Hunza Apricot & Cherry Blossom Tour
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Hunza Valley Classic Tour
An easy eight-day journey up the Karakoram Highway through old Hunza — Karimabad's forts, Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones and the Khunjerab Pass.
- 8 Days
- Easy
- 4,693 m (Khunjerab Pass)
- April – October
At a glance
Duration8 Days
GradeEasy
Max altitude4,693 m (Khunjerab Pass)
Group size2–14
Best seasonApril – October
Start / endIslamabad
TypeTour
RegionHunza
Group pricing
Per person in USD, full-board — the larger your group, the lower the per-person cost. We confirm your exact all-in figure in writing before any deposit.
| Group size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 7–10 people | $1,150 |
| 4–6 people | $1,350 |
| 1–3 people | $1,650 |
Excludes international flights, Pakistan visa, insurance, personal equipment and tips.
Fixed 2027 departures
Guaranteed small-group dates for the 2027 season. Prefer your own dates? Every trip can also run privately inside its season window.
| 12 Apr 2027 → 19 Apr 2027 | Book this date |
|---|---|
| 10 May 2027 → 17 May 2027 | Book this date |
| 14 Jun 2027 → 21 Jun 2027 | Book this date |
| 12 Jul 2027 → 19 Jul 2027 | Book this date |
| 16 Aug 2027 → 23 Aug 2027 | Book this date |
| 13 Sept 2027 → 20 Sept 2027 | Book this date |
| 11 Oct 2027 → 18 Oct 2027 | Book this date |
Trip highlights
- Two nights based in Karimabad, old Hunza's hilltop capital
- Baltit and Altit forts, over 700 years old
- Sunrise over Rakaposhi and Ladyfinger from Duikar
- A boat across the turquoise Attabad Lake
- The Passu Cones and the glaciers of Gojal
- Up the Karakoram Highway to the Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m)
- The Hopar glacier and Rakaposhi views in Nagar
Overview
The Hunza Valley Classic is an easy, eight-day journey up the Karakoram Highway into Hunza and Nagar — the thousand-year-old forts of Karimabad, the turquoise of Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones, and the road to the Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border. It is a hotel-based trip that suits families, couples and first-time visitors to northern Pakistan.
Hunza sits on the old Silk Road between Gilgit and the Khunjerab Pass, a string of terraced villages beneath Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Ladyfinger Peak. For centuries it was an independent princely state ruled by the Mir of Hunza; today it is the most visited valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, known for its forts, its apricot and cherry orchards, and a reputation for long life and near-total literacy.
Over eight days we base in Karimabad and explore outward: Baltit and Altit forts and the old bazaar; sunrise over Rakaposhi from Duikar; a boat across Attabad Lake and the glaciers and suspension bridges of Gojal; the Hopar glacier and Rakaposhi viewpoints in Nagar; and the full run up the KKH to the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 m, the highest paved border crossing in the world.
This is a road-and-air trip, not a trek — comfortable hotels, a private vehicle and driver, and a Hunza guide throughout; the only walking is short and optional. Flights between Islamabad and Gilgit are quick but weather-dependent, so we keep the Karakoram Highway as a scenic backup and build a buffer day into the plan.
When to come
Hunza is open from April to October, and all three seasons are worth it — tell us which you want and we will time your departure.
- Blossom (late March to April): the orchards turn white and pink, the days are cool and clear.
- Summer (June to September): warm and green, with every pass and lake open.
- Autumn (October): golden poplars and some of the sharpest mountain views of the year.
Itinerary
8 stages over 8 days, starting and finishing in Islamabad. Routes can be shortened, extended or privately dated.
Morning flight from Islamabad to Gilgit (weather permitting) and a two-hour drive up the Karakoram Highway to Karimabad, the main town of Hunza. If flights are grounded we drive the KKH instead and overnight at Chilas. Evening at leisure in Karimabad.
A full day in old Hunza — the restored Baltit Fort above Karimabad, the older Altit Fort and its cherry garden by the river, and the Karimabad bazaar. Late afternoon we drive up to Duikar (Eagle's Nest) for sunset over Rakaposhi, Diran and Ladyfinger.
North up the KKH into Gojal: a boat on the turquoise Attabad Lake, the Hussaini suspension bridge, the Passu Cones and the Passu and Borith glaciers, with tea in Gulmit. Return to Karimabad for the night.
A long, spectacular day to the Pakistan-China border at Khunjerab, the highest paved border crossing in the world, through Khunjerab National Park (watch for ibex and marmots). Return down the valley to Hunza.
Across the river into Nagar for the white Hopar (Bualtar) glacier and a close view of Rakaposhi from Ghulmet, with an optional short walk toward its base. Back to Karimabad, with time for the bazaar and orchards.
A relaxed drive down to Gilgit with photo stops on the KKH; in Gilgit, the Kargah Buddha rock carving and the town bazaar. Overnight in Gilgit, or continue toward Chilas if flying out the next day.
Morning flight from Gilgit to Islamabad (weather permitting), or the drive down the KKH via Besham with an overnight en route. Evening in Islamabad.
Time for Islamabad or Rawalpindi sightseeing — Faisal Mosque, Daman-e-Koh or the Taxila ruins — before your transfer to the airport.
What’s included
Included
- All ground transport in Pakistan as per itinerary
- Experienced native English-speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation on the road sections
- Full camping equipment and kitchen crew on trek
- All meals during the trekking / climbing period
- Porters for group and personal equipment (within weight limit)
- Trekking / climbing permits and national park fees
- Government liaison officer where required
Not included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- Pakistan visa fee
- Personal travel and high-altitude rescue insurance
- Personal climbing and trekking equipment
- Tips for guides, cooks and porters
- Any expenses of a personal nature
These are the standard inclusions for our tour programmes and are confirmed in writing on your final itinerary before any payment is taken.
Questions about this trip
Both are built in. The quick way is the one-hour flight from Islamabad to Gilgit, then a two-hour drive to Hunza — but Gilgit flights are weather-dependent and cancel often. Our plan keeps the Karakoram Highway as a scenic backup (a long but stunning day's drive) and includes a buffer day, so a grounded flight does not break the trip.
Khunjerab (4,693m) is usually open to visitors from about April to late November, snow permitting. We drive to the border marker and Khunjerab National Park, then turn back — the crossing into China is only for travellers with a Chinese visa arranged in advance, so day visitors cannot cross.
Yes. It is graded easy — hotel-based, with a private vehicle and only short, optional walks. The one demand is altitude: the day at Khunjerab (4,693m) is long and high, and some feel the thin air. Hunza itself, at around 2,500m, is gentle.
The apricot and cherry blossom runs from late March into April; June to September is warm and green with every pass and lake open; October turns the valley gold. All three are good — tell us which you want and we will time your departure.
This is graded easy. You should be comfortable walking for several hours a day, on rough ground, across 8 Days. Porters carry the main loads; you carry a light daypack. If you tell us your recent hill days we will give you an honest answer.
The reliable window is April – October. Outside that, conditions on the route make it either unsafe or not worth the money. We can run private departures on any dates inside that window.
2–14. Smaller and private groups are available and often cost less per head than you would expect — ask us for a quote on your own dates.
The headline is the per-person rate for a standard group of 7–10; smaller groups pay a little more per head because fixed costs — guide, permits, liaison officer and transport — are shared across fewer people. Prices are full-board, and we confirm your exact all-in total in writing before any deposit.
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