Journey
Gojal (Upper Hunza), Hunza
Khunjerab Pass and Upper Hunza
- Duration
- 7 days
- Highest point
- 4,693 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Season
- May–Oct
Price to be confirmed
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Journey · Hunza, Gojal (Upper Hunza), Nagar
Hunza and Gojal
A rounded first journey through central and upper Hunza: restored forts above Karimabad, the turquoise length of Attabad Lake and the jagged skyline at Passu.
- Duration
- 8 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Season
- April–October
- Price
- Price to be confirmed
Photo: Alllexxxis · CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
This is the journey most people picture when they think of northern Pakistan. It follows the Karakoram Highway north from Gilgit into the Hunza valley, where terraced orchards climb towards peaks of more than 7,000 metres and the old forts of Baltit and Altit still watch over the villages below.
Beyond Karimabad the road threads through the tunnels above Attabad Lake into Gojal, or Upper Hunza, a quieter Wakhi-speaking country of stone villages, glaciers and the saw-toothed peaks around Passu. Days are spent on short walks, village visits and viewpoints rather than long hikes.
The pace leaves room for evenings in the villages and a final loop through Nagar on the other side of the river, so the journey reads as one connected landscape rather than a list of stops.
- Baltit and Altit forts, both restored with support from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
- Attabad Lake, formed by the 2010 landslide, seen from the Karakoram Highway tunnels
- Passu's spires and the Hussaini suspension bridge in Gojal
- Sunset over the Hunza peaks from the village of Duikar
- A day across the river in Nagar towards the Hopper Glacier
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Gilgit
Arrival in Gilgit by air or road. Afternoon visit to the Kargah Buddha rock carving on the edge of the city.
Overnight: Gilgit
Day 2
Gilgit to Karimabad
North on the Karakoram Highway with a stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint in Nagar, arriving in Karimabad by afternoon. Timing varies with road and weather conditions.
Overnight: Karimabad
Day 3
Baltit and Altit
Morning at Baltit Fort, then a walk through the lanes and orchards to Altit Fort. Evening drive up to Duikar for sunset.
Overnight: Karimabad
Day 4
Attabad Lake and Gulmit
Through the Attabad tunnels with time beside the lake, continuing into Gojal to the village of Gulmit.
Overnight: Gulmit
Day 5
Passu and Hussaini
Views of the Passu peaks and the Hussaini suspension bridge, with a short walk to Borith Lake for those who want it.
Overnight: Gulmit or Passu
Day 6
A slower day in Gojal
Village walks and local food in Gojal. When the road is open and conditions allow, an optional excursion towards the Khunjerab Pass can replace this day.
Overnight: Gulmit or Passu
Day 7
Gojal to Nagar and Karimabad
Back down the valley and across the river into Nagar to look over the Hopper Glacier, returning to Karimabad. Timing varies with road and weather conditions.
Overnight: Karimabad
Day 8
Return to Gilgit
Drive to Gilgit for an onward flight or the road south.
Practical information
- Suitable for
- Explorers, Culture travellers, Photographers, Families, Private groups
What’s included
Included
- Private vehicle with driver for the full route
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Hotel and guesthouse accommodation as listed
- Breakfast daily
- Entry tickets to Baltit and Altit forts
- Local jeep for the Hopper road where needed
Not included
- Flights to and from Gilgit
- Lunches and dinners unless stated
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities such as boating on Attabad Lake
- Tips and personal expenses
What to bring
Essential
- Layered clothing for warm days and cold evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip for fort stairways and village lanes
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
- Warm fleece or light down jacket for Gojal evenings
- Scarf or shawl for visits to religious and community spaces
- Passport and copies for highway checkpoints
- Personal medicines and a basic first-aid kit
Optional and useful
- Binoculars for glacier and peak viewing
- Reusable water bottle with filter
- Small daypack
- Camera with a wide-angle lens for valley views
- Cash in small notes for village purchases
Good to know
Important notes and restrictions
- Hunza is a conservative, largely Ismaili Muslim community: modest dress that covers shoulders and knees is appreciated, and photographs of people should be asked for.
- Flights to Gilgit and Skardu depend on weather and visibility, and cancellations happen; a spare day or a road alternative is sensible.
- Landslides occasionally close sections of the Karakoram Highway; the order of days may change on the ground.
Photos
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