A Guide to Beautiful Destinations
Top 10 best places to visit in Hunza and Gilgit
Most visited places in Hunza, Gilgit Pakistan
Hunza is the top tourist attraction in Pakistan. It is endorsed by worldwide magazines as one of the best places to visit. A trip to Pakistan is incomplete if this is not on your list. I have enjoyed travelling from Lahore by road towards Hunza and Gilgit via Islamabad.
There are two modes of travelling — by road and air.
If you choose to travel by air, book your tickets in advance. PIA operates flights between Islamabad and Gilgit.
There are normally two flights per day heavily dependent on the weather conditions. During summer, which is the peak season, it gets difficult to reserve a seat even 20–30 days in advance.
But if you do manage to get tickets, get ready to have the ride of a lifetime. Once onboard, the 70-seater ATR takes you through the beautiful mountains.
And the best part?
You get a complete view of the Nanga Parbat — the ‘killer mountain’ — before you land at Gilgit Airport.
If you choose to travel by road, you can either take the bus or book a private car. The tickets are fairly cheaper compared to air travel, but travel time can vary somewhere between 14 to 18 hours by road.
If you love adventure and long drives, then this option is for you. You get to enjoy the most beautiful views of nature including famous Naran, Kaghan valley and Babusur top.
If you want an even cheaper option, then choose one of the bus services. The oldest service in the area is the Natco, followed by Faisal Movers.
Once you reach Gilgit, there are several buses and taxis available.
Travelling time from Gilgit Airport to Karimabad town in Hunza Valley these days is somewhere around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Usually, most people stay in Karimabad but now there are several hotels elsewhere. There are some excellent options in Aliabad town such as The2Magpies. You can also choose to stay in hotels near Attabad Lake such as Luxushunza.
It is important to plan your days according to the places you decide to visit.
Here are the most sought-after and must-visit top best places in Hunza and Gilgit.
1. Khunjerab Pass ‘Sust Border’
Why visit the Khunjerab Pass? It is one of the world’s most beautiful natural borders. It has gorgeous scenic mountain views and lush green pastures. Sust is the last town before the trip towards the border. It is best to leave early in the morning if you plan to reach the border and come back the same day.
This border between China and Pakistan is at a height of approximately 15,397 ft. Some people experience breathing difficulty due to extreme height. So, take all precautionary measures before embarking on this journey.
The best time to visit is from April till September depending on weather conditions.
The temperature drops and changes frequently once you reach the top. Keeping warm clothes is a must. Identification documents are necessary. Different check posts from ‘sust’ town to the border need the details of the passengers along with the entry fee. Dedicate one complete day for this trip.
2. Baltit Fort
Baltit Fort is situated in Karimabad.
Karimabad town (old name Baltit) was once the capital ruled by the Mirs of the Hunza valley. The Baltit Fort is on UNESCO World Heritage and is said to be more than 700 years old.
It is unlike any other fort in the world. It shows the unique lifestyle of the ancient Hunza Valley. This is an excellent place to visit along with friends and family. The fort sheds light on the history of the area.
There are certain allowed times to visit the fort along with a nominal entrance fee. Wear some good walking shoes to walk uphill to this fort. The view of the surrounding valley from the fort is definitely worth all the effort.
3. Altit Fort
Altit Fort is in Altit town a few kilometers away from Karimabad. It is a similar fort with a stunning view of the Hunza River from one side of the fort. The rulers of Hunza Valley used to live in this fort before the Baltit Fort. It is best to plan a visit to both forts on the same day.
4. Attabad Lake
The beautiful Attabad lake is located alongside the Karakoram highway. As beautiful as the lake looks, it has a sad tragedy attached to it.
The lake was made after a deadly land-sliding in 2010, killing over a dozen people and leaving hundreds homeless as it inundated an entire village under water.
This crisis left behind a beautiful lake in the region. Years on, people continue visiting the region to see the lake. Whether you are staying in Aliabad or Karimabad, keep time for an hour’s drive.
There are a few hotels located on the lake as well. Jet skiing and boating are the exciting activities available. It’s usually very windy and the water is ice cold. Best to plan within daylight to enjoy the breathtaking view.
5. Borith Lake & Batura Glacier view
Borith Lake is an ideal place to visit. Spend a few days in peace and quiet away from the traffic and people.
It is a sanctuary for migrating wild bird life. In ancient times, it was a private getaway and hunting place for the rulers of Hunza.
This place is ideal for bird watchers and nature lovers. Located in Gulmit, the road leading to this lake is curvy and not easy to drive. Staying overnight or going back to your hotel are both options.
If you are also up for more adventure, there is an excellent trek towards Batura Glacier from Borith Lake. You can trek to view the glacier and go back the same day.
6. Hussaini Suspension Bridge
Approximately an hour's drive away from Karimabad is the famous Hussaini Suspension Bridge.
This place offers thrill and adventure. Crossing this bridge will satisfy your appetite for adventure.
It is one of the most dangerous bridges across the Hunza River. Although it was built years ago, it has gained attraction with the influx of tourists in the recent past.
7. Passu Cones
The famous mountain range called Passu Cones is approximately 1.5-hour drive from Karimabad Hunza, right next to Hussain village. The beautiful mountains are famous for their scenic beauty.
8. Rakaposhi basecamp and Taga Phari campsite
If you want a bit of a challenging trek, then this is an excellent option. It is one of the most famous trekking routes in Pakistan.
It is approximately 73 km from Gilgit to Minapin village in Nagar valley. After a little detour from the Karakorum, the starting point for the trek is the Minapin village. From Minapin the trek is easy, however, a little tricky and a bit of a zig-zag as you ascend towards the top.
This is a 4–5 hours beautiful trek with an amazing glacier view on one side along with green pastures. The occasional shepherds on the way are a pleasant surprise to guide you to the campsite in case you get confused.
After reaching the camping site Taga Phari, it is best to enjoy the rest of the day and stay overnight. Next day you can plan further towards the Rakaposhi base camp. Recommended only if you are an experienced trekker with prior experience of crossing glaciers.
9. Naltar valley
Naltar Valley is a beautiful place to stay in summer. Naltar Valley is about 34 km from Gilgit City. Naltar Valley is famous for its beautiful lakes. You can stay in a hotel and trek to these lakes during the day.
In winter, Naltar is famous for skiing. If you are a pro and enjoy snow skiing, Naltar is your destination. You can book a jeep from Gilgit to Naltar Valley. The jeep charges for Naltar Valley start from PKR 25,000.
The best option is to start early in the morning. It is a quick trip with your family to Naltar Valley and back to Gilgit city. Nature has its best views to offer on the road trip to Naltar Valley.
10. Phander Valley
This gorgeous valley is approx 5 hours away from Gilgit city Located in Ghizer district. Phander has beautiful lakes and green pastures. The gorgeous valley has nature’s best views with people calling it heaven on earth. You get to see breathtaking blue river water while driving towards the valley. You can book yourself into a local hotel or camp overnight with friends and family.
Ready to plan your trip?
After landing in Gilgit, the best itinerary is to move towards Hunza Valley and stay in Aliabad or Karimabad.
Once in Hunza, you can easily visit the Khunjerab Pass ‘Sost Border’, the Baltit and Altit Forts, Attabad Lake, Borith Lake, Passu Cones and Hussaini Suspension Bridge. Keep one separate day for the Rakaposhi base camp.
Once all places are done, head back to Gilgit city. You can plan your visit to Naltar and Phander Valley then.
You will have lots of beautiful memories by the end of your trip. And, thousands of pictures to cherish forever.
Hi, I am Rubina. Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this article, try these next :)
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