Six days. One road. Roughly 1,300 kilometres of Pakistan’s most extraordinary landscape between you and the Karakoram. A Skardu trip by road from Multan is longer than most people expect and more rewarding than most people imagine. You’ll cross the salt range, trace the Grand Trunk Road through Punjab, climb the Kaghan Valley, cross Babusar Pass at 4,173 metres, and follow the Indus through gorges that make you feel genuinely small. By the time Skardu appears ahead of you — mountains on every side, the Indus spreading wide — you’ll understand why people who drive this route never quite want to fly again.
Tour At a Glance Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights Starting Point: Multan Route: Multan → Lahore → Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Pass → Chilas → Skardu Total Road Distance: ~1,270 km one way Vehicle: 4×4 Prado / Fortuner recommended; Hi-Ace for groups Best Months: June, July, August, September Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate (long drives, light walking at sights) Highlights: Babusar Pass, Lulusar Lake, Shangrila Lake, Deosai Plains, Shigar Valley, Katpana Cold Desert Approx. Cost: PKR 50,000 – 90,000 per person (group of 4–6, all-inclusive)
Multan to Skardu by Road — Understanding the Full Route
Multan sits roughly 340 km southwest of Islamabad via the M-4 and M-2 motorways. That’s 4–5 hours of smooth motorway driving before you even reach the capital — after which the northern mountain roads begin. The full Multan-to-Skardu journey covers about 1,270 km one way and is split across the first two days of this itinerary to keep driving manageable and sightseeing intact.
Two route options from Islamabad onward:
| Route | Via | Distance (Isb to Skardu) | Open | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route A (Scenic) | Naran → Babusar Pass → Chilas | ~660 km | June – October | Peak season, photographers |
| Route B (All-Year) | Besham → Dasu → Chilas (KKH) | ~700 km | Year-round | Winter/spring travel |
This itinerary uses Route A via Babusar Pass — the more dramatic option. Babusar Pass closes under heavy snow from November through mid-May, so confirm pass status before finalising dates. If travelling outside summer, use Route B and add roughly 2 hours to Day 2.
Day-by-Day Itinerary: 6 Days Skardu Trip by Road from Multan
Day 1 — Multan to Islamabad (or Naran)
Distance: ~340 km to Islamabad / ~610 km to Naran | Driving: 4–5 hrs (Isb) or 10–12 hrs (Naran) | Overnight: Islamabad or Naran
Departure from Multan at 4:00–5:00 AM. The M-4 motorway is smooth, well-lit, and fast — you’ll reach Lahore in about 2.5 hours without effort. From Lahore, join the M-2 toward Islamabad. If your group is comfortable with long days and wants to save time, push past Islamabad toward Naran and overnight there — this compresses the trip and gives you a dramatic mountain town to wake up in on Day 2.
If you overnight in Islamabad, use the evening well: refuel the vehicle, top up supplies, download offline maps for the entire northern route (signal disappears after Chilas), and brief every member of the group on the driving schedule ahead. The motorway comfort of Day 1 is the last smooth road you’ll see for four days — enjoy it.
Local insight: Multan to Naran in a single push is around 600 km and 10–12 hours. It’s doable with two drivers taking shifts, but it makes for a tiring start. Groups with families or anyone prone to motion sickness should overnight in Islamabad and start fresh.
Day 2 — Islamabad (or Naran) to Chilas: Over Babusar Pass
Distance: ~380 km from Islamabad | Driving: 12–14 hrs (from Islamabad) / 6–7 hrs (from Naran) | Overnight: Chilas
If you’re starting from Islamabad, leave by 4:00 AM. If you overnighted in Naran, a 7:00 AM departure is fine. The road from Islamabad follows the M-15 Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, where it narrows and the mountains begin in earnest. Balakot is the last proper town before the valley road takes over — the Kunhar River runs alongside you all the way to Naran, green and loud.
