Most tour itineraries treat Gilgit as a transit stop — eat, sleep, refuel, drive on. After running it as a destination on its own for the first time this June, I’m convinced that’s a mistake. Gilgit deserves two days. Here’s what we did with them.
Why Gilgit gets skipped
It’s on the way to Hunza, Skardu, or Astore. People are tired by the time they reach. They’ve been driving 14+ hours. They want to get to “the real destination”. The result is that Gilgit becomes a place people pass through, not a place they see.
What’s actually here
- Kargah Buddha — a 7th-century rock-carved Buddha figure on a cliff face, about 10 km from the city. Best at golden hour.
- Naltar Valley — a 90-minute drive up. Famously colourful lakes. A day trip in itself.
- Old Gilgit bazaar — the dry-fruit and spice shops along the main road. Quality is genuinely excellent. We buy six months of dry apricots and walnuts here for our team.
- Danyore suspension bridge — the local commuter bridge over the Hunza river. Don’t miss it just because it’s on the way somewhere else.
The Naltar day
Naltar is what most groups eventually do when they decide to spend a full day in Gilgit. It’s worth it. The road from Nomal up is rough but driveable; the lakes are at about 3,000 m. We had clear weather and lunch at a small cafe by the second lake. PKR 800 per head, simple chicken pulao and tea, eaten with a view that costs nothing.
Naltar Lakes don’t photograph as well as they look in person. The blues and greens are real, not filtered. Most tourists arrive, take five minutes of photos, leave. We sat for two hours and watched the colour change.
Where to stay
We use a smaller property on the Jutial side, about 4 km from the centre. Quieter, parking, river-facing rooms. The bigger hotels in central Gilgit are fine but feel transit-stop-ish, which is exactly the vibe we’re trying to escape on this tour.
Costs
Two nights in Gilgit as part of a longer GB tour adds about PKR 14,000 per person over what a passing-through itinerary would cost. Worth it.
Want to come with us?
We run small-group tours every week from April to October. Transport, hotels, meals, and a real local guide — all included.
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