Photo: Saadzafar91 · CC BY-SA 3.0Area guides / Gilgit-Baltistan / Gilgit & Naltar
Area guide
Gilgit & Naltar
The north's hub town, and the pine valley above it
Region
Gilgit-Baltistan
When to go
April to October for the Karakoram Highway season
Getting there
Fly Islamabad-Gilgit (weather permitting) or drive the Karakoram Highway, a long day or two. Naltar is 2-3 hours by jeep up a rough track from Nomal, best left to local 4x4 drivers.
Places
14 field guides
Overview
About Gilgit & Naltar
Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and the working base for the north, near where the Gilgit and Hunza rivers meet. About 34 km from the town, Naltar is a forested valley of alpine lakes and winter ski slopes, a complete contrast to the bare Karakoram rock around Gilgit.
Fly Islamabad-Gilgit (weather permitting) or drive the Karakoram Highway, a long day or two. Naltar is 2-3 hours by jeep up a rough track from Nomal, best left to local 4x4 drivers.
Gilgit as a base
Gilgit is less a sight than the place the north is organised from: flights, jeeps and supplies. Short trips reach the Kargah Buddha, Bagrot Valley and the Rakaposhi viewpoints on the Karakoram Highway toward Hunza.
Up to Naltar
Naltar's jeep track climbs from Nomal through pine forest to a valley known for its three alpine lakes and for winter skiing. The track is the limiting factor in the shoulder seasons, so check conditions locally before going up.
Top sights in Gilgit & Naltar
All 14 places →
Gilgit
The regional capital and supply base, where the northern roads meet.
Naltar Valley
Pine forest, coloured lakes and ski slopes above Gilgit.
Kargah Buddha
A standing Buddha carved into the cliff of Kargah Nala, west of town.
Rakaposhi
The 7,788 m peak that fills the skyline on the road north to Hunza.
Resorts
All resorts →
Gilgit & Naltar: Questions Travellers Ask
What is there to see in Gilgit & Naltar?
14 places in Gilgit & Naltar have their own field guide here, the most in landmarks and buildings (8) and parks and gardens (6).
When is the best time to visit Gilgit & Naltar?
April to October for the Karakoram Highway season; June to September for Naltar's lakes and meadows, December to March for skiing. Gilgit itself is reachable year-round by air.
How do you get to Gilgit & Naltar?
Fly Islamabad-Gilgit (weather permitting) or drive the Karakoram Highway, a long day or two. Naltar is 2-3 hours by jeep up a rough track from Nomal, best left to local 4x4 drivers.
The complete guide
Everything to See in Gilgit & Naltar
All 14 places in Gilgit & Naltar with their own field guide, grouped by kind.
Parks and gardens · 6
Bagrot ValleyA valley 17 km from Gilgit under Rakaposhi, Diran and Dobani, with pastures up to about 5,000 m.
Firoza LakeA turquoise lake above Naltar Bala, three to four hours on foot or a jeep ride away.
Kutwal LakeA high lake in the Haramosh valley, ringed by Haramosh, Laila and Dobani peaks.- Naltar ValleyMountain valley known for forest scenery, lakes, winter sport, and seasonal travel.
Nomal, GilgitA green oasis on the Hunza River 25 km north of Gilgit, and the gateway to the Naltar valley.
Satrangi LakeThe “seven-coloured lake” of upper Naltar, two to three hours on foot from Naltar Bala.
Landmarks and buildings · 8
Bilchar Dobani (Dobani Peak)A 6,143 m peak 29 km east of Gilgit, rising between the Bagrot, Bilchar and Haramosh valleys.
Bireno Suspension BridgeAn old suspension bridge over the Hunza River linking Danyore with Karakoram University, Gilgit.
Chinese CemeteryThe Danyore resting place of Chinese engineers and workers who died building the Karakoram Highway.
Danyore InscriptionDanyore rock containing royal inscriptions is the only protected site in Gilgit- Baltistan Province.- GilgitThe regional capital of Gilgit-Baltistan, lying around the meeting of the Gilgit and Hunza river valleys — the Gilgit River itself joins the Indus farther south, near Jaglot — and the natural fuel, rest, and supply stop on the Karakoram Highway before Hunza.
HaramoshA 7,409 m summit east of the Indus, in the mountain area between Gilgit and Skardu, with a dramatic 1957 expedition history, a rarely visited climbing objective above the glaciers of the Haramosh La.
Kargah Buddha, GilgitKargah Buddha is an archaeological site located about 6 miles west of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
Taj Mughal MinarA 700-year-old tower on the ridge above Gilgit, built by Taj-ud-Din Mughal in the 1320s.