Naran to Skardu: Distance, Route & Drive Guide 2026

The journey from Naran to Skardu is one of the great mountain drives in Pakistan, linking the green Kaghan Valley to the high desert peaks of Baltistan. It is also a long one, and how you do it depends heavily on the season, because the scenic summer shortcut over Babusar Top is closed for much of the year. This guide covers the Naran to Skardu distance, how long the drive really takes, the two main routes, the best stops along the way, and honest advice on whether to do it in one day or break the journey. If Skardu is on your northern itinerary, this is how to reach it from Naran.

Naran to Skardu distance and drive time

In summer, when the Babusar Top pass is open, the Naran to Skardu distance is roughly 400 km, and the drive takes around 11 to 14 hours of actual road time. That is a very long day on winding mountain roads, so most travellers break it with an overnight stop rather than doing it in a single push. The same is true of the Naran Kaghan to Skardu distance, since Naran sits within the Kaghan Valley and the route is identical.

Outside summer, when Babusar is snowbound and closed, there is no shortcut. You must travel back down the Kaghan Valley and around via the Karakoram Highway, which adds many hours and turns the trip into a firm two day journey. For distances on every northern route, see our distances and drive times guide.

The two routes explained

Summer route, over Babusar Top (roughly July to September). This is the direct and by far the most scenic option. From Naran the road climbs past Lulusar Lake to Babusar Top at over 4,000 metres, then drops to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway. From Chilas you follow the mighty Indus north, past the Nanga Parbat viewpoints near Raikot and Jaglot, to the Skardu road turnoff, and then east along the Indus gorge into Skardu. It is spectacular the entire way. Read more about the pass in our Babusar Top guide.

Off season route, via the Karakoram Highway (Babusar closed). When the pass is shut, you head down the Kaghan Valley to Mansehra, join the Karakoram Highway and follow it north through Besham and the Kohistan section to Chilas, then continue as above to Skardu. This is considerably longer and is realistically a two day drive with an overnight on the way.

What the drive is really like

The Naran to Skardu drive is a journey of dramatic contrasts, which is a big part of its appeal. You begin among the green forests, meadows and rushing rivers of the Kaghan Valley, then climb into the bare, wind swept high country around Babusar Top, where the trees vanish and the world opens into vast tawny slopes and distant snow peaks. Dropping down to Chilas, the landscape turns hot, dry and rocky as you meet the Indus and the Karakoram Highway. From there the character changes again as you follow the river north beneath the immense bulk of Nanga Parbat, before finally turning east into the Skardu road, a narrow ribbon carved along the Indus gorge that ranks among the most spectacular drives anywhere.

It is also, frankly, a tiring journey. The roads are slow and winding, progress is measured in hours rather than kilometres, and delays are part of the experience rather than the exception. Approached in the right spirit, with time in hand and an early start, that slowness becomes a feature: you are not just transferring between two towns, you are travelling through some of the greatest mountain scenery on earth, and every hour brings a new and unforgettable view.

Stops along the way

The summer route is full of memorable places to pause:

• Lulusar Lake, the beautiful alpine lake on the climb up from Naran.
• Babusar Top, the high pass itself, with sweeping views and often summer snow.
• Chilas, a common overnight town where the mountain road meets the Karakoram Highway.
• Nanga Parbat viewpoints near Raikot and Jaglot, where the world's ninth highest peak rises above the valley. This is also the turnoff for Fairy Meadows.
• The Skardu road along the Indus, a dramatic gorge drive that is an experience in itself.

Should you do it in one day?

Honestly, for most travellers, and especially families, splitting the journey is the wiser choice. Eleven to fourteen hours on mountain roads is exhausting and leaves little margin for the landslides, checkposts and slow traffic that are normal on these routes. The most popular approach is to break the drive with a night in Chilas or Gilgit, which turns a punishing day into two comfortable ones and lets you enjoy the scenery rather than race through it. If you are determined to do it in a single day, start before dawn, keep stops short, and aim to reach Skardu well before dark, since the final Indus gorge stretch is not a road you want to drive at night.

Where to break the journey

If you split the drive, as we recommend, the two natural places to spend the night are Chilas and Gilgit. Chilas is the earlier stop, sitting where the Babusar road meets the Karakoram Highway, and it has a handful of simple hotels used to travellers passing through on the way to Skardu and Hunza. It makes sense if you set off later from Naran or want to keep the second day shorter. Gilgit is further along and a larger town with more choice of accommodation and food, and it leaves you a manageable half day drive into Skardu the next morning. For a family, Gilgit is often the more comfortable overnight. Either way, arrive before dark, keep your bags accessible for a one night stop, and get an early start the next day so you reach Skardu with time to relax.

Best time to make the drive

The ideal window is summer, roughly July to September, when Babusar Top is open, the weather is mild and the whole route is at its most beautiful. This is also peak travel season, so expect company on the road. Late spring and early autumn can work but carry more risk of an early or late snow closing the pass, and in winter the direct route is simply not available. Plan your timing with our best time to visit Pakistan guide, and always check whether Babusar is open close to your travel date.

Practical tips for the Naran to Skardu drive

The route is long, high and remote, so a little preparation matters:

• Hire an experienced local driver with a sturdy vehicle. These are serious mountain roads and a good driver makes all the difference, especially for families.
• Break the journey. Plan an overnight in Chilas or Gilgit rather than attempting the whole distance in one exhausting day.
• Start early and travel in daylight, particularly through the Kohistan section and the Indus gorge. See our note on travelling the highway in the Is Kohistan safe guide.
• Fuel up and carry supplies. Services are limited, so top up fuel, water and snacks whenever you can.
• Dress in layers. It is cold at Babusar Top even in summer, while Skardu and Chilas can be warm.
• Confirm the pass is open before relying on the summer shortcut, and keep your plans a little flexible for weather delays.

Naran to Skardu by bus or public transport

Most visitors travel this route by private car, but public transport is possible if you are on a budget or travelling independently. There is no single direct luxury coach that runs the whole way from Naran to Skardu, so the usual approach is to travel in stages. In summer, local vans and jeeps connect Naran over Babusar toward Chilas and Gilgit, and from Gilgit there are regular passenger vans and shared jeeps along the Skardu road. Many independent travellers instead route through Gilgit, using the larger bus services that run on the Karakoram Highway and then transferring to a Skardu bound van. Fares are modest, but journeys are long, timings are informal, and connections are not always smooth, so allow generous time and expect to change vehicles. For a family with children, a private vehicle with a driver is far more comfortable and flexible, and lets you stop for photos and breaks whenever you like.

Alternatives to the drive

If the long road journey does not appeal, the most relaxing option is to skip it and fly. There are flights from Islamabad directly to Skardu, which take about an hour and save you the entire overland trip, though mountain flights are weather dependent. Many travellers combine the two, flying into Skardu to save time and driving other legs of their trip. For where to base once you arrive, see our Skardu travel guide and where to stay in Skardu.

A memorable journey either way

Whether you drive the spectacular summer route over Babusar or fly in and explore at leisure, reaching Skardu is worth the effort. Baltistan rewards you with turquoise lakes, ancient forts, the Deosai plateau and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on earth. Plan the route to suit your time and your travelling companions, build in a sensible buffer, and the road from Naran to Skardu becomes part of the adventure rather than just a transfer. If you would like help shaping this leg into a wider northern trip, our team is always happy to point you in the right direction.