Places to Visit in Hunza Valley
When it comes to the best places to visit in Pakistan, Hunza is probably the first name that comes to every traveler’s mind. There are no two ways about it that this place is so magical and sure to steal everyone’s heart. Located in the remote northern part of the country, it is a massive district of Gilgit Baltistan, divided into two parts, i.e., Lower Hunza and Upper Hunza. The famous Karimabad, Altit, Mayoon, Hussainabad, and Aliabad are part of Lower Hunza, while you will find Passu Cones, Attabad Lake, Gulmit Village, and Ghulkin Village in Upper Hunza.
From the iconic Karakorum Highway to Passu Cones and scenic Attabad Lake to historic Altit Fort, Hunza is blessed with many beautiful places. Here are some of the best places to visit in Hunza Valley to spend time in nature and get a feeling of a slower pace of life. Grab your notebook, as you may want to write these down to create a summer holiday bucket list!
If you want to see the views of Rakaposhi Mountain, the Karakoram Highway, Central Hunza, and Spantik Peak from a single viewpoint, there is no better place in Hunza than Eagle Nest Viewpoint. This enchanting viewpoint is located in the village of Duiker, which offers unreal views, especially at sunrise and sunset. Head to this place around golden hours and witness the most epic sunsets, but it can get crowded at that time, especially in summer. So, if you want to avoid crowds, visit this viewpoint at sunrise.
Its name came from a luxury hotel nearby, but tourists can drive up to Eagle Nest Viewpoint without going there. Its entry fee is free and can be accessed at any time of the day. Duikar Village is high up, and it takes several hours to reach this viewpoint from the zero point of Karimabad, as it is a pretty steep hike. You can hire a taxi or get there in your own car. Visiting this place in April or November is the best time because it sees a fraction of the visitors in these months, and you can enjoy the sunset without the crowds.
Duiker Village, Hunza
30 minute drive or 2 hours walk from Karimabad
Astonishing views of sunset and sunrise
Do you want to experience walking on a suspension bridge that swings with the wind? If you are an adventure seeker, you must not miss walking on the Hussaini Suspension Bridge, which offers the same experience. It is an old suspension bridge in Hunza, which is known as the world’s most dangerous bridge. This rope bridge connects the Hussaini Village to a small agricultural hamlet named Zar Abad on the other side of the Hunza River. It spans across Borith Lake, which is surrounded by towering mountains, making it a highly sought-after tourist attraction in Hunza.
Some wooden planks are missing, and strong winds shake this hanging bridge, making it a great adventure to cross. So, if you want to test your nerves, there is no better way to cross the Hussaini Bridge in the Upper Hunza. Tourists can enjoy the stunning views of Passu Cones in the background. It might look dangerous, but it is a relatively safe bridge. You can access the bridge via a short trek from the main road. The ticket price for visiting this narrow wooden bridge is 200 Pakistani rupees. You will find cherry juice outlets and dry fruit stalls around this place. Don’t forget to try fresh juice and a handful of dry fruits that local farmers cultivate.
Hussaini Village, Hunza
Around 45 km from Aliabad Hunza or a 40-minute hike from Passu
Walk across the precarious robe bridge, views of Passu cones, zip line at Hussaini Bridge, hiking or nature walk
Karimabad is Hunza’s capital, named after the Ismaili spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan. The majestic Baltit Fort is also located near the town of Karimabad. This modern village is set against the backdrop of one of the world’s magnificent pyramids, Rakaposhi, and is surrounded by glaciers like Ulter. Around a 4 to 5-hour hike from Baltit takes you to this Ultar glacier, which is a Source of fresh water. Karimabad can be accessed by a hill road leading from Gilgit City. If you want to see the hilltop view of Hunza, you can go to Duikar, which is less than a one-hour drive from this town.
The local Bazar of Krimabad is a great place to shop local articraft, souvenirs, carpets, jewelry, and textiles. Souvenirs include Hunza caps and wool textiles. Also, don’t forget to buy local dried fruits, jams, honey, and nuts here. Karimabad also features small coffee shops, which are uncommon in this region. Coffee is usually served with cake or specialty sweets. You can also relish local food at the women-owned small food pavilions.
Central Hunza
More than a 2-hour drive from Gilgit via Karakoram Highway
Shop at Karimabad Bazaar, take a Baltit Fort tour, and trek the Ultar glacier, enjoy local food and views of Hunza from Duikar village.
