Attabad Lake is a long, startlingly turquoise lake on the Hunza River in Gilgit-Baltistan, about 14 km upstream from Karimabad. It was created by a huge landslide in 2010 and is now one of the most visited sights in northern Pakistan.
The Karakoram Highway runs along the lake through a series of tunnels, so it is an easy stop on any trip between central Hunza and Gojal.
Plan your visit to Attabad Lake
- Entry: free (boat rides extra)
- Open: year-round
- Time needed: 1–3 hours
History of Attabad Lake
On 4 January 2010, a massive landslide at Attabad village blocked the Hunza River. Twenty people were killed, and as the water rose over the following months, about 6,000 people upstream were displaced. By June 2010 the lake was around 21 km long and more than 100 m deep, having flooded Ayeenabad and large parts of Shishkat, Gulmit, Hussaini and Ghulkin.
The lake also drowned a section of the Karakoram Highway, so for years traffic crossed by boat. Five Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels (about 7 km in total) on a realigned 24 km stretch of road opened in September 2015 and restored the link.
Attractions at Attabad Lake
- The lake: deep turquoise water framed by bare Karakoram peaks.
- Viewpoints: along the highway and near the tunnels.
- Lakeside resorts and cafés: on the shore, mainly around the southern end.
- The Friendship Tunnels: an engineering landmark of the rebuilt highway.
Things to Do at Attabad Lake
- Boating: motorboat and jet-ski rides are offered by local operators in season; wear the life jacket provided.
- Fishing: possible with local arrangements.
- Photography: the colour is strongest on sunny days.
- A relaxed lunch or tea with a lake view.
The water is extremely cold; swimming is not advisable.
Attabad Lake – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Entry: the lake is free to view from the highway; boat rides and some private lakeside areas charge a fee.
- Open: year-round; boating mainly in the warmer months.
- Best time: May to October.
How Long to Spend at Attabad Lake
Allow 1–3 hours for a boat ride and a meal. Some visitors stay overnight at a lakeside hotel.
How to Get There
- From Karimabad: about 30 minutes north by car on the Karakoram Highway.
- From Gilgit: roughly 3 hours by road via Karimabad.
- By air: fly from Islamabad to Gilgit (weather-dependent), then continue by road.
Flying into Islamabad? Book a fixed-price airport transfer to your hotel, then fly or drive north (flights to Skardu/Gilgit are weather-dependent)
Eateries Nearby Attabad Lake
Several cafés, restaurants and hotels line the lake, mostly near the boating points, serving Pakistani and Hunza dishes, tea and snacks. Karimabad and Gulmit have more choice.
Other Attractions Nearby Attabad Lake
- Karimabad: Baltit and Altit forts.
- Passu Cones: the spiky peaks further north.
- Khunjerab Pass: the high-altitude border crossing with China.
- Hussaini Suspension Bridge and the Wakhi village of Gulmit.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Karimabad (Hunza): stay in Karimabad for easy day trips, or at a lakeside hotel for quiet evenings.
- Get a Pakistan eSIM before you land (foreign phones may need PTA registration for long stays).
Attabad Lake was born from the deadly 2010 landslide and is now Hunza’s most famous viewpoint, with boat rides and lakeside cafés right on the Karakoram Highway.
Visit it on the way from Karimabad to the Passu Cones.
