Car Rental with a Driver for Foreigners Touring Pakistan
Hire a car with a professional driver for your Pakistan visit, with pickup at Islamabad airport, Lahore or Karachi. The same car and driver can stay with you until your flight home. Plan city visits, motorway journeys or a northern route, allowing for road seasons and checkpoint stops. Share your arrival flight, travel dates, group size and bags when choosing the car.
Rules for visitors, as of 4 October 2026
Last checked
- NOCs
- Most routes have required no general NOC since March 2019; restricted border, Line of Control and Siachen belts remain. KP has required online northern-trip registration since July 2025.
- Police escorts
- Reported in Swat, the Kalash valleys and the Fairy Meadows trek in a traveller guide updated 24 July 2026.
- Checkpoints
- Foreigners register at KKH checkpoints. Carry 10 to 15 passport copies.
- Khunjerab
- Visit the Pakistani side on a valid visa, checked at Sost. Crossing into China has separate visa rules.
Islamabad airport pickup, straight into your tour
The airport near Fateh Jang is about 25 km south-west of Islamabad. It links to the Lahore and Peshawar motorways and Srinagar Highway. Your driver meets you in arrivals and takes you to your first stop. Allow a night in Islamabad after a long flight before the two-day road journey to Hunza or Skardu. Send your flight number and message if arrival changes; our phone is answered 24 hours a day.
NOCs and registration
The main Hunza, Gilgit and Skardu routes are open on a Pakistani visa. Restricted belts remain within 10 miles of the Afghan and Chinese borders and the line at Siachen. They also cover 5 miles from the Line of Control in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Khunjerab visits use an ordinary visa, with documents checked at Sost. KP asks foreign visitors to Swat, Upper Dir, Chitral and its other northern areas to register online. Check the rules close to your dates.
Police escorts and checkpoints
Foreigners register at KKH checkpoints, where each post may keep a passport or visa copy. Carry 10 to 15 copies within reach and allow time for stops. Travellers report police escorts in Swat, the Kalash valleys and on the Fairy Meadows trek, described as free. Mention any escort you have been told to expect when booking.
What to tell us when you book
Share traveller and bag numbers: four people with large suitcases may need more space than a saloon's boot. Give your overnight towns, flight times, free days and any expected escort. Plan high passes such as Babusar in daylight. If bringing a guide you have booked, include them in the passenger count.
Which car for which part of Pakistan
A Corolla, Altis Grande or Civic suits city and motorway journeys with up to four passengers. For northern saloon trips, suitability depends on route and month. A Prado or Land Cruiser is our mountain suggestion, particularly for Babusar, Khunjerab and Skardu. Eight to thirteen travellers can consider a Grand Cabin; larger groups can ask about a Coaster.
A Pakistan road trip with a driver: where visitors go
Northern routes include Hunza and Khunjerab, Skardu with Shigar and Khaplu, and summer Naran trips. Murree and the Galyat fit a day or two; Taxila is about 35 km and an hour from Islamabad. Lahore is a motorway day away for the walled city, Badshahi Mosque and Wagah ceremony. Bring your original passport to Wagah.
Trip quote and policies
Trips are priced as a single quote for the car and driver, with fuel, parking and any local jeep days set out. Motorway tolls are extra. Free cancellation applies until 24 hours before pickup. If a car needs replacing, another is sent, taking longer on remote mountain roads.
Before you land: what to carry and what to ask for
| Bring or ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Original passport and visa | Checked at Sost before Khunjerab, at checkpoints and at the Wagah ceremony |
| 10 to 15 passport copies | Foreigners register at KKH checkpoints, and each may keep a copy |
| Your flight number | The pickup follows the actual arrival time at Islamabad airport |
| A card, or an international or online transfer | Payment options for visitors from abroad |
| Pakistani cash | Park entry at places such as Deosai is cash only |
Cars for the trip
Questions people ask
Can foreigners rent a car with a driver in Pakistan?
Yes. Every Alpha Car Rentals car comes with a professional driver. Send your arrival date, route and number of travellers for a suitable car and trip quote.
Do foreigners need an NOC to visit Hunza or Skardu?
The main routes and sights are open on a Pakistani visa. Restricted border belts remain; for Swat, KP requires online registration. Check the current rules close to your travel dates.
Will we get a police escort in Pakistan?
Possibly, depending on destination. Travellers report police-assigned escorts in Swat, the Kalash valleys and on the Fairy Meadows trek. Mention any expected escort so your day plan allows for it.
How many passport copies should I carry in Pakistan?
Carry 10 to 15 copies, plus your original passport. KKH checkposts may keep a copy; originals are checked at Sost and required at Wagah.
Can the driver meet a night flight at Islamabad airport?
Yes, with the flight number booked ahead and a message if its timing changes. After a night landing, allow a night in Islamabad before heading into the mountains.
Can we keep the same driver for our whole visit?
Yes. One car and driver can stay from airport pickup to your flight home, for northern trips or visits around Lahore, Islamabad and Taxila.
Can foreigners visit Khunjerab Pass?
Yes, on the Pakistani side with a valid passport and visa, checked at Sost. A national park fee is collected; snow sets visitor access, normally about May to October. Crossing into China has separate visa rules.
Which route do visitors take to Hunza?
In summer, take Naran and Babusar to join the KKH at Chilas. Babusar's usual season is late May to November; the KKH is the all-year option.
How do foreign visitors pay for the car and driver?
Cash or bank transfer, card or online payment. Companies can pay through a monthly invoice. International transfers are also accepted.
Is the driver's food and room included?
Yes. The driver's meals and room on nights away are included in the trip quote.
Can we drive straight from Islamabad airport to Lahore?
Yes. The airport has a motorway link and the M-2 to Lahore takes about four to five hours. The same driver can take you around Lahore and to Wagah.
Can we bring a guide on our trip?
Yes. A guide you book can ride with you, with a seat included in the plan. Share their timings when booking your car.
Book your car
WhatsApp +92 311 2847167 with your travel dates, starting airport or city, flight details, traveller and bag numbers, and planned route. We reply with a car suggestion and trip quote.