Hunza in December is cold, dry and quiet: the long-term averages for the valley floor are about 2 °C by day and -7 °C at night, with very little precipitation, so most days are clear and frosty rather than snowy. The Karakoram Highway into the valley stays open, the larger hotels in Karimabad and Aliabad stay open, and on the night of 20 to 21 December villages mark the Tumishling fire festival.
What December does not give you is a frozen Attabad Lake (that usually comes in January, if it comes at all), a day trip to the Khunjerab Pass, or reliable electricity. This guide covers December specifically: the weather week by week, the power and hotel situation, the road in, and whether to time a trip around the festival. For the whole winter season, see our guide to Hunza in winter.
| At a glance | December in Hunza |
|---|---|
| Average high and low | About 2 °C and -7 °C (Gulmit, valley floor) |
| Precipitation | About 4 mm for the month on average |
| Daylight | Sunrise about 7 am, sunset about 4:50 pm |
| Road in | Karakoram Highway via Chilas; Babusar closed |
| Flights | Islamabad to Gilgit, often cancelled in winter weather |
| Attabad Lake | Ice forms at the edges; a wide freeze is a January event |
| Festival | Tumishling (Thumushaling), night of 20 to 21 December |
| Khunjerab Pass | Not a realistic day trip |
Weather now in Karimabad, Hunza 2,500 m
Live weather loads here.
When it snows: Snow, frozen ponds and frozen lakes from December to February. More on the seasons
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), updated every 30 minutes. Mountain weather changes fast: check again before you set off.
How cold is Hunza in December?
Cold enough that every night is below freezing. Wikipedia's climate table for Gulmit, which sits at much the same height as Karimabad (about 2,500 metres), gives December averages of 1.9 °C for the daily high and -6.8 °C for the low, with about 4 mm of precipitation (figures from Climate-Data.org's modelled averages). For comparison, the Pakistan Meteorological Department's figures for Gilgit, 1,000 metres lower, are 11.6 °C and -2.3 °C, with 5.1 mm of rain.
| December averages | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunza (Gulmit), Climate-Data.org via Wikipedia | 1.9 °C | -6.8 °C | 4 mm |
| Gilgit, PMD normals via Wikipedia | 11.6 °C | -2.3 °C | 5.1 mm |
Karimabad faces south and catches the low winter sun, so on a clear afternoon it feels milder than Gulmit or Passu, where the wind comes down off the glaciers. Once the sun drops behind the ridges, usually well before the official sunset, the temperature falls fast. Our Hunza weather by month guide has the full year.
Does it snow in Hunza in December?
Sometimes, but less than people expect. Four millimetres of precipitation in a month means a handful of light falls at most in an average year, and some Decembers have none on the valley floor. Snow is far more dependable on the peaks around you and higher up the valley towards Sost. If snow in the orchards is the point of the trip, January is the better bet, and even then it is not guaranteed.
Early December or late December?
The month changes as it goes on.
- First half. The last brown leaves are down, frost is hard every morning, and the valley is close to empty. Roads are usually dry. This is the quietest part of the year for visitors.
- Second half. The coldest nights so far, the shortest days (the solstice falls on 21 December), and more chance of the first proper snowfall. School winter holidays in Punjab and Islamabad usually start in the second half of the month, and 25 December is a public holiday, so check whether your dates fall on a long weekend before booking.
Sunrise in Karimabad is about 6:55 am at the start of the month and just after 7 am by the end, and sunset stays around 4:45 to 4:55 pm (Open-Meteo's astronomical times). That is under ten hours of daylight, and less in practice in a deep valley, so plan to be off the road by mid-afternoon.
Tumishling: the 21 December fire night
Tumishling, more usually written Thumishaling or Thumushaling, is the winter-solstice festival held on the night of 20 to 21 December. A large bonfire is lit, people stay up around it with music and food, and the night recalls the local legend of Shiri Badat, the tyrant king of Gilgit. Khanabad is the Hunza village most often named for it.
It is a community occasion rather than a tourist event. There is no ticket, no published programme and no guarantee of where or when the main fire will be, so ask your hotel in Karimabad or Aliabad a few days ahead. Our Tumishling festival guide explains the custom and how to behave as a guest.
