This is not a trip. Working altitudes here are 6000–6800 metres, record flights go above eight thousand, it takes a day on the Karakoram Highway to get there, and there is simply no mountain-rescue evacuation system for paraglider pilots in the region. We take this on only with pilots we know personally.

Ask about dates Format and price All destinations

Sep–Nov

trip window

on request

price quoted by the manager

1 : 4

one guide per four pilots

expedition level

pilot requirements

SkyAtlantida › XC trips worldwide › Pakistan

Site

Hunza, Karakoram: numbers, not impressions

Base point

Karimabad, Hunza valley

100 km from Gilgit, 2–3 hours' drive

Working altitudes

6000–6800 m

record flights — above 8000 m

Road

up to 24 hours from Islamabad

or a 45-minute flight to Gilgit, then by car

Duration

by the expedition programme

Trip window

September–November

Meeting hub

Hunza, Karakoram

the country's hub, not a fixed launch — we pick the valley from the forecast about a week before departure

Level

experienced / big-mountain / vol-biv

Why fly here

What this place gives you

Strengths

Valley winds are consistently light — long, smooth morning transitions are typical
The terrain is heavily glaciated mountains with 6000–7000 m summits along the whole route
Landing spots are sandy beaches along the river beds
The route corridor Hunza — Gilgit — Shandur Pass — Buni

What is dangerous here

Altitude. Gradual acclimatisation, oxygen readiness and sub-zero gear are needed
Remoteness. Up to 24 hours on the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad; flights to Gilgit depend on the weather
Evacuation. There is no data on any mountain-rescue evacuation system for paraglider pilots in the region
Permits. The Hunza valley, Skardu, Shigar, Deosai and the highway itself need no permit. An NOC from the Ministry of Interior is required for Baltoro, the closed valleys near the Line of Control, the approaches to Nanga Parbat and the border valleys near the Afghan border: it is applied for through a licensed Pakistani operator, takes 7–14 working days, apply at least three weeks ahead

Routes

What people fly here

On 16 June 2026 Antoine Girard flew the first 400 km FAI triangle in history from here — 400.5 km, 11 hours 32 minutes, maximum altitude 6746 m, launching near Karimabad. In 2021 he climbed to 8407 m above Broad Peak — the highest voluntary altitude gain on a paraglider. In 2011 Thomas de Dorlodot flew 225 km from Buni to Gilgit and beyond, cloudbase about 6500 m.

Competitions. No competitions are held here. This is a site for record expeditions.

Format

Dates, price and what is included

Guiding

on requestquoted by the manager

Guiding + stay

on requesttwin/shared for the whole trip

Group

4–8 pilotsratio 1 guide : 4 pilots; a second guide joins the larger groups

Deposit

30 %non-refundable — except when the group does not form and we cannot run the tour

The Guiding format includes: a guide on site for the whole trip, weather briefing and the task of the day, shuttle to launch, retrieve from the landing, radio guidance and live tracking, track debrief every evening. Accommodation and meals are yours.
Guiding + stay: twin or shared for the whole trip, price in the table above.
Not included: flights, insurance, personal equipment, visa fees, local site fees — cable cars, launch fees, forest and park fees.
Booking and invoicing are handled by the manager. This is a partner site, so the final price and deposit are confirmed by the manager — the price in the table is valid at the time of publication.

Groups of 4–8 pilots; a trip runs from four. Dates inside the window are adjusted to the group that forms — tell us the month and we will schedule the trip. The 30 % deposit per pilot secures your place and is non-refundable, except when the group does not form and we cannot run the tour. What to bring — on the pilot requirements page, full rules — in the XC booking terms.

Preparation

Visa, weather and non-flying days

Visa

Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Georgia — online visa at visa.nadra.gov.pk. From 1 January 2026 the free 48-hour visa has been withdrawn: processing takes 7–10 working days and a Google account is needed to apply.

Rules change — check the primary source before buying tickets. If you need help with documents, write to us.

Weather in the window

Gilgit (1500 m): September — maximum 32 °C, minimum 12, rain 8 mm; October — 26 / 6 °C, 6 mm; November — 18 / 0 °C, 2 mm. Very dry; by November there is frost at night and hard sub-zero at working altitudes.

If we are not flying

The Baltit and Altit forts in Karimabad, Passu Cones, Attabad Lake, the Khunjerab Pass.

Read before the deposit

Insurance, documents and rules

Insurance that covers paragliding is mandatory — at least €100 000, with search and rescue, helicopter evacuation and repatriation. Before the trip every participant signs the participant document and sends it to us together with a photo of their passport and licence.

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Pilot requirementsLevel, equipment, radio, insurance, emergency procedure

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XC booking termsVersion 1.3 of 21 Aug 2026, 23 sections

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Safety briefing“You are the pilot in command”, weather, radio

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Participant document (RU)PDF · filled in and signed once before the trip

Where else

Other destinations

There is a flying destination in every month of the year. If your dates do not match this window, look at the neighbouring ones.

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We will answer straight: whether you are ready for this destination now or should first take a step down. In Russian and English.

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