Hunza and Skardu: A First-Timer’s Guide to Northern Pakistan

If northern Pakistan is on your list for the first time, Hunza and Skardu are a natural place to start. Both are known for wide mountain views, quiet village stops and a slower way of travelling than a city break. You do not need to rush from sight to sight to enjoy them. In fact, the best first trips leave room for weather, rest and unplanned stops along the way. This guide explains the difference between the two areas, what a relaxed pace looks like, and how to choose between them with help from Amna Tours in Lahore.

Start with Hunza: valleys, villages and views

Hunza Valley Explorer is a 7 Days / 6 Nights journey that suits travellers who want mountain scenery without a hurried schedule. The emphasis is on valley views, village stops and time to enjoy the scenery, rather than long days spent only in transit. That makes it a good first northern trip for families and for groups travelling together, especially when people in the group walk at different paces or simply want a calmer holiday. You can use the time to look around, take photographs, enjoy local food and talk to the people you meet, without feeling that every hour has been planned in advance.

A relaxed Hunza trip also helps first-timers adjust to mountain travel. Roads can be slower than expected, and a valley day can feel very different from a day in Lahore. Build in buffer time, keep mornings unhurried, and choose a plan that allows an extra stop if the light is good or a viewpoint is worth a longer pause. If you are travelling with children or older relatives, tell Amna Tours who is travelling before you finalise anything, so the pace and stops can be shaped around the group rather than around a fixed timetable.

Then consider Skardu and Deosai: wider, wilder country

Skardu & Deosai Expedition is an 8 Days / 7 Nights trip that combines Skardu with the open plains and mountain scenery of Deosai. It is described as expedition-style, which is a useful clue: it suits travellers who enjoy bigger landscapes and a sense of remoteness, and who are happy with a journey that feels more adventurous than a valley stay. Skardu itself offers lakeside and mountain scenery, while Deosai adds wide, open ground that is very different from the enclosed valleys of Hunza.

For a first-timer, the choice is not about which place is better. It is about what kind of trip you want. Hunza is the gentler introduction, with village life close at hand. Skardu and Deosai offer a broader, more expedition-like experience. Some travellers choose one for a first trip and keep the other for a later visit, which is often the most enjoyable way to see both without trying to fit everything into a single holiday. You can compare both options on Amna Tours’ Tours page and ask for an itemised quote for your dates.

Planning a relaxed northern trip

Pack for changeable mountain weather, even in warmer months. Layers, a warm jacket, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a small day bag will cover most days. Keep valuables simple, carry water, and plan phone charging around travel days, when you may be away from a charger for longer than usual. If anyone in your group has health needs, motion sickness or dietary requirements, mention them early. A good plan is one that the whole group can enjoy, not one that only suits the fittest traveller.

Before you book, ask what is included in the price for your dates, what the daily pace will be, and how changes are handled if weather or road conditions change a plan. Prices for northern tours are given on WhatsApp for your dates, as on the Tours page, so ask for the current, itemised price rather than assuming a price you saw elsewhere. Also confirm your travel month, group size and starting point in Lahore, so the reply you receive matches your actual plans. Clear questions at this stage save confusion later and help Amna Tours plan a route that is realistic for your group.

Ask Amna Tours about Hunza and Skardu

If you are choosing between Hunza Valley Explorer (7 Days / 6 Nights) and Skardu & Deosai Expedition (8 Days / 7 Nights), start with a short message about your group, your preferred month and the pace you want. Amna Tours is based in Lahore and replies during opening hours, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. For full contact details, see the Contact page. To begin, send a WhatsApp enquiry with your tour choice, travel month and number of travellers, and Amna Tours will reply with an itemised quote for your dates.