15 Real Things to Do in Hunza (2025 Guide for Curious Travelers)
What if I told you that Hunza isn’t just a destination to check off a bucket list—but a place that gently demands your participation? While thousands flock here every year to marvel at snow-capped giants and Instagrammable lakes, most leave without actually experiencing Hunza.
Hunza Valley, nestled in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, isn’t just about views; it’s about immersive living. It offers a rare invitation to slow down, interact, and grow—physically, intellectually, and even spiritually. Whether you’re a solo traveler on a journey of self-discovery or a family seeking cultural depth beyond a vacation photo, Hunza offers experiences that engage more than just your camera lens.
In this guide, you won’t find the usual “go trekking and take pictures” clichés. Instead, you’ll uncover 15 real, hands-on things to do in Hunza—activities that will teach you something, connect you with locals, or offer a new perspective. Each entry explains how to do it, what to expect, and what you’ll take away.
Table of Contents
Join a Traditional Apricot Harvest in Gojal
If you visit in July or early August, head to Passu, Gulmit, or Ghulkin. Apricot trees bloom across the valley, and families dry the fruit on rooftops for winter. Ask your guesthouse host if there’s a family you can visit and join for an afternoon of picking, pitting, and sun-drying.
What you’ll learn: How Hunzokutz families preserve food traditionally, and why apricots are considered sacred in local cuisine.
2. Take a Music Lesson with a Local Rabab Player
Stop by the Hunza Arts Council in Karimabad or talk to your local host. Many guesthouses can connect you to musicians who still play the rabab and dadang (traditional drum). Sit in on a lesson—or simply join a jam session with tea and laughter.
What you’ll gain: A rare chance to understand the region’s ancient music traditions, and the joy of storytelling through strings and rhythm.
3. Make Bread in a Village Tandoor
This isn’t your average baking class. Ask to visit a local kitchen in Altit or Hyderabad and help roll, flatten, and slap Hunza bread (chapshuro, girda, or phitti) onto the tandoor walls. Many women are happy to teach you if you ask respectfully.
What you’ll take home: A deeper appreciation of women’s roles in Hunza society and a belly full of warm, earthy bread you helped make.
4. Learn Woodcarving in Altit Fort’s Artisan Workshops
Altit Fort isn’t just a historical site—it’s also a hub of cultural revival. The Serena-managed Kha Basi Café nearby often partners with artisans offering day workshops. You can watch or try your hand at carving a small keepsake.
Skills gained: Basic wood carving techniques and an understanding of Hunza’s ancient architecture motifs, like geometric patterns and floral engravings.
5. Attend a Local Polo Match in Gulmit
Forget stadium seating—here, polo is played on dusty fields surrounded by mountains. Matches usually happen during festivals or weekends. Ask locals in Gulmit or Sost; they’ll likely direct you to an upcoming match.
Why it’s unforgettable: You’ll learn how this sport symbolizes masculinity and honor in the region, and witness raw, unfiltered competition.
6. Sit for Tea with an Ismaili Scholar
Hunza is predominantly Ismaili, a moderate Shia Muslim community known for its emphasis on education and peace. If you’re curious, many scholars or teachers are happy to sit for tea and a chat. Ask your hotel or homestay owner if they can arrange a meeting.
Takeaway: Insight into a faith that promotes harmony, learning, and respect—directly from those who live by it.
7. Explore the Women-Led Carpet Weaving Centers
Visit the women-run weaving center in Gulmit where locals make handwoven carpets. You can watch, learn, and even buy directly from the women supporting their households through heritage crafts.
How to do it: Simply walk into the Gulmit Carpet Center or book through your guesthouse.
What you gain: Awareness of the challenges and triumphs of Hunza’s women entrepreneurs—and a tangible memory to take home.
