Rent a Car Islamabad to Gilgit with Driver
A group from F-10 wants to drive up to Gilgit before continuing to Hunza. A family from Bahria Town is planning a Gilgit and Skardu loop with one car for the whole trip. This is exactly the journey our rent a car Islamabad to Gilgit service is built around: pickup at your door in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, and the same driver for the whole route north.
What to Expect on the Road to Gilgit
Distance and Travel Time
The route out of Islamabad runs through Hasan Abdal and onto the Hazara Motorway (M-15), a 180 kilometre CPEC route through Havelian, Abbottabad and Mansehra that fully opened in July 2020 and feeds directly into the Karakoram Highway (Wikipedia, M-15 motorway). From there the road continues as National Highway N-35, the Karakoram Highway, through Thakot, Besham, Dasu and Chilas before reaching Gilgit (Wikipedia, Karakoram Highway).
Distance estimates vary with the exact starting point. One travel data source puts it at about 520 kilometres, roughly 10 to 12 hours of driving via the N-15/KKH corridor (pkbuses.com). In practice the drive commonly runs longer once stops for meals, fuel and checkpoints are counted, and travellers on the Tripadvisor Gilgit-Baltistan forum advise leaving in the morning to see the scenery in daylight rather than arriving after dark (Tripadvisor forum). Gilgit itself sits just off the highway and functions as a major junction, with roads continuing north to Hunza and the Khunjerab Pass, east to Skardu, and south back down the KKH (Wikipedia, Gilgit).
Whether this works out as a single very long day or is better split overnight depends on your start time, the season and how many stops you plan. Tell us your travel date on WhatsApp and we will talk through the timing with you before you book.
Rent a Car Islamabad to Gilgit: Which Car to Choose
Tell us your group size and travel month, and we will confirm the right vehicle for the road conditions at the time.
How Our Islamabad to Gilgit Rent a Car Service Is Priced
Like every Taiba tour, this route is priced per day, not per kilometer, because fuel costs and road conditions change from one week to the next. There isn't one fixed number published here, since the figure depends on the vehicle, the number of days and whether the trip continues past Gilgit.
Message us your dates and destination on WhatsApp and we will send the daily rate before you book.
Fuel, Tolls and Driver Costs
When does the road to Gilgit close?
Landslides on the Karakoram Highway can close the road, most often in the monsoon months.
The Karakoram Highway through the Kohistan stretch, the same Besham to Dasu to Chilas section this route crosses, has a recorded history of landslide closures (Tribune). On 18 June 2026, heavy rain triggered landslides and mudflows that blocked the KKH near Chilas in Diamer district, and local administration advised travellers to check current road conditions before setting out (Dawn). The Khunjerab Pass further north is normally open from around April to December and closed to vehicles in the depth of winter (Wikipedia, Khunjerab Pass).
We check the current road status with you before every departure on this route, given how often this particular stretch of the KKH sees monsoon and landslide disruption.
If the Road Is Blocked
If a landslide, checkpoint closure or weather event 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 underway and runs longer because the road reopens late, the extra days are billed at the same daily rate.
Foreign Tourists: What You Need to Know
Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Khunjerab and the main Karakoram Highway do not require a separate permit for a foreign visitor holding a valid Pakistani visa, though carrying your original passport and visa is expected at checkposts along the way (Raahi Retreats).
English speaking drivers are available on request, but the number of them is limited, so ask for one when you book rather than the day before.
Places to Visit Around Gilgit
Gilgit town and its bazaar are the natural first stop after the long drive north, and a good base if you are continuing further.
Whether the same car and driver continue with you from Gilgit into Hunza or Skardu, or whether that leg needs a fresh arrangement, is something we work out with you directly. Tell us your full plan on WhatsApp before you book so we can confirm what is possible.
Closer to town, the Kargah Buddha rock carving is a short drive out of Gilgit, and Naltar Valley is a longer half day trip where the last stretch is usually done by local jeep. On the way towards Hunza, the Rakaposhi viewpoint on the Karakoram Highway is a popular stop for photographs.
Starting from Rawalpindi?
A booking from Rawalpindi works the same way as one starting in Islamabad, just with pickup from Saddar or Chaklala instead of an Islamabad address. Travellers on Gilgit-Baltistan forums have also mentioned fixed pickup points such as Pir Wadhai and Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi, and G-9 in Islamabad, where cars for this route are often arranged (Tripadvisor forum).
With Taiba there is no need to find one of those depots. Whether you start in Rawalpindi or Islamabad, it is the same driver, the same vehicle and pickup at your own door.
Are your drivers on the KKH police verified?
Booking an Islamabad to Gilgit Trip
A CNIC, NICOP or passport copy is needed to book. Foreign nationals should carry their original passport and visa for checkposts along the KKH.
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 assigned to another booking that same day, in which case the refund is given.
Areas We Cover
Why Choose Taiba for Islamabad to Gilgit
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you message us. Anything else, just ask on WhatsApp.
How much does it cost to rent a car from Islamabad to Gilgit with a driver?+
It depends on the vehicle, the number of days and whether the trip continues past Gilgit. We send the exact daily rate on WhatsApp once we know your dates and destination.
How far is Gilgit from Islamabad, and how long does the drive take?+
Around 520 kilometers by one travel data estimate, roughly 10 to 12 hours of driving via the Hazara Motorway and the Karakoram Highway, though the real drive often runs longer with stops. Tell us your start time and we will talk through the timing.
Is it possible to drive from Islamabad to Gilgit in one day, or should the trip be split overnight?+
Both are done, depending on your start time, the season and how many stops you plan. Message us your travel date and we will discuss whether a same day drive or an overnight stop makes more sense for you.
Do I need a 4x4 for this route, or is a normal car like a Corolla fine?+
A Corolla is workable on the sealed sections of the KKH in normal conditions. For winter travel, more luggage, or a bigger group, we send a Revo or Prado, both 4x4. Tell us your travel month and we will confirm.
Is fuel included in the price for a Gilgit trip?+
You can choose either option, a lump sum that bundles in fuel, or a car only rate where you pay fuel separately. We confirm this with you before the trip.
Can the same car and driver continue from Gilgit to Hunza or Skardu?+
This depends on your plan and is worked out with you directly. Tell us on WhatsApp if your trip continues past Gilgit so we can confirm what is possible before you book.
What happens if a landslide blocks the Karakoram Highway during the trip?+
We check the current road status before every departure, since the Besham to Chilas stretch has a history of monsoon landslide closures. If your trip runs longer because of a closure, the extra days are billed at the same daily rate.
Do foreign tourists need a special permit to travel from Islamabad to Gilgit?+
No separate permit is needed for Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu or the main highway with a valid Pakistani visa, though carrying your original passport and visa is expected at checkposts along the way.
What is the cancellation policy for a Rawalpindi to Gilgit rent a car booking?+
Cancel at least 4 days before your travel date for a full refund. Same day cancellations are not refunded unless the car is reassigned to another booking that day.
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 HunzaThe Karakoram Highway through Besham, Chilas and Gilgit.
- 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.
Plan Your Islamabad to Gilgit Trip
For a car and driver from Islamabad or Rawalpindi to Gilgit, WhatsApp or call +92 306 5461192 with your travel dates and destination.
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