Planning a Hunza trip: routes, seasons and where to stay

Getting there from Islamabad

• By road on the Karakoram Highway (KKH): the highway runs about 1,300 km from Hasan Abdal to the Khunjerab Pass on the China border, through Mansehra, Besham, Dasu and Chilas, then Gilgit and Hunza.
• By road over the Babusar Pass (N-15): a 240 km road from Mansehra to Chilas through the Kaghan Valley and over the 4,173 m Babusar Pass, rejoining the KKH at Chilas. It is seasonal and closes with snow.
• By air: there are flights to Gilgit and Skardu. The UK advice warns that schedules “may be unreliable” and flights are often delayed or cancelled by weather, so leave spare days.

There is no official journey time. Travellers on Wikivoyage report that the road from Islamabad “can take as long as 24 hours”, and that Hunza is about 100 km, or 2 to 3 hours, beyond Gilgit.

What the US and UK advise about the routes

Both road routes from Islamabad pass through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (the Kaghan Valley is in Mansehra District, and the KKH runs through the province). This is our reading of the two advisories; check them yourself:

• US citizens: the US advisory says do not travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “for any reason”, so both road routes conflict with it. Flying to Gilgit or Skardu avoids the province.
• UK citizens: the UK advises against all travel on “the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas via Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin”. The Babusar route is not on that list, but the UK says you need advance permission to travel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to avoid travelling on the highway at night.
• Everyone: “All foreign nationals must register with the local authorities when visiting Gilgit-Baltistan” (UK advice).

When to go

• Hunza’s tourist season runs from about May to October (Wikivoyage).
• The Babusar Pass reopened for tourists on 25 May 2026 after its winter closure (Pakistan Today); authorities asked travellers to drive in daylight.
• Monsoon rain can cause landslides. The UK advice gives the monsoon as late June to early October; the US advisory says late June to early September.
• The Khunjerab Pass is typically open from April to November, according to the UK advice.

Where to stay

• Karimabad is the main town of central Hunza.
• Aliabad is another base in central Hunza, on the KKH.
• Gilgit is on the KKH before Hunza, and has an airport.
• Skardu is the alternative airport, for Baltistan.
• Naran is in the Kaghan Valley, on the Babusar route.

• Hotels in Hunza65 listed
• Hotels in Aliabad20 listed
• Hotels in Gilgit33 listed
• Hotels in Skardu83 listed
• Hotels in Naran105 listed

• Ask whether rooms are heated and whether there is backup power.
• Ask what happens to your booking if roads close or flights are cancelled.
• Confirm prices for your dates in writing; high-season rates differ.