Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan Bus Ticket Price, Online Booking, Timing
The Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan ticket price starts at about Rs 1,600 and reaches Rs 2,300 for Daewoo Express. Since the M-14 motorway opened, the trip has become a straightforward four and a half hour run south along the western edge of Punjab to the Indus.
Short answer: Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan costs about Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,300 and takes four and a half to five hours. Coaches join the M-14 at Hakla, near Islamabad airport, and follow it through Pindi Gheb and past Mianwali to Yarik, just north of D.I. Khan. Daewoo runs roughly every four hours from its terminal near 26 Number.
Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan ticket price by operator
Three fares on a route transformed by the CPEC western motorway.
| Bus operator | Class | Boards in Rawalpindi | Journey time | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad Express | Yutong, 2+2 | Twin cities counter, confirm on booking | 5h | Rs 1,600 |
| Skyways | Economy, 2+2 | Faizabad | 5h | Rs 1,800 |
| Daewoo Express | Luxury, 2+2 | Own terminal, 26 Number Chungi | 4h 30m | Rs 2,300 |
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.
What the motorway did to this route
Before the M-14 opened in 2022, coaches to D.I. Khan took the long way through Kohat and Bannu or down the Indus Highway, which could take the best part of a day. The motorway cut that to around four and a half hours.
Daewoo’s terminal near 26 Number is especially convenient here because the M-14 starts at Hakla, west of the twin cities, so coaches from that side of Rawalpindi reach the motorway quickly.
M-14 coach or the old road through Kohat
Two very different journeys still share the same destination.
M-14 motorway
- Route
- Hakla, Pindi Gheb, the Mianwali side and Yarik.
- Time
- Around four and a half to five hours.
- Good for
- D.I. Khan city and anyone not stopping in between.
Kohat and Bannu road
- Route
- Through Kohat, Karak, Bannu and Lakki Marwat.
- Time
- Much longer, with many towns on the way.
- Good for
- Passengers getting off in the southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa towns.
How to choose
Going to D.I. Khan city, always take an M-14 coach. Going to Kohat, Bannu or Lakki Marwat, a D.I. Khan motorway ticket will not help; book a service for that town instead.
Which is the best bus service from Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan
Few operators, with Daewoo the clear benchmark.
Islamabad Express
Yutong coaches at the lowest published fare on the route.
From Rs 1,600Skyways
Boards at Faizabad, convenient from Islamabad and the Metro Bus.
From Rs 1,800Daewoo Express
D.I. Khan is a Daewoo hub, with a terminal on Bannu Road and regular departures.
From Rs 2,300Our verdict
Take Daewoo at Rs 2,300 for the most reliable schedule. Take Islamabad Express at Rs 1,600 when the fare matters most.
Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan bus timings
Daewoo departs about every four hours, with other operators filling gaps through the day.
Morning
6:00 AM to 10:00 AMArrive in D.I. Khan by early afternoon, ahead of the summer heat.
Midday
11:00 AM to 3:00 PMHot arrivals in summer. Easy seats outside Eid weeks.
Evening
4:00 PM to 8:00 PMArrive in the evening. Popular with students returning home.
Late
After 9:00 PMLimited. Confirm the last departure with the operator.
Plan for the heat
D.I. Khan is among the hottest cities in Pakistan in June and July. A morning departure gets you there before the afternoon peak, and coaches with newer air conditioning are worth the extra fare in summer.
Rawalpindi and Dera Ismail Khan terminals
Daewoo has a proper terminal in D.I. Khan on Bannu Road.
Rawalpindi
- Daewoo Express
- Own terminal near Jhangi Syedan, 26 Number Chungi, Peshawar Road.
- Skyways
- Faizabad.
- Islamabad Express
- Twin cities counter. Confirm the boarding point when booking.
Dera Ismail Khan
- Daewoo Express
- Opposite Khan Plaza, Bannu Road.
- General stands
- Other coaches finish near the city’s general bus stands.
- Onward
- Local transport to Paharpur, Kulachi and across the Indus.
The road from Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan
West out of the twin cities to Hakla, then south down the M-14 across the Potohar and the Thal to the Indus.
- Rawalpindi, 26 NumberOnto the M-1, km 0.
- Hakla interchangeStart of the M-14, near Islamabad airport, km 35.
- Pindi Ghebkm 110.
- Tarap and Daud Khel sideNear Mianwali, km 220.
- Yarik interchangeEnd of the motorway, km 320.
- Dera Ismail KhanArrival about four and a half hours later, km 340.
Part of CPEC’s western route
The M-14 is part of the western alignment of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. It is a four lane motorway with light traffic for most of its length, which makes this one of the more relaxed long coach journeys from Rawalpindi.
Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan bus vs car
There is no practical train, and scheduled flights are very limited, so road travel dominates.
Bus
Rs 1,600to Rs 2,300
Quick and comfortable on the M-14, with Daewoo’s hub at the D.I. Khan end.
Best for most.
Private car
Rs 12,000and up, one way
Worth it for families heading beyond the city.
Only split between four.
Cheapest way to travel from Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan
Islamabad Express at around Rs 1,600. On this route the gap to Daewoo is small enough that many travellers pay the extra for the fixed timetable and terminal at each end.
Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan bus FAQs
What is the Rawalpindi to Dera Ismail Khan bus ticket price?
About Rs 1,600 with Islamabad Express, Rs 1,800 with Skyways and Rs 2,300 with Daewoo Express.
How long does the bus from Rawalpindi to D.I. Khan take?
Four and a half to five hours for about 340 km via the M-14 motorway.
Where is the Daewoo terminal in D.I. Khan?
Opposite Khan Plaza on Bannu Road.
Does the D.I. Khan bus go through Kohat and Bannu?
Not the motorway coaches. They use the M-14 via Pindi Gheb and Yarik. Book a separate service for Kohat or Bannu.
How often does Daewoo run to D.I. Khan?
Roughly every four hours from its Rawalpindi terminal. Check the timetable for your date.
Related routes and operators
From Rawalpindi and Dera Ismail Khan
Operator fare lists
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