Last Updated on: 25th March 2026, 11:33 pm
Northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan territory is home to some of Asia’s most striking mountain scenery. And the Hunza Valley is one of the easiest places to experience its dramatic landscapes from up close. But Hunza’s highlights aren’t just scenic – they’re also historical.
Not long ago, Hunza was an independent kingdom, positioned at a strategic crossroads between Xinjiang, China and the Wakhan Corridor. That geography has shaped the region for centuries. And even today, it still feels like a frontier.
In the following guide to the top things to do in the Hunza Valley, we’ll be covering what to do with around three full days in the area. Note that this guide lacks any strenuous hikes, as the popular hike to the Ultar Glacier was inaccessible due to trail damage at the time of my visit.
For more information on reaching the Hunza Valley and the best places to stay, be sure to check the end of the article.
Top Things to Do in The Hunza Valley
Altit Fort
Altit Fort is walkable from central Karimabad – the Hunza Valley’s main tourist hub – in roughly 15-20 minutes. You can also take a taxi, but the scenery along the way is spectacular and worth taking in at a slow pace.
Though you’ll spot the fort from a distance, it’s surprisingly tricky to find once you’re close. You’ll have to turn down a specific nondescript alleyway to reach the entrance, but locals should be able to point out the way.
At the time of writing, entry costs PKR 1600 for foreigners, while the fort is open daily from 9:00-18:00 in summer, or from 9:00-16:30 in winter months.
Altit Fort predates its slightly more famous neighbor, Baltit Fort. But this was the original seat of power for the Mirs of the Ayasho Dynasty, the hereditary rulers of Hunza.
Interestingly, the dynasty was of the Burusho ethnic group and spoke Burushaski, a language unrelated to any other known language in the world.
Inside, the refurbished rooms show how the fort looked in its prime – complete with period furnishings and traditional Hunza architecture. Visitors are given the option to tour the fort with a guide, but I opted to explore on my own.
While the fort’s rooms are indeed interesting, the real highlight here is the stunning views of the surrounding Hunza Valley. You can take them in from various windows, balconies, and later, the rooftop.
The top of the fort is home to the Shikari Tower, the fort’s oldest section. It’s believed to date back to the 9th century AD, making it Karimabad’s oldest surviving structure.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Karimabad during clear weather, take advantage of it. Finished with the fort, I walked around the town’s outskirts to take in views of Rakaposhi and the towering Ultar Mountain (7,388 m) from various angles.
But for much of the remainder of my stay, I’d have to deal with gloomy weather that obscured some of the surrounding mountains.
Baltit Fort
Baltit Fort overlooks all of Karimabad from one of the town’s highest points. As you make the steep walk up, you catch impressive views of the fort with Ultar Mountain rising dramatically above in the background. The entire town looks miniature in comparison!
Given Karimabad’s elevation of 2500 m above sea level, expect to be a bit out of breath by the time you reach the fort’s entrance.
Entry to Baltit Fort costs PKR 2,000 PKR for foreigners, and the fort is open daily from around 9:00-17:00.
Though the signage outside mentions free guide services, I wasn’t offered one during my visit. In any case, I usually prefer to explore independently.
The fort was founded in the 8th century AD and later renovated in the 13th century. And then the British made some modifications during their colonial rule.
Baltit Fort is now jointly managed by the Baltit Heritage Trust and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which carried out major conservation efforts in the 1990s.
The architecture shows clear influence from Ladakh and Tibet to the east, with the design bearing resemblance to Lhasa’s Potala Palace.
The three-story fort is built around a central courtyard with rooms radiating outward. The ground floor was used for storage, while the upper floors served as living quarters and reception areas.
In the main reception hall, you’ll find elaborately carved wooden columns, and hunting trophies lining the walls. And the Mir’s summer bedroom features intricate door carvings, colored glass windows, and historical documents displayed on the walls.
The top floor opens onto a terrace with a royal throne under a beautiful Mughal-style wooden canopy. This is where the Mir would meet with villagers and hold public events.
The views from up here are excellent, with the entire Hunza Valley spread out below and with the Ultar Glacier visible in the distance. But the Ayasho Dynasty would eventually abandon the fort in 1945.
Eagle's Nest
Eagle’s Nest is the name of a vantage point that sits 700 meters above the valley floor. Those staying in central Karimabad can hire a driver or make the hike up on foot. Or, you can splurge on the Eagle’s Nest Hotel to see the view daily!
