If you are looking for the perfect getaway to experience the natural beauty and culture of Pakistan, then look no further than Hunza! Located in the beautiful Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, Hunza is an awe-inspiring destination that offers a unique mix of culture, adventure, and stunning landscapes. Hunza is a stunning valley in northern Pakistan, renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. With towering mountains, valleys and glaciers, it is a paradise for trekkers and photographers alike. This four-day itinerary will introduce you to the best of what the Hunza valley has to offer.
My Hunza Trip
Since I worked 03 years in Tourism sector of Pakistan with a travel company based in @Karachi and having their offices in Islamabad and Hunza, I was lucky enough to travel to hunza multiple times each year, whether during Cherry blossom season or Summer season or Autumn or Winter.. you must be surprised but yes Pakistan have all four season in almost every part of it.
My Hunza Itinerary
HOW TO GET THERE?
Well, If you want to visit Hunza, you must have to reach Islamabad which is a capital of Pakistan and stay here for a night.. from Islamabad you have two option to travel towards Hunza, first option is to take a flight from Islamabad international airport to Gilgit airport (this flight usually gets cancelled) most of the time due to bad weather and the reason is that Gilgit airport is having a small runway and only airline is Pakistan International Airline which offer flight between Islamabad and Gilgit by using small aircrafts.
Second option you have is to travel by road from Islamabad to Gilgit (14 hours journey) and then towards Hunza (Distance from gilgit to Hunza is 02 hours) which is a long journey but to complete your experience in Pakistan and for the love of mountains you must take a road trip to Hunza at least once in your lifetime, Travel time varies between 15-18 hours from Islamabad to Hunza but if you wish to travel by road i would suggest you to start your journey from Islamabad early morning by 04AM so that you can reach till Chillas till evening and stay overnight at a hotel in Chillas. Next day you can continue your journey to Hunza and reach Hunza in 4 to 5 hours from Chillas.
Planning a trip to Hunza and need any help you can Contact me.
Remember to always book your hotels beforehand with the help of government licensed tour operator in Pakistan.
Day 01
Whether you traveled to Hunza by road or by flight, your first day is mixed of free time and unplanned activities I would suggest you to stay at the main towns (Aliabad or Karimabad) for your first day, Aliabad is the largest town of Hunza Valley whereas Karimabad is famous for it’s local market where you can buy some local handicrafts and interact with locals, these both towns are located next to each other at a distance of 10 minutes drive only.
Your first day in Hunza is to relax and go for a walk around local market and interact with locals and get to know them and their culture, when you visit local market make sure to get yourself SCOM sim card if you wish to use internet in Hunza valley because SCOM is the only carrier that has 4G internet service in this region, Internet packages are not expensive you can buy sim card with 10GB of data valid for one month in less then Rs.1000/=
Start your Hunza itinerary by visiting the picturesque Altit Fort, which is a 900-year-old structure located atop a hill. After exploring the fort, you can continue your journey to nearby Baltit Fort located in Karimabad, which is a 700-year-old fort these both fort were built by the Mirs of Hunza. After exploring both forts, you can then visit Karimabad market, where you can meet the locals, have some of the local organic cuisine from the famous restaurant called Hanza Pavilion by Laal Shehzadi, get a cup of coffee from Cafe De Hunza with famous Walnut cake and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
Note: Entry ticket is Rs.1200/= for foreigners and Rs.600/= for locals., keep in mind that fort operating time is 09 AM to 05 PM during summer and 10 AM to 04 PM during winter season.
After all day of Karimabad exploration, it’s your time to go back to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02
Your next stop on your Hunza itinerary should be the breathtaking Attabad Lake. This lake was created in 2010 after a massive landslide blocked the Hunza river and created a beautiful blue lake. You can take a boat ride on the lake to explore the various coves and inlets, and you can also take a hike up to the top of Baskochi meadows for some incredible views of the Incredible Attabad lake.
After visiting this beautiful lake, you will drive towards Hussaini Bridge which is a rope bridge located in Gojal in the Hunza Valley. It is a popular tourist attraction in the region, as well as being an important crossing point for local people. The bridge is said to be over 100 years old and spans the Hunza River, connecting the small villages of Hussaini and Gojal. The bridge is constructed from wooden planks and old ropes and is so low to the water that it can be dangerous to cross during periods of heavy rain and flooding. The ropes are regularly replaced by local volunteers to keep the bridge in a safe and usable condition.
Hussaini Suspension BridgeAfter all day of Upper Hunza exploration, it’s your time to go back to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03
This day you will be visiting Khunjerab Pass (16000 ft) is a high mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan and on the southwest border of the Xinjiang region of China. It connects Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan on the northeast with China’s Xinjiang region.
On your way you will be crossing Attabad Lake, Hussaini suspension bridge and many of villages in upper Hunza, don’t forget to refuel your vehicle after reaching Sost which is a last town of Pakistan. After Sost you will reach the checkpoint where you have buy entry ticket which cost 20USD for foreigners and Pkr300 for local visitors. Drive towards khunjerab pass is breathtaking as you will be looking at many 6000meter+ mountains on the way.
It is highly recommended that visitors hire a professional driver to take them on this journey. The driver should be experienced in driving in the mountains and should be familiar with the roads, weather conditions, and potential hazards. Additionally, it is also recommended to pack supplies such as food and water, as well as to check the weather forecast before setting out.
On your way back you can stop at Sost for lunch but my recommendation is to take a break at Khyber which is small town after Sost, here you will find family restaurants run by local people who depend on this source of income and this way you will get to see their local culture and their house etc. My favourite Restaurant in Khyber is run by Mr.Ali where his wife cooks the food with the help of their children and Mr.Ali mostly take responsibility for Yak BBQ in which he’s quite expert by the way.
Now it’s time to head back to your hotel for overnight stay.
Day 04
Day trip to Hoper Valley, Rakaposhi viewpoint although these both places are not technically in Hunza district but one can visit these from Hunza. Hoper is a small town atmosphere is friendly, and the people are welcoming. The scenery is beautiful, with lush forests and rolling hills.
In Hope valley you will be able to see the magnificent Hopar Glacier. The glacier is situated at an elevation of 3,200 meters (10,498 feet) and is the source of the Hoper River. The glacier is about 4 km (2.5 miles) long and extends from the Hoper Valley to the summit of the Karakoram range. The glacier feeds into the Hoper Lake, a glacial lake situated at the foot of the glacier.
After having good time at Hoper valley you can visit Rakaposhi viewpoint from where you can see another glacier and Rakaposhi 7788m mountain which is a 27th highest mountain in the world.
Now it’s time to head back to your hotel for overnight stay.
This was my 04 days itinerary for Hunza valley but if you are an adventure lover there’s a lot that you can do in Hunza, for that I will create another post later.
I hope this travel blog and all the above Hunza travel destination and things to do in Hunza were helpful to plan your own Hunza trip. Please help me in return by sharing the link of this article on the Internet. On Twitter, on Pinterest or share on Facebook is very much appreciated. Also don’t hesitate to reach out on my Instagram account. I’m always happy to help!
