Locals editorial team, with drivers who run the Karakoram Highway. Last updated August 2026. Flight schedules and fares change, so confirm before you book.
Sources and further reading
Once you arrive, read our full Hunza Valley guide and the Karakoram Highway road trip guide. Then browse stays and hosted trips across Hunza on Pakistan Locals. Working out costs? See our northern Pakistan budget guide.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Islamabad to Hunza?+
By air, about an hour to Gilgit plus a 2 to 3 hour drive to Karimabad, if the flight runs. By road it is roughly 14 to 20 hours to Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway, then another 2 to 3 hours, usually split over two days.
Is there a direct flight to Hunza?+
No. The nearest airport is Gilgit, served by PIA from Islamabad (around an hour, roughly 17 flights a week). From Gilgit it is a 2 to 3 hour drive to Karimabad in Hunza.
Why do people say to take the road instead of flying?+
The Gilgit flight is very weather-dependent and is cancelled often. If you must keep to a schedule, the road is more reliable, and the Karakoram Highway is a spectacular trip in itself.
How much does the bus cost?+
A NATCO or Faisal Movers coach from Rawalpindi or Islamabad to Gilgit runs roughly PKR 2,000 to 4,600 depending on the service, then a shared van from Gilgit to Karimabad is around PKR 400 to 700.
Pakistan Locals Team
The Pakistan Locals editorial team writes practical, on-the-ground travel guides to Pakistan, researched and fact-checked in consultation with our network of local hosts and guides.