Dress Code for Women Travelling in Gilgit-Baltistan

Modest, loose clothing that covers the shoulders, upper arms and legs works everywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan, and a headscarf is worth carrying even if you rarely need it. What counts as modest varies by valley: Hunza is used to tourists and relatively relaxed, while Skardu and the more traditional Shia and Sunni areas expect more coverage, and a shrine or mosque anywhere calls for a headscarf regardless of where you are.

This guide covers what to pack, how expectations shift between the main areas, and what to wear once the sun goes down and the temperature drops.

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-fitting draw attention everywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan, for men as well as women, and are best left at home. A long tunic or kurta over trousers, the shalwar kameez style worn across Pakistan, is the most comfortable option and is easy to find ready-made in Gilgit, Skardu or before you travel.

Hunza: the most relaxed area

Hunza, and Karimabad in particular, sees more foreign and domestic tourists than anywhere else in Gilgit-Baltistan, and the local population, largely Ismaili Muslim, is used to a wider range of dress. Long trousers or leggings with a longer top are comfortable and unremarkable, and you will see local and visiting women in everything from shalwar kameez to jeans and a loose shirt. A headscarf is not expected for daily wandering around Karimabad or the surrounding villages.

Skardu and Baltistan: more conservative

Skardu and the villages around it are more traditional, and daily life is more visibly religious than in Hunza. Cover the shoulders and legs more carefully here, and expect more attention if arms or legs are bare. Many local women wear a headscarf as a matter of course, and while you are not required to, carrying one and using it in bazaars and smaller villages is a courteous middle ground.

Chilas, Astore and Diamer: dress most carefully here

The Karakoram Highway through Chilas, and the Astore valley, are among the more conservative parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and receive far fewer women tourists than Hunza or central Skardu. Cover up fully here: loose, long sleeves, legs covered to the ankle, and a headscarf in towns is the sensible choice. This is also an area to be more low-key generally, dressing to draw as little attention as possible.

What to wear at shrines and mosques

Any mosque, shrine or religious site across Gilgit-Baltistan, whatever the local dress norm outside it, calls for a headscarf, shoulders and arms fully covered, and legs covered to the ankle. Some sites ask women to enter through a separate door or sit in a separate area; watch what other women are doing and follow it. Carry a large scarf that doubles as a headscarf and shawl for exactly this.

Warm layers matter as much as modesty

Gilgit-Baltistan sits at altitude, and even in summer the evenings and early mornings are cold, with a real temperature drop as soon as the sun goes down or you gain height. A loose long-sleeved top over leggings, with a warm jacket for evenings, covers both the modesty and the cold at once. In spring, autumn and winter, thermal layers under your usual clothing work better than trying to stay modest in something thin. Our travel guide has more on what to pack by season.

What is fine to skip

• A full abaya or burqa is not expected of visitors anywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan; loose trousers and a longer top is enough.
• Trekking in shorts on a remote trail away from villages, among your own group, draws less attention than wearing them in a bazaar or at a viewpoint, though a lightweight long layer still travels better against sun and insects.
• Swimwear is not appropriate at Attabad Lake or anywhere else locals can see you; if you are boating or at a hotel pool, ask what other guests wear before assuming.

Frequently asked questions