Hunza Valley provides a beautiful and fascinating blend of scenery, old forts, farmhouses of orchids, and insights into the culture, local cuisine, snow-capped mountains, and vibrant views.
Hunza Valley considers the most visited place in Gilgit Baltistan where the valley comprises fascinating scenery and landscapes that will leave you to explore in awe and astonishment! Once you enter Hunza, you will realize the natural beauty the valley leaves and the uniqueness of the Northern areas to explore the fabulous places!
The place is a 13-hour drive from Islamabad and 2 hours away from Gilgit Baltistan where you can experience the culture and uniqueness to enjoy the beautiful places to visit in Hunza.
You can do many things while being in Hunza including camping, fishing, gliding, walking in the beautiful valley, and of course trekking the huge peaks of the valley. The best time to visit the Hunza Valley is from April to October due to bearable temperatures and pleasant weather.
You can visit during the summer months but becomes crowded which it is best to avoid visiting during the summer!
Here are the top 11 places to visit in Hunza Valley:
Here is the list of places to visit in Hunza Valley:
1. Karimabad
Karimabad Hunza is one of the most magnificent places in the Hunza Valley where the place offers you a wonderful view of its golden sand and natural views to enjoy the tranquillity of the capital city.
Karimabad is the capital city of Hunza where the place has known for the ancient houses and streets built in stones to give the cobbled street look. Karimabad has formerly known as Baltit and later changed to Karimabad after the spiritual head Prince Karim Aga Khan.
The area offers a relaxed party atmosphere with its colourful apricot trees and swinging cherry trees. If you are searching for amazing activities or simply a quiet day in the sun, this place will enjoy the calming atmosphere and relax the peaceful environment! Karimabad has a bazaar, which is open all week that sells various handicrafts and other local products to explore and educate about the culture of Hunza.
Since the city locates on the west bank of the Hunza River, you can do various activities such as canoeing, trekking, hiking, musical nights, yoga, paragliding and shopping. To look to enjoy various activities in Hunza, be sure not to miss the lively city of Karimabad!
2. Altit Fort
Altit Fort is known for its royal garden and its surrounding towns with local communities around the place. The fort considers the oldest monument in Hunza where the fort has been around for 1100 years old.
Altit Fort was home to the heredity rulers of the Hunza state who took the title Mir that now serves as a museum. The Fort locates 3 kilometres away from Karimabad where you can reach this place easily and educate about the Altit Fort which means this side down.
In winters, a swimming pool locates on the lower side of the place where it freezes for ice-skating. The views of the Altit Fort will leave you in amazement and inhabited by the Burusho people.
The Culture Foundation of Aga Khan has revised the great concept, a preserved heritage for future generations.
Not only is Altit Fort a site but a legacy that grew over time and gained the attention of the most recognized places to visit in Hunza. The houses at the Altit Fort has constructed in strong stones and wood to give the unique architecture of other Forts in Gilgit Baltistan.
Once you enter Altit Fort you can enjoy sightseeing, swimming, ice skating and photography! This leaves a fantastic view over the Hunza Valley.
3. Baltit Fort
Baltit Fort is one of the oldest forts in the valley where it leaves a rich history and legends that previously lived with it. During their stay in Hunza Valley, Prince Agha Khan lived in this fort and was built around 700 years ago.
It has been said there had been rebuilds and restorations over the centuries, which leaves the unfolding stories about the rich monument in the northern region. It is called Baltit Fort, named after the Baltistan people.
The fort locates in the upper part of Hunza Valley and on the top of the bazaar where you can enjoy the stunning views of the surroundings. This presents like a Crown on the valley where it leaves the fairytale appearance of the castle.
Baltit Fort marks the iconic landmark in Hunza Valley where the fort has constructed in solid stones and wood to present the palace for the rulers of Hunza. Baltit Fort has wooden bay windows to overview the valley.
To plan to visit an old but wonderful historical site, be sure not to miss the Baltit Fort! This makes it worth places to visit in Hunza!
4. Sost Border
Sost Border is the last settlement in Hunza that locates on Karakoram highway next to the Chinese border. The city is an essential hub of all passengers and freight routes since all traffic goes through Pakistan and China that passes through this town.
