Hunza Valley Trip Plan — 5-Day Itinerary

Route: Islamabad to Gilgit by air (about 1 hour), then 2–3 hours by road to Karimabad. By road: Islamabad – Naran – Babusar – Gilgit – Hunza.

• Day 1: Reach Karimabad. Baltit Fort and the old town lanes.
• Day 2: Altit Fort and the royal garden; sunset at Eagle’s Nest (Duikar).
• Day 3: Attabad Lake boat ride, Passu Cones and the Hussaini suspension bridge.
• Day 4: Khunjerab Pass (China border) — a full-day return drive.
• Day 5: Drive back to Gilgit / return journey.

What to carry & what you need:

• Warm layers, gloves and a wool cap — Khunjerab (4,693 m) is freezing even in July and snow is possible
• Original CNIC (Pakistanis) or passport (visitors) — identity is checked at posts on the way to the border
• Cash in rupees — ATMs in Hunza and Gilgit often run dry, and small guesthouses and eateries rarely take cards
• Snacks, water and a full tank — the last fuel is at Sost, and there are no shops or food at the top
• An SCOM SIM and offline maps downloaded — other networks fade in the valleys
• A power bank — electricity in Hunza can be inconsistent
• At the pass, walk slowly and keep the stop short — anyone with heart or breathing problems should skip it

Note: The Naran–Babusar road is open roughly June to October; outside those months use the Karakoram Highway via Besham. Keep a warm layer — evenings are cold even in summer.