The tourism department FAQ names three road approaches for people travelling by personal transport: the Karakoram Highway (KKH), Babusar Pass and Shandur Pass. They are very different roads. One is a year-round trunk route, one is a high summer shortcut, and one is a remote pass from Chitral that ends in a jeep track.
This page compares the three side by side using what our own pages report. That covers when each road is usually passable, what the place pages say about the conditions, the closures they record, and how to choose between them. We don’t publish live road status. Anything here about a particular year is history — not a forecast. Check the current situation before every leg.
The three approaches at a glance
| Karakoram Highway | Babusar Pass | Shandur Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | The south, via Mansehra, Besham and Chilas (per our Hunza page) | Kaghan Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, via Naran | Upper Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, via Mastuj and Laspur |
| Where it enters GB | Through Chilas towards Gilgit | Diamer District, descending to Chilas | Ghizer District, descending towards Phander and Gilgit |
| High point named on our pages | Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 m, at the far northern end | 4,173 m | About 3,700 m |
| Season | Described as open all year, subject to landslides | Roughly late May/June to October/November | About mid-June to mid-October |
| Road surface | Paved | Paved in summer | Paved to around Teru, then a rough jeep track |
| Main page | Getting to Gilgit-Baltistan | Babusar Pass | Shandur Pass |
Seasons are approximate and shift every year. The best time to visit guide says summer is the only reliable window when all three named high passes are open together.
The Karakoram Highway
The getting to Gilgit-Baltistan guide calls the KKH one of the most important routes connecting northern Pakistan with the region, giving access to Gilgit, Hunza and many communities along the way. The Hunza destination page describes it as open all year. The Babusar Pass page adds that the KKH is the only option from November to May, and the safer choice whenever there are flood warnings on the Babusar side.
“Open all year” doesn’t mean it never closes — our pages record several closures:
- March 2026. Our KKH landslides alert reports that on 10 March 2026 heavy rain triggered landslides that closed the highway between Pattan and Bursin at several points, while the Chilas–Gilgit section stayed open. Travellers were told to avoid unnecessary travel on that section until it was cleared and to follow official road status updates.
- Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab Pass page says rockfall and landslides are common around Attabad and Gulmit in spring and during the monsoon. It also reports that on 6 September 2026 landslides closed the KKH between Sost and Khunjerab Top.
- Monsoon. The Hunza page says landslides close the KKH from time to time, especially in the July–August monsoon.
The KKH also continues past Hunza to the China border. Our gateway to China page explains that Khunjerab is the high point of that road and that tourist access is seasonal, separate from year-round trade.
Babusar Pass
The Babusar Pass page describes Babusar Top as a 4,173 m road pass between the Kaghan Valley and Diamer, and calls it the summer shortcut from Islamabad to the KKH. Our Diamer destination page calls it a regional approach — not a Diamer sightseeing stop.
Season. The place page says the road normally opens in late May or June and closes with heavy snow in October or November. It records that in 2026 the road reopened on 25 May, and that in 2025 the Diamer administration closed it from 30 November. It stresses that Babusar never opens on a fixed date.
Monsoon risk. The page reports that in July 2025 a flash flood on the Thak–Babusar stretch killed several tourists, and that on 4 August 2026 the NHA closed the road at Zero Point after floods at Thak. It was reported open again by 12 August.
Driving advice from the page:
- Most accidents are blamed on brake failure on the long descent. Use a low gear, don’t ride the brakes, and stop to let them cool.
- Drive in daylight only.
- Don’t cross during or straight after heavy rain.
- Fill up in Naran. The next reliable fuel is in Chilas.
- Keep a warm layer handy. It can be near freezing at the top even in July.
- Foreign visitors should keep their passport handy for checkposts on both sides.
Babusar or the KKH? The page says Babusar is usually faster in summer. It also says the KKH is the only option from November to May — and the safer choice whenever there are flood warnings on the Babusar side.
Shandur Pass
The Shandur Pass page describes a broad, grassy pass at about 3,700 m on the boundary between Ghizer and Upper Chitral, home to the Shandur polo ground. On the Gilgit-Baltistan side the route runs west from Gilgit through Gahkuch, Gupis and Phander to Teru, then climbs to the pass. On the Chitral side it continues down through Laspur and Mastuj.
