Know before you go
Travel guides, written from the valleys
No recycled blogspam — these are the answers we give our own guests, kept up to date by people who live on the Karakoram Highway.
Plan Your Trip
Visas, routes, packing and itineraries — the practical answers we give our own guests.
Plan Your Trip · 11 min read
7-Day Hunza Itinerary: A Perfect Week in Northern Pakistan
Plan Your Trip · 9 min read
What to Pack for Pakistan's Mountains: The Complete List
Plan Your Trip · 12 min read
Karakoram Highway Road Trip: The Complete Planning Guide
Plan Your Trip · 8 min read
Islamabad to Skardu: Flights, Roads and How to Choose
Plan Your Trip · 10 min read
Is Pakistan Safe for Tourists? An Honest, Evidence-Based Guide
Plan Your Trip · 9 min read
Pakistan Tourist Visa: How to Apply Online (e-Visa Guide)
Seasons
Blossom, summer trekking weather, autumn gold and deep Karakoram winter — month by month.
Seasons · 13 min read
Winter in Gilgit-Baltistan: Snow, Silence & Frozen Lakes
Seasons · 12 min read
Autumn in Gilgit-Baltistan: Golden Poplars & Harvest Light
Seasons · 8 min read
Hunza Cherry Blossom Guide: When, Where and How to See It
Seasons · 14 min read
Summer in Gilgit-Baltistan: Treks, Lakes, Polo & High Passes
Seasons · 13 min read
Spring in Gilgit-Baltistan: Blossom Season Week by Week
Seasons · 11 min read
Best Time to Visit Hunza & Gilgit-Baltistan: Month-by-Month Guide
Culture & People
The people of the valleys: languages, food, music, faith and everyday village life.
Culture & People · 12 min read
The Bitan: Hunza's Shamans, Fairies & Mountain Folklore
Culture & People · 13 min read
Ghizer Culture: Khowar, Shina & Life Along the Gilgit River
Culture & People · 14 min read
Hunza for Women Travelers: Safety, Education & Empowerment
Culture & People · 16 min read
Balti Culture: Baltistan's Tibetan Heritage, Food & Villages
Culture & People · 12 min read
Music of Gilgit-Baltistan: Instruments, Bands & Where to Hear It
Culture & People · 14 min read
Gojal (Upper Hunza): Wakhi Culture, Villages & Way of Life
Culture & People · 15 min read
Hunza Culture & Villages: People, Faith and Everyday Life
Culture & People · 13 min read
Languages of Gilgit-Baltistan: Burushaski, Wakhi, Balti & More
History & Heritage
Kingdoms, Silk Road caravans, old photographs and the events that shaped Gilgit-Baltistan.
History & Heritage · 12 min read
Hunza in Old Photographs: 1900s Archives & Early Expeditions
History & Heritage · 13 min read
Modern Gilgit-Baltistan: 1947 to Today — KKH, Tourism & Change
History & Heritage · 14 min read
Baltistan History: Little Tibet, the Maqpon Dynasty & Beyond
History & Heritage · 14 min read
History of the Hunza Kingdom: Mirs, Forts & the Great Game
History & Heritage · 13 min read
The Old Silk Road Through Hunza: Routes, Rocks & Caravans
Trekking & Mountaineering
Base camps, glaciers and the climbers — local and international — who made the Karakoram famous.
Trekking & Mountaineering · 16 min read
Karakoram Climbing History: K2's First Ascent to Winter 2021
Trekking & Mountaineering · 14 min read
Mountaineers of Baltistan: Ali Sadpara, Sajid & the Porter Legends
Trekking & Mountaineering · 12 min read
Gasherbrum Base Camp Trek: Hidden Peak & G2 up the Abruzzi
Trekking & Mountaineering · 12 min read
Masherbrum (K1) & Hushe Valley: Treks Beyond the Crowds
Trekking & Mountaineering · 16 min read
K2 Base Camp Trek: Route, Difficulty, Cost & What to Expect
Trekking & Mountaineering · 15 min read
Skardu Trekking Guide: Every Major Trek from Baltistan's Hub
Festivals & Polo
Shandur polo, harvest festivals, Navroz and the music that soundtracks them.
Wildlife & Conservation
Snow leopards, markhor and ibex — and the community conservation programs protecting them.
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