Naltar Valley is one of the most rewarding excursions from Gilgit: a high, green side valley where the dry rock of the Karakoram gives way to pine forest, mountain pasture, and a chain of small alpine lakes. It sits far enough from town to feel like a real change of climate, but close enough to work as a long day trip if you start early.
The road is part of the experience and part of the warning. Expect a rough jeep ride beyond Nomal, with snow and washouts affecting access outside the main season. Go for the lakes, the forested views, and the sense of being properly in the mountains rather than just looking up at them from Gilgit bazaar.