Hunza Valley 8-day Tour: Karakoram Highway & Glaciers

Eight days crossing three mountain ranges to glaciers, forts and the world's highest border

This 8-day guided tour from Islamabad takes you into Hunza Valley and the surrounding peaks of the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalayas, with domestic flights replacing long road stretches. You fly to Gilgit, spend four nights in the mountain villages of Hunza, visit Baltit and Altit Forts (both nearly 900 years old), hike to Hoper Glacier, boat on Attabad and Borith Lakes, cross a suspension bridge at Passu, and drive to Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border. Hotel pickup from Islamabad airport and all domestic flights are included, along with seven nights of accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and rest in Islamabad

• Receive guests at Islamabad Airport
• Check-in at hotel
• Rest and relax in Islamabad
• Overnight stay in Islamabad

Day 2 — Fly to Hunza and local sightseeing

• Fly to Gilgit in the morning
• Meet guide at Gilgit Airport
• Road trip to Hunza
• Check-in at hotel in Hunza
• Visit Baltit Fort
• Visit Altit Fort
• Sunset at Eagles Nest
• Free evening in Karimabad
• Overnight stay in Karimabad

Day 3 — Explore Hoper Valley and glacier

• Visit Hoper Valley
• Visit Hoper Glacier
• Hike through Hoper channels
• Return to Karimabad
• Free time in Karimabad
• Overnight stay in Karimabad

Day 4 — Visit lakes and mountain sights

• Visit Attabad Lake
• Boating and jetski at Attabad Lake
• Visit Borith Lake
• Boating and rafting at Borith Lake
• Cross suspension bridge
• Stop at Passu mountain range
• Overnight stay at Borith Lake Resort

Day 5 — Road trip to Khunjerab Pass

• Road trip to Khunjerab Pass
• Visit Khunjerab National Park
• Overnight stay at Borith Lake Resort

Day 6 — Explore upper Hunza and transfer

• Rest and explore upper Hunza
• Souvenir shopping in Karimabad
• Return drive to Gilgit
• Stopovers on the way
• Transfer to hotel in Gilgit

Day 7 — Return to Islamabad and city tour

• Transfer to Gilgit Airport
• Fly to Islamabad
• Receive guests at Islamabad Airport
• Transfer to hotel
• Optional Islamabad city tour
• Drop off at hotel after dinner

Day 8 — Departure from Islamabad

• Hotel check-out by 12:00 PM
• Drop off at Islamabad International Airport

The Experience

The tour opens with airport pickup in Islamabad and a night to settle before the mountain portion begins. The next morning you fly to Gilgit—a one-hour flight that replaces a grueling road journey—and your guide meets you at the airport. A 90-minute drive brings you to Karimabad in central Hunza, where you check into your hotel and spend the afternoon at Baltit Fort and Altit Fort, both standing in the valley for roughly nine centuries. You watch the sunset from Eagles Nest in Duikar Valley before the evening is yours to walk through Karimabad.

The following days unfold through the valleys and lakes that define the region. One day takes you into Hoper Valley to hike around Hoper Glacier and through the irrigation channels that feed the terraced fields below. Another day centers on the lakes: Attabad Lake opens for boating and jet ski, then you move on to Borith Lake for boating, rafting and water time. You cross a suspension bridge at Passu—described as a thrilling experience—and stop at the cathedral-shaped mountain formation nearby. A full day is reserved for the road trip to Khunjerab Pass, the world's highest border crossing into China, with Khunjerab National Park on the way. The itinerary leaves time to rest in Karimabad, shop for souvenirs and explore at your own pace.

On the return leg, you drive back to Gilgit with stops along the Karakoram Highway, the same road you traveled in reverse on arrival. A domestic flight returns you to Islamabad for an optional city tour and dinner before the final morning drop-off at the airport. The guide speaks English throughout, and children from age one are welcome on the tour.

What’s included

• Domestic flight fares between Islamabad and Gilgit (round-trip).
• seven nights of accommodation in 3-star hotels (Grand Islamabad Hotel in Islamabad, Mulberry Hotel Hunza in Karimabad, Borith Lake Resort in upper Hunza, and Duroyou Inn Gilgit on the return).
• airport pickup in Islamabad and all ground transfers between airports, hotels and tour sites.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Exploria

Is this one for you?Book this if you want domestic flights breaking up the journey to Hunza's valleys and glaciers—you'll arrive rested enough to explore the same afternoon rather than spend days on mountain roads.

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Top questions

What are Baltit Fort and Altit Fort, and how much time do I spend there?

Baltit Fort and Altit Fort are medieval fortifications in Hunza Valley, each roughly 900 years old and built into the mountainside above Karimabad. You visit both on the same afternoon during your first full day in the valley, with the evening free to explore the town.

Do I have to drive the entire Karakoram Highway, or does the tour use flights to skip the long stretches?

The tour uses a domestic flight from Islamabad to Gilgit to avoid the longest road section, then you drive the Karakoram Highway between Gilgit and Hunza Valley (about 90 minutes each way). The highway itself is part of the experience—you travel it twice, once on the way in and once on the way out, with stops along the route.

What water activities are included at Attabad Lake and Borith Lake?

Attabad Lake offers boating and jet ski during your free time there. Borith Lake includes boating, rafting and water adventures as part of the day's activities. Both are optional—you choose how much time to spend on the water.

How many nights do I spend in Hunza Valley, and where do I stay?

You spend four nights in Hunza Valley, based in Karimabad at the Mulberry Hotel Hunza or a similar property. One additional night is spent at Borith Lake Resort in upper Hunza, and you return to Gilgit for one night before flying back to Islamabad.

What happens on the final day, and when do I leave for the airport?

On the final day you fly from Gilgit to Islamabad in the morning, are met at the airport, and transfer to your hotel. An optional city tour of Islamabad and dinner are available before checkout at noon the next day, when you are dropped at Islamabad International Airport.