Read Also: Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Kalam Valley
If you want to witness the architectural masterpieces of ancient times, then you should visit Altit Fort. This fort is over 700 years old and located in the Altit Village. The Mirs of Hunza used to live here before they moved to Baltit Fort. This fort now serves as a Museum. This centuries-old fort features a stunning interior, and tourists can get captivating views of the Hunza River from the outside of this fort. The entry ticket to visit this place is 500 PKR for local tourists and 1200 PKR for foreign tourists. Entry to this oldest monument includes history and conversation lessons about the fort and a tour.
Altit town, Hunza
10-minute drive from Karimabad via Karimabad Road and Sultan Abad Road
700 years old fort visit, Museum and Culture Centre
Another one of the best historical places in Pakistan is Baltit Fort, which is located near the town of Karimabad. For years, it was the residence of Mirs of Hunza, and the history of this fort dates back to the 8th century CE. This white fort is still standing tall, and a visit to this fort gives you an in-depth look into Hunza’s ancient history and the importance of this small town. If you are in Karimabad, beginning your trip from Baltit Fort tour for beautiful views of Karimabad is a great idea. Enjoying delicious meals at the top and folk performances while visiting this ancient fort is the best thing to do. Visitors need to pay a small entry fee to visit this fort, and it opens for the public between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm.
Near the town of Karimabad, Hunza
Short walk from Karimabad
Fort’s beautiful wood carvings, local antiques displayed at the fort, Spantik view from the fort, Ultar Peak towers above the fort, and dance with traditional music at the fort.
It would be unjust to talk about the most popular places in Hunza and leave Attabad Lake out of the list. It is undoubtedly the icon of Hunza and one of the most famous places to visit. The serenity, calmness, and tranquility that this shining turquoise lake provides are to die for. This lake, with calm turquoise water, is located alongside the iconic Karakoram Highway before the Shishkat Village. This 13-mile-long and 358-foot-deep lake emerged as a tourist attraction after a catastrophic landslide in 2010. The narrower part of this blue lake starts before the Karakoram Highway tunnels.
Attabad Lake offers plenty of things to do to enjoy its beauty.
Tourists can hike to the viewpoint for its scenes and in the nearby mountains, enjoy a delicious meal in front of the lake, go on a boat ride, or go jet skiing. Several meadows surround this lake. Tourists can get stunning views of Attabad Lake from there.
Gojal
It is 30 to 40 km from Karimabad and takes 1 to 2 hours by car, depending on road conditions.
Jet-skiing, hiking in the nearby mountains and to a viewpoint, Lake Boating, stay overnight at a nearby campsite.
Khunjerab Pass is the high-altitude Pakistan-China border located at the edge of the Hunza district. This last destination to visit in Hunza is far from the central Hunza, and it takes around 3 hours by road to get there. It is recognized as the world’s highest land border, which connects Pakistan with China. The most exciting part of visiting this most sought-after place in Pakistan is the drive through the Khunjerab National Park, which is really scenic.
This park is located at 4,733 meters altitude, and the views are epic as you enter it. Seeing Himalayan yak grazing on the roadside and herds of marmots and ibex are common views at Khunjerab National Park. This park is a nature reserve where you can only drive through. Walking through this park is not allowed. The entry ticket fee is 100 rupees for locals and $10 for foreign tourists. Tourists can enjoy yak riding, get a piping hot cup of tea from tea trucks, take photographs, and enjoy the feeling of being on the roof of the world.
Northern border of Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza.
4-hour drive from Karimabad
Sightseeing, Yak riding, Wildlife viewing
Read Also: Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Skardu Valley
Gulmit is a centuries-old historic village in the Hunza Valley where stunning views, the kindest people, and delicious food await you. There is a fertile plateau with irrigated fields where fruits and grains are cultivated, including apples, apricots, wheat, maize, and more. Ghulkin is a small village adjacent to Gulmit. Both seem a bit far away from the main road, but they are connected through the backroads. Gulmit is a part of Upper Hunza and serves as the headquarters of the Gojal sub-division. It is known for its historical sites, museums, and mountainous beauty. One notable tourist spot is Ondara Poygah, the old fort in Gulmit, which has now been converted into a hike and offers sweeping views of the valley below.
