One of the most-asked questions every summer, so here's the straight answer for 2026.
Yes - Gilgit-Baltistan is open to tourists, including foreign travellers, and it is consistently rated among the safest parts of Pakistan to visit. Hunza in particular is a favourite for women and solo travellers.
What "open" means in practice
- Towns and main valleys (Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit, Karimabad) are open and reachable year-round.
- High passes are seasonal: Babusar and Deosai roughly late June-September, Khunjerab roughly May-November.
- Permits: most areas need no special permit; a few border-adjacent zones do. Foreign nationals should carry passport copies.
The practical risks are weather and seasonal road access, not safety. Check the current road & pass status before you finalise dates, and see tour packages for trips timed to the open season.