Islamabad to Mardan Bus Ticket Price, Online Booking, Timing
The Islamabad to Mardan ticket price starts at about Rs 700 on coasters and rises to roughly Rs 1,500 for Daewoo Luxury. The journey covers around 141 km on the M-1 motorway in about two hours, making Mardan one of the easiest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cities to reach from the capital.
Short answer: the Islamabad to Mardan bus ticket price runs from about Rs 700 on shared coasters to about Rs 1,500 for Daewoo Express Luxury. Motorway Express sits in the middle at around Rs 850, and the M-1 run takes about two hours, which makes Mardan a same-day trip from the capital.
Islamabad to Mardan ticket price by operator
Mardan is the second largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but it sits off the main Peshawar corridor, so the Islamabad to Mardan ticket price is set by operators that treat it as a destination rather than by through traffic.
| Bus operator | Class | Route | Journey time | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local coasters and Hiace | Coaster, many not air conditioned | Rawalpindi Pirwadhai to Mardan | 2h 30m | Rs 700 |
| Motorway Express | Luxury coaster, air conditioned | Islamabad G-8 Markaz to Mardan via M-1 | 1h 50m | Rs 850 |
| Skyways | Luxury, air conditioned | Rawalpindi and Islamabad to Mardan | 2h | Rs 1,000 |
| Niazi Express | Luxury, air conditioned | Islamabad to Mardan via M-1 | 2h | Rs 1,150 |
| Daewoo Express | Luxury, air conditioned | Islamabad Faizabad to Mardan | 2h 15m | Rs 1,500 |
Fares are indicative published prices and vary with class, season, fuel adjustments and demand. Your live, confirmed fare appears on the seat map before payment.
Why Mardan costs more than Abbottabad for a shorter trip
Mardan is closer to the capital than Abbottabad, yet the fares sit higher. The reason is competition rather than distance. The Hazara corridor is a commuter route with coasters leaving every few minutes, while the M-1 crossing into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa carries fewer operators onto a road with tolls. Fewer vehicles chasing the same passengers keeps the floor about Rs 100 higher.
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Which is the best bus service from Islamabad to Mardan
Four operators run this corridor, and the useful difference between them is the departure point rather than the seat.
Local coasters and Hiace
Depart when full from Pirwadhai. Slower because they run the GT Road rather than the motorway, and many are not air conditioned, which is where the saving comes from.
From Rs 700
Motorway Express
Air conditioned luxury coasters from G-8 Markaz, which saves the trip out to Pirwadhai entirely, and the fastest scheduled time on the route at an hour and fifty.
From Rs 850
Skyways
A proper coach with a luggage hold at Rs 150 over the coaster fare, with departures from both Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The sensible pick if you are carrying bags.
From Rs 1,000
Daewoo Express
The most predictable departure and proper terminals at both ends, at more than double the coaster fare. On a two hour run that premium buys punctuality rather than comfort.
From Rs 1,500
Our verdict
Motorway Express from G-8 is the booking that saves you the most time overall, because on a two hour journey the cross-town trip to Pirwadhai is a real fraction of the total. Skyways is the better call with luggage, and Daewoo only if you need a fixed arrival time. Nothing here justifies Rs 1,500 for a journey the coaster does in forty minutes more.
Islamabad to Mardan bus timings
Islamabad to Mardan bus timings run through the day, with the coaster services departing on demand and the coaches on fixed schedules.
Early morning
6:00 AM to 9:00 AMThe business window. Take this band if you want to be in Mardan and back in the capital the same day.
Midday
10:00 AM to 3:00 PMQuieter and easy to book on the day, with coasters leaving from Pirwadhai as they fill.
Evening
4:00 PM to 8:00 PMThe return peak, when the branded coaches fill first and the coasters take the overflow.
Busy periods
Eid and university termsMardan has heavy student traffic to the capital, so term starts and ends tighten this corridor as much as Eid does.
Islamabad and Mardan terminals
Three departure points serve Mardan from the twin cities, and on a two hour route the choice matters more than usual.
G-8 Markaz, Faizabad and Pirwadhai
- Motorway Express
- G-8 Markaz, the easiest departure point from the Islamabad sectors.
- Daewoo Express and Niazi Express
- Board around Faizabad, on the metro line.
- Coasters and Skyways
- Pirwadhai in Rawalpindi, where the cheapest seats are found.
Mardan terminals
- Set down
- Most services use the general bus stand, with Daewoo running its own terminal.
- Onward connections
- Takht Bhai, Katlang, Swabi and Charsadda all run from the same stands.
- Worth knowing
- Peshawar is under an hour on from here if Mardan is a stop rather than the destination.
Motorway or GT Road to Mardan
Both roads are in use on this corridor, and the difference between them is about forty minutes and roughly Rs 150.
- Islamabad and Rawalpindi Departures from G-8 Markaz, Faizabad and Pirwadhai through the day.
- M-1 motorway to the Rashakai interchange The fast routing, used by the coaches and luxury coasters, and the reason they run under two hours.
- GT Road via Attock and Nowshera The slower routing used by the cheapest coasters, with stops along the way.
- Rashakai and Takht Bhai The final approach, and a common set-down point for the surrounding towns.
- Mardan Arrival at the general bus stand, roughly two hours after leaving the capital.
If Mardan is a stop on a longer journey, the Islamabad to Peshawar fares cover the through services on the same motorway.
Bus or train from Islamabad to Mardan
Mardan has no station of its own on the main line, which decides this comparison before it starts.
Bus
Rs 700from, one way
Direct services from three departure points in the twin cities, with the motorway options running under two hours.
The only sensible option on this pair.
Train
Variesplus onward road leg
A daily service runs from Golra Sharif to Nowshera Junction, but Mardan itself needs a road connection from there.
Slower than taking the bus throughout.
Islamabad to Mardan bus FAQs
What is the Islamabad to Mardan bus ticket price?
Fares run from about Rs 700 on local coasters to about Rs 1,500 for Daewoo Express Luxury. Motorway Express luxury coasters sit around Rs 850, Skyways around Rs 1,000 and Niazi Express around Rs 1,150.
How long does the Islamabad to Mardan bus take?
Under two hours on the M-1 motorway services and up to two and a half on the GT Road coasters, for roughly 141 km.
Which is the best bus service from Islamabad to Mardan?
Motorway Express for the fastest run and the G-8 departure point, Skyways if you need a luggage hold, and Daewoo Express if you want the most predictable arrival time.
Do buses go via the motorway or the GT Road?
Both. The coaches and luxury coasters take the M-1 to the Rashakai interchange and run under two hours. The cheapest coasters use the GT Road through Attock and Nowshera and take longer.
Can I continue to Swabi or Charsadda from Mardan?
Yes. Takht Bhai, Katlang, Swabi and Charsadda all run from the Mardan stands, and Peshawar is under an hour further on.
Where do buses to Mardan leave from in Islamabad?
Motorway Express runs from G-8 Markaz, Daewoo Express and Niazi Express board at Faizabad, and the coasters and Skyways depart from Pirwadhai in Rawalpindi.
Related routes and operators
Mardan and valley routes
Operator fare lists
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