Attabad Lake

Attabad Lake is a turquoise lake in Gojal (upper Hunza), about 14 km up the Karakoram Highway from Karimabad, at roughly 2,500 m. It isn’t old. It formed after a landslide on 4 January 2010 dammed the Hunza River. The drive from Karimabad takes 30–45 minutes on tarmac, through the five Pakistan–China Friendship Tunnels. Boat rides and jet skis run from the jetties, and reported prices as of 2025–2026 are about PKR 1,500–4,500 per boat and PKR 2,000–5,000 per jet-ski ride. The lake works in every season, but September–October gives the clearest views.

Details were checked in October 2026. Boat and hotel prices change with the season, so agree them on the spot.

Attabad Lake quick facts

Fact	Details
Altitude	About 2,500 m (published figures range from about 2,400 to 2,560 m)
Location	Gojal, Hunza District, between Attabad and Gulmit on the Karakoram Highway
Formed	4 January 2010, by a landslide that dammed the Hunza River for five months
Size at its peak	About 21 km long and over 100 m deep by June 2010. It’s smaller now
From Karimabad	About 14 km, 30–45 minutes
From Gilgit	About 3–3.5 hours by road
From Islamabad	Fly to Gilgit (about 1 hour) and then drive about 3 hours, or drive the whole Karakoram Highway over two days
Permits	None needed. It’s an open area on a public highway
Swimming	Not allowed. The water is glacier-fed and very cold

How Attabad Lake formed

On the morning of 4 January 2010 a mountainside above Attabad village collapsed into the Hunza River. Twenty people were killed. The debris made a natural dam about 120 m high, and the river backed up behind it for five months.

By early June 2010 the new lake was about 21 km long and more than 100 m deep, and water began to spill over the dam. Ayeenabad disappeared under it, Shishkat was largely submerged and about 40% of Gulmit flooded. Around 6,000 people were displaced, up to 25,000 were cut off, and a long stretch of the Karakoram Highway went under water. In 2012 the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) blasted the spillway and lowered the lake by at least 10 m.

For five years everything crossed by boat: people, flour and even cars on barges. Then, on 14 September 2015, a realigned 24 km section of the highway opened. It has five tunnels totalling about 7 km and cost a reported US$275 million. The drowned orchards and rooftops are still down there, and many of the boatmen and stallholders are from Shishkat families who lost land in the disaster.

How to get to Attabad Lake

• From Karimabad or Aliabad: head north on the Karakoram Highway. The lake appears as you leave the tunnels, 30–45 minutes from Karimabad. Taxis and shared jeeps from Karimabad make the trip.
• From Gilgit: about 3–3.5 hours via Karimabad. It’s tarmac all the way, so an ordinary car is fine.
• From Islamabad: fly to Gilgit and drive on, or drive the whole road over two days. See road approaches via the KKH and Babusar.
• From Skardu: plan on 7–8 hours by road via Jaglot and Gilgit, so it’s better split over two days.

Some tunnels are dim, and their exits open straight onto the lake, so take the first drive slowly and in daylight. Landslides still close this stretch now and then, for a few hours to sometimes days.

Attabad Lake boating and activities

Boats run from jetties near Attabad and at Shishkat. Operators offer short shared rides, private boats and, in the warmer months, jet skis. Prices quoted in 2025–2026 guides vary widely:

Activity	Reported cost (2025–2026)
Shared or short boat ride	About PKR 1,500–3,000 per boat, or per group on a shared boat
Private boat, longer trip	About PKR 3,500–4,500 per boat
Jet ski	About PKR 2,000–5,000 for a ride of 5–20 minutes

• Ask for a life jacket for everyone before you agree a price, and walk away if they don’t have them. The water sports rules explain what to expect.
• Boats vary a lot in condition. On a busy summer afternoon the jet skis are the most likely way to get hurt.
• Ziplines, lakeside tea stalls and handicraft kiosks run by local families have grown up around the shore.
• For the classic view from above, hike to Baskochi Meadow (about 2 hours each way). It’s best at sunset.

Best time to visit Attabad Lake

• March–April: blossom in lower Hunza from mid-March, cold mornings and few visitors.
• June–August: the warmest and greenest time, with every boat and jet ski running. It’s also the domestic holiday peak, so book rooms ahead.
• September–October: stable weather, autumn colour and the clearest water and light. It’s the best all-round time.
• December–February: cold and very clear. In January 2025 the lake was reported frozen with people skating on it, and winter sports events have been held on the ice. Only go on the ice where locals say it’s safe. The highway is usually kept open, but snow can close it for short spells.

For the regional picture, see the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan.

Attabad Lake hotels and where to stay

The lakeshore now has upmarket resorts, including Luxus Hunza, Famree Resort and Lodges by Baron, along with glamping domes. A 2025 Luxus listing started at about PKR 36,500 a night, with lake-view rooms higher. Book well ahead for July–August and long weekends.

For cheaper rooms, stay in Karimabad, where 2025 guides put guesthouses at about PKR 3,000–5,000 a night and mid-range hotels at PKR 8,000–15,000. There are also guesthouses in Gulmit and around Hussaini and Passu. You lose the lakeshore view, but you’re only a short drive away.

Safety and practical tips

• Cold water: cold-water shock can disable a strong swimmer within minutes. Keep children away from the jetty edges.
• Road: the highway is cut into slopes that still shed rock. Avoid driving after dark, and check road reports after rain.
• Signal: coverage gets patchy north of the lake. An SCOM SIM, bought with ID in Gilgit or Islamabad, usually works best.
• Respect: this is a disaster site for local families. Ask before photographing people, and buy from the community stalls.
• Language: Gojal is Wakhi-speaking country, so a few words of greeting go a long way.

Suggested 2-day Gojal itinerary

• Day 1: Leave Karimabad early and stop at the viewpoints above the lake. Take a boat ride, then visit Shishkat and Gulmit. Overnight in Gulmit or Passu.
• Day 2: See the Hussaini suspension bridge and the Passu Cones, about 30 minutes from the lake. Then continue north to Khunjerab Pass or turn back towards Karimabad and Baltit Fort.

Nearby places

• Hunza: Karimabad, the forts and the main valley base
• Shimshal Valley: a remote Wakhi valley reached by a side road from Passu
• Khunjerab Pass: the border with China at 4,693 m
• Naltar Valley: forest and coloured lakes near Gilgit
• Fairy Meadows: the Nanga Parbat side trip on the way north

Attabad Lake FAQ