Adventure Activities in Gilgit-Baltistan Beyond Trekking

Trekking gets most of the attention in Gilgit-Baltistan, but many adventure activities here fit into a day or two: skiing at Naltar, jeep safaris onto Deosai, boating on Attabad Lake, trout fishing, cycling the Karakoram Highway, short glacier walks and tandem paragliding. Most need no special fitness or experience. The catch is timing, because almost every one of them has a narrow season, and the ski season and the fishing season do not overlap at all.

This guide sets out what is available, where, in which months, and who each activity actually suits.

Skiing at Naltar

Naltar is Pakistan's best-known ski area, about 42 km by road from Gilgit up the Naltar valley, and it is closely tied to the Pakistan Air Force: the Ski Federation of Pakistan, formed in December 1990 and affiliated with the international ski federation (FIS), has its headquarters at the PAF Sports Complex in Islamabad. Pakistan's best-known skier, Muhammad Karim, grew up in Naltar and has raced at four Winter Olympics, from Sochi in 2014 to Milano Cortina in 2026.

The skiing depends entirely on snowfall, which is most dependable in mid-winter. Outside winter Naltar is a green valley of pine forest and small lakes with no snow on the slopes. Do not count on hiring skis on the spot as a casual visitor; ask through your hotel or the resort before you travel, or bring your own. In heavy snow the road from Gilgit needs a 4x4 and a local driver. Our Naltar Ski Resort guide covers the slope and lift, and our winter sports guide adds Rattu and the ice hockey tournaments.

Jeep safaris

Away from the paved Karakoram Highway, much of Gilgit-Baltistan is reached only by jeep track, and the drive is often the activity. Deosai's high plateau, the approach to Rama Lake below Nanga Parbat, the Naltar lakes and side valleys such as Bagrot and Chapursan are all jeep country. The Naltar lakes, for example, lie about 13 km beyond Naltar Bala on a narrow unpaved track beside a stream, and in winter snow makes them all but impossible to reach by vehicle.

Drivers are hired by the trip, and on rough tracks with stream crossings a local driver who knows this week's conditions is worth more than any rental car. Our jeep hire guide covers how hiring works.

Boating on Attabad Lake

Attabad Lake formed after a landslide on 4 January 2010 buried Attabad village, killed 20 people and dammed the Hunza River. The lake is about 21 km long and more than 100 metres deep, and the Karakoram Highway now runs along it through five tunnels, about 7 km in total, opened in September 2015.

Boating here is the easiest activity on this list and suits every age: motorboat rides and jet skis leave from jetties along the highway, with no booking needed on an ordinary day. The water is glacier-cold all year, so insist on a life jacket for everyone, including strong swimmers. Our Attabad Lake boating guide covers the jetties and what rides cost.

Trout fishing

Gilgit-Baltistan's rivers and high lakes hold brown and rainbow trout, both introduced species. A licence from the region's Fisheries Department is mandatory, sold as seasonal and daily licences, and fishing is banned from October to March while the trout breed (Dawn, 2026). The department now issues 5,000 to 6,000 licences a year, against 1,000 to 1,500 a decade ago.

Experts quoted in the same 2026 reporting say trout numbers have fallen by about half over two decades, through overfishing and warmer water. Keep to the season, carry the licence, and consider releasing what you do not eat. Our trout fishing guide lists the better waters in Ghizer, Hunza and Skardu.

Paragliding and rafting

Tandem paragliding, where a qualified pilot flies and you sit in front, is offered in summer from the high ground above Karimabad. River rafting is arranged by adventure operators in Gilgit on the Gilgit and Hunza rivers. Neither has a fixed centre or a regulator you can check, so ask any operator about the pilot's or guide's experience, the equipment and the rescue plan before paying. Our paragliding in Hunza and river rafting guides go through those questions.

Cycling the Karakoram Highway

Cycling the highway north through Hunza toward Khunjerab draws a small but committed group of Pakistani and foreign riders. The road is paved and traffic is usually light outside the Eid and summer holiday rush, but the numbers are serious: Karimabad to the Khunjerab border is about 170 km by road, climbing to 4,693 metres, with no fuel beyond Sost and long stretches with no shelter. It suits fit, experienced riders with a support vehicle or a fully loaded bike, not a first tour.

Gentler rides on the valley floor around Aliabad, Karimabad and Gulmit are realistic for anyone who rides at home. Our Karakoram Highway cycling guide covers stages and kit.

Short glacier walks

Passu Glacier lies just south of Passu village in upper Hunza, beneath Passu Peak, with a small lake at its front draining into the Hunza River. It can be approached on a walk of a few hours without technical skills, only sturdy shoes and care on loose moraine near the ice. Do not walk onto the ice itself without a guide.

Longer glacier routes such as Baltoro or Hispar are expeditions that need permits, porters and weeks of preparation; our Baltoro Glacier guide explains the difference.

Watching polo at Shandur

The Shandur Polo Festival, played between Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral teams on what is billed as the world's highest polo ground at about 3,700 metres, is traditionally held in early July. Freestyle polo, a tented camp and cold nights at that height make it an adventure even for spectators. Dates are announced each year, so confirm them before planning. From the Gilgit side the route runs through Ghizer and avoids the Chitral road; our Gilgit to Shandur guide covers the drive.

Choosing activities by region

• Hunza: Attabad boating, the Passu glacier walk, valley-floor cycling, tandem paragliding above Karimabad.
• Gilgit area: Naltar skiing in winter, Naltar lakes by jeep in summer, rafting, trips into Bagrot.
• Skardu and Baltistan: jeep safaris to Deosai and Shigar, trout in the Skardu lakes, the start of the K2 treks.
• Astore: jeep tracks to Rama Lake and Minimarg, with Nanga Parbat behind.
• Ghizer: well-known trout water, and the road to Shandur in July.

Who these activities suit, and the safety basics

Families with young children or elderly parents will find Attabad boating, short drives to the Naltar lakes and an easy Passu walk the realistic options. Skiing, long-distance cycling and anything on a glacier suit people who already have some experience.

Three rules apply throughout. Altitude catches people who drive up quickly, so read our altitude sickness guide before heading above 3,500 metres. Rescue in remote valleys is slow, so tell someone your plan and return time. And check that your travel insurance covers the activity, since many policies exclude paragliding and skiing. If you would rather have stops built into a planned route, our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour and Skardu and Deosai tour include several of them.

Frequently asked questions