Running · jeep country past Astore town
Gilgit to Astore and Rama.
South on the KKH to Jaglot, then east up the Astore valley. The turn is easy and the first stretch is paved. It narrows and climbs as you go, and after rain the side nullahs run across the road, which is why we send a jeep for anything past Astore town rather than a car.
- Distance
- 120 km
- Drive time
- 3h 30m
- Shared seat
- PKR 2,000
- Private from
- PKR 9,000
- Surface
- Paved to Astore town, rough beyond
- Vehicle
- Car to town, jeep for Rama and Rattu
- Departure advice
- Morning departure, before 09:00
Fares
What it costs, agreed up front.
One fare, agreed before you accept the booking. No meter, no surge.
What we know
Driving it, not describing it.
Rama is only 12 km above Astore town but it is a 45 minute climb on a rough track. It is a jeep job. People arrive in a car, get turned around at the steep section, and blame the road.
This is the western way into Deosai and it opens later than people expect, usually late June. In May the meadow at Rama is beautiful and the Deosai crossings are still full of snow.
Nanga Parbat's Rupal face is reached from this valley via Tarishing, not from Fairy Meadows. Different side of the same mountain, different drive, and a full day either way.
Where you stop
The drive, hour by hour.
Roads, honestly
When this road is worth driving.
Questions
Asked often enough to answer here.
How long is the drive from Gilgit to Astore?
About three and a half hours to Astore town, 120 km via Jaglot. Rama meadow is another 45 minutes above the town on a rough track.
Do I need a 4x4 for Astore?
A car reaches Astore town in normal weather. Rama, Rattu and Deosai need a jeep with clearance and a driver who has done the climb.
When does Deosai open from the Astore side?
Usually late June, sometimes early July, and it closes with the first heavy snow in October. Anyone promising you Deosai in May is guessing.
Can I see Nanga Parbat from Astore?
Yes: the Rupal face, reached via Tarishing further up the valley. It is a separate full-day trip from Astore town and needs a jeep.
Read before you go
Other routes