How To Get From Lahore To Islamabad By Daewoo Bus

Getting Out Of Lahore

There are a million and one different ways you could get from Lahore to Islamabad. Even by bus, you have a slew of different companies and local bus stands constantly carting travelers to and from major cities. If you have just landed in Lahore or crossed the border from India, you may be unsure of how to actually get around Pakistan.

With trains, mini-vans, motorcycles, and tons of buses, you will probably not know where to even start getting a bus to Islamabad. As overwhelming as finding transportation may be, the reality is that no matter which of the bus stands around Lahore you go to, you are sure to get to your destination. Some of the rides may not be as comfortable as others, but you will never have to worry about not finding a bus to get you where you want to go.

No trip to Lahore is complete without traveling to the Badshahi Mosque. You can read more here!

What Bus Companies Are In Pakistan?

Trains may be the go-to mode of transportation in India. But in Pakistan, it is buses that are the most reliable way to get around. While there are train services linking nearly every corner of the country, buses are still the quickest and sure-fire way to get from point a to point b in the drop of a hat.

In Lahore, the cheapest buses you will find to Islamabad or elsewhere in Pakistan are at Badami Bagh. The Badami Bagh bus stand is not only where you will find the most local transport to Islamabad, but it is also one of the seediest dodgy places in Lahore. Although centrally located, just a short walk from the Walled City, single female travelers should think twice before heading to this bus stand alone. For a balance of economical and local, it is best to travel with one of the more reputable bus companies in Lahore.

Throughout Pakistan, there are two companies that are well known for their comfort and prices. Faisal Movers and Daewoo are by far the best way to travel throughout the country. While there is not one that is better than the other, Daewoo is usually the safest and most direct way to get from city to city.

Wanting to find more culture in Lahore? Be sure to check out traditional Punjabi wrestling: Kushti!

Finding The Daewoo Bus Stand

There are two places where you can hop on the Daewoo Bus in Lahore. The main terminal is at Thokar, nearly 20km away from the Walled City. If you are not wanting to trek all the way to the outskirts of Lahore, there is another terminal located at Kalma Chowk. What will usually happen is that you will first board the bus at Kalma Chowk and on the way to Islamabad the bus will stop in Thokar to pick up the rest of the passengers.

A typical rickshaw ride from the Walled City to Daewoo Kalma Chowk will cost you about 300 PKR (1.90 USD). You may be surprised at how modern and immaculate these lobbies and bus terminals actually are. Complete with free wifi and a fully-stocked convenience store, you almost wish you had an hour to kill in order to just hang out in the waiting room. ( The main bus terminal for Faisal Movers is found on Band Road along with a handful of smaller bus companies).

Crossing the border from India to Pakistan? Read more about the Wagah Border here!

Buying a Bus Ticket

Depending on what class bus you ride on, your fare will cost anywhere from 1,300 PKR (8.30 USD) to 1,700 PKR (11 USD). It is possible to reserve your seat online or by phone, but you can just as easily purchase your ticket when you arrive at the terminal. The major upside to riding with one of the larger bus companies is that they take down your passport information when you book your ticket. This means that you will be flying through the police check-points and not have to worry about stepping out of the vehicle to explain to officers what you are doing in Pakistan.

It will take roughly 5 hours to get from Lahore to Islamabad. If you happen to ride one of the more luxurious buses, you will have movies, wi-fi, and even a boxed lunch on your way to your destination. The Daewoo Buses usually only stop once at a rest-stop on the way in order to lure passengers to buy extra snacks and dine in one of the cafeterias. But all in all, the buses of Pakistan put any other bus service around the world to shame.

The Badshahi Mosque is the largest in Lahore, but Wazir Khan’s Mosque is the most beautiful. You can read more here!

Wait. This Isn’t Islamabad?

After a 5-hour ride of either being glued to your phone or staring out over the rather desolate Punjabi countryside, you will finally arrive at your destination. With barbed wired walls and gates pulled open by security guards, you’d almost think you are arriving at an embassy rather than the Islamabad Daewoo Bus Terminal. But after hopping off of your bus and grabbing your bag you will probably be left thinking, “what next?”

Passengers coming from Lahore will actually be let off in the old town of Rawalpindi rather than downtown Islamabad. Fortunately, the Rawalpindi Daewoo Terminal offers a shuttle service taking travelers from the bus station to a ticket office in Islamabad 20km away for 50 PKR (0.30 USD).

To kick off your trip to Islamabad, be sure to head straight to the breathtaking Shah Faisal Mosque!

Lahore to Islamabad by Daewoo Bus

After you get your first bus ride in Pakistan out of the way, you will have the experience to navigate your way to nearly any city in the whole country. Being such a luxurious ride from Lahore to Islamabad, you may begin to fall into the trap of traveling exclusively with Daewoo. Faisal Movers and several other bus companies offer everything Daewoo does, from Wi-fi and movies, for a slightly cheaper price. But in terms of reliability and cleanliness goes, Daewoo can not be beaten.

As Pakistan continues to warm up to the idea of international tourism, one can expect that the country will continue to make other facilities just as up-scale and convenient as their bus services. But for the time being, the railroad, tourist police, and hotels still have ways to go in order to catch up with the service of Daewoo.