Best Places to Visit in Pakistan's Northern Areas
Northern Pakistan is not one single destination. Hunza, Skardu, Kaghan, Swat and Chitral are all different districts, and each is accessible at different times of the year and takes different durations to reach. People take a week off from work only to reach and return in their cars because they try to visit them all.
The following is a list of places one can build a travel itinerary around and a few other tips and tricks to keep in mind when planning a trip. Read the final two sections before fixing a travel date, as the roads will determine your travel itinerary more than your planning.
1. Hunza Valley
Karimabad, located approximately 100 km north of Gilgit, is situated on the Karakoram Highway.
Most people's first trip to the north ends up at Hunza Valley, and rightfully so. The view of Rakaposhi (7,788m) from the terrace of Karimabad includes the Baltit Fort, which was restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and Altit Fort, which is also older. Rakaposhi, Diran and Ultar can all be seen from Duikar and are best viewed at sunrise.
Three nights will suffice, but two are adequate to visit the forts and little else.
2. Attabad Lake and the Passu Cones
Gojal, approximately 45 minutes to an hour north of Karimabad.
The lake was formed in 2010 when the landslide covered the Hunza River and drowned the villages and the old road. The river is now a long stretch of beautiful turquoise blue water partially lined with the newer and more efficient highway and tunnels. The Passu Cones rise straight out of the valley and are below the Hussaini suspension bridge that is pictured with missing planks.
Make the trip more worthwhile and plan to stay overnight in either Gulmit or Passu. Visit during the evening to really appreciate the difference that time of day makes.
3. Khunjerab Pass
Rising to an elevation of 4,693 meters in Pakistan and China, this is the highest continuously paved international border crossing, and is usually open during the spring through fall months. At an elevation of 2,430 meters in Hunza, most people do get an altitude hangover going up to the Khunjerab Pass. It is best to take your time here to reduce altitude sickness because the body needs to acclimatize. Costs are approximately $12.50, and you may see some marmots.
4. Skardu
Located in Baltistan and can be reached by a flight from Islamabad, or a drive via Gilgit.
Skardu is the hop-off location for most visits to the Baltoro and K2 areas. Nearby are Shangrila and the Upper Kachura Lake. Further out are the Katpana cold desert and the Khaplu Sand Dunes. One can visit Shigar Fort, which is now a Heritage hotel.
As soon as flights take off, they're quick, but tend to be cancelled once the weather gets bad, so be prepared and build in road backups. The Skardu road from Gilgit takes 6 or 7 hours.
5. Deosai Plains
Reachable around June, July, August. Roughly 4,100 metres high.
This huge open plain, filled with grass and bears (the plains have been named to protect them), is between Skardu and Astore. It contains one of the largest high-altitude lakes in South Asia: Sheosar Lake. One can even cross the plains to reach Astore in a day, albeit cold.
Most of the year, the track is only accessible by jeeps, and during the winter, no one gets there.
6. Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat
First, take the KKH to Raikot Bridge and then continue on a dirt road and hiking.
It is a really bad jeep track, but thankfully, it is just a few kilometers of hiking to a gorgeous meadow facing the 8,126-meter Nanga Parbat. An even longer hike to Beyal Camp will reward you with the most dizzyingly beautiful sight.
It is best to spend two nights. In July, it can still get cold.
7. Naltar Valley
Around 2 hours by jeep from Gilgit.
Pine forests, air force ski slopes, and three technicolor lakes; rough roads keep most cars away. Naltar is suitable for a long day trip from Gilgit or for an overnight to have the sprawling lakes to yourselves.
8. Phander and the Ghizer Valley
West of Gilgit en route to Shandur and Chitral.
Ghizer is a laid-back alternative to Hunza. Rolling green valleys and poplar trees line the trout-filled Gilgit River and end in beautiful Phander Lake. Beyond Phander, the road winds up to approximately 3,700 meters to Shandur Pass, where in the summer the world's highest polo matches are played.
Slower than expected, it should take at least two days.
9. Astore and Rama
South of Gilgit, en route to Jaglot on the KKH.
Astore is the other side of Nanga Parbat. Rama Lake lies in the pine forest above Astore, and even higher, up the valley, lies Rupal, facing the Rupal Face, the highest mountain face in the world. It is a less-served location, and a good stop on your journey to Deosai if you are crossing it.
10. Kaghan, Naran and Babusar Top
The closest of all of these to Islamabad, about a seven- to eight-hour drive.
Naran fills up during July and August, but still makes a stop for Lake Saif-ul-Malook, which, at 3,224 meters above sea level, is accessible by jeep from town. Above Naran, the road goes to Babusar Top at 4,173 meters and goes down to Chilas on the KKH, which cuts the trip to Gilgit way shorter. Babusar Pass is a summer road only. Snow blocks it roughly from the end of autumn until early June, and the dates change each year.
11. Swat, Kalam, and Malam Jabba
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about five hours from Islamabad.
Swat is your shortest long trip to the north that still feels far away. Here you’ll find the Swat River, Mingora’s bazaar, the Malam Jabba ski slope and chairlift, Kalam, and the Ushu Forest above it. You will also find Swat’s Buddhist rock carvings and stupas from the Gandhara period.
12. Chitral and the Kalash Valleys
Hindu Kush is reached by air to Chitral or by road over the Lowari Tunnel.
The Kalash in Bumburet, Rumbur, and Birir have a unique language, dress, and religion. Go during the Chilam Joshi in May or Uchal in August to see the valleys at their most active. Be a guest and not a photographer. Ask to take pictures, pay to enter the valleys, and go to the entrance checkpoints.
When to go
During spring, the first month of May tends to be the best time to go. The high passes still have snow, the weather is settled, and there is blossom. The monsoon comes around in June, with the high passes closing in November, and it tends to be hot during the months of July through August and filled with rain. September through October tends to be the fall season with clear weather and autumn colors. This time of year tends to be the best for exploring the mountains. In winter, the high passes spanning northern Hunza and Gilgit stay connected to the KKH. January through March is the best time to go if you enjoy mountains filled with snow.
September is the best time to go.
The part most itineraries get wrong
Because the Karakoram Highway is a single-track road, the section between Besham and Chilas via Kohistan is the worst for landslides. The rain and running water from the glaciers tend to shut the Karakoram Highway, along with the other access roads to and from Skardu, for days and often flood parts of the route. This is just the reality everyone has to deal with in order to get to Skardu. That is why local operators give their guests plenty of leeway time in their itineraries.
Three habits make the difference. Check NDMA, NHA, and GB advisories and information about the status of roads before each morning of your trip. It's crucial that you don't drive through the mountains at night and especially avoid driving in heavy rain. Also, reserve a spare day in your 1-week trip, and two in your 10-week trip. This will allow you to account for closures that could disrupt your trip and you losing money.
We offer tours to all of these places from Islamabad. Our packages include hotels and resorts, 4x4s and drivers to get you to Fairy Meadows and Deosai, licensed local guides, permits and park fees, and a flexible plan that includes buffer days instead of adding them after a mishap occurs. Let us know your preferred dates and the number of travelers in your group along with your planned itinerary, and we will provide you with a detailed plan as well as a quote.
Support stays open throughout the trip and on the day a pass closes if the itinerary needs to change.
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
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