10 Great Things to do in Gulmit Village, Pakistan
This post is about the best things to do in Gulmit. Gulmit is a charming village in the Gojal Valley along the famous Karakorum Highway in Northern Pakistan. Although less famous than Hunza, it is an equally spectacular place where you can base yourself to explore the area.
Why visit Gulmit
The spectacular beauty of the Karakoram mountains in Gilgit Baltistan is attracting more and more tourists every year. Gulmit is a small village in the Gojal Valley of upper Hunza where tourists rarely stop, but is nevertheless well worth a visit. While Karimabad has become the most popular tourist hub in Hunza, Gulmit is a quieter, less touristy alternative on the Karakorum Highway.
Gulmit village has equally beautiful, if not more dramatic, mountain vistas, with towering peaks like the Passu Cones. At the same time, Gulmit still maintains a more rural and traditional way of life.
Gulmit has a unique culture that is different from lower Hunza. While in Karimabad most people belong to the Burushaski people, in Gulmit and upper Hunza people are Wakhi. The Wakhi people trace their origins to the historical Wakhan region in the Pamir mountains of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Over the centuries, the Wakhi people migrated to Gulmit and established themselves in the Gojal Valley where they maintained their distinct language and traditions.
Due to the region’s strategic location on the ancient Silk Road, the Wakhi people have a long history of trade and interaction with other cultures. The Wakhi people are Ismaili Muslims. A relatively moderate and liberal branch of Shia Islam with The Aga Khan as their spiritual leader.
Wakhi people are known for their warm hospitality and Gulmit is home to a number of wonderful homestays where you get the chance to learn more about their culture and history.
Things to do in Gulmit
Hike to Ondra Fort
One of the best things to do in Gulmit is the hike to Ondra Fort. Ondra Fort is perched on a hilltop high above Gulmit. It was built by a Kyrgyz king in the 16th century. Qutlub Baig used the fort as a stronghold to protect the people of Gulmit from invaders from the nearby Hunza and Nagar states, which were often at odds with one another.
Ondra Fort offered a commanding view of the region, allowing its defenders to spot potential threats from far away and keep watch over key routes through the Hunza Valley, including those leading to the Silk Road.
Over time, the fort lost its military importance, especially as the region became more peaceful. Today, the fort is mostly in ruins. The main reason to undertake the short, but steep climb are the breathtaking views of the Hunza River, the surrounding villages, and the towering peaks of the Karakoram Range.
Insider tip: You can follow the short and official ondrah pogya trail, a climb of stairs up to the Ondra Fort. Alternatively, you can follow a less steep trail through Kamaris village. It will be a longer hike, but the walk through the villages and orchards is very scenic.
Old Gulmit House
Gulmit still has an old center where you can see traditional Wakhi homes. The traditional Wakhi houses, known as qarghan, are built to withstand the harsh mountain winters. They are typically constructed from stone, wood, and mud, with flat roofs to keep in heat. Inside, the homes have distinct spaces for family gatherings and religious ceremonies.
The Old Gulmit House is the oldest surviving home in the village and is several hundred years old. It has been passed down through generations of Wakhi families. Old Gulmit House is now a small museum, offering insights into the traditional way of life in northern Pakistan.
Gulmit Carpet Weaving Center
Next to the Old Gulmit House is a carpet weaving center where women artisans make beautiful carpets from goat, sheep and yak wools. This is a great place to buy yourself a small carpet as a souvenir.
Try Hunza and Wakhi food
The food in Gulmit, like the rest of the Hunza Valley, reflects the region’s unique culture and traditional Wakhi and Burusho heritage. The diet primarily consists of locally grown ingredients, all adapted to the high-altitude environment. This means that the food is completely different from the rest of Pakistan and you will find dishes that you can only find in Hunza.
Apricots are a signature fruit of the Hunza Valley, and Gulmit is no exception. The fruit is dried and stored for use throughout the year, especially in winter when fresh produce is limited. Fresh apricots are also turned into jam and apricot juice. Apricot oil is a local delicacy used for cooking, as a condiment, or drizzled over breads and other foods.
Some local Hunza dishes that you must absolutely try are Chapshuro (meat pie), Gyaling (wheatflour pancakes with mulberry jam) and Ghilmindi (pancakes filled with yoghurt, cheese and herbs).
