Hunza is about 13 hours’ drive by road from Islamabad during the summers when the Babusar top is open, and 17 hours on the Karakorum Highway. If you are traveling via Naran, it’s a beautiful road trip and can be done in a day or several days as there is much to see and enjoy on the way. This road goes over Babusar top which is snowbound from November to May and during this period one has to take the Karakorum Highway.

The first 3 hours’ drive from Islamabad is on the motorway and then the highway starts. The road due to landslides, snow and rain has broken patches throughout the way. Therefore, low clearance cars are not recommended.

On the way stopovers can be made at:

•     Naran – a bustling tourist town, a bit of concrete jungle. While you’re here, you can go to Saif-ul-Muluk lake and als engage in a bunch of fun activities including white water rafting, hiking and fishing. Weather is very pleasant throughout summers but the nights can be very chilly.
•     Piyala and Lulusar lakes – Piyala lake is a short 20-minute hike off the main road whereas Lulusar is by the roadside. A few hours stop over for tea and a photo shoot here is a great addition to your trip.
•     Babusar top – at 13,700 feet, it’s a steep drive up and then down. Those not used to driving on the mountains must be careful of not over speeding and use brakes to the minimum as you descend. Brakes overheating and becoming ineffective is a common and real danger, so please be very careful.

Babusar has plenty of small wayside cafes serving fries, boiled eggs and other snacks. I particularly love anda (egg) pakoras. Walk away from the bustle to catch the breathtaking view of the valley around. It’s normally cold and windy throughout summer. 

Other recommended stopovers to stretch out and eat are Mansehra, Balakot with nice outdoor seating restaurants short of Balakot town, Kiwai with seating inside the stream, Batakundi, Jaglot and Gilgit. Please note that most bathrooms along the way are unkempt.

The Karakorum Highway is an all-weather road open throughout the year – a longer and much more rugged route. A motorway is  under construction and is built up to Thakot. The patch from Dasu to Chillas is 80% dirt road and very bumpy. Those out for adventure must take this route to experience the wilderness and raw scenery which will be lost with the advent of the motorway. Look out for the hot water springs short of Chillas. The roads can abruptly close due to landslides which normally follow heavy rain or snowfall. Though mostly roads open up within 48 hours.

We have personally done this road trip numerous times and are always mesmerized by it. Places to stop enroute are Abbottabad, Mansehra, Thakot, Besham. After Besham there is a desolate patch with stopovers mainly at Dasu, Chillas and Jaglot till you reach Gilgit and finally Karimabad. Care needs to be exercised between Besham and Jaglot.