{"id":4959,"date":"2026-09-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realpakistan.com.pk\/?p=4959"},"modified":"2026-08-09T12:24:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T12:24:58","slug":"backpacking-northern-pakistan-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realpakistan.com.pk\/backpacking-northern-pakistan-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"Backpacking Northern Pakistan Itinerary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Backpacking northern Pakistan means NATCO buses, shared vans, and guesthouses instead of private drivers and flights. It’s genuinely doable and cheaper than any of our other itineraries. It’s also honestly a better way to actually meet people along the way.<\/p>\n

Backpacking northern Pakistan itinerary: the route at a glance<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Day<\/th>\nWhere<\/th>\nHow<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1-2<\/td>\nIslamabad<\/td>\nArrival, settle in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nIslamabad to Gilgit<\/td>\nNATCO overnight bus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nGilgit to Hunza<\/td>\nShared van to Karimabad<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5-7<\/td>\nHunza<\/td>\nForts, Attabad Lake, Passu, on foot and shared vans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8-9<\/td>\nFairy Meadows<\/td>\nOptional side trip, jeep and hike<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nReturn to Gilgit<\/td>\nShared van<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nGilgit to Skardu<\/td>\nNATCO bus or shared wagon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12-13<\/td>\nSkardu<\/td>\nShangrila, Deosai, local exploring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nSkardu to Islamabad<\/td>\nFly (budget splurge) or NATCO bus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Backpacking northern Pakistan itinerary: getting there by NATCO bus<\/h2>\n

NATCO has historically been the primary bus company permitted to carry foreign travelers. It runs from Pir Wadhai Bus Terminal in Rawalpindi to Gilgit. Faisal Movers has recently started carrying foreigners too, so check at the terminal for current options.<\/p>\n