Things to do in Hunza Valley
A lot of people who visit Hunza tend to spend most of their time in their cars. The typical Hunza visit consists of seeing the forts from car parks, taking photographs at Attabad, driving to Khunjerab for a couple of hours and returning, and driving the almost 300 km with very little to show for it.
The Hunza Valley rewards the opposite attitude. If you spend time in a village, eat with the locals, and climb for an hour or just sit back and watch the changing rays of the sun on Rakaposhi, then you will have a more fulfilling experience. A list of activities you can do based on the type of day you intend to have is provided along with the estimated time it will take you to complete the activity.
Explore the Older Settlements
The most visited sites are the forts; however, these are much better appreciated with a local guide since he can explain the finer details of the wood carvings, rather than a ticket and self-exploration. Baltit Fort, which was restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, was the seat of the Mirs (Local rulers) for over 700 years, whereas Altit Fort, which is situated 20 minutes below, is around 400 years old and was also restored in 2010.
Most visitors bypass Ganish, which is the oldest settlement in the valley and consists of four ancient wooden mosques positioned in the center and surrounded by a communal open space and watch towers. The entire space is complemented by a village pond. Spending half an hour there will give you a much better idea of the old world Hunza than the forts.
Include the Haldeikish rocks, which are positioned on the main road and are carved on the boulders by the Silk Road travelers from the first millennium.
Half a day covers all of it at a comfortable pace.
Get on the water at Attabad.
Offices at Attabad Lake operate boats. Jet skis also cover the same territory. When hiring boats, do it by the boat, not by the person. Negotiate the price and the duration before getting on the boat. Wear the safety jacket. Don't hold it. The water is fed by glaciers and stays cold enough to disable a strong swimmer within a few minutes.
Early morning and the hour before sunset show the best colors and the least crowd on the jetty. During winter, shallow water arms freeze, and the whole place looks like some other planet.
Go on a walk to a Glacier.
One can stand at the snout of a Glacier in Hunza with no technical skill whatsoever. Passu Glacier Viewpoint is a short walk from the main road. The Path from Borith Lake to Passu and Ghulkin Glaciers is one of the easiest and most rewarding 0.5-day walks in the north, with the glacier at arm's length all the way and easy to follow.
Going on the glacier, however, is a different ball game. Take a guide who works these glaciers, wear boots with grip, and do not underestimate the crevasses. The Batura Glacier behind Passu village is one of the longest glaciers located outside the polar regions at 57 km, and it does not care about your photography skills.
Take a proper trek
Hunza and Nagar have some of the best high trekking in Pakistan.
Ultar Meadow, located behind Baltit Fort, is a steep half-day trek through beautiful grazing fields near Ultar Sar and Lady Finger. This is the best short trek from Karimabad, and you can return to enjoy dinner.
Rakaposhi Base Camp begins in Minapin, across the Nagar River, and requires two days and a stay at a high camp. This is the suggested route for those looking for a real Karakoram trek without having to partake in an expedition.
Patundas, which begins either at Borith or Passu, is a two- to three-day trek to a ridge from which you can view the Batura and Passu glaciers.
Rush Lake, near Hoper, is a four- to five-day trek to one of the highest alpine lakes, reaching an altitude of approximately 4,694 meters.
The seriously challenging one is Shimshal Pass, which is a multi-day trek into high pastures that the village uses for their summer animal grazing.
All of these require a licensed guide. The more challenging treks also require porters and pre-organized permits for routes that need them, along with acclimation time.
Drive to Khunjerab
The road through Khunjerab National Park to the Chinese border at 4,693 meters is one of the world’s most spectacular road trips. It centers around some of the world’s largest and most dangerous animals, including marmots, ibex, and snow leopards.
Leave extra early. You need all day to get to Karimabad and take the altitude seriously. Going from 2,500 to nearly 4,700 meters in a single morning gives a lot of people a headache (and a few people even worse). The pass closes for the season due to heavy snowfall and reopens in the spring.
Cross the Hussaini Bridge
The Hussaini Bridge belongs on every list of scariest bridges for the last decade. The bridge has swinging cables and missing planks. Don’t let the looks of the bridge fool you; it is still an unpleasant experience for those who have a fear of heights. Still, it takes 10 minutes and is totally worth the experience.
Watch the Sunrise from Duikar
The ridge above Karimabad, Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar Sar, and Lady Finger are all in perfect view from this spot, with terraced villages in the distance. Go there the night before to watch the sunrise. It will only last about 30 minutes, but it will be worth the wait. The rest of the day will be boring in comparison.
The same ridge is an excellent spot for stargazing since there really isn't any light.
Eat what the valley really eats.
Hunza’s food is a draw and worth the planning to eat. Just accept what the hotel serves at your own risk.
Chapshuro is our first pick because it comes stuffed with meat and spices and is cooked on a griddle. Dawdo is a noodle soup. Diram fitti is a sweet bread made with sprouted wheat flour. It’s a celebration bread. You will spot apricot soup and dishes with lots of walnuts in different styles through the houses that you stop by.
