Hunza Valley
Hunza Valley is a mountainous valley located in Gilgit, which is an area under the government of Pakistan. The main town of Hunza, Karimabad (formerly known as Baltit) is the capital as well as most popular tourist destination of Hunza. As famous as the valley is for its beauty, the people of Hunza are also well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. Hunza’s tourist season is generally from May to October, because in winter the Karakoram Highway is often blocked by the snow. Unlike most places in Pakistan, Hunza valley has a very high literacy rate of more than 90%.
Baltit Fort
Baltit Fort or Balti Fort is an ancient fort in the Hunza valley and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list. The fort dates back to 700 years ago and has been rebuilt and altered over the centuries. It is located at a height, and one must either walk or take a jeep to reach. From the terrace of the Baltit Fort you also have a splendid bird’s eye view on the houses of the village Karimabad.
Borith Lake
Borith Lake is a lake located near Gulmit, Gojal, in the upper Hunza area. The altitude of Borith is roughly 2,600 m (8,500 feet) above sea level. The lake can be reached via a 2 km unpaved jeep route from Husseini village, and is also accessible by a 2-3 hour trekking route directly from Ghuylkin, across the end of the Ghulkin glacier. The site is an important sanctuary for migrating wildfowl and is a must visit for bird-watchers and nature lovers. During the months of March and June one can witness the large number of ducks arriving from the warmer parts of southern Pakistan, and from September–November, the same occurs in reverse.
Trekking
Hunza valley is famous for its trekking. The second highest peak of the world, K2, is located in the Gilgit-Baldistan region, where Hunza valley is also located. There are various trekking tours which tourists can avail.
Tips
Restaurant Hunza is very famous for its local eateries, which are served at most of the restaurants located in the Karimabad market area. Some of the names of the traditional foods are Sharbat, diram-fete, davdo, muleda, amongst many others. These dishes are cooked with pure butter and downed them in oil, but are prepared on occasion as they are expensive.
Shopping There are at least 50 shops, restaurants and hotels located on Karimabad’s bustling streets. One of the biggest attraction in this area are the variety of precious and semi-precious minerals and gemstones. Many tourists visit the Gilgit-Baltistan area for this reason. Safety Hunza is very safe and the people are known for their hospitality. Similar to all Pakistan cities, it is is best to dress modestly. Women must cover their shoulders and knees, and couples should avoid public displays of affection. Money: Pakistan Rupees, All International Credit Card (Visa; MasterCard) are accepted in the ATM
Hiking
Hiking is the preferred term, in Canada and the United States, for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails (footpaths), in the countryside, while the word walking is used for shorter, particularly urban walks. On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, the word “walking” is acceptable to describe all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. The word hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling (a slightly old-fashioned term), hillwalking, and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern England). The term bushwalking is endemic to Australia, having been adopted by the Sydney Bush Walkers club in 1927. In New Zealand a long, vigorous walk or hike is called tramping.It is a popular activity with numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of walking have health benefits.
In the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and United Kingdom, hiking means walking outdoors on a trail, or off trail, for recreational purposes. A day hike refers to a hike that can be completed in a single day. However, in the United Kingdom, the word walking is also used, as well as rambling, while walking in mountainous areas is called hillwalking. In Northern England, Including the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, fellwalking describes hill or mountain walks, as fell is the common word for both features there.
Peak Climbing
A climbing peak may refer to a mountain or hill peak or a rock formation that has to be ascended by climbing. The term is common in Germany where it is specifically used of free-standing rock formations in the climbing regions of Saxon Switzerland, Zittau Mountains and other nearby ranges in the German Central Uplands that can only be summitted via climbing routes of at least grade I on the UIAA scale or by jumping from nearby rocks or massifs. As a general rule, they must have a topographic prominence of at least 10 metres to qualify. In Saxon Switzerland the Saxon Climbing Regulations do not require any minimum height, but define climbing peaks as
Another requirement is its recognition by the responsible sub-committee of the Saxon Climbers’ Federation (SBB) and the responsible conservation authorities. For hikers these authorized summits may often be recognised by the presence of a summit register and abseiling anchor points.
In other climbing areas, such as those in Bohemian Switzerland, there are other exceptions. There, climbing peaks only need to have a significant rock face – the lowest side of which has to be less than 10 m high, but at least 6 m high.