How I Started a Guesthouse in Hunza — A Host's Story

Zafar Hussain grew up in Karimabad watching tourists arrive every summer and leave within two days. 'They had nowhere good to stay,' he says. 'The old guesthouses were fine but nobody was making an effort to modernise.' In 2023, he did something about it.

Background

Zafar spent 8 years working in Karachi's textile industry before the pandemic brought him back to Hunza. He arrived to help his ageing parents and found himself with time, a large family home with 6 spare rooms, and a business idea he'd been postponing for years.

The Decision

The initial investment was PKR 1.2 million — mostly for mattresses, bedding, hot water geysers, a WiFi router, and repainting. 'The bones of the building were already there,' Zafar explains. 'I didn't build anything new. I just made it welcoming.' He listed on QiyamPK in March 2023 and received his first booking within 48 hours.

Zafar's first tip for new hosts: 'Get good photos taken. I hired a photographer from Gilgit for PKR 8,000 and my booking rate doubled the week the new photos went live.'

First Year

Year one revenue was PKR 1.8 million across the April–October season — more than his annual Karachi salary. 'I cried when I saw the October payouts,' he admits. 'I thought something was wrong with the numbers.' He now has 12 beds (4 dorms + 2 private rooms) and a waiting list in peak season.

Advice for New Hosts

• check_circleStart with what you have — don't wait until everything is perfect
• check_circlePrice competitively in year one to build reviews; raise rates in year two
• check_circleRespond to WhatsApp messages within 2 hours — guests book the fastest responders
• check_circleOffer something unique: Zafar serves homemade apricot jam at breakfast, guests photograph it and tag him on Instagram
• check_circleJoin local host groups on WhatsApp — they share pricing intel and refer overflow bookings to each other