Region

Gilgit-Baltistan

The roof of Pakistan. K2, Karakoram Highway and turquoise lakes.

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Gilgit-Baltistan holds five of the world's fourteen 8,000 m peaks including K2 (8,611 m), the world's longest glacier outside the poles (Siachen, 76 km) and the Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road on Earth at 4,693 m at Khunjerab.

Best time to visit

May to October for road access; December to February for snow work in Hunza.

Getting there

Fly Islamabad → Skardu (1 hour) or Islamabad → Gilgit (1 hour). By road it is a 20-hour drive north along the Karakoram Highway.

Top spots in Gilgit-Baltistan

Hunza Valley
Baltit and Altit forts, terraced apricot orchards, view of Rakaposhi (7,788 m).
Skardu & Shigar
Cold desert, Shangrila resort, launch point for K2 base camp.
Deosai National Park
World's second-highest plateau at 4,114 m; Himalayan brown bear habitat.
Fairy Meadows
Alpine meadow with a direct view of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m).
Khunjerab Pass
Pakistan-China border at 4,693 m — highest paved border crossing in the world.

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Culture, city by city

Drill into the culture, dress, food, games and history of each city in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Hunza

The Burushaski-speaking valley — Ismaili music, apricot harvests, and 800-year-old forts.

History timeline for Gilgit-Baltistan

The eras of Pakistan's history that most shaped Gilgit-Baltistan, from past to present.

1971 – today
Modern Pakistan
The Karakoram Highway (opened 1978) connected Gilgit-Baltistan to China via the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 m — the highest paved border crossing on Earth. Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in 1998 at Chagai (Balochistan). Today Pakistan is the world's fifth most populous country with 240 million people.

Full history of Pakistan

Questions about Gilgit-Baltistan

Answers written for travellers, editors and buyers. Every answer is in the page HTML so answer engines can quote it directly.

When is the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan?+

May to October for road access; December to February for snow work in Hunza.

How do I get to Gilgit-Baltistan?+

Fly Islamabad → Skardu (1 hour) or Islamabad → Gilgit (1 hour). By road it is a 20-hour drive north along the Karakoram Highway.

Do foreigners need a permit to visit Gilgit-Baltistan?+

Foreign nationals need a No-Objection Certificate from the GB Home Department for Khunjerab, Shimshal and Chapursan. Indian nationals cannot visit.

How much does it cost to license a photo of Gilgit-Baltistan on Pixistan?+

Personal-use licenses start at PKR 500, editorial at PKR 2,500 and commercial at PKR 8,000. Every Gilgit-Baltistan photograph on Pixistan lists its exact PKR price on its detail page.

Who takes the Gilgit-Baltistan photographs sold on Pixistan?+

Every Gilgit-Baltistan photograph on Pixistan is shot on location by a Pakistani photographer. Pixistan does not accept AI-generated or agency stock imagery.