Sust border elevates 2800 meters above sea level and passes the Pakistani immigration and customs departments.
Along the Sost border comes the Khunjerab Pass that passes through the Karakoram mountain range. To enjoy this place, you can visit the nearby national park where the park has inhabited by rare species of snow leopards.
This border is a great symbol of Pak-China friendship where the two countries have opened the border for trade and tourism at Khunjerab. To visit the last village of Hunza, you can head out and visit the Sost border! This makes the top list of the places to visit in Hunza.
⦁ Rakaposhi Peak
Rakaposhi Peak is the immense peak and the most beautiful places to visit in Hunza. You can see Rakaposhi everywhere, no matter where you are in Hunza.
The mountain peak locates on the front side of the Nagar Valley, Bagrote Valley and Danyor and is a part of the Karakoram Mountain range that has a peak of 7788 meters high! You will wonder that Hunza surrounds by the highest peak mountains where you can stop by and enjoy the spectacular view!
The glaciers are melting due to the warning signs of global warming which stops visiting the Hunza Valley tour.
Rakaposhi means the ‘Shining Wall’ as the mountains leave the shine and glory during the sunrise and sunset. Once you visit the Rakaposhi Peaks, you will enjoy the beautiful sunset on the horizon! Rakaposhi Peak leaves a little story where two members of the British expedition ascended in 1958, suffered minor frostbite, fell on the descent, and died during the night on June 25.
Rakaposhi Mountain is the only peak on Earth that descends directly from the top to the base, continuously, for over 6000 meters. Rakaposhi is the only mountain in the world that exceeds above 5000 meters in height between the basecamp and the summit. Geologists consider the peak of the Eurasian landmass. Renowned Glaciers encircle all the peaks of Barpu, Biro, Bagrot, and Pisan. To visit the mountains in Hunza, you will enjoy the breathtaking view of Rakaposhi Peak!
6. Gulmit
The nine Gulmit valleys are a major tourist attraction in Hunza where is located between the Gojal Valley and the upper part of the Hunza. The wonderful and bright colours of nature make Gulmit worth a visit and have many historic places to educate about the unravelling story about the area.
Once you visit the Gulmit, you will enjoy the panoramic view and the captivating Passu Cones nearby!
In addition, Gulmit provides a complete package where you can head out, explore various mountains, and visit Ondra Fort that locates 25 minutes of hiking from Gulmit.
Then head over to Ondra Fort and walk across the Gulkin to Borith Lake. This takes three hours and 25 minutes to hike to these certain places.
The most prominent destinations of tourism in Gulmit are Shimshal Valley, Chipursan Valley, Misgar Valley, Boibar Valley, Khunjerab Pass. There are different things to do in Hunza such as rock climbing, hiking, sightseeing, photo
7. Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake is one of the Hunza Valley’s most intriguing locations where the lake situated in Gojal Valley and takes 30 minutes’ drive from Karimabad. The huge Karakoram Mountains and the pure turquoise water make everyone mesmerized and enjoy the spectacular view.
The hues and charm of the spring are stunning and every year draws numerous tourists. In winters, the lake becomes frozen where you can do ice skating, ice hockey, skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports.
The lake has a length of 13 miles and a depth of 358 feet that makes a decent space to enjoy the beautiful view of the blue lake. Attabad Lake considers one of Pakistan’s greatest lakes because of its stunning landscape.
Once you enter this lake in the summers, you can enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, jet skiing, paragliding, water skiing and many more! This has marked the biggest tourists’ attraction in Gilgit Baltistan despite the tragic landslide back in 2010. To visit the iconic lakes in the northern areas, do visit Attabad Lake!
8. Borith Lake
Borith Lake is a small lake but one of the most beautiful places to visit in Hunza. The lake locates 30 minutes’ drive from Attabad Lake and near Gulmit Valley.
The lake was formed by the melted water of Gulkin Glacier and has black and white glaciers nearby that take 1 to 3 hours of walking and 15 to 30 minutes drive. If you prefer to visit by driving, you need to watch out for dirty roads and hairpin turns, which require careful driving!