Surface. The page says the road is paved most of the way, but becomes a rough jeep track beyond Teru, where you need a 4×4. That last section can be impassable for hours after heavy rain.
Season. The page gives about mid-June to mid-October. It says the first heavy snow usually closes the pass from mid-October, though Phander and the lower Ghizer valley stay reachable.
Recorded closure. It reports that floods cut the Gilgit–Shandur road in July 2026 until the NHA reopened it on 24 July.
Permits and ID. The page says no NOC is needed for Shandur Pass, Phander or the Ghizer valley, but tells visitors to carry a CNIC or passport for the police checkposts.
Festival week. The polo festival changes the road completely. See the Shandur Polo Festival page — and note that our pages give different dates for it (see the FAQ below).
The Ghizer destination page and Khalti Lake page cover the lower part of the same road.
Choosing your approach
Use the comparison table above and these rules of thumb from our pages:
- Outside summer, use the KKH. Babusar and Shandur are seasonal.
- If there are flood warnings on the Babusar side, use the KKH. That’s what the Babusar page advises.
- Use Shandur only if your trip includes Chitral or the upper Ghizer valley. It’s a long road with a jeep-track section — not a shortcut to Hunza or Skardu.
- Plan around daylight. The department’s travel smart, stay safe advisory says to avoid night driving where possible, especially on unfamiliar mountain roads.
- Leave spare days. The getting to Gilgit-Baltistan guide says map distances can take much longer because of winding roads, height changes, traffic, weather and road conditions.
Before you set off each morning
The department’s advisory suggests checking conditions with the relevant district administration, the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the National Highway Authority, the Frontier Works Organization and the traffic authorities. It also lists five questions to ask yourself every morning:
- Is the weather suitable?
- Is the road open?
- Is the vehicle ready?
- Do I have enough fuel, water and food?
- Can I complete this journey safely before dark?
If the answer to any of them is no, it says to reconsider the journey. It also says never to look for an unofficial shortcut when authorities close a route.
Your vehicle and driver
The advisory lists checks to make before a long journey: brakes, tyres, the spare, oil, coolant, fuel, lights, battery and emergency equipment. For winter or heavy snow, it says authorities have advised suitable vehicles, preferably 4×4s, along with snow chains, extra fuel, food and warm clothing.
If you aren’t used to mountain driving, the department recommends hiring an experienced local driver. Our taxi and transport regulations page explains that the FAQ requires taxi and transport services to be licensed by the Excise and Taxation Department, and drivers to hold a valid licence and follow traffic rules.
Once you’re inside Gilgit-Baltistan
The three named approaches get you into the region. Roads within it have their own conditions. The advisory notes that the Jaglot–Skardu Road reopened in July 2026 after flood damage, with a temporary steel bridge — and that tourists were still told to keep up to date with traffic conditions. It also says the road from Gilgit to Astore via Thalichi can take several hours and is affected by winter snow.
If you’d rather not drive, see NATCO and private bus access or airports serving Gilgit-Baltistan.
Frequently asked questions
Which road approaches does the department name?
The Karakoram Highway, Babusar Pass and Shandur Pass.
Which approach is open in winter?
Our pages describe the KKH as open all year. The Babusar page says it’s the only option from November to May. Landslides can still close sections.
When does Babusar Pass open?
Usually in late May or June. Our Babusar page records 25 May for 2026, and stresses there’s no fixed date.
Can I cross Babusar at night?
Our pages say no. Drive in daylight only.
Is Shandur Pass paved?
Our Shandur page says it’s paved most of the way, but becomes a rough jeep track beyond Teru, where you need a 4×4.
Do I need a permit for Shandur?
The Shandur page says no NOC is needed, but you should carry a CNIC or passport for checkposts.
Do you publish live road status?
No. Check with the district administration, NHA, FWO, the Met Department and traffic authorities, as the department advises.
Why do your pages give different Shandur festival dates?
The Shandur Pass page records June dates in 2025 and 2026. Our best time guide still says the first week of July most years. Check the official announcement.
What’s the biggest risk on Babusar?
Our Babusar page says most accidents are blamed on brake failure on the descent, and flash floods hit the Thak side in 2025 and 2026.
Should I hire a local driver?
The department recommends it for anyone unfamiliar with mountain roads.
