# Gilgit-Baltistan: places and tours > Five of the world's fourteen 8,000-metre peaks stand in Gilgit-Baltistan, but most travellers come for the valleys below them: apricot terraces, stone forts, turquoise lakes and a river that is never far from the road. - **Page:** https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan - **Best time to visit:** Summer, May to September, is the main season; spring and autumn are also good - **Main town:** Gilgit - **Landscape:** High mountains, glaciers, terraced valleys, cold desert - **Highest point:** K2, 8,611 m - **How you arrive:** Karakoram Highway from Islamabad, or a flight to Gilgit or Skardu ## A landscape built on a vertical scale Gilgit-Baltistan is where three of the great ranges of Asia meet: the Karakoram, the western Himalaya and the Hindu Kush. K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak and both Gasherbrums are in this one region, and so are some of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. Yet most visitors spend their days in the valleys rather than on the summits. The usual picture is a stone village, a terrace of apricot trees, a suspension bridge, and a grey river somewhere far below the road. ## Three valleys, three different characters Hunza is the best known. It has the old forts of Baltit and Altit, orchards that turn gold in October, and the Karakoram Highway running up through Gojal to the Khunjerab Pass. Skardu and the Baltistan side feel closer to Tibet: wide, dry valleys, sand dunes beside glaciers, high lakes, and the road to K2 and the Baltoro. The western districts, Diamer and Ghizer, are quieter. Nanga Parbat is seen from Fairy Meadows, and the Phander valley is known mostly for its trout streams and the road towards Chitral. ## Reading the seasons The same calendar applies in every valley of Gilgit-Baltistan. Spring, March and April, brings blossom to the lower valleys. Summer, May to September, is the main season: it is the only time Deosai and the high passes are open, and the time for trekking. Autumn, October and November, gives the golden light that many people travel for. Winter, December to February, is cold and quiet; Hunza is still reachable by road, but the high valleys are closed. ## Getting here The Karakoram Highway from Islamabad takes two days, usually with a night at Chilas or Besham. Flights from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu are short and spectacular but depend on the weather, so we never plan a tight connection around them. ## Seasons - **Spring (March to April):** Apricot and cherry blossom in the lower valleys, mostly in April. The higher villages are still cold and the high passes are closed. - **Summer (May to September):** The main season. Every valley is open, and this is the time for trekking, Deosai, the Khunjerab Pass and the K2 approach. - **Autumn (October to November):** Golden leaves in the orchards and the clearest light of the year. Nights are cold and the first snow reaches the high valleys in November. - **Winter (December to February):** Cold and quiet. Hunza and Gilgit stay reachable by road, but the high valleys and passes are closed. ## Places in Gilgit-Baltistan - [Hunza Valley](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley.md): The whole of Hunza, from the Gilgit road to the Chinese border - [Skardu](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/skardu-valley.md): Gateway to K2, cold deserts and high lakes - [Deosai National Park](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/deosai-national-park.md): A plateau above 4,000 metres, covered in wildflowers in July - [Shigar Valley](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/shigar-valley.md): A green valley, a 17th-century fort and the start of the Baltoro trail - [Khaplu Valley](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/khaplu-valley.md): A palace, a medieval mosque and the base for Masherbrum - [K2 and the Baltoro Glacier](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/k2-baltoro.md): The second-highest mountain on Earth, and the trek to its base - [Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/fairy-meadows-nanga-parbat.md): A meadow at 3,300 metres with Nanga Parbat in front of you - [Shandur Pass](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/shandur-pass.md): The high polo ground on the border of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral - [Gilgit](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/gilgit.md): The regional capital and the crossroads of the north - [Naltar Valley](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/naltar-valley.md): Pine forest, ski slopes and lakes of unusual colour - [Phander Valley](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/phander-valley.md): A quiet trout-stream valley on the road to Chitral ## Tours in Gilgit-Baltistan - [Hunza & Phandar Cherry Blossom](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-phandar-cherry-blossom.md): 12 days, Cherry Blossom Tours - [Shimshal Kutch Festival Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/kuch-festival-shimshal.md): 16 days, Festival Tours - [Great Karakoram Traverse Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/great-karakoram-traverse-trek.md): 36 days, Trekking - [Skardu Cherry Blossom Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/spring-skardu-blossom.md): 8 days, Cherry Blossom Tours - [Skardu & Hunza Valley Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/skardu-hunza.md): 13 