Lahore to Gilgit trip

Lahore to Gilgit is a trip that most travellers like to take during their stay in Pakistan. What people do not realise is that there is roughly 850 km between the two cities, and travellers should plan for this distance to make sure they have enough time to explore the regions. As a little side note, Gilgit is one of my favourite places that I have ever visited. The stunning scenery, the remarkable mountain ranges, and the picturesque views make the travel to get there all worth it. The roads to Gilgit are not the best, and in fact, they can be just a dirt road at times. But when you finally get there and explore the region, you realise why you wanted to visit so badly!

How to travel from Lahore to Gilgit?

Luckily, there are several ways you can travel from Lahore to Gilgit. One of the most common ones is obviously via plane. Most flights take around 4 hours and will set you back around £230, which, for travellers on a budget, eats into your that. You should only travel via plane from Lahore to Gilgit if you are running short on time. If not, then it’s simply not worth it.
Another way to get to Gilgit is by bus or if you rent a car. However, if you are renting a car, make sure you do not have to take it back to Lahore and can drop it off either in Gilgit or at the end of your trip.

Lahore to Gilgit by road.

Personally, when I travel to a country, I love to live like a local. These mean to eat like a local and travel like a local. Most locals would not fork out a whopping £230 to fly to Gilgit. Most would travel by road. Although it won’t be the quickest or comfiest way to go, it does give you a lot more options, opportunities, and experiences along the way!

If you want to travel by bus, then this is probably the best way to do so:

Lahore to Rawalpindi

You have to make it from Lahore to Rawalpindi (Islamabad’s twin city). The most comfortable and reliable bus service between the two towns is DAEWOO — this is because it is the most expensive bus company that offers the route. However, I do think the fares are very reasonably priced and also, and I recommend paying a little more for extra comfort! “Economy class” is around £5.80 and “Super Luxury” is around £6.60. As you can see, the difference in price is minuscule. In all seriousness, the super-luxury class is suitable for just £6.60. The legroom is extensive, and there is air conditioning on the bus, which makes the trip so much more enjoyable!

Rawalpindi to Gilgit.

When you arrive in Rawalpindi, you need to find the NATCO bus stand, as this will take you from Islamabad to Gilgit. I would recommend the NATCO bus company when travelling from Islamabad to Gilgit as the company is a government-run ran, making it much safer and providing backup support if something goes wrong, like the bus breaks down or a natural disaster. (Do be warned that landslides are frequent on the route from Lahore to Gilgit.) Therefore, it’s nice to have the insurance given to you by the bus company that they will provide you with alternative options. The bus from Rawalpindi to Gilgit is around £9.

NATCO does run multiple daily buses from Islamabad to Gilgit, but they are in high demand, so do book a couple of days in advance to make sure you get your seat.
If you’ve not heard much of Gilgit, the roads to it are often dirt tracks and can make the trip quite uncomfortable. But I cannot stress enough that a couple of hours of a bumpy road is more than worth the adventures and epic time you’ll have there!

There are other routes that you can get from Lahore to Gilgit, but this is the most common, safest, and, from what I’ve experienced, the cheapest way to travel there. Another way is to travel by car, which is a similar route but may require you to stop multiple times, as it takes around 14-18 hours to get there, depending on traffic. (It could be a good idea to stay in Islamabad if driving yourself.)

One of the cool things about the Lahore to Gilgit trip via road is that you will see some fantastic scenery, mainly some mesmerising snow-capped mountain ranges as you go further north and out of the city regions. The highways also give you a great view of the desert-terrain areas, as well as the forest and lakes you will inevitably pass along the way. Genuinely, travelling by road will have you “oohing” and “ahhing” most of the time.

What to see or do in Gilgit?

The Gilgit region has become a kind of special place for most travellers who have been to Pakistan. Gilgit offers travellers sensational views, snow-capped mountains, and some of the best waters in Pakistan has to offer.

Himalayan Range.

Obviously, with Gilgit’s location, it has some stunning views of the Himalayan ranges. As someone who has read the book, “K2”, which discusses the disaster which took place on that mountain. I have since become obsessed with the Himalayas, and I felt so privileged when I got a chance to see them in real life. The phrase, ‘A picture does not do it justice,’ has never been so accurate. The mountains make you appreciate the beauty of the planet and put you in your place when you see their sheer size and impressive geological features.

Hunza Valley.

Hunza Valley is one of the most popular places to visit in the Gilgit region. In particular, Attabad Lake. Most travellers come to enjoy the spectacular landscape the valley has to offer when the lake is ice-free. Various recreational activities, such as jet skiing, fishing, and boating, are all around the lake. Due to the boom in tourism, the lake has become a great place to stay for travellers. Several guesthouses, campsites, and hotels have popped up, giving travellers a vast range of stays. If you do stay around the lake, then the lake makes the whole stay a peaceful, relaxing experience.

Fairy Meadows.

One of my favourite places that I have ever travelled to in the world, and my favourite place in Pakistan. Fairy Meadows is such an epic and stunning location. Fairy Meadows is, funnily enough, the name given to some green fields that lie near the Nanga Parbat Mountain. However, it comes with a twist. Fairy Meadows is located at an altitude of about 10,800 feet and is the starting point for people who wish to scale Nanga Parbat Mountain, the 9th highest in the world.
The trip to Fairy Meadows demands stamina and patience. However, the jeep ride from Raikot Bridge is full of adventure. The road is unable to accommodate more than one jeep for most of the way — and as you can imagine, that road is not the most maintained in the world. What I found crazy is that when the drivers were passing each other, they did not slow down, although one mistake could have ended with a fatal error! The road to Fairy Meadows starts as it means to go on, thrilling, scary, and makes you want more!

Around 2,600 m, you start to trek to fairy meadows, where, if you want to, you can take a horse to get to the top. The 7 km journey is said to take around 3 hours to complete. But in reality, due to the fantastic scenery, many pit-stops and lots of photos, the journey takes a little longer. The trek to Fairy Meadows gets more difficult the higher you get due to the altitude, but the scenery gives you that kick to push on.

Halfway up, you start to reach a reasonably flat section which allows you to make excellent progress, and not long after a final ascent up the hill, you begin to get very close to Fairy Meadows. When you finally reach the top, you realise that all the pain and shortness of breath from climbing at high altitude is all worthwhile.

Personally, one of my personal feelings when you reach the top is just feeling the wind and the sun on your body, and embracing the most beautiful tranquillity of the surrounding area. You can see why people get such a buzz from climbing K2, Broad Peak, and others.

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