There is no legal dress code in Gilgit-Baltistan, and what to wear in Gilgit-Baltistan for women comes down to one rule: loose clothing that covers the shoulders, upper arms and legs works everywhere, with a large scarf in your bag. How strictly that applies varies by valley. Hunza is used to visitors and relaxed, Skardu and Baltistan are more conservative, and Chilas and Astore are the places to cover up most carefully. Any mosque, imambargah or shrine calls for a headscarf.
This guide sets out expectations area by area, explains why they differ, and gives a packing list that handles both modesty and the cold.
| Area | Background | What to wear |
|---|---|---|
| Hunza and Karimabad | Mixed, many Ismaili residents; most visited | Long trousers or jeans with a loose top; scarf optional |
| Gilgit city | Mixed Shia, Sunni and Ismaili | Shalwar kameez or long tunic; scarf handy in bazaars |
| Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang | Mostly Shia | Long, loose top to mid-thigh; scarf in bazaars and villages |
| Khaplu and Ghanche | Nurbakhshi community | As for Skardu |
| Ghizer | Ismaili majority | As for Hunza, a little more covered in villages |
| Chilas, Diamer and Astore | Sunni majority; few women visitors | Full shalwar kameez and dupatta over the head in towns |
The religious background is from the regional summary on Wikipedia. The clothing column is our advice, not a rule.
The general rule
Loose trousers or a long skirt, with a top that covers the shoulders and reaches at least to the elbow, is a safe default across the region. Shorts, sleeveless tops and anything tight draw attention everywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan, for men as well as women.
The UK government's travel advice for Pakistan puts it in two lines: men and women should cover their shoulders and legs in public, and women should cover their heads when entering mosques and holy places, and in rural areas. That is a fair summary for Gilgit-Baltistan too.
A shalwar kameez, or a long kurta over trousers, is the most comfortable answer. It is loose, cool in the sun, easy to layer and makes you unremarkable. For most Pakistani women this means packing what you already wear at home, in thicker fabric. If you want to know what local women wear, including the embroidered caps of Hunza, read our Gilgit-Baltistan traditional dress guide.
Why expectations differ by valley
Gilgit-Baltistan is not one community. About 40 per cent of its people are Twelver Shia, 30 per cent Sunni, 24 per cent Ismaili and 6 per cent Nurbakhshi, and each group is concentrated in particular districts. Skardu, Shigar and Kharmang are mostly Shia. Diamer and Astore have Sunni majorities. Ghizer has an Ismaili majority, Ghanche is the centre of the Nurbakhshi community, and Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar are mixed.
Dress norms follow these lines only loosely, and tourism matters as much as religion. Hunza has received foreign and Pakistani tourists for decades, and women there work in shops, hotels and cafes. Chilas sees mostly through traffic. That difference is what a visitor notices.
Hunza: the most relaxed area
In Karimabad, Aliabad, Gulmit and Passu, long trousers or loose jeans with a longer top are unremarkable, and you will see local and visiting women in everything from shalwar kameez to trekking trousers and a shirt. A headscarf is not expected for walking around the bazaar, the forts or Attabad Lake.
Relaxed does not mean anything goes. Shorts and sleeveless tops still stand out, and villages off the main road are more traditional than Karimabad's hotel strip.
Skardu and Baltistan: more conservative
Skardu's bazaar and the villages of Shigar and Khaplu are more traditional, and religious life is more visible. Wear a longer, looser top that covers the hips, keep arms covered to the wrist or at least the elbow, and use your scarf in bazaars and villages. Local women generally cover their heads. You are not required to, but doing so in older parts of town is a courteous middle ground.
At the lakes and on the Deosai plateau you will mostly be among other tourists, and the practical concern is cold, not modesty.
Chilas, Astore and Diamer: dress most carefully
The Karakoram Highway through Chilas and the Astore valley are the most conservative parts of the region and see few women tourists outside vehicles. Here a full shalwar kameez with a dupatta over the head in towns, hotels and at roadside stops is the sensible choice. Keep stops short and stay with your group.
A separate point about this stretch: the UK advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. In summer the Babusar Pass route avoids it. Travellers on foreign passports should check their own government's advice, since it can affect insurance.
