How to Visit Gilgit & Hunza in 2026
How To Visit Gilgit & Hunza In Northern Pakistan (2026) – Complete Travel Guide
When I first came to Pakistan I knew I wanted to see its northern areas and the astonishing mountains, I already knew from some Youtube Videos. Back then, however, there was very little information online about how to visit these remote areas, aside from super overpriced tours.
Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu are the three major towns in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s northern region, and they will likely serve as your base for exploring the area.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to reach Gilgit and Hunza, where to stay, what to do, and most importantly, how to experience these incredible places independently, without paying for an expensive tour.
Table of Contents
📜 Background Information on Hunza & Gilgit
Gilgit and Hunza are located in the northernmost part of Pakistan, in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, surrounded by the Karakoram and western Himalaya ranges. Gilgit serves as the administrative hub, while Hunza is a known destination for pakistani tourists who come here for vacation or their honeymoon.
Historically, Hunza was a small princely state with a unique culture and traditions, while Gilgit has long been a strategic trade hub along ancient Silk Road routes. Today, both towns are gateways to northern Pakistan’s trekking routes, glaciers, and remote valleys.
🔗 Read my full Pakistan Guide for more information:
👮Are Hunza and Gilgit safe to visit?
Yes, Hunza and Gilgit are abolutely safe to visit. While some areas of Pakistan, including Balochistan or the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) should be avoided, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan’s northern region, is generally safe to visit.
While pickpocketing or petty Crime is very low, the main safety concerns are the road conditions, landslides or extreme weather changes.
On the way to Gilgit & Hunza you will also pass by the town of Chilas and might even have a stopover there. The town is a bit sketchy. Dawn.com wrote an article about this village back in 2013 called “Why I hate Chilas”. However in the past 10 years safety in this town increased and the town has a very high police presence.
Want to know more about Safety in Pakistan? Read my Full Safety Analysis:
🚙 How to get to Gilgit & Hunza
Nowadays getting to northern Pakistan, including Hunza and Gilgit, is pretty straight foward.
✈️ By Air
Gilgit is just about an hour away from Islamabad by plane, and tickets can often be booked a day or two in advance. Pakistan International Airlines operates this route, with round-trip fares usually between 100€ –150€.
Due to weather conditions flights are delayed almost daily and also frequently canceled.
🚐 By Bus
NATCO, Faisal Movers and K2 Movers are the most known buslines operating in northern Paksitan.
- Islamabad → Gilgit NATCO Bus Service, 12-15€, roughly 18 hours. Departure: NATCO Terminal, Faizabad, Islamabad
- Islamabad → Hunza: The same route as Gilgit, just another 2 hours further
Many buses stop overnight in Chilas, and may also stop in Besham and Mansehra.
You’ll probably know this by now but remember busses in Pakistan are almost always delayed. If a bus route says it’ll be 12 hours it’s most likely 20 hours.
🚗 With A Private Driver
You can hire a private driver at Pakistani Agencies for a fair price. You’d probably pay around 500€ for a week including car, private driver and gasoline.
💡 Disclaimer: There are countless police stops along the way. All of them will want to have your Visa and Passport Information. Print at least 50 copies of your passport and visa, to safe yourself, your driver and other people in the bus a lot of time.
🛏️ Where to stay in Hunza & Gilgit
Finding Accommodation in Gilgit and Hunza is pretty simple thanks to the strong online infrastrcture. There are countless offers on Airbnb, Booking.com or Google Hotels. If you don’t have enough cash on you, you can use Airbnb to pay online. Here are some recommendations:
Karimbad (Hunza):
- The Jade Palace: For 28€ a night you have a perfect location, a clean room, your own shower as well as electricity and wifi.
- Tourist Cottage Hunza: 10€ a night for a basic room with your own shower.
Gilgit:
- Zia Guest House: A bit outside of Gilgit. For 4€ a night this is probably the chepeast accommodation you can find. However you get what you pay, the rooms are tiny, not that clean and there is no electricity.
- Duroyo Hotel: A clean and well-rated hotel for 20€ a night, including Wifi, a TV, a Safe and your own bathroom.
There are many hotels and guesthouses in the area. These are just some suggestions.
🚙 How to get around in Hunza & Gilgit
Both Gilgit and Karimabad (Hunza) are small enough that you can explore on foot.
For short distances, tuk-tuks and shared taxis are common.
For longer distances between Gilgit, Karimabad, Skardu, and Chitral, NATCO buses are the main option.
If you want to visit remote spots like Attabad Lake, Hussaini Suspension Bridge, or Khunjerab National Park, hiring a private driver with a car will make your life a lot easier. Daily rates for a driver with a vehicle are typically around 25 to 40€. Drivers can be booked with pakistani Agencies.
Alternatively you can also rent Motor Bikes in both Hunza and Gilgit for a few Euros a day.
🗺️ What to do in Hunza and Gilgit
Hunza and Gilgit are both a perfect base for trips around Gilgit-Baltistan but also amazing destination in themselves.
