Four days in Hunza gives you time for Karimabad and its two forts, the sunset at Eagle's Nest, Attabad Lake and the Passu side of upper Hunza, and it is the first length at which the trip stops feeling like a rush. The plan below starts and ends in Gilgit, puts two nights in Karimabad and one in Passu or Gulmit, and shows where a Khunjerab day could replace something else.
It sits between our shorter 3-day Hunza itinerary and the longer 5-day plan. If you are arriving by air, the days run from the morning flight into Gilgit; if by road, from the night before.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Gilgit to Karimabad | About 100 km, 2.5 to 3.5 hours |
| Nights | Karimabad 2, Passu or Gulmit 1 |
| Altitude | Karimabad about 2,400 to 2,500 m; Passu and Gulmit slightly lower |
| Best months | April to October; June to September for Khunjerab |
| Entry tickets | Baltit and Altit forts, Attabad boating, park fee if you go to Khunjerab |
How the four days fit together
The shape of the trip is a V: two days in the lower valley around Karimabad, then one day north to Attabad, Hussaini and Passu, then back down to Gilgit on the fourth. Almost nothing in Hunza is far from anything else, so the plan is mostly about avoiding wasted driving and putting the right sights at the right time of day.
Light matters. The high peaks around Karimabad are at their best at sunrise and sunset, so the plan keeps the middle of the day for walks and for the lake, where the colour is strongest when the sun is high.
Day 1: Gilgit to Karimabad
Leave Gilgit by mid-morning. The road to Karimabad is about 100 km of Karakoram Highway and takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours depending on traffic, road works and weather. If you land at Gilgit airport, our guide to Gilgit airport to Hunza covers the transfer.
- Drive up the valley, with a stop for the Rakaposhi viewpoint near Ghulmet if the peak is clear.
- Check in at Karimabad. See hotels in Karimabad for what is there.
- Walk the bazaar in the late afternoon. Our old town walk takes about an hour.
- Watch the light on Rakaposhi and Ultar from the guesthouse terrace.
Keep dinner simple. After a long drive, most people want an early night.
Day 2: Baltit, Altit and Eagle's Nest
This is the heritage and views day.
- Baltit Fort in the morning. The fort sits above Karimabad and was restored with Aga Khan Trust for Culture support. Opening hours are roughly 9 am to 4 or 5 pm, varying by season, so check at the gate. Ticket prices have changed several times and sources disagree, so carry cash.
- Altit Fort next, a short drive down the hill. It is older and more weathered than Baltit, and the village below it is worth a walk. Our comparison of Altit and Baltit forts helps if you have time for only one.
- Lunch in Karimabad or Altit. Our guide to Hunza restaurants lists options.
- Eagle's Nest at sunset. The viewpoint at Duikar is about 11 km from Karimabad and the road is steep and rough, so a 4x4 or a local jeep is the normal way up; sources give 25 to 45 minutes. See Eagle's Nest. Leave in time to be back down before dark.
If it is raining or cloudy, swap this with day 3 and go to the lake instead.
Day 3: Attabad, Hussaini, Borith and Passu
Leave Karimabad by 8 or 9 am and treat the day as a slow drive north.
- Attabad Lake, about an hour and a half from Karimabad. The lake formed after the 2010 landslide that blocked the Hunza River, and the five tunnels of the realigned highway run past it. Boating is optional, with quotes of roughly PKR 2,000 to 3,500 per person in 2026 that vary with the boat and the length of the ride; confirm the price before you board. See Attabad Lake.
- Hussaini suspension bridge, a short stop. Our guide to the Hussaini bridge covers the crossing.
- Borith Lake, about 2 km north of Hussaini on a paved road, at roughly 2,600 m. It is a quiet place for tea and a short walk. See Borith Lake.
- Passu, for the view of the Passu Cones in the afternoon light. See Passu Cones and Passu glacier.
- Sleep in Passu or Gulmit. See hotels in Passu and hotels in Gulmit.
Day 4: Return to Gilgit
Passu is about 125 km from Gilgit, so allow three to four hours for the drive south, with time for photographs on the way back. If you have a flight out of Gilgit, plan to be at the airport the evening before or the morning of departure with a spare day, because Gilgit flights are cancelled often enough that a same-day connection is a gamble. See our guide on flight cancellations in the northern areas.
A late start is sensible if you are driving out: a slow morning in Passu, a walk to the glacier viewpoint, and lunch in Karimabad on the way down.
The Khunjerab option
Khunjerab is about 80 to 85 km above Sost, 1.5 hours beyond it, and the season runs roughly May to October or November. A full day trip takes 8 to 10 hours with stops from Karimabad. In a four-day plan it replaces day 3 or day 4:
- Replace the Attabad day: go straight to Passu and Sost, do Khunjerab, and sleep in Passu or Sost. Then do Attabad and Hussaini on the way back on day 4.
- Replace the Gilgit return: sleep in Passu on day 3, go up on day 4 and sleep in Karimabad, with the drive to Gilgit on day 5.
The second option is a five-day trip in practice. See our Khunjerab Pass guide for the season, the checkpoint and the altitude, which is 4,693 m.
What to book and when
Book Karimabad hotels first, because the places with a view fill early in the high season, and May to September are busiest. Passu and Gulmit are smaller still. The advertised price for a hotel with a terrace can be well above a standard room, so ask for the view if it matters.
If you hire a driver, agree the price for the whole four days, including the Eagle's Nest jeep or the lake detour, before you leave Gilgit. Our guide to hiring a driver covers what to ask.
Is four days the right length?
Yes, for most first visits. Two days is a quick look at Karimabad. Three works if you skip the Passu night. Four gives you the full lower and upper valley without hurrying.
It is not enough if you also want a long hike, such as Ultar Meadows, or a long jeep day to Shimshal or Chipursan. Add a day for each.
Our nine-day Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour spreads the same places across more days.
Is it safe?
Hunza is in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is not on the UK's do-not-travel list. The road to get there from the south may be: the UK advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. Flying to Gilgit avoids it, and the Babusar route avoids it in summer. Pakistani visitors still travel both. Check local news and current advice before you leave, and if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice because it can affect your insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is 4 days enough for Hunza?
Yes, for the main sights: the forts, Eagle's Nest, Attabad Lake, Passu and Borith. You will not have time for a long hike or for Khunjerab unless you rearrange the days.
Can I fit Khunjerab Pass into a 4-day Hunza trip?
Yes, by sleeping in Passu or Sost on day 3 and going up early on day 4. That uses most of day 4 and pushes your return to Gilgit to day 5, unless you drop Attabad.
How far is Karimabad from Gilgit?
About 100 km, which takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic, road works and weather.
Where should I stay for 4 days in Hunza?
Two nights in Karimabad and one in Passu or Gulmit. Karimabad has the most hotels and the forts; Passu has the best view of the Cones.
What is the best month for a 4-day Hunza trip?
June to September for settled weather and Khunjerab. April and October are quieter, with blossom in spring and colour in autumn. See best time to visit Hunza.
