Rent a Car for Hunza & Skardu Tour — The Ultimate Northern Areas Road Trip Guide

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Hunza and Skardu are the trip of a lifetime. Snow-covered giants, ancient forts perched over rivers, apricot orchards, the impossibly blue Attabad Lake, Deosai’s rolling meadows, and the world’s second-highest mountain looking down on you from Concordia. Nothing else in Pakistan compares.

But getting there right takes planning. The wrong vehicle, wrong season, or wrong itinerary can turn a dream trip into a stressful one. At Al Sabir Travel & Tours we’ve been sending groups up the Karakoram Highway for years. This guide is what we tell every family that calls us wanting to plan this trip.

Hunza vs Skardu — What’s the Difference?

Both are in Gilgit-Baltistan, but they’re in different valleys and offer very different experiences.

Hunza Valley is on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) itself, north of Gilgit. Karimabad is the main town. Highlights: Attabad Lake, Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Passu Cones, Khunjerab Pass (China border). Landscape: dramatic, dry, high-altitude desert with green terraced fields.
Skardu Valley is off the KKH — you turn east at Jaglot onto the Skardu Road. Skardu town is the base. Highlights: Shangrila Resort, Upper Kachura Lake, Shigar Fort, Khaplu, Deosai National Park, K2 Base Camp treks. Landscape: broader valleys, big rivers, more variety.

Most first-time travelers do a combined tour: Islamabad → Chilas → Hunza (3–4 days) → back to Chilas → Skardu (3–4 days) → return. Total: 10–14 days.

The Karakoram Highway — What to Expect

The KKH is a marvel of engineering — one of the highest paved roads in the world, running from Hasan Abdal near Islamabad up to Khunjerab Pass on the China border (4,714 m / 15,466 ft). Most of it is well-paved these days, but sections between Chilas and Gilgit can be rough, and landslides are always a monsoon risk (July–September).

Key sections and drive times:

Islamabad → Besham: 5 hours (270 km)
Besham → Chilas: 5–6 hours (200 km) — the toughest stretch
Chilas → Gilgit: 3 hours (130 km)
Gilgit → Karimabad (Hunza): 2 hours (100 km)
Karimabad → Khunjerab: 3–4 hours (170 km)
Gilgit → Skardu (via Skardu Road): 5–6 hours (200 km)

Which Vehicle Should You Rent?

This is the most important decision of the trip. Our recommendations:

For Hunza only (paved KKH the whole way): Toyota Prado. Comfortable, capable, better fuel economy than a V8. Rs. 22,000–30,000 per day.
For Skardu tours: V8 Land Cruiser is strongly recommended. The Skardu Road is tougher, journeys are longer, and comfort matters more. Rs. 30,000–45,000 per day.
For combined Hunza + Skardu (10+ days): V8 Land Cruiser. Trip length justifies the cost; you’ll appreciate the comfort by day 5.
For larger groups (10–14): Toyota Hiace Grand Cabin. Not a 4×4 but handles KKH main routes fine. Not recommended for Deosai crossings or Shigar side trips.
For very large groups: Coaster + support Land Cruiser. Coaster for main transport, Land Cruiser for elderly VIPs and side trips.

What NOT to bring: a sedan (uncomfortable and worrying), a low-clearance crossover (bottoms out on rough patches), or anything with a dodgy suspension.

Best Time to Do the Trip

April–May: Cherry blossom in Hunza — spectacular. Deosai still snowbound.
June–August: Peak season. Everything accessible including Deosai and Khunjerab. Also the busiest — book early.
September–October: Autumn colors in Hunza (some of the world’s best). Cooler weather. Excellent choice for photographers.
November–March: Winter travel possible only for Hunza, with limitations. Skardu and Deosai essentially closed. Not for first-timers.

Sample Itineraries

7-Day Hunza-Only Tour

Day 1: Islamabad → Besham (overnight)
Day 2: Besham → Chilas → Gilgit → Karimabad
Day 3: Hunza sightseeing — Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Duikar sunrise/sunset
Day 4: Attabad Lake, Passu Cones, Hussaini Bridge
Day 5: Karimabad → Khunjerab Pass → back to Karimabad
Day 6: Karimabad → Gilgit → Chilas
Day 7: Chilas → Islamabad

10-Day Combined Hunza + Skardu Tour

Days 1–2: Islamabad → Chilas → Gilgit → Karimabad
Days 3–4: Hunza — forts, Attabad, Khunjerab
Day 5: Karimabad → Skardu via Jaglot
Day 6: Skardu — Shangrila, Upper Kachura, Shigar Fort
Day 7: Skardu → Deosai (day trip, weather permitting)
Day 8: Skardu → Khaplu (day trip or overnight)
Day 9: Skardu → Chilas
Day 10: Chilas → Islamabad

14-Day Premium Tour

Adds Fairy Meadows base (jeep ride from Raikot Bridge), Ghizer Valley, Phander Lake, and an extra day at Concordia trek base for photography.