Baltit Fort and Altit Fort are both centuries-old structures worth exploring. The Street Markets are super colorful and an amazing opportunity if you are into Photography. The streets are full of fresh fruits like apricots, cherries, and apples, as well as handicrafts, pashmina shawls, and local baked goods.
Local Sightseeing around Hunza and Gilgit
Gilgit Baltistan might just be the most amazing destination in the world for hikers. And Hunza plus Gilgit are the perfect base for it.
Popular short hikes include the trails around Karimabad for panoramic sunrise views and the paths to Duikar village.
The Attabad Lake, formed after a landslide in 2010, is a beautiful, but slightly touristc destination where you can even rent paddle boats for a sceni ride. Another iconic site is the Hussaini Suspension Bridge. Both are only reachable with a private Driver or your own vehicle.
Khunjerab National Park & Khunjerab Pass
For a longer day trip from Hunza, Khunjerab National Park offers dramatic landscapes.
The park was established to protect the wildlife of the Karakoram Mountains, including animals like the Snow Leopard and the Himalayan Ibex. Realistically though, you’ll probably never see them since they usually roam in remote areas far away from the roads and human settlements.
You also have the opportunity to reach the Khunjerab Pass, the world’s highest border crossing between China and Pakistan. The entry fee for Khunjerab National Park is 12.500 PKR per person and you’ll need either a driver or your own vehicle to enter.
It’s absoutely possible to visit Khunjerab Pass, Hussaini Suspension Bridge, and Attabad Lake in a single day, as they all lie along the same road.
Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat Base Camp
If you have more time, a trip to Fairy Meadows might just be the best experience you can get in northern Pakistan. This remote meadow sits at the base of Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest mountain, and is accessible via the infamous Fairy Meadows Road, the second most dangerous road in the world.
At the meadows, you can stay in wooden cabins, enjoy panoramic mountain views, and hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp. It’s a bit tricky to get there, which is why most people get here with a Tour Guide. However it is absolutely doable to do this trip by yourself.
🔗 Check out my Full Guide on how to visit Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat by yourself:
Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat Base Camp Travel Guide: Road, Hike, Cost & Tips
🌐 Internet and Money In Hunza & Gilgit
Compared to remote areas in Hunza and Gilgit you should have internet connection most of the time, if you use the right Sim Card. The main provider in northern Pakistan is Special Communications Organization (SCO/SCOM), which covers most of Gilgit-Baltistan. Hotels normally have Wifi, sometimes however only for a few hours a day.
Guesthouses rely on generator or solar panels for Electricity. Depending on your guesthouse you will have electricity and hot water either just for a few hours in the morning or all day around.
ATMs and currency exchange are available in Gilgit and Karimabad (Hunza), but not all foreign cards are accepted. It’s best to bring as much cash as possible.
⛅ Best Time to Visit Hunza & Gilgit
Hunza & Gilgit are accessible all year around, however while in summer there are more tourists around, in winter many treks and roads are closed.
Spring (March – May):
Probably the best time to visit. The weather is generally pleasant in most areas, there aren’t many tourists yet and the valleys come alive with flowers and greenery.
Summer (June – August):
Summer is peak tourist season in Hunza and Gilgit. The weather is warm and sunny, roads are accessible if there is no heavy rainfall and high-altitude passes like Khunjerab are accessible. This is ideal for longer treks or visiting remote valleys.
Autumn (September – November):
Just like Spring.
Winter (December – February):
Winter brings snow to Hunza and Gilgit, with temperatures dropping below freezing. While there are barely any tourists around there is also not as much to do since many roads are closed. The weather must be amazing for photography though.
🥡 Food in Hunza & Gilgit
Hunza and Gilgit are famous for apricots, cherries, plums, and apples, which are sold in the street markets.
Baked goods are absolutely iconic too. Hunza, in particular, is renowned for honey cakes and desserts made with local dairy products like yogurt and cream. However be aware that those are actually kind of pricey. While Pakistan is generally very affordable two small slices of cake costed me over 5€, which caught me a bit by surprise. Maybe I just walked into a tourist trap though…
Other local specialties include Chapshuro, a meat- and herb-filled pastry, and yak meat dishes.
🤑 Budget Travel in Hunza & Gilgit
You can easily get around on 25€ per day if you don’t need a tour guide or have to cover long distances. In case you want to stay for a longer time, you should be able to find a local guesthouse to host you for ~300€ a month, excluding food. Transportation is also affordable.
🇵🇰 More on Pakistan
How To Visit Gilgit & Hunza In Northern Pakistan (2026) – Complete Travel Guide
Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat Base Camp Travel Guide (2026)
How To Visit Pakistan’s North in 2026 – A Complete Guide
The Ultimate Pakistan Travel Guide 2026
Is Pakistan Safe To Travel In 2026?
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Alex
Welcome off the beaten path!
I’m Alex, a 23 year old traveler who loves to explore the corners of the world, that still seem to be untouched. In this Blog I want to share my experiences with you.