Naran is your fuel, food, and tea stop. The bazaar has dhabas serving hot paratha and omelette — a Naran breakfast at altitude, with a river roaring outside the window, is one of those small travel pleasures that sticks in the memory. From Naran it’s 65 km to Babusar Top. The climb through pine forests and wide alpine meadows is gradual at first, then steep. Marmots appear on the rocks. The air gets cold. At 4,173 metres, Babusar Pass delivers a 360-degree view of high-altitude Pakistan — and on a clear day, Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) fills the northern skyline.
The descent to Chilas is steep with sharp switchbacks. Your driver needs mountain road experience on this section — not the place to discover otherwise. Chilas is a rest stop, not a destination. Clean hotel, hot food, early sleep.
Photo stop: Lulusar Lake, 20 km before Babusar from the Naran side. Turquoise water, snow-capped peaks on the rim, usually quiet in early morning. Budget 25–30 minutes.
Day 3 — Chilas to Skardu: The Indus Road
Distance: ~250 km | Driving: 7–9 hours | Overnight: Skardu
The most dramatic drive of the trip. From the JSR junction at Jaglote, the Skardu Road follows the Indus River through a landscape that doesn’t look real — cliff walls rising hundreds of metres on both sides, the river churning grey-green below, and occasional villages clinging to terraces that seem to defy gravity. The Karakoram, Himalaya, and Hindukush converge here. You feel it in the silence between the mountains.
Stop somewhere along the Indus for lunch — roadside stalls sell fresh apricots in season, and Baltistan apricots are genuinely different from anything you’ll find in Punjab. Tart, intensely flavoured, eaten standing beside the river. Arrive in Skardu by late afternoon. Check in, wash the road dust off, and walk toward Skardu Fort before dinner. The fort sits on a cliff above the city. The view at dusk, with the Indus spreading into the valley below, is a proper arrival moment.
Practical note: Parts of the Skardu Road have active construction with time-restricted access on certain sections. Confirm current conditions with your driver the night before in Chilas. Some sections are passable only during specific hours — your driver will know, but verify.
Day 4 — Shangrila Lake, Upper Kachura & Satpara Lake
Effort: Light walking | Full day sightseeing | Overnight: Skardu
Your first proper rest day — and the lake circuit around Skardu is exactly the right way to spend it. Start at Shangrila Lake (Lower Kachura). The water is deep turquoise, the edges lined with willow and poplar, and the famous Shangri-La Resort here is built partly around a retired PIA aircraft fuselage now serving as a café. It’s quirky and charming and entirely worth 15 minutes of your time even if you don’t eat there.
A 15-minute drive brings you to Upper Kachura Lake. The trail from the road down to the lakeside takes 20 minutes on uneven ground — no handrails, moderate footing required — but the stillness at the bottom is worth the effort. Fewer tourists, cleaner reflections, better photographs. After a lunch back in Skardu city (try local trout from the Indus, cooked simply with green chutney), head to Satpara Lake in the afternoon. Between 4:30 and 6:00 PM the light on the Satpara peaks turns everything amber and soft. It is, without exaggeration, one of the finest evening views in the country.
Photography timing: Shangrila at 7:00–9:00 AM for still reflections before tourist boats disturb the surface. Upper Kachura at 10:00 AM–noon for clean side-lighting. Satpara at 4:30–6:00 PM for golden hour on the peaks.
Day 5 — Deosai Plains: The Land of Giants
Distance: ~120 km round trip | Full day | Overnight: Skardu | Altitude: 4,114 m
No description of a Skardu trip by road from Multan is complete without Deosai. At 4,114 metres above sea level, this is one of the highest plateaus on earth — a rolling expanse of short grassland that in July and August fills with wildflowers in every colour imaginable. Locals call it Deo Sai, “Land of Giants,” and standing in the middle of it with nothing between you and the horizon in every direction, the name makes complete sense.
The drive from Skardu to the plateau entrance takes 2–3 hours via the Satpara Lake road and requires a 4×4 — the surface beyond Satpara is rough and unpaved in sections. Sheosar Lake, the main draw on the plateau, sits at the base of snow-dusted peaks and on still mornings reflects them perfectly. Himalayan brown bears live in the surrounding grasslands — sightings are not guaranteed but real enough that guides maintain a careful distance protocol. There are no fences between you and the wildlife.
