Hunza Cultural Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive to Islamabad

Arrive at Islamabad International airport and transfer to the hotel. Participants will enjoy leisure time to relax and recover from the journey on this day. In the afternoon you can enjoy a city tour (visit Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa museum etc).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Islamabad
Meals: Lunch, dinner

Day 2 Travel to Hunza

Fly from Islamabad airport to Gilgit (a 1-hour scenic flight). From there you will transfer to Hunza, with a short stop to visit the Berano suspension bridge (one of the oldest suspension bridges in the region) and the Danyor tunnel. You will also have quick stops for photography at the collision point of two tectonic plates, the ancient silk route viewpoint and the Rakaposhi viewpoint. While passing through the small villages in Nagar and Hunza valleys, you will witness village life.

Check into the hotel in Karimabad and have some free time. Enjoy a short evening walk at Samarqand kohl through the apricot orchids in the village and explore the local culture. You will drive to Dongo Das for stargazing at night. Enjoy your precious time under the dark sky. Drive back to your hotel for the night stay.

In case of flight cancellation due to weather, drive from Islamabad via Karakoram Highway with short stops at various touristic spots.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Karimabad (2,400m / 7,874’)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 Visit Duikar

Enjoy a full day in Hunza! You will visit the 800-year-old Baltit Fort, Karimabad Bazar (for shopping for Handicrafts, gemstones, dry fruits etc.), 900-year-old Altit Fort, and enjoy a traditional lunch at Kha Basi Café (a café owned by Serena hotels and run by local women).

After lunch, you will visit the music school in Altit, where local children learn and play traditional music (guests can also practice playing regional musical instruments). Then visit Ganish village (the oldest settlement in Hunza) and visit a local family home.

You will drive to Duikar (2800 m) and after a 15-minute beautiful hike, you will arguably reach one of the best sunset viewpoints in the world, with a birds-eye view of the whole of Hunza and Nagar valleys and the splendid views of seven mountain peaks above 7000m. Drive back to your hotel in Karimabad for the night’s stay.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Karimabad (2,400m / 7,874’)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Visit Karimabad

Today you will drive to Passu through numerous small villages in Upper Hunza. After stopping at the Atabad Lake and enjoying boating, you will reach Gulmit village, where you will walk through the orchids and then visit the old house & music school.

Enjoy a short hike, Pakistan’s highest & longest stairs to Ondra fort, a community-based tourism initiative in Gulmit village of Gojal Valley. Free time to enjoy the beautiful view of Passu cones and upper Hunza.

Later in the afternoon, drive to Borith Lake (a beautiful lake in upper Hunza famous for migrating birds). After witnessing the magnificent migrating birds, proceed to Passu to enjoy leisure time or trekking in the afternoon. Enjoy the sunset from glacier breeze restaurant with a cup of tea/coffee and the famous apricot cake. You may participate in a cultural event in upper Hunza (if the time matches). Drive back to our hotel in Karimabad for the night’s stay.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Karimabad (2,400m / 7,874’)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Visit Hoper and Minapin

After breakfast drive to Hoper valley. En route, you will visit Nagar Khas (a village in Nagar valley) and meet locals to witness a different culture and Nagar fort. Then continue to travel to Hoper village where you can do a beautiful short hike to Hoper glacier (2 hours) and experience walking on the glacier. Then drive to Minapin village to enjoy leisure time and a famous traditional lunch (Gurkun karahi) while a local historian briefly explains the region’s history. After lunch, drive to KHO (a beautiful viewpoint) in local jeeps. Drive back to Karimabad in the evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Karimabad (2,400m / 7,874’)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Khanabad and Gilgit

Drive to Khanabad village in Lower Hunza and spend most of the day here. Savour village life with a host family and experience practical participation in village people’s routine activities. Then visit fruit orchids, walk through the streets, meet locals, including artisans/historians and enjoy traditional lunch with a host family. You can also enjoy meditation/yoga in the village. Drive back to Gilgit in the afternoon and visit Kargah Budha (7th century Budha).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gilgit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Travel back to Islamabad

Fly from Gilgit to Islamabad (1-hour scenic flight). Transfer to hotel and after lunch sightseeing. In case of flight cancellation drive from Gilgit via Karakoram Highway with short stops.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Islamabad
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 Contingency day in case of delays

If you cannot fly due to the weather, today will be the 2nd day of driving to Islamabad. If you flew from Skardu to Islamabad then there are plenty of sightseeing & cultural attractions in the capital region. The leader will advise on the options available,
Overnight Location: Hotel in Islamabad
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 Departure day

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to the airport for international flights.
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast