The Silk Route Festival is a cultural event in Gilgit-Baltistan that celebrates the region's place on the old trade routes between China, Central Asia and South Asia. It has been held in different forms and in different months, not on a fixed calendar date, so anyone searching for the Silk Route Festival in Gilgit should treat it as an occasional event to confirm each year rather than a guaranteed one.
The two editions we could verify from news and official sources are the three-day festival of October 2013 and a two-day festival at Karimabad in August 2025. This guide describes both, explains why tour-company pages disagree about the dates, and says what to do if you want to be in Hunza when it happens.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Cultural festival on the Silk Route theme |
| Verified editions | 27 to 29 October 2013 (Gilgit and Hunza); 9 and 10 August 2025 (Karimabad) |
| 2026 and 2027 dates | Not confirmed in sources we could find |
| Main base | Karimabad, Hunza |
| Fixed annual schedule | No; check with local organisers and tourism offices |
What was the 2013 Silk Route Festival?
The 2013 festival ran from 27 to 29 October and moved across the region. The inauguration was held at Karakoram International University in Gilgit, and Governor Syed Pir Karam Ali Shah opened it (Ismaili Mail, Pamir Times). Visits included the Kargah Buddha rock carving near Gilgit and the Aga Khan Shahi Polo Ground, with a polo match billed as the game of kings.
The programme then moved up to Hunza and Nagar. Pamir Times described sites including the Collision Point near Chalt, Nilt, Sikandarabad, the Rakaposhi View Point, Karimabad, Baltit Fort and Altit. Highlights included a traditional sword dance, a staged Silk Route caravan at Sikandarabad and a reenactment of the 1891 war between the British and the people of Hunza and Nagar at Nilt. The closing ceremony was at Gulmit in Gojal.
Ambassadors and diplomats from a long list of countries attended, among them Ukraine, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, along with representatives of China, Japan, Italy and Egypt. The organisers were the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department, Serena Hotels, the Tour Operators Association of Gilgit-Baltistan, Karakoram International University and several Aga Khan network and conservation bodies. In other words, the 2013 edition was built for diplomats and tourism promotion as much as for the public.
What was the 2025 festival?
In August 2025 a Silk Route Festival was held in Hunza on 9 and 10 August, at the Mir Palace Apricot Gardens in Karimabad. According to the Malaysian High Commission in Islamabad, which attended, it was organised by Silk Road Enterprises, drew around 3,000 participants including national and international guests, and featured artisan exhibitions, women entrepreneurs, traditional Gilgit-Baltistan food and cultural showcases. It closed with an award ceremony together with the Mir of Hunza (Malaysian mission news).
This is a private-organiser event on the grounds of the old royal family's compound, so its format may differ from state-run festivals. It also shows that the festival can fall in August, not only in autumn.
Why do the dates vary so much?
Many tour operator pages say the festival happens every year in September at Gulmit in upper Hunza, and some list tour departures for 2026 and 2027. We could not match those claims to any official programme, news report or tourism department calendar, so we have not repeated them as fact. The verified editions above fell in October and August, in different places, under different organisers.
The practical lesson is that "Silk Route Festival" can mean a government tourism event, a privately organised weekend, or a package-tour itinerary built around local cultural programmes. If a company sells you a trip around it, ask who is organising the event, where the programme is published, and what happens to your booking if it is not held.
How to plan if you want to attend
- Look for the organiser's announcement. Official events are normally announced through the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department, hotels in Karimabad and local news a few weeks before.
- Treat the dates as soft. Do not book non-refundable flights to Gilgit or Skardu solely for a festival day.
- Base yourself in Karimabad. In both verified editions Karimabad and its forts were central. See our guides to Baltit Fort and Altit Fort for what you can visit on any day.
- Book accommodation early if it is confirmed. Hunza rooms fill quickly during summer and long weekends, and guesthouses in Karimabad are limited.
- Plan the wider trip as normal. Our Gilgit and Hunza page and best time to visit Hunza cover seasons, and the Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour is how we build the valley into a longer trip.
Is the Silk Route Festival worth planning a trip around?
Only if it is officially confirmed. In the verified editions the highlights were cultural: dance, crafts, food and history presentations. Those are good, but Hunza has the same material on any day through its forts, old village lanes and museums. See Hunza culture and the Ginani festival at Baltit Fort for events with a longer track record.
If you are travelling for the mountains and happen to be in Karimabad when a festival is on, treat it as a bonus. If you are a student of history or crafts and a verified programme is published, it is a good reason to schedule a visit.
Getting around the region
Karimabad is the usual base. Most visitors reach Hunza by road along the Karakoram Highway or fly to Gilgit and drive on. Our guide to Karakoram Highway road status is a good starting point. Foreign passport holders should check their own government's travel advice, because the UK advises against travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, which can affect insurance. The Babusar route avoids that stretch in summer. Gilgit-Baltistan itself is not on the UK's list.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Silk Route Festival in 2026?
We found no confirmed date for 2026. The last verified edition was held at Karimabad on 9 and 10 August 2025, so look for an official announcement from the organisers or the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department.
Where is the Silk Route Festival held?
The 2013 festival moved between Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar and closed at Gulmit, while the 2025 festival was held at the Mir Palace Apricot Gardens in Karimabad. Karimabad is the safest base to plan around.
Is the Silk Route Festival held every year?
Not on any schedule we could verify. Some tour operators say it is an annual September event at Gulmit, but we could not confirm that from official sources.
Is there an entry fee?
We could not find ticketing details for the editions we verified. Ask the organiser or your hotel when the dates are announced.
What happens at the festival?
Reports describe cultural performances, artisan exhibitions, local food, history presentations and, in 2013, a polo match and a staged caravan. Some editions have also invited foreign diplomats.
