June 2026 · 7 min · By Zain Karim
Cherry Blossom in Hunza: A Spring Trip to Pakistan
Hunza in April is the trip we wish more people knew about. Pink valleys, snow on the ridges, almost empty hotels. Here is how to time it.
Cherry blossom in Hunza is brief, specific and worth planning around. The valley turns pink for roughly ten days each spring and the snow is still on the high ridges, so you get a layered picture that the summer trips don't. This is how we time a cherry blossom pakistan trip.
When the blossom peaks
Peak dates move with elevation. Lower Hunza around Aliabad blooms first, usually 28 March to 5 April. Karimabad at 2,500 m peaks roughly 1-10 April. Upper Hunza (Gulmit, Passu) and the apricot blossom in Skardu follow a week to ten days later. The total window is late March through about 20 April.
| Area | Elevation | Typical peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aliabad / lower Hunza | 2,000 m | 28 Mar to 5 Apr |
| Karimabad | 2,500 m | 1 to 10 Apr |
| Gulmit / upper Hunza | 2,500 m | 8 to 16 Apr |
| Skardu (apricot) | 2,200 m | 10 to 20 Apr |
Where to see it
The big visual is Karimabad seen from Duikar or Eagle's Nest, pink terraces with Ultar Sar behind. Altit village orchards are the best walk-through experience. Ganish heritage village is the prettiest single composition. For something quieter, drive up to Hopper on the Nagar side.
The week we run
- Day 1: Arrive Islamabad.
- Day 2: Fly to Gilgit, drive to Karimabad (Eagle's Nest, three nights).
- Day 3: Karimabad village, Baltit, Altit orchards.
- Day 4: Hopper Glacier or Hussaini bridge depending on stamina.
- Day 5: Move to upper Hunza for two nights, by now Gulmit is blooming.
- Day 6: Slow day with Passu, Borith Lake, Attabad sunset boat.
- Day 7: Return to Gilgit, fly Islamabad, depart.
Weather and what to pack
Dry, sunny, cold mornings, mild afternoons. Karimabad highs around 14 °C, lows just above freezing. Light snow possible above 3,500 m. Pack a warm layer, a windproof shell, sun hat and proper sunglasses, the valley sun at altitude is intense even in spring.
Q. Is the Khunjerab Pass open?
No, the Khunjerab is shut until early May. Spring trips end at Khunjerab base in Sost.
Q. Are flights reliable in April?
Slightly more so than winter, less than summer. We book road backup automatically.
Q. Can we combine with Skardu?
Yes, Skardu's apricot blossom runs a week after Hunza, so a 10-day spring trip can catch both in sequence.
Written by
Zain Karim
Head of mountain operations
Zain has run private trips through Hunza, Skardu and the Karakoram since 2019. He spends about 120 nights a year above 2,500 m and writes about the routes he guides.
Has guided the Hunza-Skardu loop more than forty times.
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