The Jade Palace Hunza

Getting to Hunza

Gilgit Airport is the nearest airport, about 53 km in a straight line from the centre at Karimabad. Arrivals usually continue by road, since the valley is served by the Karakoram Highway, which follows the valley floor for about 60 km. The drive is long and can be affected by weather and landslides, so it is sensible to allow flexibility in travel days rather than plan a tight schedule.

Around Hunza

Hunza is a mountain valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, a long stretch of apricot orchards and old forts beneath Rakaposhi, 7,788 m, on the Karakoram Highway. The nearest main place, Hunza itself, sits at about 2,438 m. Karimabad, the old capital, is the main base, set on terraces above the Hunza River, with bazaars, orchards and Baltit Fort at the top of the village. Altit Fort stands on the older settlement below, with a small museum and traditional houses nearby. Shops and small hotels line the main bazaar.

Around Hunza, side roads and tracks climb to villages on the terraces above the river, where apricot, cherry and apple trees grow around stone houses. Rakaposhi rises across the river and is visible from many terraces. Attabad Lake, formed by a landslide in 2010 and now crossed by a road, lies on the highway towards Passu. Passu is a small village on the Karakoram Highway in upper Hunza, set below the Passu Glacier and the peaks that feed it. Gilgit, a busy town of around 200,000 people spread across the floor of a dry valley, lies on the road approach to the valley.

Hunza through the year

April brings blossom to the orchards, and late October turns the poplars gold; these, with May, are the best months to visit Hunza. June to September is a good stretch, while March and November are possible. Winter is quiet and very cold, with snow on the upper slopes, and many guest houses close from December to February, so January, February and December fall outside the usual season.

Places to stay in Hunza: what to expect

Hotels in Hunza 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 free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, breakfast, a shuttle service and a garden, and some list family rooms, heating, room service and air conditioning. This mix suits families who want meals and a staffed desk on hand, and drivers who need somewhere to leave a vehicle.

Guest houses in Hunza are also a large group, mostly simple to mid-range with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking, most list a 24-hour front desk, and many list free Wi-Fi, a shuttle service and a garden. Some list a restaurant, breakfast, family rooms and a kitchen, while a few list heating, room service and air conditioning. They suit travellers who prefer a smaller, house-like base, and families often find family rooms among them.

Serviced apartments in Hunza are a small group, mostly simple to mid-range. Almost all list free Wi-Fi and car parking. They suit longer stays and travellers who want to keep their own routine, with a car at hand for moving around the valley.

Resorts and lodges in Hunza are a large group, a mix of simple, mid-range and unrated stays. Almost all list car parking, many list free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, breakfast, family rooms, a shuttle service and a garden, and most list a 24-hour front desk. Some list heating, a kitchen, room service and air conditioning, and a few list a swimming pool. They suit families and groups who want meals, grounds and space on site.

Staying in Hunza: questions