Entry fees for tourist spots in Gilgit-Baltistan are usually a few hundred rupees for Pakistani visitors and considerably more for foreign nationals, collected in cash at the gate. The exact figures change often, sometimes more than once a year, so treat any number here as a guide and budget more cash than you think you need for the day.
This is a reference list of what to expect to pay across the region's forts, national parks and popular spots, and where to find the current figure for each.
Forts and heritage sites
Hunza's forts are the most visited heritage sites in the region. Baltit Fort in Karimabad charges separate rates for Pakistani and foreign visitors, with the foreign rate several times the local one, as is standard practice across Pakistani heritage sites; see our guide to Baltit Fort for the current price and opening hours. Altit Fort, a short drive below Karimabad, follows a similar structure with its own separate ticket; our Altit Fort guide has the detail.
In Baltistan, Khaplu Palace and Shigar Fort, both restored heritage properties that also operate as hotels, charge a visitor entry fee for those not staying overnight. See our guides to Khaplu Palace and Shigar Fort for current prices.
National parks
Khunjerab National Park, which you pass through on the way to Khunjerab Pass, charges an entry fee at the Dih checkpoint, with separate rates for Pakistani and foreign visitors. The fee has changed more than once in recent years, so pay whatever is posted at the gate rather than relying on a figure from a previous season; our guide to the Khunjerab entry fee has more detail.
Deosai National Park charges an entry fee per person, again with a lower rate for Pakistani nationals than for foreign visitors, collected at the park checkpoint on the way in. As with Khunjerab, this figure moves from year to year. See our Deosai entry fee guide for the current rate.
Attabad Lake boating and jet skis
Attabad Lake does not charge to view it, but boating on the lake is a paid activity run by local boat operators rather than a single official body, so prices vary between operators and by boat type: a shared motorboat costs less per person than hiring a smaller boat outright, and a jet ski is a separate, usually pricier option. Expect to negotiate a little, and confirm the price before you get on the water. Our guide to Attabad Lake boating has more on what to expect.
What tends to be free
Most natural viewpoints, valleys and villages in Gilgit-Baltistan, including the Passu Cones, Hussaini suspension bridge crossing on foot, and most bazaars, do not charge an entry fee. Suspension bridges occasionally have a small toll for vehicles rather than pedestrians. Museums and a handful of specific attractions are the exception rather than the rule; if in doubt, ask locally before assuming a fee applies.
Why the numbers move around, and what to do about it
Entry fees at government-run sites, forts and parks in Gilgit-Baltistan are revised periodically by the relevant department, and there is no single public fee schedule that stays current for long. Foreign-national rates in particular can be set in a way that differs noticeably from the Pakistani rate, and both can change between one season and the next. Prices printed on tour operator websites are often out of date within a year.
The practical approach: budget a rough sum in cash per person per day for entry fees, carry more than that, and treat any number you read online, including in our own site-specific guides, as an estimate rather than a quote. Small notes are more useful than large ones, since gates rarely have change.
Frequently asked questions
Do foreign tourists pay more than Pakistani visitors at these sites?
Yes, at nearly every fort, park and heritage site in Gilgit-Baltistan, foreign nationals pay a higher entry fee than Pakistani citizens, often several times as much. This is standard practice across Pakistani tourism generally, not specific to any one site.
Can I pay entry fees by card?
No, assume cash only everywhere. Card facilities are rare even in towns, let alone at park checkpoints and fort entrances, so carry enough rupees in small denominations before you set out.
Which sites in Gilgit-Baltistan are free to visit?
Most open landscapes are free: valleys, viewpoints, the Passu Cones, and walking across suspension bridges. Fees apply mainly to forts, palaces, national parks and paid activities such as boating.
Where can I find the current entry fee for a specific site?
Check our dedicated guide for that site, where one exists, since we update the figure as we reconfirm it, and expect it to have moved since the last time you read it. Otherwise, ask at your hotel the day before, since local staff usually know the current rate.