Altitude note: Coming from Multan, your body has had only two nights to adjust to Skardu’s 2,230 metres before climbing to 4,114. Drink 3–4 litres of water, move slowly for the first hour on the plateau, skip alcohol, and descend immediately if anyone develops a persistent headache, nausea, or shortness of breath. Consult a doctor about Diamox before the trip if anyone in your group has respiratory concerns.
Return to Skardu by evening. Dinner of mamtu (Baltistani steamed dumplings stuffed with spiced meat) at a local restaurant. Early sleep — Day 6 starts before dawn.
Day 6 — Shigar Valley, Mantokha Waterfall, Cold Desert & Journey Back
Distance: ~80 km sightseeing + ~1,270 km return | Overnight: Chilas or Naran (on return road)
An early start gives you 4–5 hours of sightseeing before beginning the long drive home. Head first to Shigar Valley, 30 km northeast of Skardu. The 420-year-old Shigar Fort — carved walnut panels, stone courtyards, mountain backdrop — is open for visits and deserves at least 45 minutes. On the way, stop at Mantokha Waterfall: roughly 180 feet high, a 10-minute walk from the road through a small canyon. In summer the mist from the base drops the temperature several degrees and you’ll hear it well before you see it.
In the late morning, swing by Katpana Cold Desert on the edge of Skardu city — sand dunes surrounded by snowy peaks, Pakistan’s only high-altitude cold desert. It photographs beautifully in any light.
Begin the return drive by noon. The realistic options for overnight on the way back are Chilas (keeps Day 7 manageable) or Naran (adds a night but means a more comfortable final leg). Most groups from Multan overnight in Chilas on the return and arrive home the following evening. Trying to reach Multan from Skardu in a single day — roughly 1,300 km — is possible but leaves everyone exhausted and is not recommended.
Best Time to Travel from Multan to Skardu by Road
| Month | Skardu Weather | Babusar Pass | Crowds | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January–March | Sub-zero, heavy snow | Closed | Very low | Snow lovers via KKH only |
| April–May | Cool, some snow | Closed / just opening | Low | Cherry blossoms, early season |
| June | Pleasant, 18–28°C | Open | Moderate | First-timers, clearest skies |
| July–August | Warm days, some rain | Open | Peak | Wildflowers on Deosai, full colour |
| September | Cool 12–24°C, clear | Open | Moderate | Best photography light, fewer crowds |
| October | Cold, early frosts | Closing | Low | Quiet travel, dramatic autumn skies |
| November–December | Freezing | Closed | Very low | Adventure travellers only |
Best months from Multan: June and September. June means open roads, long days, and full access to all sites. September means cooler temperatures, thinner crowds, and the most photogenic light of the year as the valley grasses turn amber. Both months leave Multan in comfortable driving weather before the mountain cold sets in.
Realistic Cost Breakdown — Multan to Skardu 6-Day Road Trip
| Item | Budget (per person) | Mid-Range (per person) | What the difference gets you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transport (full journey) | PKR 12,000–16,000 | PKR 18,000–24,000 | Newer 4×4, AC reliability, experienced mountain driver |
| Hotel (5 nights, twin sharing) | PKR 8,000–12,000 | PKR 14,000–22,000 | Private bathroom, hot water, mountain view |
| Meals (breakfast + dinner daily) | PKR 5,000–7,000 | PKR 7,000–10,000 | Sit-down restaurant vs. dhaba; local trout vs. standard |
| Sightseeing (4×4 to Deosai, entries) | PKR 3,500–5,000 | PKR 5,000–8,000 | Deosai requires separate 4×4 if main vehicle is Hi-Ace |
| Guide (optional but recommended) | Not included | PKR 2,500–4,500 | Essential for Deosai wildlife and Shigar Fort context |
| Total Estimate | PKR 28,500–40,000 | PKR 46,500–68,500 |
Meals and entry tickets are typically not included in base package prices unless your quotation states otherwise — always confirm before booking.
