Ten days is the sweet spot for a first northern Pakistan trip. It’s enough to properly cover both Hunza and Skardu without the constant rushing a 7-day version forces. It also stays realistic about how much ground you can actually cover in the mountains.
10 days in Pakistan itinerary: the route at a glance
| Day | Where | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamabad | Arrival, settle in |
| 2 | Islamabad to Skardu | Fly to Skardu (weather permitting) |
| 3 | Skardu | Shangrila, Upper and Lower Kachura Lakes |
| 4 | Skardu | Shigar Fort, Cold Desert |
| 5 | Skardu | Deosai Plains day trip (seasonal) |
| 6 | Skardu to Hunza | Drive via Gilgit, Rakaposhi viewpoint |
| 7 | Hunza | Baltit Fort, Karimabad bazaar, Eagle’s Nest |
| 8 | Hunza | Attabad Lake, Passu Cones, Hussaini Bridge |
| 9 | Hunza to Islamabad | Fly back from Gilgit |
| 10 | Islamabad | Departure |
10 days in Pakistan itinerary: day-by-day breakdown
Day 1: Arrival in Islamabad. Overall, book a hotel in the F-6 or F-7 sectors. Use the afternoon to adjust and rest before the more demanding days ahead.
Day 2: Fly to Skardu. Book the earliest available flight, ideally the first departure around 7am, since afternoon cloud cover cancels flights more often. The 50-minute flight crosses the Himalayas and Karakoram, one of the most scenic routes anywhere. Keep a road backup in mind: if it cancels, driving via Chilas takes 14 to 16 hours.
Day 3: Shangrila and the Kachura Lakes. Spend the day around Shangrila Resort and Lower Kachura Lake. Then continue to Upper Kachura Lake for a quieter, less-visited alternative.
Day 4: Shigar Fort and the Cold Desert. Visit Shigar Fort, a restored royal residence turned heritage hotel. Then head to the Sarfaranga Cold Desert, sand dunes set directly against snow-capped peaks.
Day 5: Deosai Plains. A full-day trip to the high plateau, weather and season permitting. The road to Deosai typically opens in late June and closes by autumn. Confirm current conditions before building your day around it.
Day 6: Drive to Hunza. The Skardu-to-Hunza drive is roughly 340 km in total, about 240 km to Gilgit plus about 100 km to Karimabad, and usually takes 8 to 10 hours with stops, depending on conditions. En route, you’ll pass through Gilgit and the Rakaposhi viewpoint, where Rakaposhi’s 7,788-meter face dominates the horizon.
Day 7: Central Hunza. So, explore Baltit Fort and the Karimabad bazaar, then head to Eagle’s Nest at Duikar for sunset.
Day 8: Attabad Lake and Passu. Head north for boating at Attabad Lake, then continue to Passu for views of the Passu Cones. Crossing the Hussaini Suspension Bridge is optional.
Day 9: Fly back to Islamabad. Fly out from Gilgit in the morning. Use the afternoon for Faisal Mosque or shopping if you have energy left.
Day 10: Departure. Overall, get to the airport at least 3 hours ahead for international flights.
10 days in Pakistan itinerary: doing it by road
Driving the full loop, Islamabad to Skardu to Hunza and back, adds roughly 4 to 5 days of pure transit on top of this itinerary. Islamabad to Skardu by road alone runs 18 to 20 hours. If you want to drive rather than fly, budget 14 to 15 days total, not 10. For a 10-day trip specifically, flying at least one leg, ideally both, is what makes the math work.
If you do want to drive one direction, the Hunza-to-Islamabad leg is the more forgiving one to do by road. It lets you end the trip with the Karakoram Highway, rather than starting with 15+ hours of driving before you’ve even reached the mountains. See our road trip vs flight comparison for the specific stops and overnight options along that route.
What to sort out before you go
- Visa: Apply for your e-visa weeks ahead.
- Money: Read our currency exchange guide and ATM and cash guide. ATMs are unreliable in both Hunza and Skardu, so carry more cash than you think you’ll need.
- Connectivity: Grab a local SIM at the airport.
- Packing: Our packing list for northern Pakistan covers the layering both regions need.
- Altitude: Deosai sits above 4,100 meters. Read our altitude sickness guide before day 5.
- Insurance: Check your policy’s altitude coverage using our travel insurance guide, since both Deosai and parts of this route sit above common coverage cutoffs.
Estimated costs
Budget roughly $300 to $600 for a careful independent traveler over 10 days at backpacker-to-mid-range spending, not including international airfare. Domestic flights add a meaningful cost on top of this. See our domestic flights guide for current fare ranges, and our full cost breakdown for category-by-category numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Hunza and Skardu?
Yes, comfortably, as long as you fly at least one leg of the Islamabad connection. Ten days lets you spend 3 full days in Skardu and 2 to 3 in Hunza without constant rushing.
How do I get from Skardu to Hunza?
By road via Gilgit, roughly 340 km and usually 8 to 10 hours with stops, passing the Rakaposhi viewpoint. There’s no direct flight between the two.
Is Deosai worth a full day?
Yes, if the season allows it. The plateau typically opens in late June and closes by autumn. Confirm current road conditions before building your itinerary around it.
Can I do this entire itinerary by road?
Not comfortably in 10 days. Driving both the Islamabad-Skardu and Islamabad-Hunza legs adds roughly 4 to 5 extra days of pure transit. That pushes the realistic total closer to 14 to 15 days.
Should I visit Skardu or Hunza first?
Either order works. This itinerary starts with Skardu since flights there are more weather-sensitive. Booking the earlier, less cloud-prone slot first reduces the risk of a cancellation disrupting your whole schedule.
Itineraries are examples, not fixed plans. Flights, road status, prices and security advice change, so confirm current conditions, keep buffer days and book flexible options. Read our Pakistan safety guide before you finalise a route. Last checked: October 2026.