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Up the Karakoram Highway
Rent a Car from Islamabad to Hunza with Driver
A group from Bahria Town wants to spend a week in Hunza before the passes close for winter. A family in F-10 is planning their first trip up the Karakoram Highway and wants one driver for the whole way, not a different car at every stop. A photographer from Blue Area needs a 4x4 in case the weather turns near Chilas. This is the trip our islamabad to hunza rent a car service is built around: pickup at your door in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, and the same driver with you until you are dropped back home.
Our office is in PWD Society, close to where the Islamabad Expressway meets the road north. WhatsApp or call +92 306 5461192 with your travel dates, group size and how many days you plan to stay in Hunza, and we will suggest a vehicle and send a quote.
“all of them only available with driver only.”
Driver only
No Self Drive on the Hunza Route
We do not offer self drive on this route. Every booking to Hunza comes with our own driver, for the full distance and the full trip. This is not just our policy. On the Tripadvisor forum thread for this exact route, a traveller who contacted several Islamabad agencies about a self drive car to Hunza reported that “all of them only available with driver only.” The road through Kohistan and Diamer has long stretches that call for an experienced mountain driver, and that is who we send.
Karakoram Highway, N-35
The Route: Islamabad to Hunza via the Karakoram Highway
- Islamabad
- Abbottabad
- Mansehra
- Besham
- Dasu
- Chilas
- Gilgit
- Hunza
Besham to Chilas is the longest leg and the one that needs the most care. Leg times are from a PakWheels forum trip report.
The Hunza trip runs on the Karakoram Highway, N-35, which in Pakistan runs from Hasan Abdal to Khunjerab Pass on the China border, a stretch of 887 kilometers out of its full 1,300 kilometer length (Wikipedia, Karakoram Highway). From Islamabad the road passes through Abbottabad, Mansehra, Besham, Dasu, Chilas and Gilgit before reaching Hunza.
Total driving time is usually 17 to 20 hours, depending on traffic, weather and how the road is holding up that week (gopleiades.com, how to reach Hunza from Islamabad). A real trip report on the PakWheels forum breaks the drive down by leg: Rawalpindi to Abbottabad about 3 hours, Abbottabad to Besham about 4 hours, Besham to Chilas about 8 hours, and Chilas to Karimabad in Hunza about 5 hours (PakWheels forum, Islamabad to Hunza with family). The same poster was told the Besham to Chilas stretch needs care and should not include long stops along the way. That advice matches what our own drivers already know about this section.
Because the full trip runs past 17 hours behind the wheel, most travellers split it across two days with an overnight stop, rather than driving straight through. Tell us on WhatsApp if you want to plan the trip this way, and we will confirm the car and the overnight town with you.
Match the car to the weather
Rent a Car Islamabad to Hunza: Which Car Fits the Trip
- Clear weather
Toyota Corolla
A couple or small family, when the road and weather are clear
- 4x4
Toyota Revo (4x4)
A landslide detour, wet road, or when the group wants extra ground clearance
- 4x4
Toyota Prado (4x4)
Snow, a longer group trip, or more comfort on a multi day drive
- Groups
Hiace Grand Cabin
A family group heading up together
- Groups
Toyota Coaster
An office trip or a larger group, within our road limits
Only two genuine 4x4s
Of our confirmed fleet, only the Revo and the Prado are genuine 4x4s. The paved sections of the KKH can be covered in a Corolla in good weather, but once the weather turns, or a landslide forces a detour, a 4x4 is what we send. Our cars do not go on jeep tracks, and this applies the same way on the Hunza route as anywhere else in the north. Tell us your travel dates and we will confirm the exact vehicle once we know the season and the current road condition.
Group trip? See our Grand Cabin and Coaster
Per day, not per km
How Pricing Works
Car rental Islamabad to Hunza is priced per day, not per kilometer, since a multi day drive covers a lot of ground and fuel prices shift from one week to the next. There is no single islamabad to hunza rent a car price published on this page, because the figure depends on the vehicle, the number of days and the season. Message us your dates and car choice on WhatsApp and we will send the figure before you book. Each day of the trip is billed at the standard duty rate for that vehicle, in line with our usual per-day terms.
- The vehicle
- Number of days
- The season
Fuel, Tolls and Driver Costs
The car and driver are included in the quote. Fuel can be handled as a lump sum built into the rate, or paid separately as the trip goes, and we confirm which option suits you before you set off.
