Getting Around Gilgit
Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and a major hub for trekking and mountaineering expeditions into the Karakoram. It sits in the broad Gilgit Valley near the confluence of the Gilgit and Hunza rivers, and it has long served as a junction along the Karakoram Highway, with road connections toward Kashgar in China and the Pakistani cities of Skardu, Chitral, Peshawar, and Islamabad. For a visitor, the practical reality is that Gilgit is a town you navigate on foot, by taxi, or in shared minivans, and a base from which you arrange vehicles to reach the surrounding sights.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Gilgit has no rail, metro, or tram network. There is no train service to or within the city, and no urban rail system of any kind. Any journey to Gilgit is made by road or by air, and getting around town relies entirely on road-based transport.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Gilgit is just off the Karakoram Highway between Chilas and Karimabad, and most people arrive by road. Long-distance buses are the main intercity option, and they connect Gilgit with Islamabad/Rawalpindi and other points along the highway.
- NATCO is the official government bus company operating between Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Gilgit, and it carries foreign passengers. Buses depart from the Pirwadhai Bus Terminal in Rawalpindi. The journey from Islamabad can take as long as a full day.
- Faisal Movers is a major, reliable private company on the Islamabad–Gilgit route. Its buses leave from Faizabad station, just outside Islamabad and into Rawalpindi, which is easily reachable by the red Metro Bus line or by taxi. Faisal Movers also continues on to Aliabad in the Hunza Valley for an additional fare and extra travel time.
- Buy tickets at the station the day before you plan to travel, as seats sell out. Faisal Movers may route you through the Kaghan Valley and over Babusar Pass instead of part of the Karakoram Highway — a quicker and more picturesque route, but potentially more dangerous. Drivers are professional but drive very fast, so consider another company if you prefer a slower ride.
- Foreign passengers on the NATCO bus are advised to bring about ten photocopies of their passport main page and visa for the driver, who needs to present them at police checkpoints along the highway. Photocopy services exist at the bus stations in both Islamabad and Gilgit.
Within the region, most public transport consists of private shared minibuses and vans and shared taxis, which operate from bus stands in Gilgit and Skardu. These vehicles do not depart until they are full and make frequent stops at checkpoints, roadside cafes, and other places, so journeys can take a long time. Shared taxis also run the Gilgit–Skardu route, and drivers there may drop passengers in central Skardu rather than at the bus stand on request. Note that many main attractions are decentralised and not accessible by public transport; guesthouses often arrange transport for a reasonable price.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
To get around inside the city of Gilgit you can either hire taxis or hop on one of the many commuter minivans. Taxis are cheap — roughly a couple of US dollars to cross town. There are no rideshare apps operating in Gilgit, so you will be flagging down taxis or minivans rather than booking through a phone.
For trips beyond the town, jeep hire is the main option. Naltar, Kargah, and the Danyore inscriptions all require a vehicle. Onward journeys to Hunza, Skardu, and Fairy Meadows are made by jeep or shared car, booked through hotels or from bazaar yards. Some sites, such as Fairy Meadows and Basho Meadows, require 4×4 jeeps; jeep drivers are stationed at specific points along the main road, and prices are fixed and high because of a driver monopoly. Always agree on the price and waiting time before departure, and arrange return times in advance, since mobile signal is poor to non-existent in remote areas.
Walkability
Gilgit town is reasonably walkable, and walking is a practical way to cover the centre. For anything farther out, taxis and commuter minivans fill the gap. If you do see a commuter minivan, just hail it by waving, get on, and knock on the driver's cabin whenever you want to hop off.
Renting a Car or Motorbike
You could also think about renting a car, or for the more adventurous, a motorbike to explore Gilgit-Baltistan. Before setting out, inform yourself about which roads and sections are safe to drive and keep the weather conditions in mind. Petrol is available in most parts of the roads in Gilgit-Baltistan, and motorbike mechanics are usually plentiful and very cheap. Be aware that while the Karakoram Highway toward the Chinese border is well built, many other roads are poor — notably the Gilgit–Skardu road, which is described as dangerous, with fallen boulders and damaged barriers.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Gilgit has a small airport with scheduled flights from Islamabad, taking just under an hour and passing over a scenic route between Nanga Parbat and the Karakoram. The air route offers views of snow-capped peaks, visible on the right side of the plane when flying toward Gilgit-Baltistan and on the left side when returning.
The catch is reliability. Delays and cancellations are quite frequent due to severe weather. Both Gilgit and Skardu airports sit in valleys among high peaks, and landings and takeoffs require cockpit visibility, so cloud and fog cause very high cancellation rates — sometimes no flights for a week or more. There is no instrument-landing alternative. If you are departing Gilgit-Baltistan, budget at least 48 hours before an onward international flight, in case weather forces you to take the road route back to Islamabad, which can take a full day. Skardu airport is significantly larger than Gilgit's and handles larger planes, so its cancellation risk is lower; some travellers prefer it for that reason.
Once you land at Gilgit Airport, the practical options into town are the same as anywhere else in the city: hire a taxi or catch a commuter minivan. There is no rail or metro link from the airport, and no ride-hailing app to book in advance, so plan on a taxi or minivan for the short transfer into the centre.