Zia Guest House

Getting to Gilgit

Gilgit Airport lies about 2.3 km in a straight line from the centre of Gilgit, so the transfer into town is short once a flight has landed. Flights from Islamabad take about an hour, but services are weather-dependent and can be cancelled at short notice, so arrivals often continue by road on the Karakoram Highway instead.

By air or by road on the Karakoram Highway are the usual ways in, and the highway links Gilgit north and south. Winter can be cold, with snow on higher roads, so conditions on the road can change and it is worth checking before setting out.

Around Gilgit

Gilgit sits at an altitude of about 1500 metres on the floor of a dry valley, a busy town of around 200,000 people with mountains rising steeply on all sides. It is the administrative and transport centre for the valleys around it, including Hunza to the north and Astore to the south, and a useful stop before or after the journey to Skardu.

Around Gilgit are small museums, old forts and viewpoints over the rivers. Gilgit Fort stands on a ridge above the river and has walls and gateways from the 19th century. Several side valleys are close enough for a short trip, and within town shared taxis and local buses run along the main roads.

North of Gilgit, Hunza is reached along the valley: its old capital, Karimabad, sits on terraces above the Hunza River, with Baltit Fort at the top of the village and Altit Fort on the older settlement below.

Gilgit through the year

The best months to visit Gilgit are May, June, September and October. April, July and August are good months, while March and November are possible. January, February and December fall in the off season.

Summer days are warm and winter is cold, with snow rare in town but common on the surrounding peaks. Winter can be cold, with snow on higher roads, so travel plans in the colder months usually depend on conditions.

Places to stay in Gilgit: what to expect

Guest houses in Gilgit are a fair number, mostly simple to mid-range. Almost all list car parking and a 24-hour front desk, many list breakfast, and some list free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, family rooms, room service, a shuttle service, a garden or air conditioning. A few list a kitchen or a swimming pool. Families who want breakfast on site and drivers who need parking are both well served by what these stays commonly offer.

Hotels in Gilgit form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking and a 24-hour front desk, many list a restaurant and a shuttle service, and some list free Wi-Fi, breakfast, room service, a garden or air conditioning. Family rooms and heating appear at a few hotels. The parking and front desk make this kind of stay straightforward for drivers and for families arriving late.

Resorts and lodges in Gilgit are a fair number, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking, many list free Wi-Fi, breakfast and a garden, and most list a 24-hour front desk and a shuttle service. Some list a restaurant, family rooms, heating, a kitchen, room service, a swimming pool or air conditioning, and a few list a fitness room. The gardens and parking suit families and drivers, while heating is useful in the colder months.

Staying in Gilgit: questions