Travel advisory · PakistanSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Pakistan.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Balochistan province · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, UK, US
- Indian border, distance not specified (incl. LoC) · avoid all travel · France, New Zealand
- Karakoram Highway, Mansehra to Chilas · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, US
- Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Afghanistan border region, distance not specified · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand
- Former FATA tribal areas · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
Also named by one government: 10 km strip along the Chinese border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Indian border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Iranian border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Line of Control (Canada), 10 miles strip along the Afghan border (UK), 10 miles strip along the Line of Control (UK), 50 km strip along the Afghan border (Canada), 50 km strip along the Afghan border in Gilgit-Baltistan (New Zealand), Bajaur (UK), Bannu (UK), Buner (UK), Chārsadda (UK), Dera Ismail Khan (UK), Hangu (UK), Immediate vicinity of the Line of Control (US), Karak (UK), Khyber district (UK), Kohat (UK), Kurram (UK), Lakki Marwat (UK), Lower Dir (UK), Lower South Waziristan (UK), Mohmand (UK), N45 highway, north of Mardan ring road to edge of Chitral City, incl. Kalash valley (UK), North Waziristan (UK), Orakzai (UK), Peshawar (UK), Punjab province, excluding Faisalabad-Lahore-Islamabad zone (France), Swat (UK), Tank (UK), Upper Dir (UK), Upper South Waziristan (UK), 20 km strip along the Indian border, incl. LoC (Germany), 5 miles strip along the Indian border (UK), Chitral district (Canada), Dera Ghazi Khan (UK), Faisalabad-Lahore-Islamabad zone (France), Karachi (Canada), Land route to and from Iran and Afghanistan (Germany), Malakand (UK), Mardan (UK), Nowshera (UK), Shangla (UK), Sindh province north of and including Nawabshah (UK), Swabi (UK), Tribal areas of Balochistan (Italy)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Jun 16, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country; partial warnings for named regions (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Le reste du territoire est déconseillé sauf raison impérative | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 3, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Hunza Valley
Go for old forts, glacier views and high Karakoram scenery in one river valley in northern Pakistan.
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Hunza Valley is a mountain river valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, the part of Kashmir administered by Pakistan. The Hunza River runs through it, fed by meltwater from the Karakoram range, and the valley floor sits at about 2,438 metres (7,999 feet). Steep slopes, glaciers and rugged peaks surround it. The Karakoram Highway runs north from Gilgit, so Gilgit is the usual starting point for road travel. The valley is divided into Upper Hunza (Gojal), Central Hunza and Lower Hunza (Shinaki).
Travelers come for the forts, the glaciers and the mountain views. Baltit Fort, on a hill above Karimabad, was built by the Mirs about 800 years ago. Altit Fort stands at the bottom of the valley. The Batura Glacier is about 57 km long, and the Khunjerab Pass on the China border sits at a height of 4,693 metres. The valley suits travelers who want mountain scenery and history at a slower pace than a city trip. Summer and early autumn are the usual months to go, when the roads are open. Plan at least three or four days, and more if you want to reach the upper valley.
Hunza Valley in five
- Start in Gilgit on the Karakoram HighwayRoad access to the valley is from Gilgit, and the Karakoram Highway runs north through it. Settle the first transfer from Gilgit before you book anything else.
- Check the road before you set offThe 2010 Attabad landslide blocked the Hunza River and the Karakoram Highway. The lake it formed extends about 30 km along the valley. Ask your guesthouse or a local operator about current road conditions before each leg.Getting around
- Allow a slow first day at 2,438 metresThe valley floor lies at about 2,438 metres (7,999 feet), so drink plenty of water and keep the first day easy before any trek.
- Pick a trek to match your fitnessOndra Poygah Gulmit and Leopard Trek Shiskhat are two popular treks, and both need a check of route length and altitude before you set out. Ask a local operator to confirm the route and conditions.Tours and tickets
- Apply for a Pakistan visa before you book flightsMost foreign visitors need a Pakistan visa, and eVisa applications go through the official portal. Confirm your eligibility there before you buy tickets.Visas and entry
Things to do in Hunza Valley
See all attractions in Hunza Valley
Need to know
- Currency
- Pakistani rupee (PKR)
- Entry
- Pakistan visa needed by most; eVisa via the official portal Read more
- Emergency
- Ask your guesthouse or guide for local emergency numbers
- Tipping
- Ask your guesthouse or guide what tipping is usual
- Time
- UTC+5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryCold, snowbound
- FebruaryCold, snow
- MarchSnowmelt, cool
- AprilSpring, cool
- MayGreen, warm
- JuneWarm, long days
- JulyWarm, green
- AugustWarm, green
- SeptemberClear, cooling
- OctoberAutumn, crisp
- NovemberCold, closing
- DecemberCold, snow
Right now in Hunza Valley
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-3
- Feels like
- -7°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 2 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 16%
Hunza Valley
09:24 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today5°-5°16%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 5°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Wed6°-1°33%Wednesday: Snow. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Thu6°-1°76%Thursday: Snow. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Fri7°-7°62%Friday: Fog. High 7°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 62%.
- Sat4°-7°0%Saturday: Fog. High 4°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun7°-4°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 7°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Mon8°-3°4%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 4%.
Updated 06:07 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 276.7 PKR
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- GilgitAsk your guesthouse for drive timeThe main city on the road in, where the Karakoram Highway starts for the valley.
- Attabad LakeAsk your guesthouse for drive timeThe lake formed after the 2010 landslide, about 30 km long along the valley.
- Khunjerab PassAsk your guesthouse for drive timeThe highest paved international border crossing, at 4,693 metres, on the China border.
Before you go to Hunza Valley
Rules for Hunza Valley, checked
- Most foreign visitors need a Pakistan visa. Check your eligibility and apply through the official eVisa portal before you book flights.Source
- The Khunjerab Pass crossing to China has its own entry and exit requirements. Check them with official Pakistani authorities before you plan the crossing.
- Most residents follow Islam, so dress modestly in villages and ask before you photograph people.
- The Sacred Rock of Hunza has ancient carvings and inscriptions. Do not climb on the rock or touch the carvings.
Plan around Hunza Valley
Pakistan entry, transport and money for a northern trip
Read the guideGetting aroundRoad access from Gilgit and the Karakoram Highway
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a Pakistan visa and how to apply
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, card and price checks for the valley
Read the guideTours and ticketsTreks and guided trips in the valley
Read the guideHunza Valley FAQ
How do you get to Hunza Valley?
Road access is from Gilgit, where the Karakoram Highway runs north through the valley. Check current road conditions before you set off, since the 2010 Attabad landslide blocked the highway.
Is Hunza Valley worth visiting?
Yes, for mountain scenery, Baltit and Altit forts, and treks such as Ondra Poygah Gulmit and Leopard Trek Shiskhat. It suits a trip planned around road travel rather than a short city break.
When is the best time to visit Hunza Valley?
May to September are the warmer months, when most roads and treks are open. Winter is cold, and the Khunjerab Pass is typically closed then, so check before you plan.
How many days do you need in Hunza Valley?
Allow three to four days to see Karimabad, Altit and Baltit, plus a trip into the wider valley. Add more days for treks.
Do you need a car in Hunza Valley?
The valley is long and the sights are spread along the road, so arrange transport in advance, from Gilgit or within the valley. Ask your guesthouse to help you plan it.
Do people in Hunza really live longer?
The claim is disputed. There is no clear evidence that life expectancy in the valley is well above the regional average.