What to Wear in the Northern Areas: A Guide for Women

For most of the Northern Areas, a loose shalwar kameez or a long, loose top over trousers with a dupatta covers what's expected almost everywhere, and it's also the most practical thing to wear for the climate and the roads. What changes from place to place is how much it matters: Hunza and central Gilgit-Baltistan are more relaxed about dress than the more conservative towns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and rural Azad Kashmir, and the practical demands of altitude and weather matter everywhere.

This guide for ladies travelling to the Northern Areas covers what generally works, how norms shift by region, and how to adjust for summer heat and winter cold.

What generally works

• A loose shalwar kameez, or a long, loose kurta over trousers or jeans. Comfortable, practical for travel and jeep rides, and appropriate almost everywhere in the region.
• A dupatta or scarf. Useful to have even where it isn't strictly expected: for sun, dust, wind at altitude, and for covering your head at a mosque or shrine.
• Full-length sleeves and trousers, rather than shorts or sleeveless tops, as the general default outside resort hotel grounds.
• Flat, sturdy shoes. Roads are uneven, jeep tracks are dusty, and heels or delicate sandals don't hold up.

How norms shift by region

• Hunza and central Gilgit-Baltistan (Karimabad, Gilgit, Skardu) see large numbers of Pakistani and foreign visitors, and dress here is generally more relaxed than in KP's smaller towns. A loose top and trousers, without a headscarf, is common among visitors and draws little attention.
• Smaller towns and villages across Gilgit-Baltistan, away from the main tourist areas, are more conservative day to day, and dressing modestly is appreciated, particularly around mosques, shrines and local family homes.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's towns, including Chitral, Swat and the road through them, are generally more conservative than Gilgit-Baltistan's tourist centres. A headscarf and looser, more covering clothing are worth having, even if not compulsory for visitors.
• The Kalash valleys are a distinct case: the Kalash community has its own dress and customs, and visitors should dress modestly out of respect while not assuming Kalash norms apply to them, or that they may photograph Kalash women without asking first.
• Azad Kashmir's towns, including Muzaffarabad and the Neelum Valley, sit closer to Gilgit-Baltistan in how relaxed they are with visitors, though rural areas and smaller villages are more conservative than Muzaffarabad itself.

None of this is a rule enforced on tourists; it's a read on what feels comfortable and draws the least attention, which most travellers find makes the trip easier rather than more restricted.

Summer

• Loose, breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen, since the valley floor is genuinely hot in June to August.
• A dupatta doubles as sun protection, over the head or shoulders during the hottest part of the day.
• A light layer for the evening, since even hot valley towns cool down after sunset, and considerably more if the day includes a high pass such as Khunjerab or Babusar.
• Comfortable, closed shoes for walking, with sandals reserved for the hotel.

Winter

• Thermal layers under a shalwar kameez or trousers, since a single warm outfit is rarely enough once temperatures drop well below freezing.
• A proper warm coat, hat, gloves and scarf, on top of everyday clothing rather than instead of it.
• Waterproof boots, for snow and ice rather than fashion shoes.
• Our winter packing list covers layering for the cold in more detail.

What to skip

• Shorts, sleeveless tops or very fitted clothing outside resort or hotel grounds, which stand out more than they're worth in most towns and villages.
• Anything precious or hard to clean. Roads are dusty, seating in jeeps and vans is basic, and travel clothes get genuinely dirty.
• A single outfit for the whole trip. Layers you can add or remove cope better with a day that runs from a hot valley to a cold pass than one fixed outfit does.

Hotels, resorts and hot springs

Inside a hotel or resort's own grounds, including a pool or garden area, norms relax considerably, and swimwear is generally fine within that space. Step outside the gate and the same outfit is worth covering up, with a loose layer over it, since the norms outside a private hotel garden are the same as the rest of the town. At a public hot spring, such as Tatta Pani in Azad Kashmir, plan to bathe in loose, modest clothing rather than swimwear, as is standard practice there.

Practical accessories worth packing

A cross-body bag or a small backpack is more practical than a handbag for jeep rides, hikes and uneven ground, and keeps your hands free. A light shawl works for both warmth and modesty in one item, doubling as a blanket on a cold bus or car journey. Keep jewellery minimal and inexpensive for travel days; it adds nothing to a jeep track or a long drive and is one more thing to keep track of.

Travelling in a mixed group or solo

Norms don't change much depending on the makeup of your group, whether that's family, a mixed group of friends, or travelling alone, though a woman travelling without other women in the group may find that dressing a little more conservatively than the local baseline draws less unwanted attention, particularly outside the main tourist towns. It's a judgement call rather than a rule, and most women who travel the region regularly say comfort and practicality matter more day to day than any specific outfit choice.

A practical starting kit

1. Two or three loose shalwar kameez or long kurta-and-trousers sets
2. A couple of dupattas or scarves, for sun, dust and mosque visits
3. A light jacket for summer evenings, or full winter layers for a winter trip
4. Flat, sturdy shoes, with proper boots if travelling in winter
5. Sunglasses and sunscreen, useful everywhere at altitude

For everything else to plan before you go, see our travel guide and our summer packing list.

Frequently asked questions