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Upper Karakoram: Gilgit to Passu – Route Guide

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Hunza Valley and Baltit Fort — Upper Karakoram: Gilgit to Passu
Photo: Alllexxxis · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

From Gilgit, the upper Karakoram Highway climbs beside the Hunza River to Karimabad's restored forts, Attabad Lake and the serrated Passu Cones. This compact high-mountain corridor avoids the advised-against lower highway and gives travellers five or six daylight days with a local driver, live road checks and time to absorb Hunza rather than race toward the China border.

Upper Karakoram: Gilgit to Passu is a 155 km one-way journey (staffed road transport). It works best as 5–6 days; the plan below is the 6-day version for June, built from 43 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

5–6
days
155km
distance
3
Stops
43
curated stops

Plan your own version → 5-day plan · 6-day plan · best time to go

The route

Gilgit→ 105 kmKarimabad & Hunza→ 50 kmPassu

What you'll see

Gilgit Bridge
Walk across Asia's largest suspension bridge over the Gilgit River.
Gilgit
Baltit Fort
Explore centuries-old artifacts in the Mirs' historic seat.
Karimabad & Hunza
Kargah Buddha
Admire a serene 7th-century rock engraving of Buddha.
Gilgit
Rakaposhi Viewpoint
Pause at the established roadside viewpoint for a close view of Rakaposhi.
Karimabad & Hunza
Old British Cemetery
You will see quiet, shaded graves dating back to British colonial times, some marked with simple stone crosses.
Gilgit
Attabad Lake
See Attabad Lake from a bounded shore viewpoint without assuming boating, swimming or another paid activity.
Karimabad & Hunza
Altit Fort
Visit an impressively situated fort, older than Baltit.
Karimabad & Hunza
Eagle's Nest
Watch the sunset over the stunning Hunza Valley.
Karimabad & Hunza

Choose your length

5-day plan15 stops · 5.8 h transit3 stops/day · 1.2 h transit/daySee the full plan →6-day plan15 stops · 5.6 h transit2.5 stops/day · 0.9 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September

This Upper Karakoram journey is offered only for the five complete months from May through September. Road access is never guaranteed: rain, landslides, rockfall, flooding or an authority restriction can close the highway even during the supported season.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →