The best things to do in Karimabad are Baltit Fort in the morning, a walk through the old lanes and along the water channels, Altit Fort and its garden, and sunset from Eagle's Nest above the town, with walnut cake and apricot juice in between. Almost everything is within walking distance or a short drive, and a full day covers the highlights. With two days you can add the Queen Victoria monument or the climb towards Ultar.
Karimabad, once called Baltit, sits on the slope below Baltit Fort at about 2,500 metres. This guide covers what to do in and around the town itself: forts, walks, cafés, shops and viewpoints. For Attabad, Passu and the rest of the valley, see our list of places to visit in Hunza.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 2,500 m |
| Getting around | On foot, steeply; a car for Altit, Duikar and Ganish |
| Time needed | One full day for the highlights; two to slow down |
| Don't miss | Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, sunset at Eagle's Nest |
| Best walk | The water channels above the town |
| Best months | April to October |
| Banks and ATMs | In Aliabad, below Karimabad on the highway |
Baltit Fort and the old town
Baltit Fort
The old palace of the Mirs of Hunza stands at the top of the town, a 10 to 15 minute climb from the bazaar up a steep lane. It is visited by guided tour of about 45 minutes to an hour, which takes you through the old rooms and ends on the roof, with Karimabad, Altit and Rakaposhi laid out below. Go for the first tour, at around 9 am, when it is cool and the groups are small.
Time needed: about an hour and a half, including the climb. Our Baltit Fort guide covers tickets, timings and the history.
The old town
Below and around the fort is the old settlement of Karimabad: stone houses packed along narrow lanes, covered passages, small squares and orchards. Parts of it were restored with help from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture after the fort itself. It is the part of Karimabad that most visitors walk through without noticing, on their way up or down the bazaar.
Take the side lanes rather than the main road, walk slowly, and keep your voice down; people live here. Ask before photographing anyone, and don't photograph women without permission.
Time needed: an hour, best on the way down from Baltit or in the late afternoon.
Walks above the town
The water channels
Karimabad's terraces are watered by channels that carry meltwater from the Ultar glacier across the hillside. Several run west and several east from the Ultar gorge behind the fort, at different heights, and the paths beside them make the best easy walks in Hunza: nearly level, with the whole valley and Rakaposhi in front of you.
- A short stroll: pick up a channel above the town and follow it for half an hour in either direction, then come back. Ask at your hotel for the nearest way up.
- The longer channel walk: a classic three to four hour route from Karimabad past the polo ground and along the channel to the Hyderabad gorge, returning by road or lane.
The paths are narrow and have drops on the valley side, so they are not ideal for small children. Stay on the path beside the channel, and don't block or dam the water; the fields below depend on it.
Time needed: from half an hour to half a day.
The Queen Victoria monument
On a rocky crag behind Karimabad stands a small memorial to Queen Victoria, built by Mir Nazim Khan of Hunza and known locally as Malikamu Shikari. The monument itself is modest; the walk and the view are the reason to go. The path takes about an hour from Baltit, past irrigation channels, the polo ground and an old watchtower, and finishes through a narrow, rocky passage.
It is steep in places and not well marked, so ask a local guide or someone from your hotel to show you the way, and go in the morning or late afternoon rather than the midday heat.
Time needed: two to three hours there and back.
Towards Ultar
The big walk from Karimabad climbs behind Baltit Fort into the Ultar gorge, towards the meadows beneath the Ultar glacier and the peaks of Ultar Sar and Ladyfinger. It is steep and rough, and fit walkers need three to five hours to reach the meadows, where a hut serves tea and simple food in summer.
Start early, take plenty of water, and don't attempt it on your first day at altitude. A local guide is a good idea, especially if you are not used to mountain paths.
Time needed: a full day, or an overnight camp.
Short drives: Altit, Eagle's Nest and Ganish
Altit Fort and the Royal Garden
About 3 km along the hillside, Altit Fort is older and smaller than Baltit and sits on a cliff above the river. The tour is short, and the Royal Garden beside it, an old apricot orchard with a café run by women from the village, is the pleasantest place in Hunza for lunch. Walk it (35 to 45 minutes, uphill on the way back) or take a car.
