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Northern Pakistan works well for families and it works badly for families who plan it the way a couple or solo traveller would. The difference is altitude, vehicle size, room configuration, and what an eight-year-old considers a good day versus what an adult considers a good day.
This article covers what destinations are family appropriate at what age, how to order the days in a way that kids don’t spend their vacation in the back of a car, what the package has to specify about hotels and vehicles, and the timing.
HospitalityTours.com.pk plans family tour packages from Islamabad across northern Pakistan. For the right group size, we book seven-seaters and coasters, confirm family room bookings with name, build the itinerary on what is accessible for kids that means less driving, and offer support if plans change. Send us your WhatsApp message with your family dates, and adults and kids (even their ages!). We actually listen to relevant ages. We reply at the end.
A twelve-year-old that goes on a lot of hikes and an eight-year-old that has never gone above 1000 meters are completely different trips and are in the same car. The altitude question is the one most family packages don’t answer early enough, and this is the question that creates the most issues.
Swat, Naran, and Hunza up to approximately 2,500 metres can be done by anybody and are accessible. Karimabad is at about 2,600 metres, which is fine for most families. Skardu city is at about 2,228 metres and is fine for most people, but Deosai at about 4,100 metres and the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 metres, may be too much for your kids if they don’t stay at an altitude of 2,000 metres or less for two or three days before.
There is a saying that five years of age about teenagers are affected the most by altitude, but this is not completely true and there is no clear cut off. Any member of your group that is a child or elderly with a respiratory issue, that has been altitude sensitive in the past, or has young children should consider this when choosing your destinations.
Swat Valley is ideal for families with young children, as Mingora (about 980 metres) and Kalam (about 2,000 metres) are ideal starting points. The famous attractions of the South Valley, Malam Jabba, Bahrain, Kalam, and Mahodand Lake can all be done by car without complications from altitude. During winter, Malam Jabba offers activities and a chairlift, and during summer, Kalam has river walks, riding, and Mahodand Lake can be reached by a short jeep ride. Swat is the best place to start a trip for your family with children less than eight years of age.
Naran Kaghan. Naran sits at 2,409 metres and is a good option for families of all ages. A trip to Saif-ul-Malook Lake at 3,224 metres would require a twenty minute jeep ride instead of the usual hike which is appreciated by kids. Lulusar Lake would have a similar experience. Babusar Top is more serious at 4,173 metres and is best to be experienced as a day trip after two nights in Naran.
Hunza is a an ideal location for older kids. Ten to fourteen year old kids would appreciate Hunza compared to young kids. The forts have stairs and uneven terrain. The Attabad boat is accessible to all ages. Duikar Sunrise is a early morning trek that is best reserved for kids most of which would appreciate the sunrise. The valley is easy to navigate, but the best that the valley has to offer is appreciated by older kids who appreciate what they see and are able to have a good level of interest.
Skardu is also a good location for families for a longer trip to the north. The sites and Lakes around Skardu and Shangrila and Kachura are good for all ages. The main attraction of Skardu, Deosai, is best to be reserved for families who have done two to three night stops along the way to Skardu and are at low elevation. Deosai is a full day commitment to experience at more than 4,000 metres.
Most operators do not get this right. Four people and luggage won’t fit in a standard sedan or compact hatchback. For six passengers, the minimum requirement is a seven-seat SUV. For ten to twelve users, a coaster is required.
The vehicle used for the journey from Islamabad to the destination should be the same or upgraded vehicle used for day trips. Some operators use a decent vehicle for the main trip, then pass on families to a local jeep which is obviously lacking. Confirm whether for trips on the highway the same vehicle will be used, or if for day trips a different arrangement will be used.
For Saif-ul-Malook and Babusar in Naran, Mahodand in Swat, Deosai in Skardu, and the Shimshal and Borith roads in Hunza, a 4x4 is the required vehicle. Do not be misled by a seven-seat saloon, which is not a 4x4. Find out what the exact vehicle type will be for each section.
Regarding family seating, confirm if a child’s car seat is available. If one is required and a car seat is provided, be sure to bring your own.
You will find family rooms across northern Pakistan, but they aren’t everywhere, and they aren’t always clearly indicated on booking portals. Think about the difference between booking two double rooms and a family room that sleeps four. Rethink the hassle of booking two double rooms vs. the family room that keeps the entire family together.
Confirm room type before you book. A family room that sleeps four definitely needs four beds or two double beds, not just the “assumed” case.
For families, having an en-suite bathroom is important and matters more than it would for solo travelers. Guest houses that have shared bathrooms along the hallways are fine for adults, but for families with children, this gives an unwanted logistical challenge on how to get children ready for the day at 6 am.
Consider the reliability of the hot water supply for family travel. Know the hours when hot water is available. In some Naran and Hunza guest houses, there are water heaters that run on generators and their hours may not cater to the needs of children for a bath.
While you are at it, ask about the provision for hot water. Given that the north is used to power outages, some hotels run on a grid supply and go dark when the grid goes out—at Northern Pakistan frequencies, this happens a lot. Be sure to check whether the hotel has its own power backup and for what duration.