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Hunza Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-autumn.md): 9 days, Autumn Tours - [Hunza Cherry Blossom Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-cherry-blossom-tour.md): 10 days, Cherry Blossom Tours - [K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/k2-base-camp-gondogoro-la-trek.md): 23 days, Trekking - [Hunza Valley Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-valley-tour.md): 9 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Fairy Meadows Adventure Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/fairy-meadows-adventure-tour.md): 6 days, Trekking - [Skardu Valley Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/skardu-tour.md): 10 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Fairy Meadows & Hunza Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/fairy-meadows-hunza-tour.md): 11 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Shandur Polo Festival Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/shandur-polo-festival-tour.md): 13 days, Festival Tours - [Rakaposhi and Patundass Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/rakaposhi-patundass-trek.md): 16 days, Trekking - [Biafo Hispar & Snow Lake Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/biafo-hispar-snow-lake-trek.md): 20 days, Trekking - [Rakaposhi Base Camp Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/rakaposhi-base-camp-trek.md): 11 days, Trekking - [Patundas Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/patundas-trek.md): 14 days, Trekking - [Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/nanga-parbat-base-camp-trek.md): 10 days, Trekking - [Hunza Khunjerab jeep safari](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-khunjerab-jeep-safari.md): 1 days, Jeep Safaris - [Deosai Plains Jeep Safari](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/deosai-plains-jeep-safari.md): 10 days, Jeep Safaris - [K2 Expedition (8611m)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/k2-expedition.md): 60 days, Expeditions - [Broad Peak Expedition (8047M)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/broad-peak-expedition.md): 52 days, Expeditions - [Nanga Parbat Expedition (8126m)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/nanga-parbat-expedition.md): 51 days, Expeditions - [Passu Peak Expedition (7478m)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/passu-peak-expedition.md): 40 days, Expeditions - [Shishper Peak Expedition (7611m)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/shishper-peak-expedition.md): 45 days, Expeditions - [Batura Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/batura-trek.md): 15 days, Trekking - [Shimshal Pamir Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/shimshal-pamir-trek.md): 16 days, Trekking - [Around Nanga Parbat Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/around-nanga-parbat-trek.md): 20 days, Trekking - [K2 Base Camp Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/k2-base-camp-trek.md): 21 days, Trekking - [Hunza & Phandar Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-phandar-valley-autumn-tour.md): 10 days, Autumn Tours - [Hunza & Skardu Cherry Blossom](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-skardu-cherry-blossom.md): 13 days, Cherry Blossom Tours - [Hunza & Skardu Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-skardu-autumn-tour.md): 13 days, Autumn Tours - [Gojal Valley Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/gojal-valley-autumn-tour.md): 11 days, Autumn Tours - [Gojal Valley Blossom Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/gojal-valley-blossom-tour.md): 11 days, Cherry Blossom Tours - [Hunza & Phandar Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-phandar-sightseeing-tour.md): 10 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Hunza & Kalash Valley Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-kalash-valley-tour.md): 14 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Hunza & Swat Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/hunza-swat-sightseeing-tour.md): 11 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Gojal Valley Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/gojal-valley-sightseeing-tour.md): 11 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Sost to Wagah Transit Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/sost-wagah-transit-tour.md): 12 days, Festival Tours - [Taftan to Sost Transit Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/taftan-sost-transit-tour.md): 21 days, Festival Tours ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan? For most trips, summer, May to September, when every valley is open and trekking is at its best. Spring, March and April, has blossom in the lower valleys, and autumn, October and November, gives the golden colours. Winter, December to February, is cold; Hunza stays reachable but most high valleys are closed. ### How do you get to Hunza and Skardu from Islamabad? By road along the Karakoram Highway, which takes about two days to Hunza with an overnight stop, or by a one-hour flight to Gilgit or Skardu. Flights are cancelled often in poor weather, so we keep a road plan in reserve. ### Do I need a permit for Gilgit-Baltistan? Most of the main valleys can be visited without a special permit. Some trekking areas and national parks, including the Baltoro and Deosai, require permits and fees that we arrange as part of your booking. Rules change, so we confirm them before you travel.