We just love places like Hunza where we feel time moves slow, people feel friendlier and the food is fresh and delicious!

General Information / Travel Suggestions

Hunza is located in the Northern parts of Pakistan. The north of Pakistan has some of the tallest mountains in the world including K2 and Nanga Parbat. I will talk about the most impressive one later but that region is as beautiful as any part of the world and for people who love mountain views, hiking, general outdoors…..Hunza is the place to go!

There are two ways to get to Hunza. By air and by road. We chose the latter but in hindsight should have opted for travel by air. The time saving is immense.

Traveling by Road in Hunza

The road network itself from Islamabad to Hunza and beyond is world class. Barring any landslides, that can happen in any mountainous region in the world, the complete route is as easy to drive on as any major road. Needless to say some of the views en route are breathtaking and leave you mesmerized!

A couple of small issues with opting for going by car: Firstly, it is too long a trip and so if you are pressed for time then a lot of time is wasted on getting there and then getting back. It took us around 15 hours and we had to stop overnight in Naraan, which brings us to the second problem.

Lodging options in Naraan and the surrounding areas are limited and the town itself is not a place where I would want to go again. It used to be extremely beautiful but it is now overcrowded and lacks civic amenities. We stayed at the Sarai Naran Resort which is a very good facility and so book it in advance and then book the vehicle!

The biggest plus for a road adventure is when you get to Babusar Top. The view of the Himalayas and the Hindukush is just incredible. This is a true vantage point! Stop here for refreshments and for some great photography spots!

Traveling by Air in Hunza

There are two options when it comes to getting to Hunza by air. You can take the PIA flight to Gilgit but that is a smaller airport and a smaller runway which means that only propellor based aircrafts can land. That is absolutely fine except for when the weather causes flight cancellations or delays. The advantage with Gilgit is that it is less than 2 hours from Hunza and has a 5 star hotel where you can stay overnight.

The other option is taking a flight to Skardu which has a bigger airport and a 737 flies there. The chances of flights getting cancelled or delayed are lower so that would be a better bet. However; it is over 5 hours drive to Hunza. However, Skardu in itself is a trip and there are a lot of lodging options available. That part is every bit as beautiful and adventurous as Hunza!

Things to Do / Places to Go

Attabad Lake

The first place to visit would be the Attabad Lake. Serene, beautiful, enchanting would be the words to describe it.

You must try the boats available for rent. There are multiple options so choose based on your fitness levels. We chose the paddle boats and moved around for around 45 minutes. It is around 2,500 above sea level and is quite chilly. Interesting fact: The lake was formed only in 2010 due a landslide in the area. It is around an hour away from the main area of Hunza.

Passu Cones

If you are reading this blog; you are interested in travelling to Hunza or that part of Pakistan in which case you must have already heard or seen pictures of the Passu Cones.

We weren’t as adventurous as one should be when travelling to such parts of the world and so did not get to see the glacier up close. The other reason was just the short stay that we were on. Had we stayed in Hunza for a week, we would have definitely done much more!

Hussaini Suspension Bridge

This one I did venture out on!

One scary walk this was! The ferocity of the water current under you and the minimal swaying of the bridge causes your head to spin and so with much trepidation I ventured out onto the bridge. The trick is not to look down. However, how can you not look down! The loud sound of the water just makes you look at it! I did manage to get half way through only to turn back to safer grounds. Certainly not for the weak hearted but a great experience nonetheless.

Altit & Baltit Forts

Altit is over 1,000 years old and was built by the rulers of Hunza at that time. Baltit was built much later and the ruling family shifted from the older fort to the newer one.

I would strongly recommend getting a local guide. Luckily we got a great guide who was a college student, spoke perfect English and was well educated on the history of the two forts.

Rakaposhi Mountain

I was more fascinated by this particular mountain more than any other peak in that region of magnificent mountains! Somehow it was more imposing and awe inspiring than the others. It is not the tallest but in my humble opinion certainly the grandest! This is a must stop on your visit to Hunza!

This single picture does not do justice. No picture can!

Other Things to do in Hunza

There are a lot of hiking trails in and around the region. We went on random walks near our hotels. It didn’t matter which trail we were on. The sights and sounds on every walk was beautiful!

You can go to the Pakistan – China border, more commonly known as the Khunjarab Pass. One piece of advise: open your windows at least half hour before you get there and take it easy on your walk to the border. We could not get there and so took a couple of pictures some 300 meters away from the border, got back in the car and drove back to our hotel. We were told to roll down the windows half hour before but we had forgotten. The light air is very disorientating!

Where to Stay / What to Eat

We stayed at the Mountain Story Resort in Hunza. It is a very eco-friendly property and has been built without felling of a single tree! It was built and is run by someone who lives in New York for half of the year and takes care of this property for the other half. I would strongly recommend this property. The vibe is just amazing!

The other place that we would highly recommend is the Silk Route Lodge in Gulmit. This is a little outside Hunza but so worth the stay! It has a great garden and the rooms are fully equipped and very comfortable.

Both these properties had a wonderful team that took care of us and the food at both locations was outstanding!

As for dining options; food in Hunza is simply delicious! Wherever you go, the food will be fresh and well prepared. There are 3 locations that we must recommend. For breakfast, coffee or an evening meal please go to Cafe De Hunza. Try their apricot omelette! It might not sound appetizing but it is wonderful! Do buy some of the products they have on sale. Hunza is known for its dried fruit varieties and so pick as much as your pocket or baggage allowance allows!

For a full meal; go to Hidden Paradise Hunza. It is heaven for meat lovers! The service is fast and the team is very courteous!

Last and probably my favourite is a bakery by the name of Glacier Breeze! Try their Apricot Cake and please message once back from your holiday telling us about it! One of the best cakes you will ever have tried!

Some more pictures of our trip to this beautiful part of Pakistan

Hunza – General Conclusion

Hunza and the Northern parts of Pakistan are as beautiful as any part of the world. They are less explored which makes them even more fascinating. The Himalayas has more than 15 of the tallest mountains in the world and quite a few of them are in Pakistan!

Hunza has some of the kindest people we have ever come across. Always smiling. Always willing to chat! You will not come back disappointed from this amazing area which is full of beautiful sights and sounds, offering delicious food and for the last couple of years, buzzing with tourists finally giving this region of the world the recognition it deserves!