Food at the hotel. A hotel that has a kitchen and can prepare rice/roti or dal at 9 pm when the kids are tired and fussy is worth knowing about before you book. Most of the top hotels in the north do that. Smaller guest houses may not.
Recommended hotels by destination for families
Swat. Swat Serena Hotel for the best services and food. Pearl Continental Malam Jabba for a winter ski trip with children. Both hotels have a reliable kitchen and family rooms.
Naran. Pine Park Hotel and Arcadian Riverside (both have multiple room types and a river setting). Go at least 3-4 months prior to July/August for booking purposes and ask for family room configuration.
Hunza. Hunza Serena Hotel for full generator backup and a consistent kitchen. Hard Rock Hunza for families who prefer villa-style sets. Luxus Hunza Attabad for lake and a group set, if older members of the family are there.
Skardu. PC Legacy Skardu for a group friendly kitchen and proximity to the airport. Shangrila Resort for lake and resort grounds. Both are good for a family on a holiday for the kids to stay at a resort with a big lawn instead of staying in a city hotel.
Now we know there’s more to Pakistan than just the mountains. Some of the activities that will keep the whole family entertained include rowing on Attabad Lake, a jeep ride to Saif-ul-Malook, visiting the snow points of Malam Jabba or Babusar, horse rides at Siri Paye or Shogran, the Hussaini suspension bridge in Hunza, and the Cold desert Sand dunes at Katpana in Skardu.
The following activities should be avoided: Easily bored? It’s best not to take your children before they’re 7 to Deosai. Skipping an acclimatisation night when visiting Khunjerab Pass will end badly. Also, as a word of caution, before taking children to Fairy Meadows, explain to them about the hard trek that they’ll need to take. And do not forget to take frequent breaks on long drives.
Summer holidays in Pakistan start between mid to late June and finish at the end of August. Eid holidays also start to move forward by about 11 days each year, which also makes it harder to book hotels for the school summer holidays.
Because of the increased demand on the hotels, by April the hotels in Naran are fully booked for July and August. Rates for a stay at the travel destinations in the north will be 15-20% higher for Eid weekend bookings. The drive from Islamabad to Naran can take you an additional 3 hours due to the increased traffic.
Better family windows are at the end of May and first half of June, and in September. September works best for school kids and University students. Late May and early June accommodate private school breaks that occur earlier.
July and August are preferred months for many families, and in that case prepare 3 months in advance. It is better to travel in the middle of the week as opposed to the weekend, and add a buffer to your return plan in case of traffic.
There are first aid kid basics which you should carry on such a trip. These include medication for altitude sickness and antihistamines. Paracetamol and ibuprofen for kids are essential along with oral rehydration salts, and prescription medicine for the family. Pharmacies in the north are located in the town and the nearest fully equipped pharmacy is in Gilgit or the starting city.
You should buy bottled water to drink on the entire trip. Never refill a bottle from the tap in a guesthouse. Kids lose water faster than adults at altitude and don’t realize they should drink enough.
You should apply sunscreen on kids before leaving the hotel, as the atmosphere at higher altitudes has less filtering for UV light.
The networks Telenor and Zong are the best in Gilgit Baltistan. Download your route to offline maps before you lose signal in the Kohistan gorges.
Request a confirmed family room by room type, not by category. Request the specific room type on the confirmation document.
Ask about the type of vehicle used for day trips from the base hotel vs the type of vehicle for the highway runs.
Ask about the jeep to Saif-ul-Malook, Mahodand or Deosai and if the cost is included in the package or if it will be additional upon arrival.
Do not plan Deosai as the first stop for any family with young children. Deosai can be planned after at least two nights at a safer elevation.
Do not book a hotel in Naran or Hunza for the Eid weekend unless you have a confirmed booking and have read the cancellation policy.
Avoid a Sunday evening return from Naran or Swat in July and August. The road back is the worst traffic during the northern season.
Have a power bank. Hotels that have generators still have outages, and an unexpected power outage at 7 AM with a car full of kids that need entertained is avoidable.
What is the best northern Pakistan destination for families with young children? Swat Valley for children under eight. Naran Kaghan as a close second. Both sit below 2,500 metres and offer safe and accessible activities.
Is Hunza convenient for a family vacation? Can be, for families with school-aged or older kids. The forts, Lake Attabad, and the drive to Gojal are all good.
How safe for children is Skardu? The city and the Kachura lakes are fine at any age. At elevation of around 4100 meters, Deosai is for children aged 12-13+ at least, with a 2-3 nights’ acclimatization in Skardu first.
How many days would a family Northern tour need? 5 nights for either Swat or Naran, and at least 7 nights for Hunza. 10-12 nights for both Hunza and Skardu.
When should families book summer vacations? Book at least 3 months in advance for July and August. Book 6 weeks in advance for June and September.
For a family of six, what sized vehicle do you need? A 7 seater SUV, and a Coaster for families of 8 or more.
Tell us the ages of the children, the dates you want to travel, and the number of adults and children you want to travel with you. Then we can tailor the dates, vehicle, and rooms to your family rather than relying on a standard travel package.
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