The lake surrounds by wide grasslands and has nearby resorts and teashops where you can stop by and relax the calming atmosphere. The lake has medium to small mountains and surrounds by limited forests to enjoy the beautiful view.
Borith Lake is 2500 meters above sea level and is accessible by 2km drive from Husseini Village is parallel to Ghulkin village. To add to this, you can enjoy trekking to the Passu Peaks and return to Borith Lake on the same route.
Since the lake is flat, Borith Lake makes a great campsite where you can enjoy camping and meditation after long hours of driving and walking! To head over for camping and meditation, you will enjoy visiting the small Borith Lake with a nearby resort!
9. Eagle Nest Duiker
Eagle Nest Duiker is one of the famous places in Hunza Valley Pakistan where the place locates in a small village called Duiker and locates in Altit leaves an elevation of 10,000 feet. Duiker offers a panoramic viewpoint that covers snow-flaked peaks where birds and cliffs add the complete beauty of the scenery.
Several wonders of the peaks are worth visiting including Karakoram highway, Golden Peak, Rakaposhi, Ultar, Lady Finger and several snow-covered peaks that will leave you in relaxation and astonishment!
During your time in Hunza, you will enjoy the beautiful dawn and sunset from the famous Duiker Eagle Nest.
To enjoy the sunrise and sunset, you can go hiking, photography and camping to relax and rejuvenate your energy! To visit the enjoyable viewpoint in Hunza, be sure not to miss the beautiful wonders of the Eagle Nest Duiker! You will wander the beauty and the peacefulness of this stunning place!
10. Rush Lake
Rush Lake is a beautiful landscape in Hunza that locates in Nagar Valley and considers the highest altitude in Pakistan. The lake recognizes the highest alpine lakes in the world where the lake leaves nothing but the simplicity of snow-covered mountains and golden-green hills.
This simplicity leaves the beauty of Nagar Valley that will leave you in amazement to enjoy the wonderful views of the blue lake!
Once you enter Rush Lake, you can do various activities such as hiking, swimming, ice-skating, camping and many more. The lake locates precisely 15km north of Miar Peak and Golden Peak, which both are near Rush Pari Peak.
Rush Lake has a surface elevation of 4696 meters where the lake surrounds the enormous mountains that you will enjoy the relaxation and the peacefulness of the beautiful atmosphere!
In winter seasons, the lake becomes frozen and the mountains covered in a thick blanket of snow that makes the whole scenery white and exotic. This marks the most recognized place in Hunza Valley Pakistan. To visit the simple and beautiful scenery of the mountain ranges, you cannot complete the vacation without visiting Rush Lake!
Passu Cones
Passu Cones are one of the most sightseeing areas in Gilgit Baltistan where the place locates 30 minutes’ drive from Attabad Lake. The amazing peaks of the Passu Cones will leave you in amazement and breathtaking as the cones locate along the Hunza River from Gulmit in Gojal Valley.
Passu Cones considers the most popular tourists attraction in Pakistan due to its accessibility and panoramic landscape. This panoramic landscape makes you want to visit the steep peaks in the northern areas.
Passu Cones are famous for the surrounding steep mountains that shape like a cone, which marks the most photographed peaks that makes a great place for photography.
These coned-shaped mountains surround the glacier and run the river across it that leaves the beauty of the nearby high peaks including Pasu Sar, Shispare Sar and Batura. Once you enter the Passu Cones, you will enjoy photography, walking and hiking to these places! To visit the spectacular mountains, you will enjoy the views of the Passu Cones!
Wrap Up
Hunza Valley is one of the most visited places in Gilgit Baltistan where the valley fills with beautiful landscapes, spectacular mountains and insights of historical places. The unique culture and identity make one of the fascinating places to visit in Hunza where you can enjoy various activities for a fun vacation.
Gilgit Baltistan is one of those regions where you can enjoy visiting during the spring months and exploring different places in the Northern areas! To plan to head over to visit beautiful landscapes and know about the culture, be sure not to miss visiting Hunza!
