Hunza vs Skardu: Which Should You Visit First?
Pakistan Locals Team
5 September 2026 · 3 min read
At a glance
- Location
- Gilgit-Baltistan
- Region
- Gilgit-Baltistan
- Best time
- May to October for both, with September and October the best all rounders
It is the question every first northern trip runs into: Hunza or Skardu? Both are extraordinary, both sit in Gilgit-Baltistan, and both deserve a visit, but they are quite different places and suit different travellers. Here is an honest comparison to help you choose, whether you have one trip to spend or you are deciding what to do first.
Getting there
This is often the deciding factor. Skardu has a direct flight from Islamabad, about 45 minutes when the weather allows, which makes it the fastest way into the high mountains for a short trip. You can also drive, but it is a long 18 to 22 hours. Hunza has no airport. You either fly to Gilgit and drive two to three hours to Karimabad, or take the full Karakoram Highway overland. If your time is tight, the Skardu flight is a real advantage. See our Skardu flight or road and how to reach Hunza guides.
Scenery and character
- Hunza is green and cultivated: terraced apricot orchards, the 700-year-old Baltit and Altit forts above Karimabad, the turquoise of Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones, and Rakaposhi filling the sky. It is compact, so you see a lot without long drives, and it feels gentle and welcoming.
- Skardu is vast and raw: a cold sand desert beside the Indus, the Kachura lakes and Shangrila, the restored forts of Shigar and Khaplu, and the road up to the Deosai plains. It is the gateway to K2 and the great Karakoram treks. Everything is bigger and further apart, and it feels like real expedition country.
Culture
Hunza is known for its Ismaili community, high literacy, and a relaxed, progressive feel, with Wakhi and Burushaski among the local languages. Skardu is Balti, with a Tibetan-influenced culture, older forts and a more traditional rhythm. Both are famously hospitable, but the atmosphere is noticeably different, and many travellers find the contrast part of the appeal.
Who each one is for
- Choose Hunza if it is your first trip north, you want forts, culture and accessible beauty in a compact area, or you are travelling with family and want things gentle.
- Choose Skardu if you want adventure, Deosai and the high lakes, serious trekking toward K2, or you simply want to fly in fast and be among the giants.
Cost and time
Costs are broadly similar, and transport is the biggest variable: the Skardu flight saves days but adds cost and weather risk, while the road to either is cheap but long. For time, give Hunza at least four to five days and Skardu at least four, more if you want Deosai. See our cost of a Hunza trip and cost of a Skardu trip guides.
The honest verdict
If you only have one trip and it is your first, start with Hunza: it is easier, gentler and packs the most into the least driving. If you crave adventure and can handle the logistics, or you want to fly in fast, go to Skardu. And if you can, do both over ten days or more, flying into Skardu and out through Hunza on the Karakoram Highway. Few people regret seeing the two together.
Quick answers
Hunza or Skardu for a first trip? Hunza, for its gentler, compact mix of forts, culture and scenery.
Which is easier to reach? Skardu, thanks to the direct flight from Islamabad.
Which is better for adventure? Skardu, for Deosai and the K2 treks.
Can you do both? Yes, in ten days or more, usually flying to Skardu and out via Hunza.
Written and fact-checked by the Pakistan Locals editorial team, with hosts in both valleys. Last updated September 2026. Flights and road conditions change, so confirm before you book.
Sources and further reading
Ready to go? Browse trips across Hunza and Skardu on Pakistan Locals, or plan on the map. Read the full Hunza and Skardu guides. Host in either valley? List your experience free.
Questions people ask
Should I visit Hunza or Skardu first?+
For a first trip to the north, Hunza is the easier, gentler choice, with forts, orchards, Attabad Lake and welcoming culture packed into a compact valley. Skardu is the pick if you want adventure, Deosai and the big trekking, or you can reach it fast by air.
Which is more beautiful, Hunza or Skardu?+
Both are stunning in different ways. Hunza is green and cultivated, with terraced orchards, forts and Rakaposhi. Skardu is vast and dramatic, with a cold desert, giant peaks, lakes and the gateway to K2. Most people who go end up loving both.
Is it easier to get to Hunza or Skardu?+
Skardu has a direct flight from Islamabad of about 45 minutes when the weather allows, which is the fastest way into the high mountains. Hunza has no airport, so you fly to Gilgit and drive, or take the Karakoram Highway.
Can you visit both Hunza and Skardu in one trip?+
Yes, and many people do. Allow ten days or more, since the drive between them via Gilgit takes most of a day. A common route is to fly to Skardu, then travel to Hunza and out via the Karakoram Highway.
Pakistan Locals Team
The Pakistan Locals editorial team writes practical, on-the-ground travel guides to Pakistan, researched and fact-checked in consultation with our network of local hosts and guides.