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Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Highway
Rent a Car from Islamabad to Skardu with Driver
Planning to rent a car from Islamabad to Skardu? WhatsApp or call +92 306 5461192 with your travel dates, how many people are going, and whether you want a round trip or a one way drop, and we will send a quote.
All three trips start the same way, with a Taiba driver picking you up at your address in Islamabad or Rawalpindi and staying with you until you are dropped back home, or until the car is handed off at the end of the route.
Group trip
A group from Bahria Town wants to see Deosai before the snow closes it for the year.
Family week
A family in F-10 has a week off and wants Shigar and the Kachura lakes on the itinerary.
Fly in, drive back
A photographer from Blue Area is flying into Skardu but wants a car waiting for the drive back down through Chilas.
We do not offer self drive on this route, or on any route. One driver takes the car the whole way, from your door to Skardu and back, or one way if that is what you book. Our office sits in PWD Society, close to where the Islamabad Expressway feeds onto the road north.
If you want a driver who already knows the Karakoram Highway, this is the service.
The route
The Road from Islamabad to Skardu
- Islamabad
- Hasan Abdal
- Abbottabad
- Mansehra
- BeshamOvernight
- Dasu
- ChilasOvernight
- Jaglot
- SkarduValley
The route runs on the Karakoram Highway, the N-35, from Hasan Abdal through Abbottabad, Mansehra, Besham, Dasu and Chilas. The Pakistani section of the KKH covers 887 kilometers of a highway that stretches 1,300 kilometers in total, all the way to the Khunjerab Pass on the China border (Wikipedia, Karakoram Highway). Near Jaglot the road splits, and the turn onto the S-1, also called the Baltistan Highway, takes you the rest of the way into the Skardu Valley. That stretch alone is 167 kilometers, upgraded and reopened in December 2021, cutting the Gilgit to Skardu leg to about 4 hours on a good day (Wikipedia, S-1 Strategic Highway).
Competitor sites quote very different numbers for the total distance and drive time, some say 640 kilometers and 14 to 18 hours, others say 720 kilometers and up to 24 hours. We are not going to guess at a single figure nobody can agree on. What we can tell you honestly is that this is not a one day drive. Plan on roughly two days each way, with an overnight stop along the KKH, most commonly around Besham or further up near Chilas, which is the pattern experienced travelers on forums like Tripadvisor describe for this route (Tripadvisor, Road trip from Islamabad to Skardu). Skardu town itself sits at around 2,228 to 2,500 meters, where the Indus and Shigar rivers meet (Wikipedia, Skardu).
Pick the car
Which Car for This Route
Toyota Corolla
The KKH tarmac in good conditions, for a couple or a small family who want to keep costs down
Highway tarmacToyota Revo
A steadier ride on the Baltistan Highway and better traction if the road is wet or rough in places
4x4Toyota Prado
The most common choice for this route, and the vehicle to book if Deosai is on the plan
Most common choiceHiace Grand Cabin
A family group heading to Skardu together, with room for luggage
Family groupToyota Coaster
A larger group tour, this vehicle also runs the Skardu route and on toward Khunjerab
Larger group
A Corolla can manage the main KKH and Baltistan Highway tarmac when the weather is settled, and it is what several competitor price lists lead with. The Skardu-side road up into Deosai is a different story. Forum accounts from PakWheels describe that climb as genuinely steep, hard on an ordinary car’s suspension and clearance, even though some drivers have taken a sedan up the gentler Astore side (PakWheels forum, renting a 4x4 for Deosai). Because of that, we send the Revo or Prado whenever Deosai is part of the trip, and for winter travel on any part of this route. None of our vehicles go on broken jeep tracks.
The itinerary
How a Multi Day Trip to Skardu Works
Most Islamabad to Skardu bookings run as a two day drive up, time in Skardu and the surrounding valleys, and a two day drive back, though the exact number of days depends on how much of Shigar, Khaplu or Deosai you want to see. The overnight stop on the way up and down is usually somewhere along the KKH, around Besham or the Chilas area, in line with what other travelers on this road report. We are happy to plan the stops around your pace, just tell us how many days you have.
Going up
Two days on the KKH
Overnight stop around Besham or the Chilas area.
In Skardu
Valleys at your pace
Shigar, Khaplu or Deosai, depending on how many days you have.