What’s Included and What Isn’t
Typically Included: Private AC transport (full journey), hotel accommodation 5 nights twin/triple sharing, driver expenses + fuel + toll taxes + parking, daily breakfast and dinner, sightseeing visits to Shangrila / Kachura / Satpara / Deosai / Shigar, 4×4 vehicle for Deosai Plains.
Typically NOT Included: Lunch, entry tickets (Deosai National Park, Shigar Fort), local guide fees, personal shopping, tips for driver and guide, travel insurance.
What to Pack — Altitude-Specific Checklist
Clothing: Thermal base layer (essential even in summer for Babusar and Deosai), fleece or down jacket, waterproof outer shell, light trekking trousers ×2, T-shirts ×3–4, warm wool socks, gloves and beanie, modest clothing for villages in Shigar.
Gear: Trekking shoes or sturdy trainers, UV-protection sunglasses (critical at 4,000+ metres), sunscreen SPF 50+, headlamp with spare batteries, 2-litre reusable water bottle, camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
Health & Documents: CNIC (Pakistani nationals), passport and valid visa (foreign nationals), basic first aid kit, altitude sickness tablets (Diamox — consult your doctor before the trip), personal medications in triple supply, paracetamol, ORS sachets, antacids.
Food & Extras: Energy bars, nuts, dried fruit for driving days, water purification tablets, thermos for hot tea on Deosai, offline maps downloaded before leaving Multan (Google Maps or Maps.me — signal disappears after Chilas).
Permits & Documentation
Pakistani nationals require only a valid CNIC for the full standard Skardu circuit covered in this itinerary. No special permits needed for Shangrila, Deosai, Shigar, or Kachura. Foreign nationals should carry a passport with a valid Pakistani visa and may need to register with local authorities upon entering Gilgit-Baltistan — your hotel or tour operator handles this on arrival. Trekking toward K2 base camp or restricted border zones requires separate Ministry of Tourism permits and is not part of a standard 6-day package.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Multan to Skardu by road? Approximately 1,270 km, taking 20–22 hours of total driving time. This itinerary splits the journey across two days — Multan to Islamabad/Naran on Day 1 and onward to Chilas via Babusar Pass on Day 2 — making it entirely manageable without exhausting the group.
Is the road from Multan to Skardu safe? Yes. The motorway portion (Multan to Islamabad via M-4 and M-2) is excellent. The mountain roads from Mansehra onward require an experienced driver — steep switchbacks, narrow sections, and occasional construction delays are part of the journey. Crime directed at tourists on this route is extremely rare. The main safety factor is road quality and driver experience, not security.
Can I do this trip in a standard car from Multan? A well-maintained sedan can handle the KKH and the main Skardu Road, but Deosai Plains requires a 4×4 regardless of your main vehicle. Most operators send a locally hired Prado for the Deosai day trip while the group vehicle stays in Skardu. If you’re doing a self-drive, hire a Prado from Skardu city for Day 5 specifically.
What is the best month to travel from Multan to Skardu? June and September. June offers open roads, long days, and full sightseeing access. September gives you cooler driving temperatures out of Multan (important — Multan summers are brutal), thinner crowds in Skardu, and the finest natural light of the year. Avoid July–August if you’re sensitive to peak-season crowds and higher hotel prices.
Is altitude sickness a concern coming from Multan? More so than for travellers from Islamabad, because you arrive at Skardu’s 2,230 metres after a longer journey with less prior acclimatisation. The body adjusts faster than most people expect, but on Day 5 when you climb to Deosai at 4,114 metres, take it slowly. Drink plenty of water, move at a relaxed pace, and do not push through symptoms. Consult a doctor about Diamox before departing Multan if anyone in your group has respiratory or cardiac conditions.
Can I extend this to include Hunza? Yes — and many Multan travellers do. Adding Hunza turns this into a 9–11 day northern circuit: Skardu for 3–4 days, then drive to Gilgit (4–5 hours) and onward to Karimabad in Hunza (2 more hours). Attabad Lake, Baltit Fort, Eagle’s Nest viewpoint, and the Khunjerab Pass are all within reach. WhatsApp our team with your travel dates and we’ll build a custom itinerary.
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