Unlike other places in Hunza, Gulmit offers several cultural spots that give a deeper look into the local culture. Besides its cultural and historical tourist attractions, it provides opportunities for viewpoints from its hilly roads. This village also has polo ground and the old Summer Palace of Mir of Hunza. You can even see glimpses of the mighty Passu Cathedral or the Passu Cones from the iconic Gulmit-Shishkat Bridge. Gulmit offers a breathtaking long walk across the Ghulkin Glacier to Borith Lake. Climbing the stone steps of Ondara Poygah to the Ondara Fort, enjoying breathtaking short walks to Gulkin, Andhra, and Kamris, and visiting the carpet-making factory run by women are some of the best things to do in this picturesque village.
Upper Hunza
It takes more than one hour from Karimabad by car via Karakoram Highway (N-35)
Ondara Fort visit, fishing on the Hunza River, Boating on Borith Lake, local food
One of the most off-beat valleys in the Hunza is Misgar, which is strategically important due to its proximity to the neighboring country, China. It is located near the famous Chapursan Valley, making it a great next stop when you visit Chapursan Valley. This remote valley lies between Mintakapass and Kilik Pass, which were the two main historical access points along the Old Silk Route for trade. These passes lead to the Tarim Basin in China. Misgar also shares a border with Afghanistan, and Wakhan Corridor is a few hundred kilometers away from this valley.
During British rule, a fort named Kalam Darchi Fort was constructed in the Misgar Valley to control the Wakhan Corridor and keep a watch on the invasion of people from China and Russia. This fort is now the landmark of Misgar Valley and is 15 minutes north of this valley. This remote valley in Hunza can be explored in one day as it is easily reachable via the Karakoram Highway. It is an excellent place for history buffs and nature lovers. Be prepared for stunning scenery, towering peaks, and a serene environment.
Upper Hunza
30-minute drive from the iconic Karakoram Highway
Kalam Darchi Fort, views of the daunting gorge of Misgar River
Passu is a small village in Hunza, which is known for its Passu Cones or Passu Cathedral Peaks. Paasu cones are located in the villages of Paasu and Hussaini, and they are a series of pointed abstract peaks in the Karakoram Mountain Range. These peaks merge to create a motif that can be seen from the village of Gulmit. It is known for its stunning views and delicious food. The views of these mountain peaks are a delight for photographers and nature lovers, making it the most photographed natural scenery in Hunza.
The best view of the Passu Cones is from the Karakoram Highway, which is about an hour’s drive from Gilgit. The traffic is very low in this area so that you can witness the uninterrupted views of the Passu Cones surrounding you on both sides. You can drive a bit further to visit Rainbow Bridge after admiring the Passu Cathedral peaks. On the south side of the Passu Village, Passu Glacier is situated, which can be awed from the Karakoram Highway. The Passu Glacier trek offers panoramic views of the peaks and takes you to the heart of the Karakoram. Yak Grill is a famous restaurant serving yak meat burgers and thick-cut fries. There is another scenic café named Glacier Breeze café, which is renowned for its apricot cake. Don’t forget to try a burger made with local yak meat and apricot cake when you visit this village.
Gojal, Upper Hunza
It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes by car via Karakoram Highway.
Hike to Borit Glacier and Passu suspension bridge, marvel at the majestic Passu cones, Passu Glacier trekking, Passu Glacier viewpoints, eat yak burgers at Yak Grill
Hunza Valley is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Pakistan, thanks to its unique landscape and culture. From captivating landscapes to fun adventures and epic mountain views to unmatched local hospitality, it offers the best experiences for solo travelers and group tours alike. The best time to visit this magical place is between May and September. Spend a couple of days exploring all of its natural sites, which are hard to beat elsewhere in Pakistan, and don’t forget to try the delicious local food that you can find.
Have you ever visited Hunza? Which one is your favorite place in Hunza Valley? Let us know in the comment box!
Also Read: 10 Best Places to Visit in Skardu Valley
About Author:
Sondus Ubin
Sondus Ubin is a freelance lifestyle writer specializing in travel and food. With nearly 10 years of experience in lifestyle content creation, her toes are dipped in the exciting world of travel and food. In her time working as a travel writer, she has had the opportunity to interact with frequent travelers and travel photographers. All that knowledge she gains and her passion for travel make it possible for her to bring you informative yet fun travel content. Trust her words to help you plan your dream trip. She lives in Lahore, where she explores the city’s most intriguing, interesting, and unusual places and captures the beauty and essence of every place through her lens. When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her giving her eyes a much-needed break from screens with a good book, painting landscapes, or trying out new recipes.
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