Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
The Babusar Pass Road Journey is a 2 days guided trip in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,173 m. It is graded Easy — a road journey with a short stop at 4,173 m — roadside stops. 4 fixed departures are open from $180 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
For a few summer months a road climbs out of the Kaghan valley, past Lulusar Lake, and tops out at Babusar Pass, 4,173 m, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ends and Gilgit-Baltistan begins. On the far side it drops in long loops to Chilas on the Indus and the Karakoram Highway, with Nanga Parbat standing over the river on a clear day. Most people drive it as a blur on the way north. We make it the trip: two days by private car with a driver who knows the pass, a night in Naran, time at the top, and Gilgit by evening on day two. The first half runs through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and we say so plainly. Local hands, fair price.
Duration
2 days1 night
Max altitude
4,173 mhighest point
Grade
Easy — a road journey with a short stop at 4,173 m
Days on foot
roadside stopsthe rest is travel
Group size
Max 1min age 4
Best season
June – Septemberopen June – September
Departures open
4next 1 Jun 2027
Babusar Pass Journey Price
From $180 per person in a group of four to six. That covers a private car or 4x4 with driver from your Islamabad hotel to your Gilgit hotel, one night in a standard Naran hotel, tolls and fuel. Meals are at your own cost. Running the other way, Gilgit to Islamabad, costs the same. Continuing on to Hunza or Skardu the same week is easy to add, so ask us.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 4 dates are currently open, each capped at 6 people. Every date is the same price, $180 per person. A $30 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 3 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $380 for Solo (1 Person) down to $180/pp for 4-6 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
Group size
Price
What it includes
Solo (1 Person)
$380
Private car and driver to yourself, your stops.
(2-3 Persons)
$240/pp
One car, shared, ideal for couples.
(4-6 Persons)
$180/pp
Best per-person rate for families and small groups.
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — a road journey with a short stop at 4,173 m.
roadside stopsDays on footthe rest is travel
4,173 mhighest pointWe build in time to acclimatise.
4minimum age
Good to know
The highest point is 4,173 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
You’re ready ifyou enjoy a full day out and do not mind some hours on the road.
Give yourself a little longer ifyou would like to feel fresher. A couple of walks beforehand makes the short strolls even easier.
This might not be your trip ifyou are after long days on foot and nights in a tent. Tell us and we will point you at one.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Babusar Pass Journey
Two days: Islamabad up the Kaghan valley to Naran, then Lulusar Lake, Babusar Top at 4,173 m, the descent to Chilas and the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit.
2 days
Morning start from Islamabad north through Abbottabad and Mansehra into the Kaghan valley, following the Kunhar River to Naran. Stops along the river as the valley narrows. Night in a standard hotel in Naran.
Early start up past Lulusar Lake to Babusar Top at 4,173 m, the boundary with Gilgit-Baltistan, for a short stop at the top. Down the long switchbacks to Chilas on the Indus, then the Karakoram Highway past the Nanga Parbat viewpoints to Gilgit by evening.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $180 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
Private vehicle with driver
Fuel and tolls
One night in a standard hotel in Naran
Not included
Meals
Hotels in Islamabad or Gilgit
Personal spending
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them is certified by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, holds Wilderness First Aid, and has between five and twenty years on high-altitude ground.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $180 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
Four steps from here to the mountains
1Pick your dateA fixed departure above, or private dates you choose.
2Send the requestThe form on this page, or WhatsApp. Name, party size, date.
3Pay $30 per personThat holds your place. We reply within 24 hours.
4Balance 30 days beforeThen we take over: flights, hotels, permits, crew.
No card details on this page. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
More About the Babusar Pass Road
Booking & Payment
A deposit of $30 per person confirms your date. Balance is payable on the day of departure
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. We confirm within the hour in season
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 3+ days before departure for a full refund of the deposit. Within 3 days the deposit is forfeit
If Babusar Pass is closed on your date
We reroute via the Karakoram Highway at no extra cost
Or refund in full
Your choice
Transportation Details
Private car or 4x4 with driver
Door to door Islamabad to Gilgit. The road over Babusar is paved but steep and narrow in places
Permits & Documents
Carry your passport and visa
There are police checkpoints on this road. No special permit is needed
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is Babusar Pass?
4,173 m (13,691 ft). It sits at the northern end of the Kaghan valley on the boundary between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, and links Naran with Chilas on the Karakoram Highway.
When is Babusar Pass open?
Usually only in summer, roughly June to September. Snow closes it for the rest of the year, and opening dates move with the season, so we confirm the road before every departure. If it is shut, we reroute via the Karakoram Highway through Besham.
Is this tour in Gilgit-Baltistan?
Half and half. Day one, Islamabad to Naran, is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. You cross into Gilgit-Baltistan at the top of the pass and spend the second half of day two there, down to Chilas and Gilgit.
Will the altitude bother me?
For most people, no. You only stop at 4,173 m for a short while and sleep much lower in Naran. Some feel breathless or light-headed at the top; we keep the stop short and carry on down.
Can we stay longer in Naran or Kaghan?
Yes. Our Naran Kaghan Tour spends more time in the valley, Saiful Muluk lake included. This journey is the faster way through, built for travellers heading on into Gilgit-Baltistan.
Can we continue to Hunza or Skardu?
Easily. From Gilgit it is about two hours to Hunza, or a longer day to Skardu. Many guests add our Hunza or Skardu tour packages straight after.
Top-Notch Service, Excellent Reviews
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