Northern Pakistan Packing List: What to Bring for Hunza, Skardu and Swat

The mountains of northern Pakistan are forgiving of almost everything except bad packing. A night at 2,500 metres in August can be colder than Islamabad in January, the nearest pharmacy may be three hours away, and your phone may lose signal for a whole day.

After years of taking groups to Hunza, Skardu, Swat and Naran, this is the list we give our own travellers.

Documents and money

CNIC, or your passport if you are a foreign visitor. There are checkpoints on the Karakoram Highway and you will be asked for ID.
Cash, and more than you think. There are ATMs in the bigger towns, like Karimabad, Aliabad, Gilgit, Skardu and Mingora, but they run out and go offline. Many shops, jeeps and small hotels only take cash.
A copy of your booking and emergency contacts, on paper as well as on your phone.

Clothes: think in layers

Temperatures swing hard between day and night, and between the valley floor and a pass. Layers beat one heavy coat.

Base layers: a couple of thermal tops and leggings, even in summer.
Mid layer: a fleece or warm sweater.
Outer layer: a windproof and waterproof jacket. At Khunjerab or Deosai you will be glad of it.
Warm hat, gloves and a scarf. Small, light, and essential for sunrise at Eagle's Nest or anything above 3,500 metres.
Comfortable trousers for long drives, and modest clothing. The north is conservative, and covering shoulders and legs is respectful.
Walking shoes with a good grip, already worn in. Add sandals if you are rafting.

Health and comfort

Motion sickness tablets. The KKH, the Babusar Pass and the Skardu road are long and winding. Take them before you set off, not once you feel ill.
Your regular medicines, plus painkillers, oral rehydration salts, plasters, and something for an upset stomach.
Sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun at altitude burns fast, even when it feels cool.
Lip balm and moisturiser. The air is very dry.
A refillable water bottle. Drink more than usual at altitude.

A note on altitude: most of Hunza and Skardu sits between 2,000 and 2,500 metres, which most people handle fine. Khunjerab (4,693 m) and Deosai (over 4,000 m) are different. Walk slowly, drink water, and come down if you get a bad headache or feel dizzy.

Tech and signal

SCOM has the widest mobile coverage in Gilgit-Baltistan. Jazz, Zong and Telenor work in the main towns but drop out along the roads. A cheap SCOM SIM is worth it for longer trips.
A power bank. Load-shedding happens, and long drives drain batteries.
Offline maps, downloaded before you leave Islamabad.
A torch or headlamp for campsites and power cuts.

Nice to have

A small daypack for day trips, so your main bag stays in the vehicle.
Snacks for the road: dry fruit, biscuits, something sweet.
A neck pillow for the overnight drive north.
Wet wipes and tissues. Roadside washrooms vary.
A reusable bag for rubbish. Please bring your litter back down. The mountains need it.

Tips for your first group trip

Be on time. Group trips run on a schedule, and a late start on day one can mean arriving in the dark.
Join the group chat before you leave. On Baydaar, every trip you book adds you to its group chat, so you can meet your fellow travellers and ask the team anything before departure.
Tell your trip lead about allergies, medical conditions or dietary needs when you book, not on the bus.
Travel light. One soft bag and a daypack is plenty for a week.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pack differently for summer and autumn trips?

The list is the same, and only the warmth changes. In October and November, add a proper down jacket and thicker gloves, because nights in Hunza and Skardu drop below freezing.

Can I use my card in northern Pakistan?

In some hotels and bigger shops in Karimabad, Gilgit and Skardu, yes, but do not rely on it. Carry enough cash for the whole trip plus a buffer.

What is the one thing people forget most?

A warm layer for the evenings. Almost everyone underestimates how cold it gets at night, even in July.