Power cuts, heating and which hotels open
December is when Hunza's power cuts start to bite. Most of the valley's electricity comes from small hydropower stations, and as the streams freeze, output drops and the daily cuts get longer through the month and into January.
In practice that means:
- Stay in Karimabad or Aliabad. The established larger hotels there are built to run all year. Many small guesthouses, especially in Gulmit and Passu, close from around November.
- Ask what heats the room and whether it works without mains power: a gas heater or wood stove (bukhari) keeps going in a cut, an electric heater does not unless the hotel runs a generator.
- Ask about hot water in the morning, and whether it has been reliable this winter.
- Confirm by phone a day or two before arrival that the hotel is open on your dates, not just on a booking site.
Never sleep with a gas heater burning in a closed room. Turn it off, or leave a window open a crack. Our list of Hunza hotels open in winter goes into heating and water in more detail.
Getting to Hunza in December
By road, the only way in is the Karakoram Highway through Besham, Dasu and Chilas, because the Babusar Pass is shut for the winter. The highway is kept open, but snow, ice and rockfall can close sections for hours or longer, so drive in daylight only and keep a spare day. Pakistani travellers use this road all year; the UK government advises against all travel on the stretch between Mansehra and Chilas, so if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Our Karakoram Highway in winter guide covers ice, chains and the car.
By air, PIA flies Islamabad to Gilgit when the weather allows. It is about 98 km by road from Gilgit airport to Karimabad (OSRM routing), usually two to three hours in winter. Winter cancellations are common, sometimes several days running, so never put the flight home on the same day as anything fixed.
What you can do, and what you can't
Realistic in December:
- Baltit and Altit forts and the old lanes of Karimabad and Altit, quieter than at any other time
- Attabad Lake, about 30 km north of Karimabad by road, with the tunnels open. Expect dark water and ice at the edges; a wide freeze usually comes in January
- The drive north to Gulmit and Passu on a clear day, for the Passu Cones under fresh snow
- Clear views of Rakaposhi, Ultar and Diran from the valley floor
Not realistic:
- A day trip to the Khunjerab Pass. The border has been open for trade through the winter since December 2024, but the road above Sost is often snowbound and the top is far colder than the valley. Treat it as closed to visitors; it normally reopens to visitors in spring.
- Boats and jet skis on Attabad, high walks to Ultar meadows, or jeep tracks such as Borith and Shimshal after snow.
Is December a good time to visit Hunza?
For couples and small groups of adults who want silence, clear mountain light and low hotel prices, and who have flexible dates, yes. December is less cold than January, the roads inside the valley are usually clear, and the Tumishling night is a real local custom rather than a staged show.
It is a poor choice for families with babies or older parents who feel the cold, for anyone who needs to be back on a fixed date, and for a first visit if you want Khunjerab, the lake boats and the high walks. For those, May to October is the season; our guide to when to go compares every month across the north.
Frequently asked questions
What is the temperature in Hunza in December?
Long-term averages for the valley floor at Gulmit are about 2 °C by day and -7 °C at night. Karimabad is a little milder in the afternoon sun, and a cold spell can push nights well below the average.
Is Attabad Lake frozen in December?
Not usually. Ice forms at the edges and in sheltered bays during December, but the wide freeze that allows skating normally comes in January, and in mild winters it does not come at all.
Is the road to Hunza open in December?
Yes. The Karakoram Highway via Chilas is kept open all winter, though snow and rockfall can close it for hours at a time. The Babusar route is closed until late spring.
When is the Tumishling festival in Hunza?
On the night of 20 to 21 December, the winter solstice. There is no fixed programme, so ask locally which village is holding the main bonfire.
Are hotels open in Hunza in December?
The larger hotels in Karimabad and Aliabad stay open. Many smaller guesthouses close for the season, especially in Gulmit and Passu, so confirm directly before you travel.
Can I visit Khunjerab Pass in December?
Plan as if you can't. The crossing stays open for trade, but the road above Sost is often snowbound and visitors are frequently turned back.