Coming back
Two days down
An overnight stop somewhere along the KKH again.
If you would rather fly one way, Skardu now has an international airport, re-designated in December 2021, which makes a drive up and fly back plan realistic for some travelers (Wikipedia, Skardu). We have not published a fixed figure for what a one way drop plus an empty return leg costs, since it depends on the vehicle and the season. If this is your plan, tell us on WhatsApp and we will work out the price with you directly.
Pricing
How Pricing Works for This Route
Skardu trips are priced per day, for the whole car and driver, not by the kilometer. The total is the daily rate multiplied by the number of days the car is with you, which matches how we price every northern route, since fuel costs and road conditions shift from one week to the next. If you are comparing an islamabad to skardu rent a car price across a few operators, ask each one whether their figure covers a round trip or a one way drop, since the market is not consistent on this and it is a common source of confused quotes. Message us your dates, group size and whether Deosai or the Skardu valley towns are on your plan, and we will send the daily rate before you book.
Fuel, Tolls and Driver Costs on This Trip
Car and driver
The car and driver are included in the quote.
Fuel
Fuel can be handled either as a lump sum bundled into the rate, or paid separately as you go, whichever you prefer, and we confirm this with you on WhatsApp before departure.
Driver food and a place to sleep
Because this is a multi day trip with at least one overnight stop each way plus nights in Skardu, the driver’s food and a place to sleep are a real cost outside the vehicle rate. For northern area trips generally, this runs PKR 1,000 to 1,500 a night. A Skardu trip usually means more nights away than a Naran or Murree run, so confirm the total with us based on your actual itinerary before you travel.
Season and roads
When is the best time to go to Skardu, and how are the roads?
Most people travel to Skardu in summer, when Deosai is open and the roads are at their best. The Karakoram Highway can see landslide closures, particularly during the monsoon months, and winter brings closures too, so we check the road with you before every departure.
On 18 June 2026, the KKH was blocked between Gunar Farm and Lal Padi in the Chilas area of Diamer district, and the Baltistan road near Maloopa in Roundu was also affected, leaving travelers stranded for hours until crews cleared it (Dawn, KKH landslide report).
Deosai is a summer only destination.
Its Balti name is said to mean a place only reachable in summer, and the plateau sits at an average elevation of 4,114 meters, the second highest plateau in the world after the Changtang Tibetan Plateau (Wikipedia, Deosai National Park).
We check the current road status with you before every departure and will tell you if a route needs adjusting.
If the Road Is Blocked
If a landslide, snowfall or an official closure affects your travel date, message us as soon as you know and we will work out a new date or discuss a refund based on the situation. If your trip is already on the road and runs longer because of a closure, the extra days are billed at the same daily rate, since that cost falls on the trip itself, not on us or on you alone.
Foreign Tourists
Foreign visitors with a valid Pakistani visa do not need a special permit for Skardu, Deosai, Hunza, Gilgit, Khunjerab or the main Karakoram Highway, though carrying your original passport and visa is expected at checkposts along the way (Raahi Retreats, Gilgit Baltistan permits for foreigners). Areas closer to the Line of Control can have separate rules, so if your itinerary goes near there, message us first and we will confirm what applies. English speaking drivers are available on request, though the number of them is limited, so ask early when you book.
Around Skardu
Places to Visit Around Skardu
Deosai National Park
Deosai National Park is the big draw for most travelers, a high plateau protected across about 358,400 hectares, home to a recovering population of Himalayan brown bears, along with Siberian ibex, snow leopards and more than 124 recorded bird species (Wikipedia, Deosai National Park).
Shigar and Khaplu
Shigar and Khaplu are valley towns within reach of Skardu, both with a long settlement history and their own forts and old town centers.
Lower Kachura Lake
Lower Kachura Lake, better known through the Shangrila Resort built on its shore in 1983, sits at around 2,500 meters and takes its name from the fictional paradise in James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon (Wikipedia, Lower Kachura Lake).
Satpara Lake
Satpara Lake, about 10 kilometers from Skardu town, is the city’s main freshwater source and a short, easy trip from wherever you are staying (Wikipedia, Satpara Lake).
Our car and driver take you to these places. A jeep for the roughest stretch into Deosai, if your vehicle needs one that day, is booked locally, and we will tell you honestly if that applies to your trip.
