From a 700-year-old fort to a lake born from a landslide. Six sites that justify the journey to Hunza.
Want activities and experiences instead? See what to do in Hunza.
700-year-old royal fort restored by Aga Khan Trust. Entry Rs.400-800. Best views of Rakaposhi from upper terrace.
Even older than Baltit (900+ years). Preserved old village attached. Views of Hunza River gorge.
Electric turquoise lake formed by 2010 landslide. 21km long. Boat trips Rs.500-800/person.
Sunrise viewpoint above Karimabad. Rakaposhi, Diran, Lady Finger all visible. 45min hike or jeep.
Six vertical limestone spires. Hussaini suspension bridge viewpoint. No entry fee.
Small alpine lake near Passu. Batura Glacier views. Free camping. Almost no visitors.
| Altit Fort | 4km · 20 min drive or 45 min walk downhill |
| Eagle's Nest | 2km · 45 min hike or 15 min jeep |
| Attabad Lake | ~30km · ~0.5-1h drive on KKH |
| Passu & Passu Cones | ~45-47km · 1-1.5h drive on KKH |
| Borith Lake | ~50km · 1.5h + short walk from Passu road |
| Khunjerab Pass | ~120-135km · 3-5h drive on KKH (confirm conditions) |
Hunza's sights split neatly into two clusters. Around Karimabad you have Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, and the Eagle's Nest viewpoint at Duikar - all close enough to cover in a day or two on foot and by short jeep ride. The forts pair naturally: an hour at each, with the old village at Altit worth the extra time. Sunrise at Eagle's Nest is best tackled as its own early start.
The second cluster lies north along the Karakoram Highway: Attabad Lake at roughly 30km, then Passu and the Passu Cones at about 45-47km, with Borith Lake a short walk beyond. Because the northern sites are spread along a long drive, most travellers give them a full day, or better, an overnight in Passu. With three to four days in the valley you can see everything on this page without rushing.
| Pair the forts | Baltit and Altit are only 4km apart and easily done on the same day - one hour at each is plenty. |
| Go north early | Attabad, Passu, and Borith are a long drive up the KKH. Start early or stay a night in Passu to avoid rushing back in the dark. |
| Carry cash | Entry fees and boat trips are paid in cash. Banking is limited in the valley, so bring enough rupees for the whole trip. |
| Allow buffer time | The KKH can be slowed by roadwork or weather. Build in a spare half-day rather than packing every site into a tight schedule. |
The main sights are Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, the Eagle's Nest viewpoint at Duikar, Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones, and Borith Lake. The forts and viewpoint are near Karimabad, while the lakes and Cones lie north along the Karakoram Highway.
Three to four days lets you see everything on this page without rushing - a day or two around Karimabad for the forts and Eagle's Nest, plus a full day or an overnight in Passu for Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones, and Borith Lake.
Attabad Lake is roughly 30km north of Karimabad, about a 30-60 minute drive along the Karakoram Highway. Boat trips on the turquoise lake cost around Rs.500-800 per person.
Yes. Baltit Fort costs around Rs.400-800 and Altit Fort around Rs.300-600, with rates differing for Pakistani and foreign visitors. Both are paid in cash and include access to the restored fort interiors.
Yes, very easily. The two forts are only about 4km apart, so most visitors see both in a single day, spending roughly an hour at each, with extra time for Altit's preserved old village.