An overnight stop on the way to Hunza, or the nights you spend there, means covering the driver’s food and a place to sleep, on top of the vehicle rate. For our other northern routes such as Naran, Kaghan and Swat this typically runs PKR 1,000 to 1,500 a night. Confirm the exact figure for Hunza with us on WhatsApp when you book, since it has not been fixed separately from the rest of the north yet.
Two ways north
Babusar Top or the Karakoram Highway
Seasonal
Babusar Top
Naran to Chilas road
- Usually closed from around November until late May or June
- Closed because of snow
Our route to Hunza
Karakoram Highway
Through Besham and Chilas
- Stays open through the year
- Not affected by the Babusar closure
Some travellers reach the north through Babusar Top on the Naran to Chilas road, but that pass usually stays closed from around November until late May or June because of snow (gopleiades.com, how to reach Hunza). For a Hunza trip, our cars run the Karakoram Highway through Besham and Chilas, which stays open through the year and is not affected by the Babusar closure. If you are travelling outside the Babusar season and would rather go that way, ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you the current status.
If the Road Is Blocked
- June 2026
The highway was blocked between Gunar Farm and Lal Padi near Chilas, and officials asked travellers to check conditions before setting out.
- August 2026
Flash floods from a cloudburst and rapid glacier melt affected Naltar, Hunza and Ghizer, and briefly damaged the highway near Gulmit.
The KKH does close from time to time, usually from a landslide or heavy rain. In June 2026, the highway was blocked between Gunar Farm and Lal Padi near Chilas, and officials asked travellers to check conditions before setting out (Dawn, KKH blocked near Chilas). In August 2026, flash floods from a cloudburst and rapid glacier melt affected Naltar, Hunza and Ghizer, and briefly damaged the highway near Gulmit (Mountain TV, Gilgit-Baltistan flash floods).
We check the road status before every departure. If a closure happens while your trip is already underway and adds extra days, those extra days are billed at the same daily rate, since this is our standard policy across all northern routes. If a closure means you cannot leave on your booked date, message us and we will work out a new date or a refund based on the situation.
Foreign visitors
Foreign Tourists
No special permit
Hunza, Gilgit, the main Karakoram Highway and Khunjerab Pass do not require a special permit for a foreign visitor holding a valid Pakistan visa. The NOC requirement that used to apply to most of Gilgit-Baltistan was formally eased for foreign tourists in 2019 (Tribune, government eases travel NOC requirement for foreigners). Carry your original passport and visa, since checkposts along the way ask to see them. Areas closer to the Line of Control have separate rules, so if your trip includes those, message us first and we will confirm what applies. English speaking drivers are available on request, but the number of them is limited, so ask early when you book.
Karimabad, Attabad, Passu
What to See in Hunza
2,500m, roughly
Karimabad, Baltit and Altit Forts
Karimabad is the main town of the valley, sitting on the western bank of the Hunza River, about 7 kilometers uphill from Aliabad, at an elevation of roughly 2,500 meters (Wikipedia, Karimabad). Baltit Fort overlooks the town, and Altit Fort sits a short drive further down the valley.
2010the landslide
Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake formed after a landslide blocked the Hunza River on 4 January 2010, and by mid-2010 the lake had submerged close to 19 to 25 kilometers of the old highway and six bridges. The road connection was only restored in September 2015, when a realigned section with five tunnels opened to carry traffic around the lake (Wikipedia, Attabad Lake). Today the lake is a stop for boating and photos on the way further up the valley.
194m span
Hussaini Suspension Bridge
Further north near Passu, the Hussaini Suspension Bridge crosses the Hunza River on a rope and plank span about 194 meters long. It has been named one of the world’s most dangerous bridges by international travel press, and it remains a popular stop for visitors willing to cross it (Wikipedia, Hussaini Suspension Bridge).
7,788m peak
Rakaposhi
Rakaposhi, at 7,788 meters, is visible from a roadside viewpoint on the KKH near Nagar and Ghulmet, and is one of the peaks that dominate the skyline around the valley (Wikipedia, Hunza Valley).
One Way Trips to Hunza
If you rent a car from Islamabad to Hunza and plan to fly back from Gilgit instead of driving both ways, tell us this when you book. A one way drop means the car returns to Islamabad empty, and this is reflected in the price. Confirm the figure with us on WhatsApp, since it is not a fixed rate published here.
Are your drivers police verified?
- Every driver clears a police background check, with his CNIC kept on file.
