Gilgit-Baltistan is difficult with a baby, mainly because of altitude and the length of the drives. The lower parts, Gilgit city at about 1,500 metres, work best. Skardu (about 2,228 metres) and Hunza (about 2,500 metres) are higher than the limit some paediatric experts suggest for infants, and the high places, Deosai, Khunjerab, Babusar and Fairy Meadows, are not suitable for a baby at all.
This is not medical advice, and no guide can replace your paediatrician. It is a plan for what to ask, what to avoid and how to build a trip that keeps a baby comfortable. We use "baby" for a child under one; toddlers are more flexible and are covered in our family trip guide.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Gilgit | About 1,500 m |
| Skardu | About 2,228 m |
| Hunza (Karimabad area) | About 2,500 m |
| Expert-panel survey suggestion for under-ones | Around 2,000 m maximum |
| Places to avoid with a baby | Deosai, Khunjerab, Babusar Top, Fairy Meadows |
| First step | Talk to your paediatrician before booking |
Is Gilgit-Baltistan safe for a baby?
It depends on the age of the baby, the places you choose and your doctor's view. The CDC's Yellow Book notes that children are as susceptible to the effects of high elevation as adults, and that babies who cannot talk show altitude illness through loss of appetite, irritability and paleness, not through headaches. A slow ascent is the preferred approach.
A survey of paediatric altitude experts, published in a French paediatrics journal in 2023, suggested a maximum of about 2,000 metres for children under one year, and lower for very young infants. Experts also advised against travel to altitude for a baby with a respiratory infection. We are not doctors and these are survey answers, not rules, but they show why the higher valleys deserve caution with an infant.
Ask your paediatrician for a specific answer for your baby, especially if the baby was premature or has a heart or lung condition.
Which places work with a baby?
- Gilgit city (about 1,500 m). The lowest of the usual bases, with a hospital, a market and shops for nappies and formula. It is the easiest base if you fly in, and our day trips from Gilgit stay at similar height. See places to visit in Gilgit city.
- Skardu (about 2,228 m), with care. Higher than Gilgit, and a big step if you fly straight in from Islamabad. If your doctor agrees, keep the days short and easy near town and skip the higher excursions.
- Hunza and Karimabad (about 2,500 m), with your doctor's agreement. You would be sleeping near 2,500 metres, so talk to your doctor first.
Only go beyond these if your paediatrician says so, and never for high-altitude day trips.
Places to leave for later
- Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m). A rapid climb of more than 2,000 metres in a car. See our page on Khunjerab Pass; it is not for a baby.
- Deosai (above 4,000 m). Long, rough, cold and remote.
- Babusar Top and Fairy Meadows. High, cold and involving a difficult jeep and walk.
- Any trek or camping trip. Nights outdoors at altitude are not sensible for an infant.
Getting there with a baby
Gilgit and Skardu flights are short but weather often cancels them; see our guide to flight cancellations and keep spare days. Road journeys are long: the drive from Islamabad to Gilgit takes many hours over mountain roads, so plan to travel in stages with rest stops, a properly fitted car seat, and no night driving.
The Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas is on the UK government's list of routes it advises against travelling on. If you go by road, the Babusar (N15) route avoids that stretch in summer, but it climbs to more than 4,000 metres, which makes it a poor choice with a baby. In practice, flying in is the more sensible option for a family with an infant.
Medical care and supplies
Bring what you may need, because supplies are limited outside Gilgit and Skardu. Pack enough formula or nappies and any prescribed medicines, plus your baby's health records. Our page on medical facilities in Gilgit-Baltistan covers what to expect. If your baby shows unexplained fussiness, poor feeding or unusual sleepiness after going up, the advice is to go down and seek help.
Keep the baby warm, well hydrated and out of dust and smoke from wood stoves. Use bottled or boiled water for formula; see drinking water in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Is it worth doing with a baby?
For most families, the honest answer is to wait a year or two, or to keep the trip short and low. The north is beautiful but much of what makes it worth visiting is high, cold and far from a hospital. A relaxed few days around Gilgit, with your doctor's agreement, is realistic. A full Hunza and Skardu loop is not.
If you have decided to go, our trip planner can help you shape a slow itinerary with spare days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a baby to Hunza?
Some families do, but Hunza sits around 2,500 metres, above the level some experts suggest for under-ones. Ask your paediatrician first and keep to a slow plan.
At what altitude is it safe for a baby?
There is no single rule. An expert-panel survey suggested about 2,000 metres as a maximum for infants under a year, and lower for newborns. Follow your own doctor's advice.
What are the signs of altitude sickness in a baby?
Loss of appetite, irritability, unexplained fussiness, pallor and changes in sleep. If you see these after going up, descend and get medical advice.
Is Skardu suitable for a baby?
At about 2,228 metres it is lower than Hunza, but still high for a baby. Get your paediatrician's view and skip the higher excursions such as Deosai.
Should I fly or drive with a baby?
Flying avoids the long road, but flights are often cancelled by weather. Build in spare days either way.
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