Hunza Valley

The "land of longevity" in the Karakoram, on the northern stretch of the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway, where apricot blossoms and golden autumn poplars frame snowy Rakaposhi – a popular road-trip route for travellers crossing from Xinjiang via the Khunjerab Pass.

The Hunza Valley lies in Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan, a Karakoram valley at about 2,400–3,000 m, traversed end to end by the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway (the Karakoram Highway). It is ringed by snow peaks including Rakaposhi (7,788 m), Ultar Sar and Lady Finger Peak, and was historically the princely state of Hunza. The valley divides into two parts. Central Hunza centres on Karimabad, with Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, the old village of Ganish and the Eagle's Nest viewpoint; across the river, the Nagar Valley offers views of the Hopar Glacier. Upper Hunza (Gojal) has Attabad Lake, Gulmit, Borith Lake, the Hussaini suspension bridge, the Passu Glacier and the Passu Cones (Cathedral Peaks); farther north, the road continues via the Sost border post to the Khunjerab Pass. Allow 4–6 days. Chinese travellers usually enter overland from Kashgar via the Khunjerab crossing (open roughly April/May to November; check each year's announcement), or fly from Islamabad to Gilgit and drive about 2 hours. Apricot blossoms in April and golden poplars from late October to early November are the highlights; landslides are common in summer. [Safety] There have been repeated attacks targeting Chinese citizens in Pakistan in recent years. Check consular advisories before you go and register in the China Consular app. Do not travel overland on the southern section of the Karakoram Highway (Kohistan); cooperate with police registration and escorts, and avoid driving at night. Local customs are conservative – ask permission before photographing women.

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