Gilgit-Baltistan in winter is open, but only the lower half of it. From December to February you can still reach Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu: the Karakoram Highway is the one road in, and flights run when the weather allows. What closes is everything high: the Babusar Pass, the Deosai plateau, the track to Fairy Meadows and, for visitors, the drive to the top of Khunjerab. Expect nights well below freezing, long power cuts and short days, and build spare time into every plan.
For the right traveller it is a very good season: empty valleys, snow on the orchards, frozen lakes in a cold year and none of the summer crowds. This guide covers what stays open, how to get there, where to base yourself, how to stay warm and how to drive safely on snow.
| At a glance | December to February |
|---|---|
| Open, weather permitting | Gilgit, Hunza as far as Sost, Nagar, Skardu, Shigar, Khaplu |
| Closed | Babusar Pass, Deosai, Fairy Meadows, Shandur, Khunjerab summit for day visitors |
| Road in | Karakoram Highway via Besham, Dasu and Chilas only |
| Flights | Gilgit and Skardu, both often cancelled for weather |
| Average January night | About −3°C in Gilgit, −8°C in Skardu |
| Vehicle | 4x4 advised, with snow chains |
| Power | Long daily load-shedding; ask about generators |
What is open in winter, and what is not
The rule of thumb is simple. Valley towns on the main roads stay reachable. Anything that needs a high pass or a summer jeep track does not.
Usually reachable:
- Gilgit and its nearby sights, including the Kargah Buddha
- Hunza and Nagar: Karimabad, Altit, Aliabad, Attabad Lake, Gulmit and Passu, and on up the Karakoram Highway to Sost
- Skardu and the Kachura lakes, Katpana and Sarfaranga
- Shigar and Khaplu, on the valley roads out of Skardu
Closed, or not realistic:
- Babusar Pass, from about November. In 2025 the Kaghan side closed on 6 November, and the Diamer administration closed the Naran road to all traffic on 29 November.
- Deosai, which is snowbound and only accessible in summer
- Fairy Meadows, where the jeep track from Raikot Bridge is not a winter road
- Shandur and the upper Ghizer valley
- Khunjerab Pass for a day visit. Since December 2024 the border has been kept open through winter for trade and cross-border traffic, but that is not the same as the road being fit for a tourist day trip; our Khunjerab Pass guide explains the difference.
- High side valleys: upper Astore, Naltar's lakes, and villages at the top of jeep roads, where snow cuts access for days or weeks
Even the open roads close for a day or two after heavy snow or rockfall. In January 2026 the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department warned of road closures in nine districts after heavy snowfall, and advised visitors to postpone non-essential trips to high areas.
Getting there: one road and weather-dependent flights
With Babusar shut, the only road in from Islamabad is the Karakoram Highway through Abbottabad, Besham, Dasu and Chilas. It takes two long days to Gilgit, and in winter you should plan on daylight driving only, which makes the days feel longer still. The highway is kept open, but it does block: in late February 2025 heavy snow closed it at several points around Dasu in Kohistan and left thousands of passengers stranded, and in March 2026 landslides after heavy rain closed it between Pattan and Bursin.
Flying saves those two days when it works. Gilgit is served only by PIA, whose ATR turboprops can't land without good visibility, and in winter a cancelled Gilgit flight can mean waiting several days for a seat. Skardu can take jets on its long runways, and PIA, Airblue and AirSial have all flown the Islamabad route in 2026; check which are operating in the month you travel. More airlines means more seats to rebook onto, but Skardu flights are grounded by bad weather too.
Three rules we follow for winter flights:
- Keep a spare day at both ends of the trip.
- Never book the flight out on the day of an international connection or a fixed commitment in Islamabad.
- Know your road fallback. If a flight is cancelled twice, the Karakoram Highway is usually the quicker way home.
Hunza in winter
Hunza is the easiest winter destination in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Karakoram Highway north of Gilgit is paved, the Attabad tunnels take the road past the lake, and Karimabad is a compact place to stay put in. The orchards are bare and the light is low and clear, and when snow falls the valley is quiet in a way it never is in July.
The winter draw is the ice. Karakoram Winterlude, a festival run by a local organisation in Altit, brings ice hockey, ice climbing and music to Hunza each January; its 2025 edition ran from 11 to 19 January with twelve hockey teams. The tourism department's own winter feast held ice sports in Hunza and Skardu the same month.
Don't plan a trip around frozen lakes, though. Winters here have been getting milder, and in January 2026 the natural rink at Altit failed to freeze properly, so the hockey had to move north towards Sost, where the ice was still poor. Attabad Lake freezes in some years and not in others.
Karimabad sits at around 2,500 metres, so nights are well below freezing. Upper Hunza, around Passu and Sost, is colder again.
Skardu in winter
Skardu is very cold in winter. In January it averages about 3°C in the afternoon and −8°C at night, and the record low is below −24°C. In exchange, it is the easiest of the three to fly to, because its airport takes jets from more than one airline.
