How To Get To Gilgit From Islamabad
All of Pakistan’s breathtaking scenery can be found in its north, so if you’re considering a trip there, you’ll probably travel through Gilgit, the provincial capital of Gilgit-Baltistan, and start your journey there. I’ll provide you with all the most recent facts you need to know in this article so you can go to Gilgit on your own from Islamabad.
There are primarily 2 ways to get from Islamabad to Gilgit:
- By Airplane
- By Bus
By Airplane
Given that the flight is not canceled, this is undoubtedly the simplest and least difficult way to get to Gilgit. Because of the unpredictability of the weather in the highlands, they have a reputation for canceling flights, therefore I do not think this is a reliable alternative. Please leave at least 3 to 4 days in your calendar if you are going to fly in case you need to locate another option.
Twice daily in the morning, Pakistan International Airways offers flights from Islamabad to Gilgit for about 113 USD. Through Expedia or Skyscanner, you might be likely to find it cheaper because they might have some third-party discounts available to you.
If the flight is canceled, you can also obtain a bus from Islamabad to Gilgit.
By Bus
You can board a bus from Islamabad to Gilgit operated by the government-owned NATCO firm, which connects northern Pakistan to the remaining parts of the country. For independent travelers who want to go from Islamabad up north, it is perhaps the most dependable method of transportation.
You would have to pay 2,500 PKR for the bus, which will transport you to Gilgit in about 18 hours. It runs three times daily, all overnight, at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. However, travelers are only permitted on the 9 p.m. one since the government does not feel secure about tourists traveling through Chilas and other portions of the Karakoram Highway at night.
I would advise purchasing your bus ticket a day in advance, but if you are pressed for time, you can simply arrive at the station a few hours early and get your ticket there. The bus driver will call to notify you when the bus comes if you stay in the room adjacent to the ticket kiosks at the terminal for 30 minutes after purchasing the ticket.
The government refuses to take any chances with visitors traveling along the Karakoram Highway in light of prior incidents, so there are a few things you should prepare for before boarding the bus.
Safety Measures
In Pakistan, overnight buses are generally safe. men and women are sat separately unless they are acquainted, as in most Muslim nations, thus if you are a solitary female traveler, you are likely to have the entire two seats to yourself and are unlikely to find yourself seated with creepy guys. The sheer number of police checkpoints may seem excessive, but they are meant to protect us, so you may always report any events to the police at one of these checkpoints.