Katpana, the cold desert close to Skardu town, is an easy stop on the day you arrive. Trekkers heading to K2 and the Baltoro start from Askole, beyond Shigar, and the last stretch of that road is rough, so a local jeep for that part is arranged separately.
Who drives
Are your drivers police verified?
Minimum experience for every driver.
- Every driver clears a police background check, with his CNIC kept on file.
- None of our drivers have less than 5 years of experience.
- The KKH and the Baltistan Highway are roads our drivers already know, not routes they are learning on your Skardu trip.
- During the summer and Eid rush, when our own fleet is fully booked, a wider network of car owners we work with steps in so your date still gets a car.
- A license and a security deposit are two things you will never be asked for on this booking.
How to book
Booking a Skardu Trip
Tell us on WhatsApp your travel dates, group size, and whether you want Deosai, Shigar or Khaplu included.
We work out the car and the route plan, based on the season and the current road status.
A 20 percent advance confirms the booking, and you settle the balance 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. A same day cancellation is not refunded, unless the car is booked out for another duty that same day, in which case the refund is given.
Coverage
Areas We Cover for Rent a Car Islamabad to Skardu
Pickup in Islamabad
- Blue Area
- F-6
- F-7
- F-8
- F-10
- F-11
- G-9
- G-10
- G-11
- DHA
- Bahria Town
- PWD Society
Pickup in Rawalpindi
- Saddar
- Chaklala
Destinations
- Skardu town
- Shigar
- Khaplu
- Deosai jeep point
- Lower Kachura Lake
- Satpara Lake
Plus the wider Gilgit Baltistan region on request.
Skardu is the base for Shigar, Khaplu, Deosai and the lakes, so most trips cover two or three of them. Tell us your list on WhatsApp and we will plan the days and the car around it.
Why Taiba
Why Choose Taiba for the Skardu Route
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 16 Google reviews.
- A driver who has already done the KKH and the Baltistan Highway, not someone finding the way for the first time on your trip.
- A real office you can visit. Shop #3, Shahzaib Plaza, near Habibi Restaurant, PWD Society, Islamabad.
- Every car is insured, and a breakdown inside the city is replaced within 1 hour at no cost to you.
- Open 24 hours, for an early departure on a long mountain drive.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent a car from Islamabad to Skardu?
It depends on the vehicle, the number of days, and whether it is a round trip or a one way drop. Message us your dates and plan on WhatsApp and we will send the daily rate.
How long does the drive from Islamabad to Skardu take, and can it be done in one day?
No, plan on roughly two days each way with an overnight stop along the Karakoram Highway, commonly around Besham or Chilas. It is not a route we recommend trying to cover in a single day.
Where do we stop for the night on the way up?
Most travelers on this road stop somewhere along the KKH, around Besham or further up near Chilas. Tell us your pace and we can suggest a stop that fits your schedule.
Is the road currently open, and can it get blocked?
The KKH and the Baltistan Highway can see landslide closures, especially in the monsoon months. We check the current road status before every departure and will flag it if your travel window looks affected.
Can a normal car like a Corolla make the trip, or do we need a 4x4?
A Corolla can handle the main KKH and Baltistan Highway tarmac in good conditions. For Deosai specifically, or for winter travel, we send the Revo or Prado, both 4x4.
Do we need a 4x4 for Deosai even if the main highway is fine in a sedan?
Yes, generally. The Skardu side road into Deosai is a steep climb that is hard on an ordinary car, so we send a 4x4 for that leg even on trips where the highway drive up was fine in a Corolla.
Who pays for the driver’s food and stay on this trip?
The customer. This is a multi day trip with several nights away from home for the driver, and it is billed separately from the vehicle rate, typically in the PKR 1,000 to 1,500 a night range that applies to northern routes. Confirm the total with us based on your exact itinerary.
Can we drive up and fly back from Skardu?
Skardu has an international airport, so a drive up and fly back plan is possible. We have not published a fixed one way figure since it depends on the vehicle and the empty return leg, so message us on WhatsApp if this is your plan.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 4 days before your travel date for a full refund.
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 HunzaThe Karakoram Highway through Besham, Chilas and Gilgit.
- 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 Skardu Trip
For a car and driver from Islamabad or Rawalpindi to Skardu, 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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