Gilgit Itinerary: 2 Days in the City and Nearby Valleys

This 2 days Gilgit itinerary covers Gilgit's main sights and one of its valleys, if you split the time sensibly: spend the first day on the city and the nearby Kargah and Danyor sites, and the second on a single valley, Naltar, Bagrot or Nomal. Gilgit is a hub for the north rather than a sightseeing city, so this plan is built around short, low-effort stops on day one and a longer drive on day two.

If you only have one day, our one day in Gilgit plan fits everything into a single route. This page is for people who can spare a second day and want to use it well.

How the two days fit together

Gilgit sits at about 1,500 metres in a dry valley, and summer afternoons can be very hot, so the sensible rhythm is outdoor stops in the morning and evening, and the bazaar or a rest in the middle of the day. Day one uses the city and the two sites about 10 km out. Day two needs an early start, because Naltar takes two to three hours each way and Bagrot about two.

Choose your day-two valley before you book hotels, because Naltar and Bagrot both depend on a jeep and on weather. Our day trips from Gilgit compares the full list.

Day 1: the city, Kargah and Danyor

Morning: Kargah Buddha

The Kargah Buddha is a standing Buddha carved into a cliff face in the Kargah nala, about 10 km west of Gilgit and roughly 20 minutes by car. It is usually dated to the 7th century, and admission is free. Go early, before the heat builds, and allow about an hour. Our Kargah Buddha guide covers the history and the walk.

Late morning: Danyor

Danyor lies across the river, around 10 km from the city. Two stops fit well here:

• The Chinese Cemetery. Established in the early 1970s, it holds 88 graves with 140 interments of Chinese workers and engineers who died building the Karakoram Highway between 1966 and 1979. It is a quiet, well-kept memorial; visit respectfully. See our Chinese cemetery guide.
• The Danyor suspension bridge. A pedestrian bridge from the mid-1960s, about 510 feet long, over the Hunza River. It is closed to vehicles, and open to pedestrians and motorcyclists. Strong winds make it sway, so cross calmly and don't stand in groups on it.

For older history in the same area, our Danyor rock inscriptions guide explains the carvings.

Afternoon: rest or bazaar

Take the middle of the day indoors, because it is the hottest part of the day. Later in the afternoon walk the old bazaar for dried fruit, local crafts and gemstones; our Gilgit bazaar shopping guide explains what to look for and how to bargain.

Evening: Chinar Bagh

Finish at Chinar Bagh near River View Road. It is a quiet green space associated with the 1947 uprising against the Maharaja; several leaders of the Gilgit Scouts are buried there. Read more in our Chinar Bagh guide. For dinner, see where to eat in Gilgit.

Day 2: choose one valley

You cannot do all three in a day. Pick the one that matches your group.

Naltar: lakes and forest

Naltar is the best-known choice. Sources put the distance from Gilgit at about 34 to 48 km and the drive at two to three hours, with the last stretch to the lakes on a rough jeep track. Satrangi Lake lies about 12 km above Naltar Bala, and the best time is May to October. It is a long day, and not one for anyone who dislikes bumpy roads. Agree the jeep fare for the full round trip, including waiting time, before you start; fares have changed from year to year. See our Naltar Valley guide and how to reach Naltar.

Bagrot: glaciers and farming villages

Bagrot is a green farming valley east of Gilgit. Jeep time from Gilgit to the upper villages is about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the valley sits below Diran and Rakaposhi. It suits people who like village walks and mountain views more than lakes. See our Bagrot Valley guide.

Nomal: an easy half day

Nomal is only about 25 km from Gilgit, a green valley at the mouth of the Naltar river. It is not a major sight, but it combines with an unhurried morning if you want a short day. Read our Nomal valley guide.

Which valley for which traveller?

• First-time visitors who want a headline sight: Naltar, if the weather is dry and everyone is comfortable on rough roads.
• Families with young children or older relatives: Nomal, or a shorter Bagrot day. Both involve less time on difficult track.
• Photographers and walkers: Bagrot, for the glacier and the peaks.
• Short on energy after a long journey: keep day two for rest and the bazaar, and skip the valleys.

What to carry and when to go

Carry water, sun protection and a light jacket for the valleys, where temperatures drop. Bring cash, since few ATMs accept foreign cards. The valleys are best from May to October; in winter, Naltar's road is covered in snow. Our Gilgit weather by month helps you pick dates.

Is it safe? Getting to Gilgit

Gilgit and the valleys described here are in Gilgit-Baltistan, which the UK government's advice does not list. The usual road from Islamabad, though, runs on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, and the UK advises against all travel on that stretch (updated September 2026). Many Pakistani travellers use it, and the Babusar route avoids it in summer. Check local news and police advice before you go, and if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice, because travel against it can void insurance. Our guide to whether the Karakoram Highway is safe has more. Flying to Gilgit avoids the road altogether, though flights depend on weather.

Where to stay

Stay two nights in Gilgit. It has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants, and it makes day two's early start easier. See our hotels in Gilgit guide. If you want to be at Naltar for sunrise, a night in Naltar is possible, but it turns this into a three-day plan.

Frequently asked questions