Hotels with heating in the northern areas of Pakistan don't all mean the same thing. A listing that says "heating" could mean a proper centrally heated building, a gas heater brought to your room at night, or nothing more than a generator to run whatever heater you bring yourself. In Hunza, Skardu, Naran and the other northern areas, the difference matters more than the star rating, because winter power cuts in Gilgit-Baltistan regularly run well over half the day.
This guide explains the three ways northern hotels heat rooms, what each one is actually like to stay in, and the questions worth asking before you pay for a winter booking.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Central heating | Rare outside a handful of newer hotels and resorts; ask specifically, don't assume |
| Gas heaters | The most common method; usually removed or turned off overnight |
| Generators | Needed to run any electric heater during outages; ask what fuel and hours it covers |
| GB winter power cuts | Outages of roughly 18 to 20 hours a day are common across Gilgit-Baltistan in winter |
| Best months for reliable heating | Hotels that stay open year-round are used to winter; ask if a property is a summer-only operation |
Why heating is worth asking about at all
Winters in Hunza, Skardu, Naran and Chitral are properly cold: nights well below freezing are normal from December to February, and many hotels were built and furnished for the busy May-to-September season. Some close entirely over winter; others stay open but with noticeably reduced comfort, because systems that worked fine on grid electricity in summer struggle once outages set in.
Gilgit-Baltistan's winter power shortage is well documented: outages of around 18 to 20 hours a day are common across the region in winter, and central Hunza has seen even longer cuts, because the region depends heavily on small hydropower stations whose output falls sharply once rivers freeze. A hotel's heating is only as good as its answer to "what happens when the grid goes down," which is why it's worth asking directly rather than trusting a website that simply lists "heating" as an amenity.
Central heating
A genuinely centrally heated hotel, warmed by a boiler or ducted system rather than portable units, is still the exception rather than the rule. It's most likely at newer, higher-end hotels and resorts in Karimabad, Skardu and a few spots in Naran and Murree that have invested in the infrastructure, and it usually comes with a reliable backup generator or solar system, since central heating that dies with the grid isn't much use in a power cut. If a listing says "central heating," ask what runs it during an outage; a diesel generator sized to keep the boiler and radiators running overnight is a genuinely different experience from one that only heats while the grid is up.
Gas heaters
The gas heater, usually a portable cylinder-fed unit brought to the room in the evening, is the most common form of heating across budget and mid-range hotels and guesthouses in the north. It works and it's cheap to run, but it comes with two things to manage: ventilation and timing.
- Ventilation matters. A gas heater burning in a sealed room without fresh air can produce carbon monoxide, and poorly ventilated heating is a genuine winter safety issue in Pakistan, not a theoretical one; cold-weather carbon monoxide incidents are reported most winters. Never run a gas heater in a fully sealed room overnight, and ask staff to show you the room's ventilation before you settle in.
- Timing matters. Many guesthouses remove the heater once you're in bed rather than leave it running unattended overnight, which means the room can get cold again by early morning. Ask whether the heater stays in the room overnight or is collected, and pack a proper sleeping bag or extra blankets as backup either way.
Wood-burning stoves, known locally as bukhari, are common in guesthouses further off the main road and work on the same ventilation principle: fine when properly flued, a hazard if the flue is blocked or the room is sealed too tightly.
Generators (and why they matter more than the heater itself)
Given how long winter outages run in Gilgit-Baltistan, a hotel's generator matters as much as its heating system. An electric heater or an electric blanket is only useful for as many hours as the generator, or a solar and battery setup, can actually cover.
Before booking for winter, it's worth asking a hotel directly:
- Does the property run its own generator, and for how many hours a day in winter?
- Is fuel guaranteed, or does the generator sometimes sit idle because diesel wasn't available?
- Does the generator cover guest rooms, or only the reception, kitchen and common areas?
- Is there solar power or battery backup as well, which tends to be steadier than a generator that depends on fuel deliveries?
A hotel that answers these questions clearly and specifically is generally a better bet in winter than one that only says "we have heating" without detail.
Booking for winter: what to confirm before you pay
Book by phone rather than relying only on an online listing, and ask three things directly: what kind of heating the room actually has, how the property manages winter power cuts, and whether the hotel stays open through the full winter or only into early December. Pack for genuine cold regardless of the answer: thermal layers, a hat and gloves, a hot water bottle if you use one, and a small torch, since a generator that covers guest rooms doesn't always cover every corridor during an outage. Our guide to the best time to visit the north has more on how winter changes travel across the region, including which roads and passes close.
Is a winter trip to the north worth the extra planning?
Yes, for travellers who want to see the mountains under snow and don't mind fewer comforts and shorter days. It suits people who ask the right questions before booking and pack for genuine cold, rather than those expecting a summer-standard stay at a lower price. Families with young children, or anyone who needs reliable warmth overnight, are usually better off choosing a hotel that can clearly explain its generator and heating setup, or travelling in the warmer months instead.
Frequently asked questions
Do hotels in Hunza and Skardu have central heating in winter?
Some do, mostly newer or higher-end properties, but it's not the norm. Most rely on gas heaters or wood stoves in the room, so ask a hotel directly what heating it actually has before booking a winter stay.
Is it safe to use a gas heater overnight in a hotel room?
Only with proper ventilation. Don't run a gas heater in a fully sealed room overnight; ask staff about the room's ventilation, and prefer a hotel that removes the heater or checks on it rather than leaving it running unattended all night.
How long do power cuts last in Gilgit-Baltistan in winter?
Outages of around 18 to 20 hours a day are common across the region in winter, with some areas, including central Hunza, seeing even longer cuts. This is why a hotel's generator or backup power matters as much as its heating system.
Should I bring my own heater to the northern areas in winter?
A hot water bottle, thermal layers and a warm sleeping bag are more reliable than a portable electric heater, since electric heaters depend on power that may not be available for much of the day in winter.
Are hotels open year-round in Naran and Skardu?
Not all of them. Some properties close for winter entirely, particularly smaller, seasonal guesthouses. Confirm directly with a hotel that it operates through the winter months before relying on it for a cold-season trip.
