What to pack for Gilgit-Baltistan depends less on the month than on how high you go. A July afternoon in Gilgit can pass 35°C, while the same night at Fairy Meadows drops to around 10°C and Deosai is close to freezing. So pack in layers whatever the season, with one proper warm jacket even in summer, strong sun protection, a small medicine kit, a power bank, cash and your CNIC.
Below is the core list that works all year, then what to add for each season, and the medicines, power and documents that people most often forget.
| Season | Valley days | Nights up high | Add to the core list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer, June to August | Hot: mid-30s in Gilgit, low 30s in Skardu | Cold on Deosai, Khunjerab and at Fairy Meadows | Sun hat, rain jacket, warm layer for the high day trips |
| Spring, March to May | Mild to warm | Near or below freezing early in the season | Waterproof jacket, extra fleece |
| Autumn, September to November | Warm, dry and clear | Below freezing by November | Down or padded jacket, gloves |
| Winter, December to February | Cold: about 3°C by day in Skardu in January | Around −8°C in Skardu | Full winter kit, thermals, boots with grip |
The core list for any season
Think in three layers rather than one heavy coat. You will put them on and take them off several times a day as you drive up and down.
- A base layer: cotton T-shirts for the valleys, plus one thermal top and bottom for cold nights
- A warm middle layer: a fleece or a thick sweater
- An outer layer: a windproof, waterproof jacket, and in autumn and winter a padded or down jacket as well
- Trousers: comfortable ones for long days in a car, and one warmer pair
- Shoes: walking shoes or boots with a good grip, already broken in, plus sandals or slippers for the hotel
- A warm hat, gloves and a scarf or buff, even in July, for Khunjerab and Deosai
- Sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen and lip balm. The sun at altitude burns faster than in Lahore or Karachi.
- A head torch, for power cuts and early starts
- A refillable water bottle, and a small daypack for walks
Dress modestly: long trousers or shalwar kameez, shoulders covered, and for women a dupatta or scarf. It matters more in the villages than in Gilgit or Skardu town.
Summer: June to August
Summer is when most families travel, and it is the season that catches people out. The valleys are hot, the high places are cold, and you will visit both in one trip.
- Light clothes for the valleys. Gilgit averages about 36°C on July afternoons, and Chilas on the drive up is hotter still.
- One genuinely warm layer in the car on any day you go high: Khunjerab, Deosai, Babusar or a night at Fairy Meadows. Keep it with you, not in the hotel.
- A rain jacket. July and August bring the monsoon to the south of the region, and afternoon storms anywhere.
- Insect repellent for evenings by rivers and lakes.
- Good sun protection, because days are long and the light is fierce above 3,000 metres.
Spring and autumn
Spring (March to May) is the wettest part of the year in the valleys, and nights stay cold into April. Pack a waterproof jacket, an extra fleece and shoes that can cope with mud. Blossom season in April can be warm by day and near freezing after dark.
Autumn (September to November) is dry and clear, with warm afternoons. The nights cool quickly: Skardu averages about 4°C at night in October and below freezing in November. A padded or down jacket, gloves and a warm hat become essential from mid-October. Our weather by month guide has the numbers for each month.
Winter: December to February
Winter is a different trip. In January Skardu averages about 3°C by day and −8°C at night, and Hunza is close to that. You need real winter kit:
- Thermal tops and leggings, worn every day
- A down or heavy padded jacket, and a warm hat that covers your ears
- Insulated gloves, and thin liner gloves for using a phone
- Warm socks, several pairs, and boots with a deep tread for ice
- A hot water bottle, and a warm layer for sleeping; many rooms are cold
- Moisturiser and lip balm, because the air is very dry
Power cuts are long in winter. A July 2025 report in The Friday Times put winter outages across Gilgit-Baltistan at 18 to 20 hours a day, so rooms may depend on a generator or a gas heater. Never sleep with a gas heater burning in a closed room. Our guide to Gilgit-Baltistan in winter covers what stays open.
Medicines and a first-aid kit
Pharmacies in Gilgit, Skardu and Aliabad stock the basics, but the villages have little, and you don't want to be looking for a pharmacy with a sick child. Bring:
- Any regular prescription medicine, enough for the whole trip plus a few days, kept in your hand luggage
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen for headaches
- Oral rehydration sachets and a treatment for diarrhoea
- Travel-sickness tablets; the Babusar road and the KKH are long and winding
- An antihistamine for allergies and insect bites
- Plasters, antiseptic cream and blister pads
- A thermometer, especially with children
If you are going above 3,000 metres, ask your doctor before you travel whether acetazolamide (Diamox) is right for anyone in your group; it is not a pill to start on a guess. Our guide to altitude sickness in Gilgit-Baltistan explains which places are high and when to go down.
Power, phones and cash
- A power bank of 10,000 to 20,000 mAh per person, charged every night. Signal searching and cold weather drain phones quickly, and power cuts can last most of the day.
- Power banks go in hand luggage. They are never allowed in checked bags, and under international aviation rules in force since March 2026, each passenger may carry no more than two and may not charge them during the flight. Check your airline's own limits too.
- A car charger if you are driving, and a plug adapter with more than one socket.
- A second SIM. Networks vary from valley to valley, so our guide to which SIM works in Gilgit-Baltistan is worth reading before you leave.
- Offline maps downloaded before you go.
- Cash. Cards are accepted in few places beyond the bigger hotels, and ATMs are not always dependable. Draw what you need in Islamabad.
Documents
- Your CNIC, and a photocopy. You will be asked for it at checkposts and hotels.
- B-Forms for children, which the airlines ask for on domestic flights.
- Driving licence and the car's registration papers if you are driving.
- Foreign nationals: passport with a valid visa, and several photocopies to hand in at checkposts on the Karakoram Highway.
- Printed or saved hotel bookings, because signal is not reliable when you arrive.
Packing for the flight and the jeep
If you fly to Gilgit, you are on a small ATR turboprop with a 7 kg hand-baggage limit, and the checked allowance depends on your fare. Pack light, and weigh the bag before you leave home; our flights guide covers the airlines.
Soft bags are better than hard suitcases. They fit into jeep boots and onto roof racks, and the dust on the jeep tracks to Fairy Meadows or Deosai gets into everything, so put electronics and clothes in plastic bags inside your luggage.
What people bring and don't need: formal clothes, heavy hairdryers (the power may be off anyway), and more than one pair of heavy shoes. What they wish they had brought: gloves in July, a head torch and a second power bank.
Our travel guide has more on the weather, altitude and roads that shape a trip north.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a jacket in Gilgit-Baltistan in summer?
Yes. The valleys are hot, but Khunjerab, Deosai, Babusar and Fairy Meadows are cold in the evening and in wind, even in July. Keep a fleece and a windproof jacket in the car.
What shoes should I take to Hunza and Skardu?
Walking shoes or light boots with a good grip, broken in before the trip, plus sandals for the hotel. In winter, take boots with a deep tread for ice.
Can I buy warm clothes in Gilgit or Skardu?
You can find jackets, shawls and woollen caps in the bazaars, but the choice and sizes are limited. Buy proper winter kit in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi before you go.
How many power banks should I take?
One of 10,000 to 20,000 mAh per person is enough for most trips, carried in hand luggage. Since March 2026 airlines allow no more than two per passenger, and none in checked bags.
What documents do Pakistanis need for Gilgit-Baltistan?
Your CNIC, and B-Forms for children if you fly. Drivers need their licence and the car's registration papers. Keep a photocopy of each.
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