Safety in Pakistan depends heavily on where you go, and a single country-wide answer rarely helps anyone plan. This guide is about the mountain north of the country, Gilgit-Baltistan, where we run every trip from Skardu: the Hunza and Nagar valleys, Skardu and Baltistan, the Karakoram Highway and the trekking areas beyond. It is written as of November 2026, and it is our own operator's view, not an official advisory.
Is Pakistan safe for tourists right now?
Safety in Pakistan varies a great deal by region, so a single answer for the whole country is not much use. The mountain north, where we operate, has a long record of welcoming trekkers and tourists, and day-to-day risks there are mostly road, weather and altitude. Check your own government's current advisory before booking.
Travel advisories are written for a whole country and have to be cautious by design. They tend to treat a nation as a single block, even though conditions in a Karakoram valley can be very different from conditions in a border province or a large city. That does not make advisories wrong, and it does not make them irrelevant. It means you should read them for what they say about the specific areas you will visit, and make your decision with that detail in front of you.
We will not tell you that any destination carries no risk, and we will not tell you that conditions never change. They do, and the honest approach is to look at the current picture shortly before you travel. What we can do is describe what the mountain north is like on the ground and what we do about the risks that genuinely exist there.
How safe is Gilgit-Baltistan (Hunza and Skardu)?
Visitors generally describe Hunza and Skardu as unhurried and hospitable, and the practical risks are the ones that come with mountains: long road days, landslides, changeable weather and altitude. We run every trip from Skardu with local guides and drivers, and we judge conditions day by day rather than by a fixed rule.
In day-to-day terms, a trip here looks like what you would expect in any high mountain region. You stay in family-run guesthouses and small hotels, eat in local restaurants and at your lodge, walk through villages and bazaars, and spend most of your time in landscapes that are sparsely populated. People are curious and welcoming, and a short conversation over tea is a normal part of travelling here. Most of the difficulties our guests describe afterwards are about the physical side of the trip: a long drive, a cold night, a slow day at altitude.
The risks we take most seriously are therefore practical ones. Roads in the Karakoram can be closed by rockfall, landslides or seasonal flooding, and a journey that looks short on a map can take most of a day. Weather can change quickly at altitude, and mountain trekking carries its own risks, from altitude illness to river crossings. Our guide to altitude explains how we approach that part in more detail.
None of this is unique to Pakistan. What matters is that someone local is reading the conditions each morning and has the authority to change the plan.
What is each region like in practice?
The four areas below cover most of what our guests visit. The descriptions are our general experience, written without guarantees, and the last column shows how we approach each. Conditions shift with season, weather and news, so confirm current details with us before you book.
| Region | What it's like | Our practice |
|---|---|---|
| Hunza / Nagar | Settled valleys, small towns, welcoming guesthouses, busy in summer and autumn | Local guide, familiar family-run lodgings, flexible daily pacing |
| Skardu & Baltistan | Our home base, lakes, desert and high plateaus, remote in places | Run from our Skardu office, Balti guides, vetted vehicles |
| Karakoram Highway | Long, scenic road days, exposed to landslides and closures | Early starts, experienced drivers, buffer days and route changes |
| Fairy Meadows / Nanga Parbat area | Short jeep ride then a walk to alpine meadows, basic lodges | Guided walks, weather calls, rest and acclimatisation time |
The Karakoram Highway deserves a particular mention. It is the main route between Hunza, Gilgit and the rest of the country, and it is spectacular, but it is also where you are most likely to see disruption. We plan for this with buffer days, early departures and drivers who know each section of the road. If you are flying into Skardu rather than driving, weather can still delay flights, so a spare day at either end of the trip is always sensible.
For a closer look at either valley, our overview guides to Skardu and Hunza describe the towns, sights and seasons in more detail.
What we do to keep trips safe
Safety on our trips is mostly ordinary operational discipline. Local Balti and Hunza guides who know the terrain lead every group, drivers are vetted and vehicles checked, itineraries build in acclimatisation days, and we keep communications open with the office in Skardu. Weather and road calls are made on the day.
