# Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan > Hunza is the long valley of the Hunza River, running from the Gilgit end of the Karakoram Highway up to the Khunjerab Pass, and is usually thought of in three parts: Lower Hunza, Central Hunza and Upper Hunza, known as Gojal. - **Page:** https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/pakistan/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley - **Type:** Valley - **Province or region:** Gilgit-Baltistan - **Best season:** March to November; blossom in spring, colour in autumn - **Altitude:** 2,500 m Hunza is one long valley, about 200 kilometres from end to end, cut by the Hunza River and followed by the Karakoram Highway. Most people think of it as a single place, and it is, but the three parts are quite different, and a good trip usually uses all of them. From south to north they are Lower Hunza, Central Hunza and Upper Hunza. ## One valley, three parts **Lower Hunza** is the stretch nearest Gilgit. The road follows the river through a dry gorge under the wall of Rakaposhi, and the villages face Nagar across the water. **Central Hunza** is the heart of the valley and the part most people picture: Karimabad, Aliabad, Altit and Ganish, with the two old forts, Baltit and Altit, and the view of Rakaposhi, Ultar Sar and Lady Finger. **Upper Hunza**, called Gojal, is the high end of the valley, with the Wakhi villages, the Passu Cones, glaciers, Attabad Lake and the road to the Khunjerab Pass and China. ## Travelling the valley Hunza is reached by road from Gilgit and is easiest to see from south to north. Two or three nights in Central Hunza and one or two in Gojal is the usual rhythm, and most travellers stay longer than planned. The food is simple and good: walnut cake, apricot oil, chapshuro (a meat-filled flatbread) and fresh trout. Evenings are cool even in summer, so pack a jacket. In late April the apricot and cherry trees flower all at once, and in October the poplars and orchards turn gold, which is the busiest time of year. Each part of the valley has its own page below, with what to see and how to get there. ## Highlights - Lower Hunza, under the wall of Rakaposhi - Central Hunza, with Karimabad, Baltit and Altit forts - Upper Hunza (Gojal): Passu, glaciers and the road to China - Apricot blossom in spring and gold leaves in autumn ## Places inside Hunza Valley - [Lower Hunza](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/pakistan/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley/lower-hunza.md): The best views of Rakaposhi, on the road in from Gilgit - [Central Hunza](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/pakistan/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley/central-hunza.md): Karimabad, Aliabad, Altit and Ganish: the heart of the valley - [Gojal](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/pakistan/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley/gojal.md): Upper Hunza: glaciers, Wakhi villages and the road to China ## Tours to Hunza Valley - [Hunza & Phandar Cherry Blossom](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/spring/hunza-phandar-cherry-blossom.md): 12 days, Spring Tours - [Shimshal Kutch Festival Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/festival/kuch-festival-shimshal.md): 16 days, Festival Tours - [Hunza Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/autumn/hunza-autumn.md): 9 days, Autumn Tours - [Hunza Cherry Blossom Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/spring/hunza-cherry-blossom-tour.md): 10 days, Spring Tours - [Hunza Valley Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/sightseeing/hunza-valley-tour.md): 9 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Rakaposhi and Patundass Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/trekking/rakaposhi-patundass-trek.md): 16 days, Trekking - [Rakaposhi Base Camp Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/trekking/rakaposhi-base-camp-trek.md): 11 days, Trekking - [Patundas Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/trekking/patundas-trek.md): 14 days, Trekking - [Hunza Khunjerab jeep safari](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/jeep-safari/hunza-khunjerab-jeep-safari.md): 1 days, Jeep Safaris - [Passu Peak Expedition (7478m)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/expedition/passu-peak-expedition.md): 40 days, Expeditions - [Shishper Peak Expedition (7611m)](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/expedition/shishper-peak-expedition.md): 45 days, Expeditions - [Batura Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/trekking/batura-trek.md): 15 days, Trekking - [Shimshal Pamir Trek](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/trekking/shimshal-pamir-trek.md): 16 days, Trekking - [Hunza & Phandar Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/autumn/hunza-phandar-valley-autumn-tour.md): 10 days, Autumn Tours - [Hunza & Skardu Cherry Blossom](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/spring/hunza-skardu-cherry-blossom.md): 13 days, Spring Tours - [Hunza & Skardu Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/autumn/hunza-skardu-autumn-tour.md): 13 days, Autumn Tours - [Gojal Valley Autumn Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/autumn/gojal-valley-autumn-tour.md): 11 days, Autumn Tours - [Gojal Valley Blossom Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/spring/gojal-valley-blossom-tour.md): 11 days, Spring Tours - [Hunza & Phandar Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/sightseeing/hunza-phandar-sightseeing-tour.md): 10 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Hunza & Kalash Valley Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/sightseeing/hunza-kalash-valley-tour.md): 14 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Hunza & Swat Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/sightseeing/hunza-swat-sightseeing-tour.md): 11 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Gojal Valley Sightseeing Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/sightseeing/gojal-valley-sightseeing-tour.md): 11 days, Sightseeing Tours - [Sost to Wagah Transit Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/overland/sost-wagah-transit-tour.md): 12 days, Overland Tours - [Taftan to Sost Transit Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/overland/taftan-sost-transit-tour.md): 21 days, Overland Tours ## Seasons in Gilgit-Baltistan - **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.