9 Days Azad Kashmir Hunza Tour
Overview
Kashmir's deep green plus the Karakoram's high drama in one trip: the Neelum River's forested gorge through Keran and Sharda, then over to Naran and up the KKH for Hunza's forts, lakes and peaks. Maximum variety per day of leave.
Plan the journey with our guided Hunza trips, places to stay in Hunza, rent a car in Hunza, Hunza adventure tours and foreign visitor packages.
Trip Highlights
- Neelum Valley: Keran, Sharda, Kel viewpoints
- Muzaffarabad and the Neelum-Jhelum confluence
- Naran and Babusar crossing (seasonal)
- Full central Hunza circuit with Attabad
- Two mountain ranges, one private car
Day by Day Itinerary
9-day planIslamabad to Muzaffarabad to Keran
Travel into the Neelum Valley with planned meal and comfort stops before a riverside overnight stay. Timing remains flexible enough to respond to local access, weather and the confirmed interests of the travellers. For Islamabad to Muzaffarabad to Keran on day 1, the guide explains the local history and allows unhurried time in the lanes, gardens and viewpoints; fort entry and any community visit follow the opening hours and rules in effect that day.
Max altitude 1,524 mKeran to Sharda
Follow the Neelum River through forest villages, with stops selected according to road and security conditions. This flexible period is kept genuinely unhurried, with optional activity agreed locally rather than added as a compulsory stop.
Max altitude 1,981 mSharda to Muzaffarabad or Balakot
Return through the Neelum Valley and continue toward Balakot where timing permits; this is a long transfer day. The final transfer keeps a sensible buffer for the agreed train or flight time, while any optional stop depends on the remaining daylight and traffic.
Max altitude 1,000 mBalakot or Naran to Hunza
Continue toward Hunza via Babusar Pass only when officially open. If the pass is closed, the route and overnight plan must be revised. For Balakot or Naran to Hunza on day 4, allow a full mountain-road day with meal, fuel and comfort stops agreed en route; the driver follows the road that is officially open and adjusts timing for traffic, weather and daylight.
Max altitude 2,438 mKarimabad heritage day
Visit Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Ganish village and Eagle’s Nest at sunset. Central Hunza visits are sequenced around fort opening hours, village access and walking time between Karimabad, Altit and Ganish. For Karimabad heritage day on day 5, early or late light is used where practical, while weather determines the final viewpoint; equipment remains supervised during roadside stops and larger luggage stays secured in the vehicle.
Max altitude 2,850 mAttabad Lake and Upper Hunza
Visit Attabad Lake, Gulmit, Passu Cones and Hussaini Bridge at a comfortable pace. At Attabad Lake, any boating stop proceeds only when wind, lake conditions and the selected operator allow a safe departure. For Attabad Lake and Upper Hunza on day 6, lake activities and stopping points are selected from current weather, access and crowd conditions; comfortable shoes and a light warm layer are useful even when most of the day is vehicle based.
Max altitude 2,600 mNagar or Khunjerab day
Choose Hopper Glacier and Nagar villages or Khunjerab Pass according to season, road access and guest preference. The guide explains local etiquette before the visit, coordinates any hosted experience in advance and avoids treating homes, farms or working village spaces as staged attractions for visitors.
Max altitude Up to 4,693 mHunza to Chilas or Besham
Begin the return journey with scheduled meal, comfort and viewpoint stops. For Hunza to Chilas or Besham on day 8, the final transfer keeps a sensible buffer for the agreed train or flight time, while any optional stop depends on the remaining daylight and traffic.
Max altitude 1,265 mReturn to Islamabad
Complete the final road leg and transfer to the confirmed hotel, residence or airport. For Return to Islamabad on day 9, the final transfer keeps a sensible buffer for the agreed train or flight time, while any optional stop depends on the remaining daylight and traffic.
What’s Included
Included
- Hotel accommodation (breakfast included)
- Private vehicle with experienced KKH driver
- All fuel, tolls and parking
- confirmed-guest on-trip WhatsApp support
- All applicable taxes
Not included
- Lunches and dinners
- Entry tickets to forts and attractions
- Personal expenses and tips
- Travel insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Do foreigners need permits for Neelum?
Some Neelum areas require NOC for foreign nationals; we confirm current rules and route accordingly.
Best season?
May to October; Neelum is lush in monsoon while Hunza stays dry: a great pairing.
Is this tour completely private?
Yes: your own vehicle, your own driver, and departure on any date you choose. No strangers, no fixed seats, and the daily plan flexes to your pace.
Can the trip begin at Gilgit Airport?
Yes: fly Islamabad to Gilgit (tickets booked at cost) and we start the itinerary from the airport, trimming the road days. A road backup is always planned in case mountain weather cancels the flight.
What happens if a domestic flight is cancelled?
Mountain weather cancels a share of Gilgit and Skardu flights, so every fly-based plan carries a costed road backup that activates automatically: you may lose a day, never the trip. Road-based itineraries are unaffected.
Is Khunjerab Pass included?
Yes: the itinerary includes a Khunjerab Pass day (4,693 m, China border), open roughly May to late November. In winter we substitute Naltar Valley snowscapes.
Which hotels are used?
Named properties are confirmed on your quote; expect well-reviewed standard hotels, with deluxe and luxury upgrades available at booking. See our Hotels page for the full 65-hotel partner list and per-night rates.
Is this package suitable for children?
Yes: drive legs are broken with rest stops, family rooms are booked, and daily plans flex around nap and meal times. Car seats available on request.
Is the tour suitable for senior travellers?
Yes with reasonable mobility: vehicle access covers nearly every highlight, walking is optional, and we pace days generously. Tell us about any conditions and we’ll adapt the plan.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Completely: add or drop days, swap valleys, change hotel tiers or start cities; it’s your trip and re-quoting a custom version costs nothing.