Planning a road trip within the country? With some of the best tourist destinations, you can easily plan road trips in Pakistan with your friends and family.
With picturesque views and well-maintained roads, a road trip always turns out fun for everyone. Whether it’s the stunning coastline or the beautiful array of mountains, the journey to the destination is definitely worthwhile.
Graana.com — Pakistan’s smartest property portal has compiled a detailed guide on the best road trips in Pakistan.
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5 Top Road Trips in Pakistan to Go on With Family and Friends
The only thing you’ll need is a car, some food to munch on, and a playlist of your favorite songs to listen to along the way. With GPS navigation devices and apps., taking a new route and planning your trip has become a lot easier.
Following is a list of the top road trips in Pakistan that you can take, along with the total distance being covered.
| From & To | Total Distance | Route | Time Duration | Interest Points | |
| 1 | Lahore to Nathiagali | 499.2 km | Lahore-Islamabad Motorway/M-2
Abbottabad – Murree, Hazara Motorway | 6 hr 36 min | Murree, Islamabad, Bhurban, Ayubia |
| 2 | Islamabad to Swat | 237.3 km | AH1/M-1 and M-16 | 3 hr 39 min | Dargai, Malakand, Mingora, Chakdara, Saidu Sharif |
| 3 | Karachi to Gwadar | 634.1 km | Makran Coastal Hwy/N-10 | 7 hr 42 min | Kund Malir, Ormara, Omani Fort, Sonmiani Beach, Pasni, Agor Mountains |
| 4 | Islamabad to Hunza | 599.4 km | Hazara Motorway, N-15 and Karakoram Hwy/N-35 | 12 hr 44 min | Balakot, Kaghan, Naran, Battakundi, Lulusar Lake, Babusar Top. Chilas, Gilgit |
| 5 | Islamabad to Muzaffarabad | 215.1 km | Hazara Motorway/M-15 | 3 hr 51 min | Mansehra, Kohala, Neelum River |
Lahore to Nathiagali
For residents of Lahore and surrounding areas, a road trip to Nathiagali is the perfect option. From Lahore, you can easily travel via the stunning 6-lane motorway and enjoy a smooth journey to Islamabad.
When you reach Islamabad, you can opt for two options; M-1 or Murree Expressway. Both have their unique characteristics; however, M-1 is absolutely stunning with its scenic views that capture the impeccable beauty of the hill station.
Moreover, travelling via motorway throughout means you have dedicated rest stops to freshen up as well, with hygienic washroom facilities and food options to keep yourself energised for your trip.
For people of Islamabad, going to Nathiagali is merely a day trip that they can easily opt to take any time since the distance is shorter and they can reach Nathiagali in almost an hour.
The best time to plan a road trip to Nathiagali is in the Spring, Fall, and Monsoon seasons.
In winters, the roads are covered with snow and heavy traffic which can become a nuisance, turning your road trip into a disaster – which is why it is best to opt for other seasons.
Islamabad to Swat
Swat, also known as ‘Switzerland of Pakistan’ is a beautiful location where you can plan a road trip.
It takes around 4 hours to reach Swat via the Hazara Motorway. And ever since the motorway has been inaugurated, the journey has become a lot more beautiful and easier.
It is important to plan your trip to Swat from Islamabad since coming straight from Lahore can be tiring. However, if you have multiple drivers in the car, you can travel from Lahore to Swat in one go.
On your journey to Swat, you will drive through Dargai, Malakand Pass, and Chakdara to reach Saidu Sharif – the administrative capital of Swat. People usually stay in Swat as the central location, and then travel to the breathtaking Kalam Valley or Malam Jabba after resting for the night.
Karachi to Gwadar
For Karachiites, a road trip means going outside Karachi, and what can be better than hitting up the road to Gwadar?
You can travel along the coastline and revel in the beautiful views of the Arabian Sea along your journey.
From Karachi, you’ll reach the Hub in an hour and then pass along the Sonmiani Ridges, leading you to the Makran Coastal Highway. This beautiful road is also known as National Highway 10 or N-10.
Passing through the natural rock formations and towns of Ormara and Pasni, you can stop for a quick lunch and then travel on to Gwadar.
On your journey there, you will be able to witness the majestic beauty of the Agor Mountains, adding to the beauty of fresh blue water along the coast.
Although Gwadar is still in its developing stages, you can find a number of hotels to stay the night in. Gwadar has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, so make sure to absorb the beauty of the water along the road trip.
Islamabad to Hunza
If you’re looking for an adventure of a lifetime, a road trip to Hunza is everything you need. This road trip is one of the most incredible and beautiful journeys that you’ll ever take, with absolutely riveting views.
The road trip will start from Islamabad or Peshawar, by continuing to Hazara Expressway and reaching Abbottabad.
By taking the Abbottabad exit, you can then travel on to Mansehra and reach Balakot. Make sure to stop in Balakot to freshen up, rest, and eat to power through the rest of the trip.
After Balakot, you will continue your road trip toward the stunning Kaghan and Naran Valley.
This entire route is filled with captivating landscapes in the form of beautiful valleys, thick green meadows, gushing rivers, and picturesque mountains.
The road will then lead you to Naran. From there, you will travel along with the immaculate scenes of Batakundi and Lulusar Lake, and travel upwards towards Babusar Pass, the highest point in the valley.
From Babusar, comes the tricky part of the journey. Going to Chilas requires a lot of patience and skilled drivers who can endure the twists and turns along the way.
After reaching Chilas, you’ll have to make a stop to rest and then travel the next day to reach Gilgit. From Gilgit, you’ll have to travel to Hunza after staying the day.
It is needless to say that the entire journey offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Pakistan.
This entire trip takes quite a fair number of days to reach the destination, which is why you’ll need a proper plan and holiday to take this trip.
Islamabad to Muzaffarabad: Road Trip
Muzaffarabad is the heart of Azad Kashmir, which is considered a piece of heaven on Earth. The beautiful Neelum River travels along the way in Kashmir, and this road trip to Muzaffarabad makes it one of the top road trips in Pakistan because of its unmatched beauty.
From Islamabad, you can travel on Murree Expressway to reach Kohala Bridge.
From Kohala, continue on to drive down the beautiful landscapes of Kohala-Muzaffarabad road alongside the enchanting blue Neelum River.
It will take you a total of approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach Muzaffarabad from Islamabad. In Muzaffarabad, you can opt to stay at the popular Pearl Continental Muzaffarabad or other hotels nearby.
What Should Take Along for Your Road Trip
When planning to hit the road, don’t forget to pack all essentials as well as other items that you may need during your trip. Since the journey is long, you can always expect any unfortunate incidents such as a punctured tire, getting motion sickness, etc.
Following are some important items that you should definitely add to your checklist before leaving for your road trip in Pakistan.
- Driver’s Licence
- Car Manual
- Tissues
- First Aid Box
- Spare Tire
- Extra Car Key – Keep Separate from Car Key in Use
- Snacks
- Cash (Not Just Credit Card)
- Travel Pillow
- Sunglasses
- Tire Chains
- Chewing Gum
These things are just a precautionary measure to fill in if the time of need comes.
Keeping such items is a brilliant idea to keep yourself prepared along the way and handle difficult situations. In addition to this, these items also come in very handy during your journey as well.
If you’re looking for more blogs on the best destinations in the country, visit Graana Blog.
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