In winter, a Skardu trip means the town and the lakes nearby, Shigar Fort about an hour away, and Khaplu a longer drive up the Shyok. The Katpana and Sarfaranga dunes are close to town, and after a snowfall they look nothing like their summer selves. Skardu also has a winter ice rink at Hussainabad, where the tourism department's January 2025 festival held ice hockey, skating and ice curling.
On 21 December, Baltistan marks Mayfung, the Balti new year at the winter solstice, with bonfires and flaming torches. If you happen to be in Skardu or Shigar that evening, ask locally where it is being held.
Gilgit and Naltar: skiing and snow
Gilgit, at about 1,500 metres, is the mildest of the three bases, with January nights averaging only a little below freezing. It is a practical first night rather than a destination in winter.
The snow is above it at Naltar, about 34 km from Gilgit, where the Pakistan Air Force runs a ski resort and hosts ski competitions in winter. The road up can be snowbound after storms, so go by 4x4 with a local driver, and check before you set out that the slopes and lift are running. The Naltar lakes further up the valley are not reachable in winter.
Heat, power and where to stay
This is the part of a winter trip that makes the most difference to how it feels.
- Load-shedding is long. Most of Gilgit-Baltistan's electricity is hydropower, and output drops sharply when the streams freeze. Winter power cuts of many hours a day are normal. Ask the hotel directly whether it has a generator and when it runs.
- Heating varies. Some hotels, such as the Serena in Gilgit, advertise room heating backed by generators; smaller places may rely on gas heaters or wood stoves. Ask what heating the room has, and whether there is hot water in the morning.
- Gas heaters need ventilation. Never sleep with a gas heater burning in a closed room. Turn it off before bed, or leave a window open a crack.
- Book ahead and confirm. Plenty of hotels stay open, but not every guesthouse does, and some close wings or rooms. Confirm by phone a day or two before arriving.
- Keep power banks charged whenever the electricity is on, and carry a head torch.
Pack as for a proper cold climate: thermal layers, a down jacket, a warm hat and gloves, and wool socks. Our travel guide has a fuller packing list for the north.
Driving on snow and ice
The tourism department's January 2026 advisory is a good summary: use a 4x4 if you can, carry snow chains, extra fuel, food and warm clothing, and follow the instructions of the traffic police and local administration.
A few more things we tell drivers:
- Drive in daylight only. Ice forms on shaded bends as soon as the sun goes, and rockfall is harder to see at night.
- Fill the tank at every major town. Fuel stations are further apart than they look on the map, and a blocked road can mean hours with the engine running for heat.
- Fit the chains before you need them, and practise once in a car park rather than on a slope.
- Watch the shaded stretches. Bends where the sun never reaches in winter can stay icy all day.
- Ask before each stage. Hotel staff and drivers in Gilgit, Aliabad and Skardu know which stretches are blocked that morning. Signal drops for long stretches, so agree check-in times with someone.
- A normal car is possible on the main roads in a mild spell, with chains and an experienced driver. It is the wrong choice for side valleys or during active snowfall.
Is a winter trip worth it?
Yes, for travellers who want quiet, snow and the valleys to themselves, and who can travel with spare days. Photographers, couples and small groups with a flexible return tend to enjoy it most. Hotels and drivers are far less busy than in summer, and you see the valleys as the people who live there do.
It is the wrong choice for a first trip north if you want the classic sights, because Deosai, Fairy Meadows, Babusar and the top of Khunjerab are all closed. It is also hard going with babies or older parents, given the cold nights and power cuts, and a poor fit for anyone with a fixed return date.
If you mainly want snow within easy reach of Islamabad, Swat and Malam Jabba are the gentler winter option; our Swat Valley page covers it. For how the whole year compares, see when to go and our Gilgit-Baltistan weather by month.
Frequently asked questions
Is the road to Hunza open in winter?
Usually, yes. The Karakoram Highway through Besham, Chilas and Gilgit to Hunza is kept open all winter, but landslides and heavy snow can close stretches for hours or days. Babusar Pass is closed, so the Naran route is not an option.
Can I visit Khunjerab Pass in winter?
Plan on no. The border has been kept open through winter for trade since December 2024, but the road above Sost is snowbound and a tourist day trip to the top is not reliable between December and April. Ask in Sost before driving on.
Do flights to Skardu and Gilgit operate in winter?
Yes, when the weather allows, but cancellations are common, and Gilgit's small turboprops need good visibility to fly at all. Keep a spare day at each end of the trip and never book the flight home on the day of an international connection.
How cold is Skardu in January?
On average about 3°C in the afternoon and −8°C at night, with record lows below −24°C. Gilgit is milder, around 10°C by day and −3°C at night.
Does it snow in Hunza in winter?
Usually, between December and February, though the amount varies a lot from year to year and recent winters have been drier and milder. Snow is more reliable higher up, in upper Hunza and at Naltar.
Is it safe to drive to Gilgit-Baltistan in winter?
It can be, if you drive only in daylight, use a 4x4 with chains, check road conditions each morning and keep spare days. If you are not used to mountain roads, hire a local driver for the winter trip.
