For most first visits, the best place to stay in Hunza is Karimabad: it is central, you can walk to Baltit Fort and the restaurants, and the views of Rakaposhi and the valley are excellent. Aliabad is cheaper and more practical but noisier and less attractive. If you are going to Khunjerab or want quiet, add a night in Gulmit or Passu in Gojal, upper Hunza.
The choice matters more than it seems, because Hunza is long and the places are spread out. Where you sleep decides how much driving you do each day, whether you can walk out for dinner, and what you see from the window. This guide compares each area on those points.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Best all-round base | Karimabad |
| Best views | Duikar (Eagle's Nest) and the upper edge of Karimabad |
| Quietest | Altit, Gulmit and Passu |
| Cheapest | Aliabad, and simple guesthouses anywhere |
| Best for Khunjerab | Gulmit or Passu |
| Budget rooms (2025–26) | Roughly PKR 2,500 to 5,000 a night |
| Mid-range rooms (2025–26) | Roughly PKR 8,000 to 15,000 a night |
| Top end (2025–26) | PKR 25,000 a night and up |
Room rates rise sharply in the blossom weeks, in July and August, and on the late-October colour weekends, and fall in winter. Treat the figures above as a rough guide to what 2025 and 2026 travellers have paid, not a quote.
Hunza's areas at a glance
| Area | Views | Walkable | Noise | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karimabad | Very good | Yes | Busy bazaar in the evening | Medium to high | First visits, short stays |
| Altit | Good | To Altit Fort, and to Karimabad at a stretch | Quiet | Medium | Couples, slower trips |
| Duikar | The best in Hunza | No | Very quiet | Medium | One night for sunrise and sunset |
| Aliabad | Good in places | For errands | Highway traffic | Lowest | Budget trips, long stays |
| Attabad shore | The lake | No | Quiet at night | High | A lakeside night |
| Gulmit | Good | Around the village | Quiet | Low to medium | Gojal and Khunjerab |
| Passu | The Cones and glaciers | Around the village | Very quiet | Low to medium | Khunjerab, walking |
Karimabad: the default, for good reason
Karimabad is the old capital of Hunza, on the slope below Baltit Fort at about 2,500 metres. Most of the valley's hotels, cafés and shops are here or on the roads leading up to it.
Why stay here: you can walk to Baltit Fort, the old town, the bazaar and dinner. Most hotels have some view of Rakaposhi or the valley, and the higher ones have a very good one. It is also the natural base for Altit, Eagle's Nest, Ganish and day trips up to Attabad and Passu.
The downsides: the main bazaar road is steep and narrow, and in summer it jams with cars in the evening. Hotels right on it can be noisy. Parking is tight, which matters if you have driven up in your own car. Prices are higher than in Aliabad.
What to look for: a hotel a little above or to the side of the main bazaar street, with parking and a room facing the valley. At the top end, the Hunza Serena Hotel sits about 15 minutes' walk from the bazaar.
Altit: quieter, with the older fort
Altit is about 3 km along the hillside from Karimabad, around its own fort and a village of stone houses. There are fewer hotels, mostly guesthouses and small places near the fort and on the road in.
Why stay here: it is calmer than Karimabad, with Altit Fort and its garden on the doorstep, and it is still close enough to Karimabad for dinner. It suits couples and anyone who wants a slower pace.
The downsides: a smaller choice of places to eat, and the walk to Karimabad is under an hour but uphill one way, so most people drive after dark.
Duikar and Eagle's Nest: for the view
Duikar is a small village high above Altit, reached by a steep, narrow road. The viewpoint everyone calls Eagle's Nest looks across the whole of central Hunza to Rakaposhi, Diran and Ladyfinger, and at sunrise and sunset it is the best view in the valley.
Why stay here: you are already at the viewpoint for sunrise and sunset, without the drive up in the dark. The hotels here are few and built for the view.
The downsides: you are cut off from everything else. There is nowhere to walk to, it is noticeably colder at night, and every trip down means the same steep road. One night is usually the right amount.
Aliabad: practical and cheaper
Aliabad is the market town on the Karakoram Highway below Karimabad, and the commercial centre of central Hunza: banks, ATMs, pharmacies, medical facilities and shops.
Why stay here: prices are lower than in Karimabad, parking is easy, and it is on the highway, so it is quick to leave in either direction. It suits budget trips, long stays, and anyone working or studying in the valley.