Mosques, imambargahs and shrines
Any religious site, whatever the norm outside it, calls for a headscarf, arms covered to the wrist and legs covered to the ankle. Wear socks or carry a pair, since you will remove your shoes. Some sites have a separate entrance or section for women, and some do not admit women to the main prayer hall at all. Ask at the door, or watch what local women do.
During Muharram, particularly the first ten days, Shia areas such as Skardu and parts of Gilgit are in mourning. Dark, plain clothing and a headscarf are appropriate, and bright red or festive outfits are not. Our Gilgit-Baltistan in Muharram guide explains what else changes. In Ramadan dress a little more conservatively everywhere. See Gilgit-Baltistan in Ramadan.
Dress for the cold as well
Altitude shapes your wardrobe as much as custom. Gilgit is at about 1,500 metres and Skardu at about 2,230 metres, and the difference between midday and night is large.
| Town | July, average high and low | October | January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilgit | 36 °C and 18 °C | 26 °C and 6 °C | 10 °C and minus 3 °C |
| Skardu | 32 °C and 16 °C | 20 °C and 4 °C | 3 °C and minus 8 °C |
In July you need thin cotton by day and a fleece at night. By October you need a proper jacket after dark. Deosai, at over 4,100 metres, is cold and windy on any summer day. Layers solve both problems at once: a long cotton kurta, a fleece or cardigan, and a windproof jacket long enough to cover the hips. Thermal leggings under a shalwar are invisible and make a cold jeep ride bearable.
The sun is strong at this height. A scarf and sunglasses do more for you than a cap alone, and loose long sleeves are cooler than bare arms.
What to pack
- Three or four long, loose tops or kurtas that reach mid-thigh
- Two pairs of loose trousers or shalwars, and one pair of trekking trousers
- One large cotton scarf or dupatta and one warm shawl
- A fleece and a windproof jacket, plus a down jacket from October to April
- Thermal leggings and a thermal top outside June to August
- Closed walking shoes with grip, and sandals that slip off easily for mosques and guesthouses
- Socks, including a clean pair kept for religious sites
- A modest swimming option, such as leggings and a long shirt, if your hotel has a pool
Choose fabrics that are not see-through when wet or in strong light, and darker colours that hide dust. Laundry dries fast in the dry air, so you can pack less than you think. If you forget something, ready-made shalwar kameez, shawls and warm caps are sold in the bazaars of Gilgit and Skardu. Our what to pack for Gilgit-Baltistan list covers the rest of the bag.
What is fine to skip
- An abaya or burqa is not expected of visitors anywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- You do not need to cover your face.
- Trekking clothes are normal on trails and at base camps. Among your own group, away from villages, nobody minds fitted trekking trousers.
- Swimwear is not appropriate at Attabad Lake or anywhere public. At a hotel pool, ask what other guests wear.
Travelling alone raises other questions beyond clothing. Our solo female travel in Gilgit-Baltistan guide covers them, and the tourist etiquette guide covers photography and behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to wear a headscarf all the time in Gilgit-Baltistan?
No, not in Hunza or at most tourist sites. You need one at any mosque, imambargah or shrine, and it is the sensible choice in Skardu's bazaars, Chilas and Astore.
Can I wear jeans in Hunza and Skardu?
Yes. Loose jeans with a longer top are fine in Hunza and acceptable in Skardu. Pair them with a top that covers the hips and avoid tight or ripped styles.
Is Hunza really more relaxed than the rest of Gilgit-Baltistan?
Yes. Long exposure to tourism means expectations there are looser than in Skardu, Chilas or Astore, though modest clothing is still the norm.
Do I need to wear an abaya in Gilgit-Baltistan?
No. A shalwar kameez or loose trousers with a long top is enough everywhere in the region.
What should women wear in Gilgit-Baltistan in winter?
Thermals under a shalwar kameez or trousers, a fleece, a down jacket, a warm shawl and a woollen cap. Skardu averages minus 8 °C at night in January.
Is there a dress code law in Gilgit-Baltistan?
No. These are social expectations, not legal rules, but following them makes travel easier and is appreciated by your hosts.
