Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit
Region
Gilgit-Baltistan
Best Visit
May to October
Highlight
Route Hub
Access
Open to All
Gilgit
— at a glance
Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and the road and air hub of the whole region. Sitting at about 1,500 m on the Gilgit River, it is the point where the journey to almost every famous valley in the north begins: Hunza, Skardu, Naltar and Fairy Meadows all branch off from here. The town itself is low-key rather than pretty, but the bazaar, the 7th-century Kargah Buddha and the easy altitude make it the natural place to pause, stock up and acclimatise before going higher.
What to expect
Route HubKarakoram HighwayKargah BuddhaGilgit-BaltistanGateway
Photo by Fehd.raza
Frequently asked questions
- What is Gilgit known for?
- Gilgit is the capital and main transport hub of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is best known as the gateway to the north, the junction where the roads to Hunza, Skardu, Naltar and Fairy Meadows split, and as the home of the 7th-century Kargah Buddha rock carving.
- How long should you stay in Gilgit?
- Most travellers spend a single night in Gilgit to rest, resupply and arrange onward transport. At about 1,500 m it is a useful place to acclimatise for a day before heading up to Hunza or the Deosai Plains.
- How do you get to Gilgit?
- By air from Islamabad in under an hour when the weather allows, or by road on the Karakoram Highway, about 13 to 16 hours by bus from Rawalpindi. Gilgit then connects onward to the rest of the region by shared car and jeep.
Continue Exploring
Other destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan
Want a tailored itinerary for Gilgit?
We'll handle the logistics. You focus on the journey.