Note that the main viewing area is right beside a solar plant. Confusingly, the ‘No Entry’ signs are posted in the area refers to the plant itself, but you are indeed allowed to walk up to the boulder-strewn area beyond for the best views.
On a clear day, the viewpoint supposedly offers views of no less than 11 different mountain peaks. Among them are Rakaposhi, Ultar Peak, Golden Peak, Diran Peak, and Lady Finger.
Unfortunately, I could barely see them due to gloomy and hazy weather. But I did manage to spot Baltit and Altit forts down below, along with the Hunza-Nagar river junction.
The forecast called for continued cloud cover for the rest of the week, so I actually cut my Karimabad stay short. The area sadly just doesn’t do itself justice in weather like this.
A Visit to Passu
If you could only do one excursion during your stay in the Hunza Valley, a day trip to Passu should be your top priority. We’ve already covered what such a trip entails in a dedicated guide, so we’ll only be providing a brief overview here.
One of the first highlights you’ll encounter is Attabad Lake. Today, it attracts visitors due to the beautiful turquoise hue of its water. But it was actually formed as a result of a tragic landslide that occurred as recently as 2010.
One of the most prominent symbols of Passu – and arguably Gilgit-Baltistan as a whole – is its suspension bridge hovering over the Hunza River. Visitors can pay a small fee to walk across it, though the large gaps in the planks mean you’ll have to watch every step.
There are actually two very similar bridges: the Hussaini Suspension Bridge and the Passu Suspension Bridge, with the images here depicting the former.
The Passu Cones are the area’s most well-known natural formation, and are visible from much of the valley. They’re natural jagged spires in the Karakoram Range, formed over millennia as water and ice gradually shaped the sedimentary rock.
Other highlights in the region, meanwhile, include the Passu Glacier and the Rainbow Bridge. And if you travel a couple of hours north, you’ll reach the Khunjerab Pass, home to the world’s highest border crossing.
Sacred Rocks of Ganish
The Sacred Rocks of Ganish sit right along the Karakoram Highway, so you’ll pass them on the way to Passu. They’re commonly included as a stop on day tours heading north from Karimabad.
Known locally as Haldeikis, or ‘the place of many ibex,’ the rocks are covered in carvings of the ibexes and various other animals.
The exact reason is unclear. It may have been a way for locals to keep track of the animals, or perhaps a message to passing Silk Road travelers that ibexes were plentiful in the area and that the hunting was good.
There’s also a local legend of an ancient local ruler who feasted on baby goats (or perhaps ibex?) daily. And upon tasting the delicious meat of an animal that had been given human milk, he developed a taste for human babies! But eventually, he was overthrown.
The series of carvings stretches roughly 180 meters along the rock face. But it’s not just animals.
The rocks are covered in ancient inscriptions in Kharoshti, Brahmi, Bactrian, and Sogdian scripts – evidence of what a crossroads the Hunza Valley was during the Silk Road era.
Some of the inscriptions even name major historical figures. For example, Gondophares, the Indo-Parthian king who ruled from Taxila (19-46 AD), is mentioned, and so is Kanishka the Great (c. 127–150 AD) of the Kushan Empire.
One inscription references Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire with a date corresponding to 419 AD. According to the Sogdian inscription, Chandragupta’s general overthrew the local ruler of Hunza during a military campaign.
Sadly, many of the original inscriptions were removed or damaged during construction of the adjacent Karakoram Highway and dam projects. Nevertheless, it’s still a fascinating site for ancient history enthusiasts.
The Ganish Settlement
Nearby the Sacred Rock is the Ganish Settlement, a small historical village. Entry costs 500 PKR and includes a guided tour. The site is open 9:00-18:00.
By the entrance, there’s normally a large pool – part of the original settlement’s water system – but it was under renovation during my visit.
In any case, according to my guide, the road running alongside it is said to be the actual Silk Road route that once passed through here. (Of course, there wasn’t just a single Silk Road).
The village contains 39 houses dating back to the 15th century, making it roughly 1,000 years old and the oldest settlement in the Hunza Valley.
Today, the area is quite dilapidated but interesting nonetheless. Multiple tiny wooden mosques are scattered throughout, each belonging to different clans.
The four ancient Shi’a mosques are 300-400 years old and feature beautiful and intricate wood carvings. And they’re still active even to this day.
All in all, the Ganish Settlement is worth a visit, but not as essential as Altit or Baltit Fort for those short on time. It is, however, close to the Sacred Rocks of Ganish, so you can easily squeeze it in following a visit to Passu.
