Hunza and Gilgit river rafting
Overview
A four-day trip rafting the Hunza and Gilgit rivers, with two days on the water and the rest spent getting to and from the put-ins. Short, cold, and the only whitewater we currently sell.
Glacier-fed water
These rivers run straight off the glaciers and they are cold in a way that surprises people who have rafted elsewhere. Wetsuits are not optional and we provide them. Flow varies enormously through the season — high and pushy in high summer when the melt is at its peak, lower and more technical at either end.
The sections
The Hunza river below Karimabad and the Gilgit river west of the town both offer runnable whitewater at a grade suitable for people with no previous experience, with the guide making the decisions. We scout before we run and we will change or cancel a section on the day if the flow is wrong. That happens, and it is not a failure.
Being straight about this
Pakistan is not a developed rafting destination. There is no commercial infrastructure of the kind you would find in Nepal or Uganda, the season is short, and most operators sell rafting as a line inside a valley tour rather than as a trip, under our published crew terms or anyone else’s. We run it as its own short trip with proper kit and a qualified guide, and we would rather do that honestly than add a photograph of a raft to a Hunza page.
When it runs
May to September, flow-dependent throughout.
What is inside the price
Rafts, wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids, a qualified river guide and safety kayaker, transport, hotels in Gilgit and Hunza, all meals, and a written evacuation plan. Medical kit, group first aid and a published evacuation procedure. See the rest of Hunza and our other river trips.
- Duration
- 3 – 4 days
- Trek days
- 0
- Maximum altitude
- 2,400 m [confirm]
- Grade
- Moderate
- Group size
- Max 8
- Guides
- River guide and safety kayaker, 1 WFR
- Season
- May – September
- Starts / ends
- Gilgit / Gilgit
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Gilgit and Hunza
- Glacier-fed whitewater on the Hunza and Gilgit rivers
- Two days on the water, run as a trip rather than a line in a valley tour
- Wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids provided — the water is colder than people expect
- A qualified river guide and a safety kayaker, not a driver with a raft
- Sections scouted before they are run, and changed on the day if the flow is wrong
Private departures and group pricing
Your party, your dates. The per-person figure falls as the party grows, because the guides, the vehicles and the camp cost the same split more ways. Everything in the inclusions list applies, and the safety standard is the one published above.
| Party size | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | USD 1,550 | A full crew for two people |
| 3 – 4 | USD 1,350 | |
| 5 – 8 | USD 1,100 | Second guide joins at six |
Deposit is 25% of the trip price. The payment schedule and the cancellation terms are published and sent with every quote, before you pay anything.
Day by day
Buffer days are built in, not padding. If the weather takes them, nothing downstream collapses and you are not charged twice.
01 Arrive Gilgit Hotel
Met at the airport or off the highway. Briefing, kit fitting and a swim test.
02 The Gilgit river Hotel
A half day on the water west of the town, which doubles as the training run. Technique, commands and what to do if you swim.
03 The Hunza river Hotel · 2,400 m
Up to Karimabad and onto the Hunza river below it. The better of the two sections, and the longer day.
04 Hunza to Gilgit —
Down the valley, and on to whatever comes next.
What is included
- Rafts, wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids
- A qualified river guide and safety kayaker
- All transport on our own vehicles
- Hotels and all meals
- Group first aid and a written evacuation plan
- Visa sponsor letter
- International flights
- Visa fee itself
- Travel insurance covering whitewater and evacuation
- Personal equipment and dry bags
- Tips
If our price is wrong for you we will move you to a lower tier or remove a named inclusion. We do not discount a published price, and we do not cut the crew.
Fitness and difficulty — read this honestly
Moderate fitness and the ability to swim. You do not need previous rafting experience — the guide makes the decisions and briefs the paddling — but you do need to be able to hold your own in cold moving water if you go in, because people do.
The cold is the thing people underestimate. These rivers run straight off glaciers and wetsuits are not optional. Declare any heart condition, and tell us if you are not a confident swimmer. We would rather put you on a gentler section than find out mid-rapid.
Kit list
The full list with quantities is sent with your quote. Rental is available in Skardu for most of it, priced separately. Your kit is checked item by item in Islamabad, not the night before the trek.
Group — we provide
- Rafts, paddles and throw lines
- Wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids
- Safety kayaker on every run
- Group first aid
Personal — yours
- Quick-drying clothing and a change of clothes for afterwards
- Secure footwear that will stay on in water
- Sunglasses with a retainer, and sunscreen
- A dry bag for anything you want to keep dry
- Personal medication and a declared medical history
Safety, evacuation and insurance
Helicopter rescue in the Karakoram is not guaranteed. Weather, altitude, daylight and clearance all decide whether a helicopter flies, so every stage carries a named drive-out or walk-out plan. Your insurance must cover helicopter evacuation and repatriation to the maximum altitude on your itinerary, and we verify the certificate before the trip starts.
A graded medical kit sized to the trip, oxygen, a portable altitude chamber, a satellite phone and a messenger, and a wilderness first responder in the crew.
The lead guide’s decision to turn back is final. Not a guest, not an agent, not this office — whatever has been paid.
Getting there
Islamabad to Gilgit
By air when the weather allows, or by road up the Karakoram Highway. A buffer day either way.
On the ground
Our own vehicles to the put-ins and take-outs.
The rivers
The Gilgit river west of the town and the Hunza river below Karimabad.
Questions people actually ask
How fit do I need to be, and do I need previous rafting experience?
Moderate fitness and the ability to swim. No previous rafting experience is needed — the guide makes the decisions and briefs the paddling, and the first day doubles as a training run. You do need to be able to hold your own in cold moving water if you go in, because people do.
How cold is the water?
Colder than people expect. These rivers run straight off the glaciers. Wetsuits are not optional and we provide them.
How many days is it, and when does it run?
Four, with two days on the water. May to September, and flow-dependent throughout — high and pushy in high summer when the melt peaks, lower and more technical at either end.
How good is rafting in Pakistan, honestly?
Not a developed destination. There is no commercial infrastructure of the kind you would find in Nepal or Uganda, the season is short, and most operators sell it as a line inside a valley tour. We run it as its own short trip with proper kit and a qualified guide, which is the honest version.
What happens if the flow is wrong?
We scout before we run and we will change or cancel a section on the day. That happens, and it is not a failure. There is no refund for an unused portion, which is on the payment and refunds page before you pay.
How high is it?
Low — around 2,400 m at the highest put-in. Altitude is not a consideration on this trip.
Do I need a permit?
No. Your Pakistan visa is the paperwork that matters and we send a sponsor letter for it. Local fees where they apply are in the price.
What does it cost and what moves the price?
Party size, mostly. Rafts, guides and the safety kayaker cost the same whether the boat is half full or full. Deposit is 25 per cent.
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