For a few weeks every autumn the poplars, apricot trees and willows of Gilgit-Baltistan turn gold, copper and red, and the light is the clearest of the year. Here is when it happens, where to see it, what is still open, and how we run our autumn tours.
Prices at a Glance
| Tour | Length | Essential | Signature | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Skardu Tour | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 90,000 | 140,000 | 250,000 |
| Autumn Hunza Tour | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 90,000 | 140,000 | 250,000 |
| Autumn Hunza & Skardu | 8 Days / 7 Nights | 144,000 | 224,000 | 400,000 |
| Autumn Skardu Tour | 6 Days / 5 Nights | 108,000 | 168,000 | 300,000 |
| Autumn Skardu Premium | 7 Days / 6 Nights | 126,000 | 196,000 | 350,000 |
When the colours peak
In Hunza the leaves turn in the second half of October and the valley stays gold for roughly a fortnight. In Skardu and Shigar the timing is much the same, usually from the second half of October into early November.
The exact week moves with the weather every year, and colour comes a little earlier to the higher villages. A window of dates works better than a single day.
Where to see it in Skardu
Upper Kachura Lake and Shangrila, Shigar Valley and Shigar Fort, the Sarfaranga Cold Desert, Manthoka Waterfall in Kharmang, the forests of Basho Valley, and the Katpana Cold Desert close to town.
Where to see it in Hunza
Karimabad with Baltit and Altit forts, Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones and Hussaini Bridge, and the Karakoram Highway towards Khunjerab Pass while the pass is open.
What is open in autumn
Deosai Plains sit at about 4,114 metres and the road closes once snow arrives, so a Deosai day in autumn is always weather-permitting. Our autumn itineraries offer Manthoka Waterfall instead when it is shut.
Khunjerab Pass usually stays open until snow closes it, typically in November. Flights to Skardu and Gilgit keep running but are often delayed or cancelled for weather, so fly-in trips keep a road option.
What to pack
Days are mild and sunny, but nights drop towards freezing by the end of October. Bring a warm jacket and layers, a hat and gloves for the mornings, sunglasses and sunscreen for the bright days, and comfortable walking shoes.
Our private autumn tours
This season we run five private autumn tours: the Autumn Skardu Tour of 5 or 6 days, the 7-day Autumn Skardu Premium with Basho Valley, the 5-day Autumn Hunza Tour, and Autumn Hunza & Skardu, 8 days across both valleys. Each runs on your own dates in Essential, Signature or Elite, at the prices in the table above.
Frequently asked
Usually in the second half of October, when the valley stays gold for about two weeks. The exact week moves with the weather.
Only until snow closes the road, so a Deosai day in October is weather-permitting. Our autumn tours offer Manthoka Waterfall instead when it is shut.
In our October 2026 price list, the 5-day Autumn Skardu Tour for 2 persons is PKR 90,000 in Essential, PKR 140,000 in Signature and PKR 250,000 in Elite.