Here is how that works in practice:
- Local guides. Our guides live in the region, speak the local languages, and know the roads, weather patterns and villages. They are the first line of judgement on any day.
- Vetted drivers and vehicles. We work with drivers we know and who know the mountain roads, and we expect vehicles to be in sound condition before a long journey begins.
- Acclimatisation by design. We build gradual height gain and rest days into itineraries rather than adding them as an afterthought, because altitude is the most predictable risk in the mountains.
- Communications. Guides stay in touch with our office where there is signal, and on remote treks we agree check-in and fallback arrangements in advance. Coverage in the mountains is patchy, so this is planned rather than assumed.
- Weather and road calls. Decisions to start, wait, shorten or reroute are made by the guide and our team on the day, with no pressure to stick to the printed schedule.
- Honest briefings. Before you travel, and again on arrival, we explain what to expect, what could go wrong and what we will do if it does.
We are licensed with the Department of Tourist Services (DTS No. 008), and we work with the permits and paperwork each area requires. Our permits guide explains how that side of things works.
Is it safe for solo female travellers?
Many women travel in Gilgit-Baltistan, and the region is often regarded as one of the easier parts of Pakistan for it, though conditions differ from Western norms. Modest dress, travelling with a guide or driver and some advance planning make a real difference. We are happy to talk through your plans honestly before you commit.
To be realistic, a solo woman will notice that public life in Pakistan is more male-dominated than in many countries she may be used to. In Hunza and Skardu this is usually experienced as curiosity and courtesy rather than anything more, but it is worth preparing for. Loose, covering clothing, such as long sleeves and trousers or a long tunic, and a light scarf are practical and are generally appreciated. Many women find that travelling in a small group, or with a woman guide arranged in advance where possible, makes the trip more relaxed. Please ask us early if that matters to you.
Choosing lodgings with good reviews, sharing your itinerary with someone at home, and being comfortable saying no politely are sensible habits anywhere. We will gladly arrange accommodation and transport that suit you, and we would rather answer detailed questions now than have you arrive with concerns. Many solo women also prefer joining a small group departure on a shared itinerary to travelling entirely alone.
What you should check before you travel
Read your government's current travel advisory for Pakistan and for the specific regions you plan to visit, and check it again shortly before departure. Arrange travel insurance that covers trekking, altitude and medical evacuation, and confirm visa and permit requirements with us or the relevant authority. Advisories can change, so we do not quote a level here.
- Your government's advisory. Read the wording for the country and for Gilgit-Baltistan separately, and note the date it was last updated.
- Travel insurance. Check that the policy explicitly covers the activity (trekking or hiking), the maximum altitude of your itinerary, and emergency evacuation and repatriation. Some policies exclude trips against government advice, so read the conditions carefully.
- Visa and permits. Requirements and processing times change. We can guide you through the process for your nationality, but you should confirm with the official source.
- Health. Speak with a travel clinic about vaccinations and medication, and tell us about any medical conditions in advance.
- Cash and connectivity. Cards are not accepted everywhere in the mountains, and mobile coverage is limited outside towns. We will brief you on both.
If a trek is part of your plan, our guides to planning a first trek and to the seasons will help you choose the right time and route.
Should you travel?
Only you can decide, using current official information and the views of people who run trips on the ground. As a Balti-run company in Skardu, we find the mountain north deeply rewarding, and we believe careful planning and local knowledge address most real risks. We would rather you wait than travel with unresolved doubts.
If you want a first look at what a measured introduction to the region looks like, our Hunza Valley Classic starts from $1,150 per person and the Skardu Valley and Deosai Tour from $950. The Hunza and Skardu Highlights combines both valleys from $1,650. Prices fall with group size.
Plan this with us
If you have questions about safety, routes or timing, write to us and we will answer plainly. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what worries you most, and we will tell you what we know. The Hunza Valley Classic is a good place to start, and our contact page is the quickest way to reach the team.