Tea is a significant part of daily life in Gulmit, as it is throughout Pakistan. In addition to black tea, the people of Gulmit also enjoy Shir Chai, a salted butter tea with milk (similar to the Tibetan style of butter tea). Also don’t miss Tumoro tea. A herbal tea from local wild thyme.
Things to do near Gulmit
Passu Cones
The Passu Cones are famous for their unique and jagged shape, resembling the spires of a cathedral. The peaks are composed of granite and sedimentary rock, shaped over millions of years by geological forces. They appear almost symmetrical, creating an awe-inspiring and surreal landscape.
The highest peak among the cones is Passu Sar, which reaches an elevation of 7,478 meters. While the Passu Cones themselves are not frequently climbed due to their technical difficulty, they are a popular backdrop for pictures. The cones are especially striking at sunrise and sunset.
Insider tip: The best views on the Passu Cones are from Passu village and from the Hussainibad bridge. Passu is 14 kilometers north of Gulmit. When you visit Passu I recommend to try a yak burger at the Yak Grill.
Hussainibad bridge
The Hussaini Bridge is a long, narrow suspension bridge that stretches across the Hunza River, connecting the small villages of Hussaini and Zarabad in the Upper Hunza region.
It has gained global fame due to its rickety and precarious appearance. Made of simple wooden planks and steel cables, with large gaps between the planks, it looks fragile and daunting to cross, especially as the bridge sways in the wind and over the fast-flowing Hunza River.
Some sections of the bridge have missing planks, which adds to the excitement of the crossing. Although it looks dangerous, locals cross this bridge every day.
The surrounding scenery, with the majestic Passu Cones, the Hunza River, and the dramatic Karakoram Mountains, makes the journey worthwhile, even for those who don’t want to cross the bridge but want to take in the views.
Passu glacier
Passu Glacier along with its surrounding landscapes, offers some of the most stunning and dramatic scenery in the Hunza Valley. It is part of a larger glacial system that includes the Batura Glacier to the west and Ghulkin Glacier to the south.
Passu Glacier is only 15 kilometers north of Gulmit and visible from the Karakorum Highway. It is one of the most accesible glaciers to visit in the Hunza Valley. There is an easy trail that starts in Passu that leads up to the foot of the glacier and another longer trail that starts at Borith Lake. For more information you can check my post about the Passu glacier hike.
The impact of climate change is very visible and the hike to the foot of the glacier gets longer every year.
Borith lake
Borith Lake is a stunning high-altitude lake not far from Gulmit. Unlike more famous tourist spots, Borith Lake remains relatively undiscovered and is a peaceful place. It is an important stopover for migratory birds, especially ducks and geese flying in from Central Asia.
From Borith Lake you can hike to the Passu glacier as well as the Ghulkin glacier.
Attabad lake
The turquoise blue waters of Attabad lake surrounded by the rugged Karakorum Mountains, make it a mesmerizing place. But behind all this beauty lies a tragic story as the lake was formed due to a massive landslide in January 2010. The village of Attabad was almost completely buried under millions of cubic meters of rock, soil, and debris and 20 lives were lost.
The landslide also blocked the flow of the Hunza River, creating a natural dam and a newly formed lake. Surrounding villages, including Shishkat, and parts of Gulmit, were affected as the rising waters submerged homes, agricultural fields, and orchards. In the end, more than 6000 people were displaced.
One of the most severe impacts of the landslide and lake formation was the disruption of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), the main trade route between Pakistan and China. The government along with Chinese engineers constructed five massive tunnels to restore road access to the area.
The local population has adapted by developing tourism around the lake. What was once a source of disaster has now become a popular tourist destination, offering boating, jet skiing, and scenic views that attract visitors from all over the world.
Shiskhat village
The small village of Shiskat lies just south of Attabad Lake. It’s a scenic village that is well-known for its terraced fields and fruit orchards, where apricots, apples, cherries, and other fruits are grown. It is a nice place to wander around and get to know rural village life.
Gulmit Travel Tips
Where to stay in Gulmit
Moksha resort: I stayed in Moksha Resort and it was a very wonderful experience. It is more like a homestay and the family that runs the place is extremely friendly. I still cherish my memories of staying in this great guesthouse.
Where to eat in Gulmit
Moksha Resort: Moksha Resort has its own restaurant that serves very good local food and is therefore a great place to try Hunza specialities. I can recommend the Moksha special soup that is absolutely delicious. For breakfast you can try Gyal. A local pancake from buckwheat with apricot oil.
