How to Book a NATCO Bus to Gilgit, Skardu or Hunza Online

You can book a NATCO bus from Rawalpindi to Gilgit, Skardu or Hunza online at natco.gov.pk, on the NATCO Android app, or on Bookme.pk. Pay by card, JazzCash or EasyPaisa, or buy at a terminal counter. Cancel at least 30 minutes before departure to get 75% back.

NATCO, the Northern Areas Transport Corporation, is the government bus company for Gilgit-Baltistan. Its terms describe it as a Government of Pakistan entity working under the Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan. Ticketing runs through a partnership with Bookme.pk.

We read NATCO's terms, its Return and Cancellation Policy, its contact list and its live route list on natco.gov.pk on 2 October 2026. The route list showed NATCO services from Rawalpindi to 15 destinations, including Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Chilas, Astore and Khaplu.

NATCO runs buses from Rawalpindi to 15 places

NATCO's route list on its website shows buses from Rawalpindi to Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Gahkuch, Chilas, Astore, Khaplu, Danyor, Gulmit, Darel, Tangir, Naran, Lahore, Karachi and Sikandrabad. There are also routes from Karachi, Mansehra and Lahore, and a Sost to Tashkurgan service.

The schedule data we saw for the Rawalpindi routes ran to the end of October 2026. NATCO's terms say it can change schedules, routes and timings for operational, weather or security reasons, so check the times for your exact date when you book.

Book a NATCO ticket online in six steps

Go to natco.gov.pk, choose your departure city, destination and date, and press Search. Pick a bus and a seat, enter the passenger's name exactly as on the CNIC, then pay. Keep the confirmation on your phone, because you must show it to board.

1. Open the booking form. Use natco.gov.pk, the NATCO app on Google Play, or Bookme.pk. NATCO's terms name all three as official.
2. Choose the route and date. Pick the departure city, destination and travel date, then search.
3. Pick a seat. Seat choice depends on what is free when you book.
4. Enter each passenger's details. The name must match a CNIC, passport or B-Form, because you show it when you board.
5. Pay. NATCO accepts credit and debit cards, JazzCash and EasyPaisa online, through PayFast and Bookme. Cash works only at terminal counters.
6. Save the confirmation. NATCO's terms say a digital or printed booking confirmation must be shown at boarding.

If a payment fails, NATCO says the money is reversed to the same account within 5 to 10 working days. Do not pay twice in a panic. Check your wallet and bank first. Wallet charges for the payment itself are covered in our list of JazzCash and Easypaisa charges.

Cancel 30 minutes before departure to get 75% back

NATCO's Return and Cancellation Policy deducts 25% if you cancel at least 30 minutes before the bus leaves, so you get 75% back. A no-show gets nothing. If NATCO itself cancels or badly delays a bus, you get a full refund or a free seat on the next bus.

One part of the policy is unclear. Its table says no refund once the bus has left, but a rule further down says a 25% deduction applies if you cancel after departure. We would not count on any money back after the bus leaves. Cancel before.

A payment gateway fee may also be deducted, the policy says. Approved refunds take 7 to 14 working days and go back to the original payment method.

Cancel through the app, website or helpline

To cancel, open My Bookings in the NATCO app or on natco.gov.pk, or My Orders on Bookme.pk, and choose Cancel. You can also call NATCO's 24-hour helpline 051-8307777 with your booking reference, or visit any NATCO terminal counter.

• App: My Bookings, select the ticket, then Cancel Ticket.
• Website: log in to natco.gov.pk, then My Bookings, then Cancel.
• Bookme.pk: log in and cancel under My Orders.
• Phone: 051-8307777, 24 hours, with your booking reference.
• Email for refund queries: feedback@natco.gov.pk, or support@bookme.pk for Bookme bookings.

Do not leave it late. The policy refuses refunds on requests sent more than 48 hours after departure, and on tickets bought through unauthorised third parties.

Bring ID, report early and pack under 20 kg

Report to the boarding point at least 30 minutes before departure, or NATCO can give away your seat. Each passenger may carry one hand bag up to 7 kg and one hold bag up to 20 kg free. Excess baggage is charged at the terminal rate.

• ID for everyone: CNIC, passport, or B-Form for children, matching the ticket.
• No smoking on buses or at terminals.
• No flammable, hazardous or illegal items in your bags.
• Label your luggage. NATCO is not responsible for fragile, perishable or high-value items in the hold.

NATCO warns that delays happen on these roads because of weather, road conditions and security checks, and it does not pay compensation for delays beyond its control. Carry food, water and warm clothes. For the documents and checks on the drive north, see the northern areas travel checklist.

NATCO terminal and office phone numbers

NATCO's head office is on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Jutial, Gilgit, on 05811-920820. The Rawalpindi office is 051-9334556, Gilgit 05811-920435, Skardu 05815-920289 and Hunza 05813-920111. The 24-hour helpline for bookings and refunds is 051-8307777.

NATCO also offers Land Cruiser V8 hire on special booking, with separate numbers for Rawalpindi, Gilgit, Skardu, Ghizer and Hunza on its services page. If you are comparing NATCO with private coaches on the plains, the Daewoo booking and refund rules work differently.

Common questions

Can I book a NATCO bus ticket online?

Yes. Book on natco.gov.pk, the NATCO Android app, or Bookme.pk. You can also buy at a NATCO terminal counter.

Does NATCO go from Rawalpindi to Skardu?

Yes. NATCO's route list shows Rawalpindi to Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza and 12 other places.

How much do I get back if I cancel a NATCO ticket?

75% of the ticket price, if you cancel at least 30 minutes before departure. A gateway fee may also be deducted.

What is the NATCO helpline number?

051-8307777, which NATCO says works 24 hours a day for bookings and refunds.

How much luggage can I take on a NATCO bus?

One hand bag up to 7 kg and one hold bag up to 20 kg free. Excess is charged at the terminal.

Can I pay for a NATCO ticket with JazzCash?

Yes. NATCO accepts JazzCash, EasyPaisa and cards online, and cash at terminal counters.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 2 October 2026. We read NATCO's Terms and Conditions, its Return and Cancellation Policy, its contact and services pages, and the route list built into the natco.gov.pk booking form, which showed schedules for October 2026. We could not load fares or departure times without completing a search, so no fare is printed here. The policy contradicts itself on cancelling after departure, which we have pointed out above.