Coming here after a trip to the Hopar Glacier is also a possibility.
The Hopar Glacier
On my final day in Karimabad, I hired a driver through my hotel to visit Hoper Glacier, along with some additional stops before and after. The cost was around PKR 9500 in total, but fortunately I was able to split the cost with another guest at my hotel.
The first stop we made was at the confluence of the Hunza and Nagar rivers. Interestingly, this area is also home to a lot of gold panning activity.
Hopar is located about 22 kilometers from Karimabad. It’s a bumpy ride that takes about an hour each way, though still manageable in a sedan.
Notably, Hopar Glacier is actually situated in the Nagar Valley and not in Hunza. Nevertheless, we’re including it in this guide since it’s still an easy day trip from Karimabad or Aliabad.
As we entered the area, I noticed examples of pro-Iran graffiti scrawled on numerous buildings. Notably, Gilgit-Baltistan is predominantly Shi’a in contrast to Pakistan’s Sunni majority.
Arriving in the glacier area, it was surprisingly developed, with gem shops and small cafes clustered around multiple viewpoints.
First, we walked up to view the glacier from above, and it’s around here that I had chapshuro at one of the cafes – a local delicacy comprised of dough and minced meat.
Hopar Glacier is a bit unique in the sense that to get closer to it, you walk down rather than up. So when finished with eating, we followed a descending trail that eventually takes one right beside the glacier. The glacier originates from Bawalter Peak at 7,126 meters high.
Hopar Glacier is massive, stretching out to over 30 kilometers long and covering approximately 100 square kilometers. It’s also a ‘black glacier,’ covered in mud and debris from surrounding moraines. It only turns white when fresh snow falls.
Incredibly, it’s the second-fastest-moving glacier in the world (after one in Alaska), shifting 4-6 inches per day. And if you stand and listen carefully, you’ll hear crackling sounds as the ice gradually shifts.
As mentioned earlier, gloomy weather persisted for much of my trip and ruined a lot of the region’s scenic vantage points. But here, I’d say the clouds actually added to the ambience. The dark glacier under grey skies felt appropriately dramatic.
Some people visit Hoper as a starting point for the multi-day hike to Rush Lake, which sits at an altitude of 4,694 meters. It’s one of the highest alpine lakes in the world and the second-highest in South Asia.
But I think the glacier is worth visiting as a destination in its own right for those staying in Karimabad.
Before leaving, I had a look at the various gem sellers set up around the area. Jade and lapis lazuli were being sold in abundance for very reasonable prices. And though I always hesitate to purchase items as a nomad, I couldn’t resist walking away with a small piece of polished jade.
Additional Info
Most visitors to the Hunza Valley will either be basing themselves in Karimabad or Aliabad – a short drive away from one another.
If you’re coming from Islamabad, you have two options: plane or bus. Those intent on flying will first have to take a plane to the city of Gilgit. And from there, it’s about a two to three hour-ride to Aliabad. Plenty of shared minivans as well as coach buses make the journey, as it’s just along the Karakoram Highway.
Most routes will culminate in Aliabad, but you can then take a shared or private taxi to get to Karimabad from there.
But what about the bus from Islamabad? Specifically, the bus departs from Rawalpindi, the bustling city just south of the capital. And you can buy tickets to ‘Hunza,’ which really just means Aliabad.
The journey can last anywhere from around 18-24 hours! And that’s if there are no major incidents, such as landslides or traffic jams, along the way.
The plane from Islamabad to Gilgit, meanwhile, takes just one hour. So why even consider such a grueling bus ride?
One simple reason is cost. Flights can cost up to $90 one-way, while the bus ride costs roughly $20.
But another reason is reliability. Flights frequently get cancelled or delayed due to weather or visibility issues. Therefore, if you have limited time in the region, it can be very hard to make concrete plans knowing that your flight may repeatedly get delayed.
In my case, I already had plans to take the bus both ways. But during my trip, a brief war between India and Pakistan happened to break out, and all flights were cancelled for a couple of weeks!
The buses, on the other hand, were running daily as scheduled. So, in contrast to numerous stranded travelers that I met, my plans didn’t get interrupted at all.
Let’s talk more about the bus ride. There’s no way to sugarcoat it – this ride really, really sucks. But it is a way to travel over 600 km for next to nothing, while you’re bound to meet friendly locals during the journey.
