I am pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Solo Travel Society member Munaza, to complement an earlier one from Wen Tang. Munaza is from Pakistan, Wen Tang is from Singapore, and each submitted reports from their solo travels to various parts of Pakistan. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!
Official languages: Urdu, English
Costs at Destination: Reasonable (local transportation, dining, tours, events and attractions)
Munaza Explores Hunza, Pakistan
You may have heard Hunza, Pakistan referred to as a paradise on earth. Let me tell you it’s even more than you may think! I would call it a hidden treasure, magical, and incredible.
I have recently returned to Islamabad from the wonderful fairy land of Hunza with a suitcase full of magical moments and stories that I wish to share with the world. Moreover, it was my solo trip, which makes it much more important to me to share, since I want to tell people around the world with much confidence that it is safe to visit Pakistan, even as a solo female traveler.
Pakistan is a land blessed with vibrant landscapes – rivers, sands, lakes, snow-capped mountains, valleys, waterfalls, springs, glaciers, and more – in great abundance. Hunza is one destination on that list.
Hunza is a mountainous valley, situated in the northern part of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, bordering with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west and the Xinjiang region of China to the north-east. The valley is situated at an elevation of 2,438 meters, which makes the topography and climate particularly extreme.
People of the area speak local languages such as Burushaski, Wakhi, and Shina, however, the locals of the valley can speak English very well.
This region has one of the highest literacy rates as compared to other similar districts in Pakistan due to the influence of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, whom most of the Hunzakuts follow as their spiritual leader. On my visit I found as many girls going to school as boys. Likewise, I saw women working as café owners, farmers, and shop keepers. I found the community to be broad minded, hospitable, and friendly.
I visited Hunza, Pakistan in the first week of March. Before my plane had landed, I began to understand that what I had read about the region was nothing compared to what I was seeing with my own eyes. The snow-capped mountains and blue sky created a dream-like picture. When I landed at the beautiful tiny airport of Gilgit, it was fun to see clear blue sky and huge rocks towering on all sides of the airport.
My first stay was at Gilgit Serena Hotel. It is an attractive and luxurious lush green hotel, encircled by huge mountains. From the Hotel’s Dumani restaurant, there is a scenic view of Rakaposhi, Pakistan’s 12th highest mountain.
The next morning, I set off on a journey with a guide. I would like to suggest to people who are concerned about safety and security that all you need is to book a reputable hotel and a guide, as this will give you both a sense of security and the opportunity to learn from a local.
Hunza is 2.5 hours away from Gilgit. The journey was as exciting, scenic, and adventurous as I could imagine, which caused me to wonder, if the trip there is that spellbinding, what awaits at the destination?
Reaching Hunza, I felt like the entire land was celebrating pink! The roadside farms, trees, and meadows were all laden with pinkish white flowers.
Before checking in to my hotel, I decided to first explore the celebrated Altit Fort that enjoys a history of 1,100 years and the surrounding 100-year-old heritage village and its civilization, that was restored by the Aga Khan Cultural Service.
It was extremely cold, which, combined with the circular road trip, made my head spin, so I asked my driver to take me straight to Karimabad. I checked in to the Hunza Serena Inn, where I was immediately moved into the comfort of a Deluxe Room. They served me a hot cup of tea with some traditional biscuits that warmed me up.
The hotel offers a variety of tasty food, plus you can order something that is not in the menu, and it will appear in minutes.
Later, I switched off my mobile phone and spent the evening gazing at the mountains. In mountains, one feels secluded from the world, from everything but the local people and the love of nature.
Early the next morning, I packed my bag and headed out to explore more of Hunza. My first stop was Baltit Fort. A fairytale-like fort built in the 8th Century BC on top of a hill overlooking Karimabad, it is the most prominent landmark in Hunza. Its majestic location, surrounded by snowy mountains, make this fort one of the most photogenic.
In order to get to the fort, one has to climb a steep road for 15 minutes through a local village. Once you arrive at the fort you will be able to get an unobstructed view of Karimabad and the valleys beyond. On a clear day, you can see Rakaposhi and Diran peaks from here. The local village around the fort is worth exploring as well, so be sure to save some time to walk around the village.
Later in the afternoon, I set off for Passu Cones and Glacier. Your first sight of the grandeur of Cones will enthrall your spirits. Meanwhile, on crossing Attabad Lake, I was rendered speechless by encountering the tranquility of the emerald green water, with a backdrop of huge mountains.
The next spot was a sparkly frozen Passu Lake, whose glittery crystals dragged me down the sloppy hill, and there I felt like a living character from The Arabian Nights, walking on water. It felt magical. Hunza itself is magic.
Finally, I had the adventurous journey of crossing the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, known as the most dangerous bridge in the world. By now I was totally tired, however, I maneuvered myself up a hill to reach Borith Lake, a gorgeous pond where you will discover a number of birds, and maybe yaks. The locals are very hospitable, and they would love to host you when you travel solo to Pakistan.
An earlier version of this post appeared in Pakistan in the World.
Solo Travel Rating
- Safety – 1 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
- Language – 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
- Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
- Culture – 2 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
- Average Rating – 1.5 (1 is easiest, 3 is most difficult)
Solo Travel Pakistan: Wen Tang's Story
What do you think of when someone talks about Pakistan?
Unfortunately, many people associate it with terrorists. This is something I can understand due to the way the media portrays the country, which is often in a bad light. But this is precisely why I decided to travel there: to challenge the stereotypes.
First, I visited historic Lahore, the capital city of the province of Punjab near the Pakistan-India border and witnessed the beautiful and patriotic flag lowering ceremony held every evening. There are several historic sights to see in Lahore and a walk in the bazaar seems like a step back in time!
Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan is the place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Lahore. It is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is very well organized, clean, and pollution-free and you will meet warm and friendly people wherever you go! Oh yes, you will definitely be invited for chai (tea) and lunch or dinner by the locals in an attempt to understand more about your country and culture.
The highlight of my visit was definitely the time spent in Gilgit-Baltistan, the northern frontier of the country. I traveled on the Karakoram Highway which is the world's highest international land border connecting Pakistan and China.
As I visited during the autumn season, the colors in Hunza were spectacular and the cold desert in Skardu was breathtaking as well.
Here, the people are equally hospitable and friendly towards foreigners. Hitchhiking is pretty easy in this region and I usually got a ride within 10 minutes of waiting. I was also offered food and fresh fruit by local farmers and had a great time exploring this region.
Housing some of the most remote mountains ranges in the world, Northern Pakistan is also a trekking and climbing wonderland for intrepid travelers.
Overall, Pakistan is a relatively cheap destination for solo travel in terms of accommodation and food. Transport is not really a big issue as you can get around on rickshaws, buses, or even hitchhike.
There is so much to do, learn, and experience in this country. I had a great time exploring the country and her cultures. Go with an open mind and I am sure you will rank Pakistan as one of your favorite travel destinations.
It is one of those places I will definitely re-visit in the near future!
Solo Travel Rating
- Safety – 2 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
- Language – 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
- Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
- Culture – 3 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
- Average Rating – 2 (1 is easiest, 3 is most difficult)