Time needed: about two hours. Our Altit Fort guide covers the tour, tickets and the village walk.
Sunset at Eagle's Nest
Duikar, high above Altit, is where people go to watch the sun set over the whole valley, with Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar and Ladyfinger turning gold. It is 30 to 45 minutes by road from Karimabad on a steep, narrow road, so most people go with a local jeep or driver. Sunrise is even better if you can face the early start.
Time needed: two hours. Our Eagle's Nest guide has sunrise and sunset times by month.
Ganish
Just below Karimabad, beside the highway, Ganish is thought to be the oldest settlement in Hunza, with carved wooden mosques and old watchtowers in its restored core. It is five minutes by car or a steep walk down, and a local guide makes a big difference to what you understand. Allow about an hour.
What to eat and drink
Karimabad's bazaar road is lined with small restaurants and cafés. The things to try:
- Walnut cake, Hunza's best-known sweet. Café de Hunza, open since 1994, is the place most people go for it, with coffee and a view.
- Chapshuro, a flat, meat-filled bread, and diram phitti, a bread made with sprouted wheat, eaten with apricot oil.
- Apricot juice and fresh fruit in season: cherries in June and July, apricots in July and August.
- Buttermilk and local tea in the smaller places.
Most restaurants serve the usual Pakistani dishes as well as Hunza food. The bazaar gets busy in the evening in summer, and Karimabad is not a late town, so eat early.
Shopping in the bazaar
The main road up to Baltit Fort and the lane below it are lined with shops. Worth looking for:
- Dried apricots, mulberries, cherries and walnuts, and apricot oil
- Hunza caps and embroidered pieces, some made by women's groups in the valley
- Gemstones, from the region's mines; buy only if you know what you are looking at
- Woollen shawls and small woven rugs
Prices are usually open to polite discussion at the gemstone and handicraft shops, much less so at the fruit and food stalls. Save your shopping for the walk down from Baltit, when you are not climbing.
How much time do you need in Karimabad?
| Time | What fits |
|---|---|
| Half a day | Baltit Fort, the old lanes and the bazaar |
| One day | Baltit in the morning, Altit and lunch in the Royal Garden, sunset at Eagle's Nest |
| Two days | The above, plus the channel walk or the Queen Victoria monument, and Ganish |
| Three days | Add the Ultar hike, or simply slow down |
Karimabad is a good base for the rest of the valley as well, and our guide to where to stay in Hunza explains why most first-timers stay here. Our Gilgit and Hunza page puts the town in the context of the wider region.
Tips for a day in Karimabad
- Take it slowly on your first day. At 2,500 metres, the lanes are steep and you will feel them. Save Ultar and the Queen Victoria climb for your second or third day.
- Park once and walk. The bazaar road is narrow and jams in the evening in summer, and parking is scarce near the top.
- Carry cash. Most small shops and cafés work in cash, and the main banks and ATMs are down in Aliabad.
- Dress as you would in any conservative town, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Carry a layer. Evenings are cool even in July, and the wind picks up on the viewpoints.
Frequently asked questions
What is Karimabad famous for?
Baltit Fort, the views of Rakaposhi and the Ultar peaks, its old stone lanes, and walnut cake and apricots. It is the main town for visitors to Hunza.
Is one day enough for Karimabad?
One full day covers Baltit Fort, Altit Fort and sunset at Eagle's Nest. Two days let you add the water channel walk, the Queen Victoria monument and Ganish without rushing.
Can you walk around Karimabad?
Yes. The bazaar, Baltit Fort, the old town and the water channels are all on foot, and Altit is a 35 to 45 minute walk. The lanes are steep, so take it slowly.
What is there to do in Karimabad in the evening?
Watch sunset from Eagle's Nest or a hotel terrace, walk the bazaar, and eat early. Karimabad is quiet at night, with no nightlife to speak of.
Where is the best view in Karimabad?
The roof of Baltit Fort has the best view in the town itself. For the whole valley, go up to Eagle's Nest at Duikar for sunrise or sunset.