Most bus companies weren’t even accepting foreign passengers at the time of my visit, leaving NATCO, a state-run bus company, as the only option. Unfortunately, a lot of NATCO buses (but not all) are in pretty bad shape.
In my case, aside from the general discomfort of sitting in a cramped bus for so long, the ride mostly went as planned. But if you’re traveling shortly after heavy rain, landslides may delay the journey tremendously.
Another important thing to be aware of is the security situation. There are a lot of security measures in place to keep tourists safe, especially in the province of KPK, through which this bus passes as it travels along the Karakoram Highway.
Before your journey, you must prepare around 15 photocopies (or even more if you can) of both your passport and Pakistani visa. You’ll give these to the driver as the trip starts, and he’ll then pass a copy to police or security personnel at various checkpoints along the way. Fortunately, this means you won’t have to get woken up by the guards.
(Pakistan doesn’t really do centralized digital databases, so oftentimes these officers are just snapping a photo of your papers with their phone and then distributing it to a WhatsApp group with other officers!)
For the record, I felt completely safe while in Pakistan, and a lot of these practices are just extra precautions to keep foreign tourists safe.
If you’re a Chinese national, however, there are extra security precautions in place for you. I don’t have the updated information, so please look that up on your own.
All in all, the best way to get the latest information is to follow various Pakistan travel-oriented groups on Facebook.
Though Aliabad may be the region’s main transport hub, there’s a reason that most tourists prefer to stay in neighboring Karimabad instead. Karimabad is more charming, laidback, and is home to numerous historical sites and scenic viewpoints.
It also has plenty of tourism infrastructure, though it may be too touristy for some people’s tastes.
As a budget traveler, I had a great stay at Tourist Cottage Hunza. It was a bit outside the touristy center, but still walkable to numerous restaurants and even the forts. Furthermore, the staff were very helpful and set me up with affordable drivers to Passu and Hopar Glacier. And the view from just outside my room was spectacular.
Popular midrange options, meanwhile, include The Jade Palace and Razhek.
For those able to splurge, the views from Eagle’s Nest Hotel simply cannot be beat. And the Hunza Darbar Hotel is another famous luxury option.
As mentioned, the guide doesn’t feature any strenuous hikes. But if that’s mainly what you’re interested in, consider booking a Hunza hiking tour. This 10-day tour, for example, takes you from Islamabad to Gilgit-Baltistan and back in the company of an expert guide.
Note that even if you already have a Pakistani SIM card, it’s probably not going to work in Gilgit-Baltistan. But there is a dedicated telecom company operating in the territory known as SCOM.
It’s easy enough to obtain a SIM card there upon your arrival – even as a foreign tourist. As I obtained mine in Skardu, I’m not sure exactly where to find one in Gilgit. But you’ll probably need to go to the MAIN office and not a branch, as not all offices can sell SIM cards to foreigners. (Most locals don’t realize this and may direct you to the wrong shop.)
In any case, you’ll definitely want to download Gilgit-Baltistan maps for offline use in advance of your trip.
The autonomous territory of Gilgit-Baltistan is part of the broader Kashmir region, which, before the Partition of 1947, was part of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Today, Gilgit-Baltistan is controlled by Pakistan and can only be entered from within Pakistan or via the land border with China. While we won’t be getting into politics here, many maps of India include Gilgit-Baltistan in its territory, which can make trip research especially confusing.
Pakistan actually controls two Kashmiri territories, the other being Azad Kashmir. To make matters even more confusing, when many Pakistanis use the word ‘Kashmir,’ they’re often specifically referring to Azad Kashmir – not the entire region.
As its name suggests, Gilgit-Baltistan consists of two main divisions. Skardu is the capital of the Baltistan division, and the city of Gilgit is the capital of the broader Gilgit division (and also of the entire Gilgit-Baltistan territory).
Accordingly, these are the two main transport hubs of the region. You can find direct buses from Islamabad to both cities, while both Skardu and Gilgit are home to the region’s airports.
But though Gilgit may have plenty of hotel and shopping options, it should only really be thought of as a place to pass through. Skardu, on the other hand, is also a destination in its own right, with plenty to do around the area.
Another must-visit destination in Gilgit-Baltistan, meanwhile, is the Hunza Valley, with its main hubs being Karimabad and Aliabad. Part of the Gilgit division, that region is a lot closer to Gilgit than it is to Skardu.
Check out our upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan itinerary guide to learn more about how to both get around and plan your time in the region.