All you need to know about Shimshal Valley of Hunza

Shimshal valley is a village located in Gojal tehsil of District Hunza, in Gilgit-Baltistan. It is located at 3100 meters above the sea level and known as the Hunza’s highest settlement. Shimshal valley is also a border which connects the Gilgit-Baltistan area of Pakistan with China. Shimshal valley is always a source of attraction for tourists because of its high altitude. Some of the gigantic mountains of this area are as follows:

• Distaghil Sar (7885 m)
• Lughpar Sar (7200 m)
• Shimshal White Horn (6303 m)
• Minglik Sar (6150 m)

How to reach Shimshal Valley 

Firstly one has to go to Hunza, which is covered with lush green trees and local fruits (apples, cherries, and more). Shimshal valley is not too far from Hunza; about 110 km on the map. After that, you head up to Shimshal by a jeep ride. You can board a private jeep as well as a local jeep to reach Shimshal. The valley is far away from the Populated area so that just one or two jeeps leave for Shimshal valley in a day. The jeep timings are not fixed. It is highly recommended to reserve your seats at least a day earlier. Mostly, all the guesthouses in Hunza can arrange a jeep for you to Shimshal. There are 3 to 4 hours off-road jeep track to reach Shimshal valley, which costs almost 500 rupees per person.

The foreigners must have a NOC to go to Shimshal valley. There is a check post before the valley where police check the identities of the people. Pakistanis don’t need a permit to go to Shimshal valley. If you plan to trek for 2-3 weeks, you must have a license to go for trekking.

Where to stay in Shimshal Valley
There are many guesthouses to stay in the beautiful valley of Shimshal. The guest houses are basic and not too expensive. The cost per person is 1000-2000 rupees per person for a night. The food is simple. Some of the pictures of the Minglik guesthouse are attached here.

• 

• 

Exciting things to do in Shimshal Valley

Shimshal valley offers everyone to enjoy its natural beauty. There are many things to do in Shimshal valley. First of all, the range of treks in the valley. There are many treks in the valley which can be covered in 1-2 weeks. It would be best if you had a permit for trekking before you go. The permit can be obtained through the travel agencies there.

There are many glaciers in the Shimshal valley. The first glacier is Yazghil glacier, which is about 3 hours walk from Shimshal valley. If you want to go to other glaciers, you must pass the Yazghil glacier first. If you are an inexperienced trekker, we recommend you take a local guide with you.

Daily Life in Shimshal Valley

There are almost 250 houses in Shimshal valley, and all of them use solar plates to generate electricity. They are living their best life rather than others at high altitude. The people of Shimshal valley are amicable and hospitable. The women go with their herds of sheep. Men usually do the job of guide for tourists.