What Does a Hunza-Skardu Tour Cost? (With Driver, Without Fuel)

Important: All rates below are quoted with a professional driver but excluding fuel. Fuel is paid separately by the customer at actual consumption. Driver meals: Rs. 500 per day (in-city) / Rs. 2,000 per day (outstation).

Sample daily vehicle rates for Hunza and Skardu tours (outstation, with driver, excluding fuel):

Toyota Prado (5 people, ideal for Hunza): Rs. 20,000 – Rs. 25,000 per day
Toyota Fortuner (5 people): Rs. 20,000 – Rs. 25,000 per day
V8 Land Cruiser (7 people, recommended for Skardu): Rs. 30,000 per day
Toyota Hiace Grand Cabin (12–14 people): Rs. 15,000 per day
Toyota Coaster (30 people): Rs. 22,000 per day

Add on top of vehicle rate: fuel (customer-paid at actual consumption — expect Rs. 80,000 – Rs. 1,50,000 for a 10-day V8 tour), driver meals Rs. 2,000 per day, motorway/KKH tolls, hotel and food, entry fees to Deosai/Khunjerab. Budget roughly Rs. 5,000–8,000 per person per day for hotel and food on top of transport.

Where to Stay

Karimabad (Hunza): Hunza Serena Inn, Eagle’s Nest, Hunza Embassy, Hard Rock Hunza — Rs. 10,000–25,000 per night in season.
Skardu: Shangrila Resort, Serena, Concordia Motel — Rs. 12,000–30,000 per night.
Chilas: Shangrila Chilas, PTDC — mid-range options for overnight stops.
Gilgit: Serena Gilgit, Riveria Hotel.

Book hotels 6–8 weeks in advance for peak season. Same for the Karimabad Serena — it sells out early.

Altitude, Health and Safety

Khunjerab is at 4,714 m. Some people feel altitude effects — headache, breathlessness, mild nausea. Drink water, eat light, don’t rush.
Deosai plains are at 4,100 m average. Same precautions apply.
Cell coverage is spotty in Gilgit-Baltistan. SCOM and Special Communications are the two workable operators; foreign SIMs don’t work.
Diamox is sometimes recommended for altitude, but consult a doctor before your trip.
Landslide risk is real in monsoon (July–September). Build one buffer day into every itinerary.

Tips for Renting a Vehicle for Hunza-Skardu

Book 4–6 weeks in advance for July–August. Good vehicles disappear fast.
Insist on a driver with recent KKH and Skardu Road experience. This is not the trip for a first-timer driver.
Confirm vehicle year and full service history. A 2019 V8 with recent servicing is very different from a tired 2011 unit.
Discuss the itinerary in detail. Some drivers know Hunza but not Deosai. Match the driver to your plan.
Emergency prep. Confirm the vehicle has a working spare, jack, and basic tools.
Fuel budget. V8 fuel bills for a 10-day trip can hit Rs. 80,000–1,00,000; make sure this is transparent in the quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do Hunza and Skardu in one trip?

Yes — 10–14 days is ideal for the combined tour. Trying to do both in less than 10 days means rushing and missing the best experiences.

Which vehicle is best for a Skardu tour?

The V8 Land Cruiser is our strong recommendation for Skardu — the road is longer and tougher than Hunza, and long trips deserve maximum comfort.

Is Khunjerab Pass open all year?

The Pakistani side is generally open May–November; check current status. Border with China is subject to bilateral protocols.

What is the total cost of a Hunza tour from Islamabad?

Roughly Rs. 1.6–2.8 lakhs for transport for 5–7 people, plus hotel/food. Per-person all-in for a family of 5 comes to about Rs. 60,000–90,000 for a 7-day tour.

Can I fly to Skardu instead of driving?

Yes — PIA operates Islamabad-Skardu flights (weather-dependent, often cancelled). Many travelers fly in, rent a vehicle in Skardu, and drive back over KKH. We can arrange rentals for arrival in Skardu.

Do you provide package tours with hotel included?

Our core service is vehicle + driver + fuel + tolls. For hotel-inclusive packages we partner with local hotels in Hunza and Skardu — ask us for a full package quote.

Ready to Book Your Hunza-Skardu Adventure?

This is the trip you’ll talk about for years. Al Sabir Travel & Tours will make sure the transport side of it — the vehicle, the driver, the fuel, the logistics — is one thing you never have to worry about. Call, WhatsApp, or fill the booking form on alsabir.tours — let’s plan your journey.