The downsides: it is a working town on a highway, with trucks at all hours and less charm than Karimabad. Many rooms face the road or other buildings rather than the mountains, though some on the higher side have good views of Rakaposhi. Without a car you will spend time on local transport getting to the sights.
On the shore of Attabad Lake
A handful of resort-style hotels sit on the shore of Attabad Lake, about 30 to 40 minutes' drive north of Karimabad. They sell the lake view: rooms and terraces looking across the water.
Why stay here: evenings and early mornings on the lake are calm and beautiful after the day visitors have left. It suits a honeymoon or a special night.
The downsides: they are among the most expensive places to stay in Hunza, and they are isolated. You are dependent on the hotel for meals, and everything else is a drive. One night is usually enough. Our Attabad Lake guide covers the lake itself.
Gulmit and Passu: Gojal, upper Hunza
North of Attabad Lake, Gojal is quieter, higher and less developed than central Hunza, with Wakhi villages spread along the highway.
Gulmit is the main town, at about 2,465 metres. It has a small choice of hotels and guesthouses, an old village to walk through, and easy access to Attabad, the Ghulkin glacier, Borith Lake and the Hussaini bridge.
Passu is smaller, a scattering of hotels and guesthouses beneath the Passu Cones, with the Passu and Batura glaciers close by. It is the closest comfortable base to Khunjerab.
Why stay here: a night in Gojal cuts the drive to the Khunjerab Pass by about an hour each way, and the evenings are very quiet. It suits walkers and anyone who wants to see Hunza without the Karimabad bustle.
The downsides: fewer places to eat and less choice of rooms. Not every guesthouse in Gojal stays open through the colder months, so check before planning a winter night here.
Sost, the last town before the border, has basic hotels for people crossing into China. It is not somewhere to stay for pleasure.
Which area suits your trip?
- First visit, two or three nights: all nights in Karimabad, or two in Karimabad and one in Gulmit or Passu if you are doing Khunjerab.
- Four nights or more: split it, with Karimabad or Altit for central Hunza and a night or two in Gojal.
- Families with young children or older parents: Karimabad, in a hotel with parking and not too many steps, so everyone can rest in the afternoon.
- Honeymoon: one night each at Duikar and on the Attabad shore, the rest in Karimabad or Altit.
- Tight budget: Aliabad, or a simple guesthouse in Karimabad or Gulmit.
- Winter: Karimabad or Aliabad, where more hotels stay open, and only somewhere with proper heating and backup power.
Whichever area you choose, ask three things before booking: is there parking, is the room heated (and how, if the power goes), and does the room actually face the view? Foreign nationals should also check that the hotel is allowed to register foreign guests: in 2025 the Hunza district administration limited this to hotels it rated low-risk, a small share of the total. Our list of places to visit in Hunza shows which sights are near each base, the Hunza trip cost guide covers the rest of the budget, and our Gilgit and Hunza page has an overview of the region.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Karimabad or Aliabad?
Karimabad is better for most visitors: it is walkable, has more restaurants and has the better views. Aliabad is cheaper and easier for parking, but it is a busy highway town.
Where should I stay in Hunza for the best view?
Duikar, the village known for the Eagle's Nest viewpoint, has the widest view of central Hunza. In Karimabad, hotels on the upper slopes towards Baltit Fort have the best outlook over the valley and Rakaposhi.
Is it better to stay at Attabad Lake or in Karimabad?
Karimabad is the better base, because it is close to the forts, the bazaar and restaurants. Stay a single night at Attabad if you want the lake at its quietest in the evening and early morning.
Where should I stay in Hunza for Khunjerab Pass?
Gulmit or Passu, which cut about an hour off each way of the drive compared with Karimabad. Sost is closer still but has only basic hotels.
How much does a hotel in Hunza cost per night?
In 2025 and 2026, simple rooms have cost roughly PKR 2,500 to 5,000 a night and mid-range hotels roughly PKR 8,000 to 15,000, with the top hotels well above that. Prices rise in peak season and change often, so check when you book.
Do I need to book hotels in Hunza in advance?
Yes, for the blossom weeks, July and August, Eid and the late-October weekends, when the better hotels in Karimabad fill up. Outside those times you can usually find a room on arrival.