Our favorite apricot kernel oil is sold by the families that make it. Drink some tumuro tea that is offered to you by all the houses in that valley. Try it! Buy some walnut cake from Karimabad and take that north with you.
The best way to have everything that we have mentioned is to have it in a house. Not a restaurant, but a house. To organize home dining and cooking sessions, all you have to do is ask your good operator or guide.
It's worth buying to take home.
Karimabad Bazaar has something for everyone! Check it out for dried apricots, apricot oil, walnuts, mulberries, wool embroidery, caps, and more! Don’t forget to patronize wood, textile, and jewelry workshops in Altit. Everything is handmade and local and helps the women working there.
Be careful with gemstones. There’s no way to know if the ruby, lapis, and emeralds sold along the highway are local or even real, and there are lots of fakes. It’s better to avoid them.
Plan your visit to a season.
For a visit to see the blossom, which is as pretty as the white and pink apricot and cherry trees on the snow and bare rock terraces, visit in late March or early April.
In July and August, the valley roofs fill with apricots drying in the sun. There’s no better way to capture the valley’s “most ordinary”, yet most photogenic, event.
The last months of September and October bring the best air clarity of the year, and poplars turn to gold in the second half of October.
Winter brings snow to the forts and frozen edges to Attabad, as well as taking the rest of the visitors. The motorway to Sost remains open, whereas the rest of the hotels close, and the most pressing concern is heating.
Navroz in March and the Ginana harvest festival in the summer are community events. Check with locals because there may be events that you can attend.
Ride, cycle and fly
The Himalayan Highway in Hunza is ideal for cycle touring and motorcycle touring due to the previously difficult, but now largely improved, stretches. Should you be so inclined, you can even try tandem paragliding from the launch sites in the summer.
Before you make any of these plans, do your due diligence and confirm the company’s safety records and equipment.
Go where the road ends.
Shimshal is a quiet place sitting at 3100m and reached via a 20-year-old, narrow yet rough, jeep track. Shimshal is known for producing some of Pakistan’s premier mountaineers.
Chapursan runs to the Afghan border through the remote and sparse region of Baba Ghundi's shrine. It's as far away from the tourists as a country can get.
Both need a 4x4 and a driver who has done the road.
If you are bringing a group
Hunza works for company offsites and delegations with a few changes—fixed accommodation instead of moving it every night, and itineraries that include half days. Mountain roads take up all day, so keep one free day for last-minute changes. Anything to do with altitude, glaciers, or water should have a briefing, and people should know to take it seriously and be in a group.
How many days for what
Three nights can give everyone a chance to see the forts, go to Gojal and Attabad, and do a day trip to Khunjerab Pass, but that's it.
Five nights allow a glacier trek and a sunrise at Duikar and an extra night in Gojal instead of going all the way to Karimabad.
Seven nights or more will get you a trek or a trip to Chapursan and Shimshal.
Two nights is a trip that people regret; the long drive is not worth the short stay for views.
What to check and what to avoid
Make sure your guide is licensed and ask him which roads he personally walked over this year.
Make sure you get the duration and price of the boat, jeep, or jet ski confirmed and reserved over WhatsApp if it was booked through an operator.
When planning your trip, ask hotels whether heating is installed in their hotels, rather than enquiring about occupancy status.
Carry cash. ATMs in Aliabad and Gilgit don't work. Small guesthouses, boatmen and craft shops do not accept cards.
Do not drive mountain roads at night, and do not attempt to drive in Shimshal, Chapursan, Hoper or Borith in a saloon car.
Ask permission to take people’s pictures, especially women, and do not get offended if your request is denied.
Take your trash with you, especially along the walking routes and near the lakes, which brings an added burden to local communities.
Avoid the Eid holidays and the 14 August weekend if you want to avoid overcrowding and high prices.
Frequently asked
How much time do you need in Hunza? Three days, five for comfort, seven or more if you want to trek or go to Shimshal.
Is it ok to travel solo to Hunza? It is one of the easiest places in Pakistan to travel to, as it has a strong local tourism economy. While locals are friendly and accommodating, hire a licensed guide for off-road travel.
Do you need a permit? Not for Karimabad, Attabad, Gojal, Passu, or Khunjerab. Foreign travelers need to show their passport at check posts and pay a park fee at Khunjerab.
Is it safe to travel to Hunza in winter? Yes. The Karakoram Highway is open till Sost in winter. Fewer hotels are open; make sure to check that the heating system is working if you book a hotel.
What is the best season? For clarity and best photos, go in late September or early October; for blossoms, go in early April.
We want to assist you in developing the perfect itinerary based on your preferences and interests. Please provide your travel dates, the number of people, and your tour preference(s) from the following: heritage and food, glaciers and walking, proper trek and/or leisure travel, and the beautiful views of the mountains. We arrange hotels, transport with drivers, licensed walking guides, and, if requested, meals with hosts. Once the plans and costs have been finalized, we present them to you for approval before any bookings are made.
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Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Web: www.hospitalitytours.com.pk
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