Karachi to Skardu Bus Ticket Price, Timings, Online Booking
Karachi to Skardu is the longest journey in Pakistan by bus. There is no direct service, and the two stages total around 46 hours of travel from about Rs 10,000. This is the route where flying the first leg makes the strongest case.
Karachi to Skardu bus ticket price: there is no through service. Both legs come to around Rs 10,000: about Rs 4,800 Karachi to Rawalpindi and Rs 5,200 onward to Skardu. That is roughly 46 hours of bus travel across two overnight runs, seated throughout.
Karachi to Skardu fares by leg
Only two operators run the Skardu leg, and the Skardu road adds six hours beyond the Gilgit turn off. That makes this the longest scheduled journey in the country.
| Operator | Class | Journey time | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg 1: Karachi to Rawalpindi | Various operators | 18h to 20h | From Rs 4,800 |
| Leg 2: K2 Movers | Luxury | 22h to 24h | Rs 5,200 |
| Leg 2: Mashabrum Tours | Luxury Daewoo | 22h to 24h | Rs 5,500 |
Fares are indicative published prices and vary with class, fuel adjustments and peak demand. Your live, confirmed fare appears on the seat map before payment.
The strongest case for flying a leg
Forty six hours seated across two overnight coaches is a great deal to ask, and neither leg offers a berth beyond the twin cities. A Karachi to Islamabad flight removes twenty of those hours and a full day. Skardu flights exist too but cancel often in poor weather, so flying the first leg and taking the bus for the second is the combination that balances cost against reliability.
The reality of the longest route in the country
This is worth being clear about, particularly if you are travelling with family or elderly relatives.
Seated beyond Rawalpindi
Sleeper berths exist on some Karachi to twin cities services but on no northern corridor. The 22 to 24 hour Skardu leg is seated whatever you pay.
Scheduled stops only
No Pakistani coach carries one, and stops are further apart on the Karakoram Highway than on the motorway network.
KKH then the Skardu road
The second leg covers the Karakoram Highway and then the Skardu road east, which is the more exposed of the two and where delays accumulate.
Break the second leg at Gilgit
If you are committed to travelling overland, stopping a night at Gilgit turns a 24 hour second leg into two manageable days. It costs more in accommodation but the difference in how you arrive is substantial, and Gilgit is worth a night in its own right.
Karachi to Skardu timings
Three days is realistic. Anyone planning this in two is going to be disappointed.
Day 1
Leave KarachiAfternoon or evening departure for an overnight run to Rawalpindi.
Day 2
Wait, then leave PirwadhaiK2 Movers departs 6:00 PM for Skardu. Mashabrum runs evenings.
Day 3
Arrive SkarduTwenty two to twenty four hours after Pirwadhai, usually in the evening.
Booking
A week in summerK2 Movers does not sell online. Reserve by phone from Karachi.
Where to board and where to break the journey
Sohrab Goth and own terminals
Northbound services board around Sohrab Goth. Faisal Movers and Daewoo run their own terminals, so check the address on your ticket.
Allow an hour to cross Karachi.
Pirwadhai
Both Skardu operators board at Pirwadhai. Mashabrum uses Pirwadhai Bus Stand and K2 Movers takes bookings on 051-5163314.
Arrange the second leg before leaving Karachi.
Karachi to Skardu bus FAQs
Is there a direct bus from Karachi to Skardu?
No. The journey takes two stages via Rawalpindi, totalling around 46 hours of bus travel plus the wait between legs. It is the longest overland journey in the country.
What does Karachi to Skardu cost?
Around Rs 10,000 for both legs: about Rs 4,800 to Rawalpindi and Rs 5,200 onward with K2 Movers, or Rs 5,500 with Mashabrum Tours.
Should I fly instead?
Flying Karachi to Islamabad and taking the bus onward removes twenty hours and a full day, and is the combination most people should price first. Direct Skardu flights exist but cancel often in poor weather.
Is there a sleeper on any part of the route?
Only on some Karachi to twin cities services. No northern operator offers berths, so the 22 to 24 hour Skardu leg is seated throughout.
Can I break the journey?
Yes, and it is worth doing. A night at Gilgit splits the second leg into two manageable days, and a night in Rawalpindi between legs is effectively unavoidable anyway.
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