8. Join a Wakhi Language Class for a Day
In Upper Hunza, Wakhi is a language that’s slowly fading from everyday use. Spoken by the Wakhi people in remote villages like Shimshal and Sost, it’s a vital piece of the region’s cultural fabric. However, due to the growing influence of Urdu and other languages, Wakhi is
becoming less common. Fortunately, language revival projects are working to keep it alive, offering short, interactive classes for curious foreigners.
Why It Matters: Learning even a few words in Wakhi—like “Shughnon” (hello)—can have a profound impact on your experience in Hunza. It’s not just about communication; it’s a way to show respect for the local culture and heritage. Locals will greatly appreciate your efforts, and you’ll quickly find that even a simple greeting opens doors to new friendships and deeper connections. Whether you’re walking through the markets of Sost or exploring Shimshal, speaking the language can create an immediate bond with the community, making your travel experience even more meaningful.
How to Join: Check with local guesthouses or cultural centers in Shimshal and Sost about language classes. Often, the elders themselves are happy to teach you a few phrases in their native tongue
9. Volunteer with a Local School
Some community-run schools in Altit, Karimabad, and Misgar welcome travelers to do storytelling sessions or informal English chats. Contact the HUNZAI Foundation or your homestay for leads.
Takeaway: You’ll walk away with more than smiles—you’ll understand how education shapes Hunza’s future.
10. Take a Glacier Walk With a Local Guide
Instead of hiking to a viewpoint, try walking across the Passu Glacier with a trained guide. It’s moderately challenging and requires good shoes and a stick. Book through local operators in Passu.
What you’ll learn: How glaciers are melting, why locals rely on them for irrigation, and what they mean for climate resilience.
11. Visit a Local Bazaar and Learn to Bargain
Markets in Aliabad or Sost aren’t just for tourists—they’re where the community shops. You’ll find dried mulberries, yak wool socks, mountain herbs, and cheap noodle soup stalls.
Pro tip: Don’t just buy—ask questions. Sellers love explaining the use of herbs or how to spot authentic rock salt.
12. Watch the Stars from Eagle’s Nest
Hunza’s light pollution is minimal. Go up to Duikar or Eagle’s Nest just before sunset and stay past twilight. Bring a blanket and warm tea.
What to expect: The Milky Way in full view—and a rare moment of utter silence.
13. Try Traditional Archery in Ghulkin
In villages like Ghulkin and Shimshal, traditional archery contests are not just about skill—they’re a living testament to a time when precision and strength were vital for survival. These contests, often held during festivals or gatherings, bring the community together to celebrate a centuries-old tradition that has been passed down through generations. While you’ll see locals with remarkable precision hitting their targets, the experience goes beyond the competition itself.
Why Try It: Participating in these archery contests gives you a unique opportunity to connect with the local culture and history. It’s more than just pulling a bowstring—it’s about understanding how these skills once played a crucial role in hunting and defense. Whether you’re an experienced archer or a complete beginner, taking part is an exciting way to learn about the local heritage. Sometimes, the village elders even invite tourists to take a shot, offering you the chance to step into the shoes of those who lived here centuries ago.
How to Join: Ask the village elders or inquire through your guesthouse about upcoming contests. The warm-hearted locals are usually more than willing to share this incredible tradition with visitors.
14. Visit the Hunza Public Library in Karimabad
Tucked away in the heart of Karimabad, the Hunza Library is more than just a collection of books—it’s a quiet rebellion against the idea that learning must come from cities or screens. Its wooden shelves are lined with works in Burushaski, Urdu, and English, ranging from ancient poetry and travelogues to contemporary climate research and women’s rights in the mountains. Some books are donated by travelers; others are hand-carried by returning students from Islamabad or even Oxford.
The library is modest in size but mighty in spirit. What sets it apart are its people—local students, retired teachers, and visiting scholars gather here not just to read, but to talk. On certain evenings, the space transforms into a small hub for reading circles, oral history discussions, or debates about modern development in the valley.
How to Join: Just walk in. There are no cards, no fees, and no barriers. If you’re a curious traveler, you’re already welcome. Ask about upcoming gatherings, and chances are you’ll leave with a new book and a new friend.
