Skardu vs Hunza — Which Should You Visit First?

This is the question we get asked most often: if I only have time for one, should I go to Skardu or Hunza? The honest answer is that they are very different places, and the right choice depends entirely on what you are looking for.

The Short Answer

Go to Hunza if you want scenic beauty, cultural heritage, spring blossoms and a more accessible, comfortable base. Go to Skardu if you want raw adventure, dramatic altitude, serious trekking access and the feeling that you are genuinely far from anywhere.

If you have the time, do both. They complement each other perfectly, and most of our Grand North Expedition itinerary combines them in a single trip.

Getting There

Hunza

Hunza is reached entirely by road along the Karakoram Highway, a drive that takes roughly 14–16 hours from Lahore (or 6–7 hours from Gilgit with an overnight stop). There is no direct flight to Hunza, which means it is slightly more effort to reach — but the KKH drive itself is one of the great road journeys in the world, and most people count it as part of the experience.

Skardu

Skardu has a domestic airport with daily PIA and AirBlue flights from Lahore (about 50 minutes). The flight is spectacular on clear days, with K2 and Nanga Parbat both visible from the window. However, Skardu flights are weather-dependent and delays or cancellations happen regularly. The road alternative is a dramatic but long two-day drive via the KKH. Most visitors fly in and drive back, or vice versa.

The Scenery

Hunza

Hunza's scenery is extraordinary in a way that feels curated. The Karakoram peaks rise behind terraced fields and apricot orchards, Rakaposhi's perfect white pyramid dominates the southern skyline, and the turquoise gash of Attabad Lake — formed by a 2010 landslide — is one of the most photographed scenes in Pakistan. The valley has a softness to it. It feels inhabited and cultivated in a way that Skardu does not.

Skardu

Skardu is rawer. The landscape around it is more varied — a cold desert with actual sand dunes on one side, glacial lakes on another, and the rolling high plateau of Deosai behind it. The Indus River is wide and braided here. The scale of everything feels bigger. If Hunza is a painting, Skardu is an IMAX film.

Things to Do

In Hunza

• Baltit Fort and Altit Fort — 700 years of royal history
• Attabad Lake boat crossing and surrounding cliffs
• Eagle's Nest viewpoint at sunset
• Khunjerab Pass — the China border at 4,693m
• Passu Cones and Passu Glacier walk
• Patundas trek for serious hikers

In Skardu

• Deosai National Park — high plateau and Himalayan brown bears
• Shangrila Resort and Lower Kachura Lake
• Karphocho Fort on the ridge above the valley
• Katpana Cold Desert — sand dunes at altitude
• Shigar Fort and heritage village
• Gateway for K2 Base Camp, Concordia and Baltoro treks

Accommodation

Hunza has the better and wider range of hotels, particularly in Karimabad. Several excellent mid-range and boutique guesthouses sit above the valley with jaw-dropping room views. The tourist infrastructure is more developed and English is widely spoken.

Skardu has comfortable hotels but fewer standout options at the boutique level. The Shigar Fort, a restored heritage property an hour from Skardu, is one of the finest small hotels in Pakistan. For Deosai camping, we provide all equipment as part of the tour.

Who Should Go Where?

• First-time visitors to Northern Pakistan: Start with Hunza — it is more accessible, better connected and immediately rewarding
• Serious trekkers: Skardu is your base for K2, Concordia and Deosai
• Photographers: Both, but Hunza's blossoms in April and Skardu's September light are both world-class
• Families with children: Hunza is easier and more comfortable
• Honeymoon couples: Hunza wins — the views, the forts and the atmosphere are more romantic
• Adventure seekers: Skardu, without hesitation

Our Verdict

If you truly only have time for one: Hunza for a first visit, Skardu when you come back. But the best version of a Northern Pakistan trip combines both. Our Grand North Expedition does exactly that — WhatsApp Ahmad to find out more.