Hunza or Skardu: Which Should You Choose?
Hunza and Skardu are the two main bases of northern Pakistan, and many travellers have time for only one. This guide compares them using our own programmes.
In short
- Hunza: villages, forts and orchards along the Karakoram Highway; easy road access and the Khunjerab Pass; shorter treks.
- Skardu: the gateway to K2, the Baltoro, Hushe and the Deosai Plains; mostly reached by air or a long road; the big glacier treks.
- Both: the autumn and cherry blossom tours cover the two in one trip.
Programmes that visit Hunza
| Programme | Days | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Rush Lake Trek & Hunza Tour | 15 | Mid-May to End-August |
| Karakorum Highway Biking tour | 14 | Mid-June to End-September |
| Autumn Tour in Gilgit-Baltistan | 15 | Mid-October to End-October |
| Cherry Blossom Tour | 15 | Mid-March to End- March |
| Fairy Meadows Trek & Hunza Tour | 12 | Mid-May to End of November |
| Gandhara Civilization Tour | 14 | — |
| Honeymoon Tour to Naran, Kaghan & Hunza | 10 | Mid-June to End-October |
| Snow Lake Trek | 21 | June to September |
| Great Karakoram Traverse | 32 | Mid-June to End-August |
| HinduKush Mountain Bike | 19 | Mid-May to End-August |
| Indus Civilization Tour | 15 | — |
| Rakaposhi/Diran BC Trek & Hunza Tour | 14 | Mid-May to September |
Programmes that visit Skardu
| Programme | Days | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Tour in Gilgit-Baltistan | 15 | Mid-October to End-October |
| Beautiful Hushe valley Trek | 25 | Mid-June to End-August |
| Cherry Blossom Tour | 15 | Mid-March to End- March |
| Gasherbrum III Expedition | 40 | Mid-May to End-August |
| K2 Expedition | 51 | Mid-May to End-August |
| Khusar Gang Expedition | 18 | Mid-May to End-August |
| Mashabrum Base camp Trek | 16 | June to End-September |
| Deosai Horse Safari | 11 | Mid-June to End-September |
| Hushe valley Biking Tour | 14 | Mid-May to End-August |
| K2 Base Camp Trek | 18 | Late June to Early September |
| Nangma Valley Rock Climbing | 29 | June to End-August |
| Spantik Base camp Trek | 15 | June to End-August |
| Deosai Plains Jeep Safari | 10 | Mid July to Mid September. |
| K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek | 18 | Late June to End-August |
| Deosai Biking Tours | 19 | — |
| Great Karakoram Traverse | 32 | Mid-June to End-August |
| Laila Base Camp & Haramosh La Trek | 14 | July to Mid September |
| Snow Lake Trek | 21 | June to September |