PK
Hunza Valley
Ancient forts and turquoise lakes below the Karakoram
Ancient forts and turquoise lakes below the Karakoram
⚠️ Travel advisory: check before you go
Governments advise against travel to parts of Pakistan, including areas near the Afghan border and much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and the US asks travellers to reconsider travel to the country. The main cities and Gilgit-Baltistan see regular visitors; check route-specific advice.
Latest official advice: UK FCDO · US State Department · Reviewed September 2026
Perched above Karimabad, this 700-year-old fort of the Hunza rulers commands the valley, its restored rooms and balconies offering history and jaw-dropping mountain views.
Take the guided tour and step onto the balcony for the panorama.
Formed by a landslide in 2010, this astonishing turquoise lake fills the valley floor, its unreal blue water offering boat rides against a backdrop of towering peaks.
Take a boat trip for the full effect of the vivid blue water.
The saw-toothed spires of the Passu Cones (Tupopdan) rise in perfect jagged pyramids above the highway, one of the most photographed mountain silhouettes in Pakistan.
The Hussaini suspension bridge nearby is a thrilling stop.
The 7,788-metre giant Rakaposhi soars almost directly above the valley; a roadside viewpoint and cafe let you sip tea with the glacier and summit filling the sky.
The Rakaposhi View Point cafe has cherry soup and the best angle.
A viewpoint above Duikar village offers the valley’s most famous panorama, with sunrise and sunset lighting up a ring of Karakoram peaks around Karimabad.
Go for sunrise when the peaks turn gold, one by one.
Hunza’s food is simple, filling mountain fare. Try chapshuro (a meat-filled flatbread), diram fitti (a sweet wheat dish with apricot oil) and warming noodle soups. Apricots are everywhere: dried, as oil, in cakes and as juice, alongside walnuts, mulberries and cherries in season.
Most meals are eaten at guesthouses, many of which cook to order with valley views. Karimabad has small cafés known for walnut and apricot cake, and roadside stops serve chai and parathas. Hunza is conservative and alcohol is not widely available.
There are two main routes. Flights from Islamabad to Gilgit take about an hour but depend on the weather and are often cancelled; from Gilgit, Karimabad is roughly two to three hours by road. The alternative is the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad, a spectacular but long drive of at least 14 hours, usually split over two days. Within the valley, shared vans, hired jeeps and taxis link Karimabad, Attabad Lake and Passu.
Hunza is inexpensive, although transport is the biggest cost because distances are long. Figures are per person per day in US dollars, excluding flights.
Guesthouses often include dinner, which saves both money and hassle.
Hiring a car and driver for several days is cheaper per day than booking single trips.
Build a buffer day into any itinerary that relies on flights to Gilgit.
Three days in the valley covers the forts, Attabad Lake and the Passu Cones. Allow extra time for the journey in.
Tour the restored Baltit Fort and older Altit Fort, then walk the terraced lanes of Karimabad and watch the sunset light up the peaks.
Guided tours of Baltit Fort run through the day and are included in the entry fee.
Drive north along the Karakoram Highway to turquoise Attabad Lake, formed by a 2010 landslide, then continue to the Passu Cones and the suspension bridges near Hussaini.
The Hussaini bridge is thrilling but wobbly; take your time and cross one at a time.
Rise early for sunrise at the Eagle’s Nest viewpoint above Duikar, then stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint on the way south.
Pack a warm layer: mornings are cold at altitude, even in summer.
Conditions vary across Pakistan; the northern areas are a major tourist draw, but check current advisories and road conditions.
Hunza is reached by a long drive on the Karakoram Highway or a flight to Gilgit; allow buffer days for weather.
Even in summer nights are cold at altitude; bring warm clothing and sun protection.
ATMs are scarce and unreliable in the valley; carry enough rupees for your whole stay.
Quick answers for planning a trip to the Hunza Valley.
April to October. Spring brings blossom and autumn brings golden colours.
Fly to Gilgit from Islamabad (weather permitting) and drive on, or travel the Karakoram Highway by road, which takes a long day or more.
Baltit and Altit forts, Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones, Rakaposhi views and Eagle's Nest.
Three days is a minimum, and longer if you drive the Karakoram Highway.
Download the Hunza Valley area for offline navigation, walking directions and public transport routes.
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Planning a wider trip? Our Pakistan travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.