Five days are enough to see the best of Hunza if you fly from Islamabad to Gilgit: one day to arrive in Karimabad, one for Baltit and Altit forts and the Eagle's Nest sunset, one for Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones and the Hussaini bridge, one for Khunjerab Pass on the China border, and one to fly home. By road, add two days each way.
| Day | Plan | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly Islamabad–Gilgit; drive to Karimabad; evening walk in the old town | Flight, then about 2–3 hours by road |
| Day 2 | Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Ganish village; sunset at the Eagle's Nest | Short local drives |
| Day 3 | Attabad Lake; Passu Cones; Hussaini suspension bridge | About 30 minutes to Attabad, then on up the Karakoram Highway |
| Day 4 | Khunjerab Pass and Khunjerab National Park (May to October) | About 4 hours each way from central Hunza |
| Day 5 | Drive to Gilgit; fly to Islamabad | About 2–3 hours by road, then the flight |
Day 1: Islamabad to Karimabad
Take the morning flight from Islamabad to Gilgit, then drive about two to three hours up the Karakoram Highway to Karimabad, the heart of central Hunza at about 2,500 m. Spend the evening walking the old lanes below Baltit Fort and adjusting to the altitude.
Day 2: Forts, Ganish and the Eagle's Nest
Visit Baltit Fort, built in the 17th century and restored between 1990 and 1996, then Altit Fort, 3 km away above the river. Ganish, the oldest settlement on the Silk Road in Hunza, with mosques 300 to 400 years old, is just below Karimabad on the highway. In the late afternoon drive up to the Eagle's Nest above Duikar for sunset over Rakaposhi and Ultar.
Day 3: Attabad Lake, Passu and the Hussaini bridge
Drive about half an hour to Attabad Lake, the 21 km turquoise lake formed in 2010, for boating and the views from the tunnels. Continue north on the Karakoram Highway into Gojal to the Passu Cones, the jagged peaks above Passu, and walk out onto the Hussaini suspension bridge for the classic view of them.
Day 4: Khunjerab Pass
Make an early start for Khunjerab Pass, the northern end of the Karakoram Highway on the China border, about four hours from central Hunza via Sost. The pass and Khunjerab National Park are open from about May to October; the altitude is high, so go slowly, keep warm and return to Hunza to sleep.
Good to know: The Khunjerab border keeps seasonal hours and the road can close in bad weather. If it is shut, spend the day around Gulmit, Passu and Borith instead.
Day 5: Back to Islamabad
Drive back to Gilgit for the return flight to Islamabad. Gilgit flights need clear weather and are sometimes cancelled, so if you can, keep one spare day at the end of the trip.
Making it work
1. Best time to go
April to October. Late March and April bring the famous apricot and cherry blossom; October brings golden poplars and clear skies.
2. If you drive instead of flying
The road from Islamabad to Hunza along the Karakoram Highway usually takes two days each way, so plan seven to eight days in all.
3. Where to stay
Base yourself in or near Karimabad for all five nights; GreenPak Hotel Hunza is a convenient choice for the whole trip.