15. Attend a Community Festival or Cultural Night
Hunza’s festivals aren’t designed for tourists—they’re real, time-honored celebrations of identity, survival, and joy. If you’re lucky enough to be in the valley during Ginani or the Silk Route Festival, don’t just spectate—join in.
Ginani, the local harvest festival, is celebrated across Upper and Lower Hunza in June. It marks the blessing of the year’s crops and is deeply rooted in the region’s agricultural life. The ceremonies usually begin in Altit and Baltit Forts, where community leaders, farmers, and spiritual elders gather. Locals offer prayers over freshly harvested wheat, followed by community feasts, traditional music (especially from the dadang and rabab), and the iconic
circle dances of the Hunzukutz people. Women wear vibrant embroidered caps and men don woolen shalwars and waistcoats—it’s a day when the entire valley glows with gratitude and celebration.
On the other hand, the Silk Route Festival (usually in May or September) celebrates Hunza’s historic role on the ancient trade route connecting China with South and Central Asia. Held mainly in Karimabad or Gulmit, this multi-day event features folk dances, musical performances, local handicraft exhibitions, and sporting competitions like polo and tug-of-war. It’s a festival that brings together artists, entrepreneurs, and community elders to showcase their heritage.
How to Attend: Ask your guesthouse about dates or check Facebook groups like “Hunza Lovers” or “Discover Gilgit-Baltistan”. You’ll likely be invited in—because in Hunza, strangers are just friends who haven’t had apricot juice with you yet.
The Takeaway
Traveling in Pakistan is both exciting and accessible because to its varied transportation system. Every type of traveler has an alternative, from the convenience of ride-hailing services to the affordability of buses and trains.
Metro busses, Careem, and Uber are the most convenient means of transportation for brief city excursions. Pakistan’s picturesque train routes and opulent bus services offer comfortable and reasonably priced long-distance travel. The quickest option to travel long distances is still by domestic flight, particularly when traveling to far-flung northern locations.
Are you prepared to travel to Pakistan? Plan your vacation now to take advantage of the amazing nation’s transportation infrastructure!
Explore carefully planned tours to see the best of this fascinating nation. Please get in touch if you would need more travel advice; we are happy to assist you in organizing your upcoming journey! Additionally, by completing this form, you can personalize your journey.
FAQ: Answering Your Top Questions About Karachi
- What’s the best time to visit Hunza for local experiences?
April to October is ideal. July-August is best for harvest and festivals.
- How do I book cultural activities in Hunza?
Ask your homestay or guesthouse host. Most are happy to arrange authentic experiences.
- Are these activities safe for solo travelers or women?
Yes, Hunza is considered one of the safest regions in Pakistan, even for solo female travelers.
- Is there a language barrier when doing local activities?
Most young locals speak basic English. A few Wakhi or Burushaski words will earn you respect.
- Do I need to tip after local workshops or visits?
Not necessary, but always appreciated. Bring small gifts if staying longer.
- Can kids participate in these activities?
Absolutely—especially bread making, carpet weaving, and music sessions.
- How long should I stay to enjoy these experiences?
Plan at least 5–7 days to explore Hunza beyond sightseeing.
- Are there group tours for such activities?
Some eco-tourism agencies offer packages, but going through local guesthouses is more authentic.
- What should I wear for glacier walks or cultural visits?
Modest, layered clothing with good walking shoes is ideal. Bring a scarf or hat for sun.
- How much do these activities cost?
Many are free or based on small donations or tips. Workshops may cost PKR 1,000–3,000.
- Can I document these experiences (photos/videos)?
Yes, but always ask permission—especially in private homes or with women.
Daniel loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations and making new friends. Writing blog posts since 2015, Daniel says it helps him to document his travels and cherish them. He loves the fact that what he writes might actually help someone have a better experience in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In his spare time, he loves listening to Tchaikovsky and spend time with his dog Coconut.