- None of our drivers have less than 5 years of experience.
- Our drivers already know the Besham to Chilas stretch and the rest of the KKH up to Hunza.
- A licence and a security deposit are two things you will never be asked for on this booking.
Booking a Hunza Trip
Tell us on WhatsApp your travel dates, group size and how many days you plan in Hunza.
We match a car to the route, taking the season and current road status into account.
A 20 percent advance confirms the booking, and the rest is settled as the trip goes.
The driver reaches your address in Islamabad or Rawalpindi on the day you asked for.
A CNIC, NICOP or passport copy is needed to book.
Cancellation and Refund
Cancel at least 4 days before your travel date for a full refund.
Areas We Cover for Rent a Car Islamabad to Hunza
Pickup
- Blue Area
- F-6
- F-7
- F-8
- F-10
- F-11
- G-9
- G-10
- G-11
- DHA
- Bahria Town
- PWD Society in Islamabad
- Saddar
- Chaklala in Rawalpindi
Destination
- Hunza
- Aliabad
- Karimabad
- Gulmit
- Passu
On the way through Abbottabad, Besham, Dasu, Chilas and Gilgit.
More of the north: Northern Areas Tours, Islamabad to Naran, Islamabad to Murree.
Why Choose Taiba for a Hunza Trip
A driver who already knows this road, from Besham through Chilas and Gilgit up to Hunza.
A real office you can visit. Shop #3, Shahzaib Plaza, near Habibi Restaurant, PWD Society, Islamabad.
Insurance is standard on every car we send, and a breakdown inside the city is replaced within 1 hour, free of charge.
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 16 Google reviews.
Open 24 hours, for an early departure on a long mountain drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a car with driver from Islamabad to Hunza cost?
It is priced per day, for the number of days the car and driver are with you, not per kilometer. Message us your dates and car choice on WhatsApp and we will send the figure before you book.
How many days does it take to reach Hunza from Islamabad by road?
Total driving time usually runs 17 to 20 hours. Most travellers split this across two days with an overnight stop rather than driving straight through. Tell us your plan on WhatsApp and we will confirm the car and the stop with you.
Is self drive available for the Hunza trip?
No. Every booking comes with our own driver for the full trip. Multiple agencies in Islamabad told a Tripadvisor forum user the same thing when he asked about self drive to Hunza: driver only.
Can a normal car like a Corolla make the trip, or do I need a 4x4?
A Corolla can cover the paved sections of the KKH in good weather. Once the weather turns or a landslide forces a detour, we send the Revo or the Prado, both 4x4.
Is Babusar Top open, or does the car go another way?
Babusar Top usually stays closed from around November until late May or June. For Hunza, our cars use the Karakoram Highway through Besham and Chilas, which stays open through the year.
What happens if a landslide or flood blocks the road during my trip?
We check the road status before you leave. If a closure happens while you are already on the trip and it adds extra days, those days are billed at the same daily rate.
Who pays for the driver’s food and stay overnight?
The customer. On our other northern routes this runs PKR 1,000 to 1,500 a night. Confirm the exact figure for Hunza with us on WhatsApp when you book.
Do foreign tourists need a permit for Hunza?
No special permit is needed for Hunza, Gilgit or the main Karakoram Highway with a valid Pakistan visa. Carry your passport and visa, since checkposts ask to see them.
Can I book a one way trip and fly back from Gilgit?
Yes, tell us this when you book. The car returns empty, and this is reflected in the quote we send you.
Other Routes from Islamabad
Planning a longer trip north? The same driver and car can cover more than one destination. Ask us on WhatsApp to combine routes.
- Islamabad to GilgitThe junction town for Hunza and Skardu.
- Islamabad to SkarduGateway to Shigar, Khaplu and Deosai.
- Islamabad to Naran and KaghanThe N-15 through Balakot, open only in the warmer months.
See all destinations on our Northern Areas Tours page, or compare our cars with driver and the Grand Cabin and Coaster.
Need a car in the city before or after the trip? See car rental in Islamabad with driver, our budget cars or luxury cars.
Same driver, door to door
Plan Your Hunza Trip
For a car and driver from Islamabad or Rawalpindi to Hunza, WhatsApp or call +92 306 5461192 with your travel dates and group size.
Taiba & Friends Motors Rent a Car
Shop #3, Shahzaib Plaza, near Habibi Restaurant, Block A Sector A PWD Society, Islamabad, 46000, Pakistan
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
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