Bozlanj cafe: Bozlanj cafe is a small restaurant run by women that serve good local food. It is a great place to try Hunza food such as Ghilmindi. A flatbread pancake filled with a yoghurt cheese mixture full of local herbs.
How to get there
By road: From Islamabad it is a long, but spectacular journey to Gulmit. The journey takes you from Islamabad to Gilgit (15-16 hours) on the Karakoram Highway, then a minivan from Gilgit to Gulmit (2-3 hours). Several companies, including NATCO (Northern Areas Transport Corporation), operate buses from Islamabad to Gilgit. In Gilgit you can find shared minivans that go along the Karakoram Highway to Gulmit.
By air: It will be less sustainable, but you can make the long journey on the road shorter by flying into Gilgit. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates direct flights between Islamabad and Gilgit. The flight duration is about 45 minutes to 1 hour, offering breathtaking aerial views of the Himalayas and Karakoram Range, including views of Nanga Parbat if the weather is clear. Flights to Gilgit are highly weather-dependent due to the mountainous terrain. Cancellations and delays are common, especially in winter or during bad weather.
When to visit Gulmit
Spring: Spring is a good time to visit Gulmit with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. As the snow melts, the valleys turn green and wildflowers start to emerge.
From mid March to early April you can witness the short, but spectacular cherry and apricot blossoms. Apricots are an essential part of the local culture and economy in Gilgit-Baltistan and you can see the cherry and apricot orchards in full bloom, transforming Gulmit and the surrounding valleys into a sea of pink and white flowers.
At last, you can also enjoy the Nowruz celebrations in March. Nowruz in Gulmit is linked with the arrival of spring when locals decorate their homes with fresh flowers.
Summer: Summer is peak tourist season, because it is the most ideal time for trekking and exploring high altitude areas such as the nearby Passu Cones, Borith Lake, and Attabad Lake. Daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C.
Autumn: Temperatures start cooling down again, ranging from 5°C to 20°C with clear days and cool nights. Autumn might be the most beautiful time to visit Gulmit, because the valleys are painted in golden, red, and orange hues. At the same time, the summer crowds start to thin out, offering a more peaceful experience.
Winter: Harsh winter weather sets in, with heavy snowfall and temperatures dropping below freezing. The Karakoram Highway remains open year round, but some tourist facilities close down for the winter.
Sustainable Travel in Gulmit
As a high-altitude community, the Wakhi people are increasingly affected by climate change, which has disrupted their traditional farming and grazing patterns. Glacial melt and changing weather patterns have also posed risks to their livelihoods.
As Gulmit and the surrounding Gojal Valley become more popular with tourists, the Wakhi people have adapted by engaging in community-based tourism. Local guesthouses and cultural tours offer visitors a chance to experience Wakhi traditions firsthand, while also providing the community with a source of income.
Traveling sustainably to the Karakoram mountains is essential to minimize your environmental impact and preserve the area’s natural beauty for future generations.
Stay in small scale sustainable hotels: It is better to stay in locally-owned guesthouses or homestays to support the local economy directly. These accommodations often have a more positive impact on the environment compared to large hotels.
You can try to look for guesthouses or homestays that prioritizes sustainable practices. That said, environmental awareness is still low. It’s up to you to use water sparsely, turn off lights, air conditioning, and heating when leaving your accommodation.
Leave no trace principle: When hiking around Gulmit, stick to designated trails to protect the fragile ecosystem. Straying off the marked paths can cause soil erosion and damage to plant life. If you are lucky enough to spot wildlife such as ibex, observe quietly from a distance to prevent disruption to their habitats and help maintain their natural behaviors.
I encourage you to take all your trash back with you and dispose of it responsibly. In other words, leave no trace of your visit. Even better is when you bring something to pick up any of the trash that other people left behind.
To avoid single-use plastics, invest in reusable items. For example, you can bring your own water bottle with a filter.
Respect the culture: Besides environmental concerns it is also important to be sensitive of the community’s way of life. People will appreciate it, if you dress modestly. Learning a few basic phrases in Wakhi or Urdu, can go a long way in building meaningful connections.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This post with a travel guide about the best things to do in Gulmit contains affiliate links. If you buy any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me to keep Backpack Adventures alive! Thanks for your support!