Visited: 2017 and 2021 · 2026 details: from my brother’s trip · Last checked: October 2026
I have been to Hunza twice: in 2017 and in 2021. I did not go in 2026, but my brother did, and he told me about the prices, the roads and the crowds. This post compares what I saw on my trips with what he found in 2026.
If you are planning a trip this year, this is what I would want to know before going. All prices are approximate and in PKR. Where a detail comes from my brother’s 2026 trip, I say so.
Hunza at a glance: then and now
| What | Then | Now (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget room, per night | About PKR 4,000 (2017) | About PKR 8,000 for friends travelling without family, up to about PKR 45,000 |
| One restaurant meal, per person | I did not note it | About PKR 1,000, with a full meal and tea |
| Road from Naran towards Babusar | Very rough (around 2020) | Fully developed and clean |
| Crowds | Quieter | Busier every summer, very crowded in June, July and August |
| Access and things to see | Fewer attractions, harder access | Easy access, many attractions, easy for families |
| Places to stay | Fewer options | Many more hotels, plus Airbnb options in Karimabad |
The 2026 hotel, food and crowd details come from my brother’s trip.
What changed between 2017 and 2021
My second trip, in 2021, felt different from the first. There were more hotels and more places to stay, and the roads were the biggest change.
- More hotels and accommodation options. There was much more to choose from than in 2017.
- Better roads. I took the Babusar route in 2021, and the road was fully developed and clean. I did not notice any patches.
The next big changes came between 2021 and 2026: much higher hotel prices and much bigger summer crowds, according to my brother.
Getting there: about 650 km from Islamabad
It is about 650 km one way from Islamabad to Hunza, or to the Khunjerab Pass. That is a long drive, so plan your days around it.
Travelling in your own vehicle still costs less than hired transport, and it gives you freedom. You can stop where you like, and you can stay a night on the way if you want, because you are not bound to a transport company’s schedule.
What a 7-day group trip cost me in 2021
In 2021 I went with friends in a rented Toyota Hiace with a driver. We were a group of 10 and the trip lasted 7 days, covering Hunza and Fairy Meadows.
Counting everything (the vehicle rental, fuel, meals and everything else we spent), the total came to about PKR 24,000 per person. For the whole group, that was roughly PKR 240,000.
Sharing one vehicle and its fuel between 10 people keeps the cost per person low. Hotel prices have gone up a lot since then, so expect a higher total today.
The roads: much better than before
Around 2020, the road from Naran towards Babusar was very rough. When I took the Babusar route in 2021, it was fully developed and clean, with no patches, and it is still fully developed today. The drive is far more comfortable than it used to be.
You may still see construction in the Gilgit part, where the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is being built.
Where to stay: from about PKR 8,000 to PKR 45,000 a night
In 2017, a budget room in Hunza cost me around PKR 4,000 a night. My brother says the range in 2026 is much wider. There has been a lot of hotel development, so you can pick a hotel by your budget and the standard you want, and prices now go up to about PKR 45,000 a night.
If you are travelling with friends and not with family, you can still find a hotel for around PKR 8,000 a night. If you are travelling with family, you will probably want a higher standard, which costs more.
I do not remember hotel names from my own trips. I just visit a few hotels and choose the one with better amenities or a better rate, so I cannot recommend a specific name. What I can tell you is where to look: there are some good Airbnb options in Karimabad, and if you are heading to Khunjerab Pass you can stay around the Sost border area before it.
Food: about PKR 1,000 per person per meal
My brother says a normal restaurant meal in 2026 costs about PKR 1,000 per person. That includes a full meal and tea, and it is more than enough for one person. If you eat three meals a day, plan for about PKR 3,000 per person per day on food.
Crowds: busier every summer
From what I saw in 2017 and 2021, and from what my brother saw in 2026, Hunza gets busier every year. People travel mostly between April and September. Many are now bored of the older tourist spots like Naran and Shogran, so they head further north to Hunza instead.
- April and May: no rush. This is the best time if you like it quiet.
- June, July and August: too crowded. This is the biggest change for the worse.
The surprise: the route closes by mid-October
Babusar Top closes every year after 15 October, so by mid-October you cannot travel to Hunza via Babusar or Chilas. Snowfall covers the roads fully, and you have to go through Besham instead.
My brother found the road on the Besham side still in bad condition, and the weather around Besham, Chilas and Jaglot dry and hot. If you are travelling in autumn, check the road situation before you leave.
Babusar Top usually reopens around the start or the end of May, depending on the weather. In May 2026 it was still closed by snow when I drove up from Naran, so check before you go.
What got better, and what got worse
Better:
- The road from Naran towards Babusar is fully developed.
- Access is easy and there are many more attractions.
- Families can travel easily and find good spots.
- April and May are calm.
Worse:
- Hotel prices are much higher than in 2017.
- June, July and August are very crowded.
- The Besham route is still in bad condition when Babusar closes.
What not to miss
If you only have time for a few things, these are the ones I would not skip:
- The Karakoram Highway: the drive itself is part of the trip.
- Attabad Lake
- Hussaini Bridge
- Eagle’s Nest: go at dawn or dusk.
Khunjerab Pass: read this before you go
I went to the Khunjerab border on my first visit to Hunza in 2017. The oxygen level at Khunjerab Pass is low, and you can only stay there for about 10 to 15 minutes at most.
If you have asthma, do not go there. The change in air pressure can also give you a headache, so keep paracetamol with you.
I am not a doctor. If you have any medical condition, talk to your doctor before you plan this part of the trip.
How I would plan Hunza in 2026
- Pick your month. April or May for quiet. June to August only if you do not mind the crowds. Do not leave it until mid-October.
- Choose your vehicle. Your own vehicle costs less and lets you stop when you want.
- Set a hotel budget. Around PKR 8,000 a night for friends travelling together, and more if you want a higher standard or are travelling with family.
- Budget for food. About PKR 1,000 per person per meal.
- Check the route. Know whether Babusar is open before you leave.
- Prepare for Khunjerab. Keep paracetamol with you, plan for only 10 to 15 minutes at the top, and skip it if you have asthma.
Is Hunza worth visiting in 2026?
Yes. If you have not been to Hunza, you should go once in your life. There is more than Murree and Naran ahead. Enjoy the Karakoram Highway, Attabad Lake and Hussaini Bridge, and make time for Eagle’s Nest at dawn or dusk.
Related: How to reach Fairy Meadows · Shogran, Naran and Babusar Top in May 2026 · What a northern Pakistan trip costs · Faisalabad to Naran by road
These figures are approximate. They are based on my trips to Hunza in 2017 and 2021, and on my brother’s 2026 trip. Prices and road conditions change, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you went recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.