Best of Pakistan mountains trek and Hunza valley culture tour

Arrive in Islamabad – a member of the Adventure Pakistan team will meet you and take you to a hotel or guest house for some rest to recover from the long flight. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Islamabad & Rawalpindi: the Faisal Mosque, the Government buildings on Constitution Avenue, the Shakar Parian Park with its rose and jasmine garden and a trip to Damn-e-Koh, to look out over the twin cities (more if time allows it). Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.

After breakfast we drive towards Chilas by air conditioned bus / car over the famous Karakoram Highway or via the Kaghan Valley over the Babusar Pass. Chilas is a small bazaar town from where we can glimpse petroglyphs dating to the 1st century BC. Overnight at hotel in Chilas.

option: it is also possible to fly from Islamabad to Gilgit and from there drive to Chilas.

From Chilas we will go to Raikot Bridge where we transfer into 4X4 jeeps before heading to Tatto village. After arriving in Tatto village it is going to be a 3 hour trek to Fairy Meadows. Overnight stay in huts.

Full rest day at Fairy Meadows, visit to Beyal, Raikot face base camp of Nanga Parbat, explore around BC, overnight stay in huts.

We say goodbye to the beautiful Fairy Meadows and trek back down to Tatto Village from where we will take the 4x4 jeeps to Raikot Bridge. Transfer to A/C bus or car and proceed to Skardu. If time allows it we will go for some small sightseeing in Skardu: Bazaar area and or Sadpara Lake. Overnight at hotel in Skardu.

A sightseeing day to discover the incredible diverse nature and nice villages in and around the Skardu & Shigar area incl. Skardu Fort, Nansoq Eco Village, Kachura Lake, Katpana Cold Desert and Shigar Fort. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Skardu or Shigar.

Early morning we drive to Khaplu from where our first day of the trek will start: Khaplu to Ghanche Camp - 4 to 5 hours hike. Overnight in a tent.

3 hours hike, from here you have splendid views of K2, Masherbrum and the Karakorum peaks. Overnight in a tent.

5 hours hike down to Khaplu, if time allows it we can have some small sightseeing in Khaplu to see the Khaplu Palace and old Mosque. From Khaplu we drive back to Skardu for dinner and overnight stay at a hotel. 

optional: add 1 night in Khaplu.

From Skardu we will drive to the capital city of the Gilgit-Baltistan region called Gilgit. Here we can go for sightseeing of: Gilgit Bazaar, suspension bridge, Chinese market and the Kargha Buddha. Overnight in Gilgit.

From Gilgit we start early and head further north making a stop at Rakaposhi viewpoint before reaching our destination: Minapin. Here we will make a day hike to the grasslands of Hapakun where you will have northern views of Hachindar and Maiun Peaks, if we’re lucky Ibex can be seen on the cliffs above the Minapin glacier. Total 3 – 4 hours of trekking going up and 2 going down. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Minapin. (we can extend this one day trek to a multiple day trek if you would like to visit Rakaposhi BC and or Diran BC.)

It will only be a short drive to the capital of Hunza, Karimabad - we will go for sightseeing of Karimabad Bazaar, the Baltit Fort and the Altit Fort. At the end of the afternoon we drive to Duikar to enjoy the beautiful sunset at the viewpoint above the Eagle’s Nest hotel. Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Karimabad or Duikar.

Rest day to relax and enjoy in Karimabad by yourself, if you like our guide can take you for a hike to Ultar Meadows or you can visit Ganish village - an old Silk Route settlement. Overnight at a hotel in Karimabad.

In the morning we will visit Hopar glacier & Nagar Valley, in the afternoon we drive to Gulmit - stopping on the way at the Attabad lake. We will have a sightseeing tour in around Gulmit including: Gulmit Museum, Polo ground, Old House, local handmade carpet center, Hussaini suspension bridge. It is also possible to hike to Kamaris village (1 hour each way). Overnight at a hotel in Gulmit.

A very nice day trip: we will hike from Passu glacier to Borith Lake, the afternoon can be spend at leisure in Gulmit and meet some of the locals. Overnight at a hotel in Gulmit.

From Gulmit we drive further north to the top of the Khunjerab Pass which is at the border of Pakistan and China. The area around the Khunjerab Pass is a national park where – if you’re lucky – you can see Siberian Ibexes, Marco Polo sheep (ovis ammon poli), a Snow Leopard or other wildlife. After visiting the border we will drive all the way down to Gilgit for our overnight stay. (The border crossing is closed from 30th Nov / Dec till 1st Apr / May each year - if you travel during a time when it is not possible to visit the border then we will make an alternative program for this day)

We leave early for the airport to catch our flight to Islamabad, the afternoon can be spend at leisure or we can visit the Lok Virsa Folk & Heritage museum and or Saidpur village. In case our flight got cancelled (or if you prefer to travel by road) then we will drive from Gilgit over the Babusar Pass to Naran or via the Karakoram highway to Besham.

From Islamabad we make a day trip to Taxila to visit the Taxila museum and various archeaological sites. Goodbye dinner & overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.

(from Naran or Besham we will stop on the way at Taxila for sightseeing and after that continue to Islamabad)

The city of Taxila dates back to the Gandhara period and contains the ruins of the Gandhāran city of Takṣaśilā which was an important Hindu and Buddhist centre, and is still considered a place of religious and historical sanctity in those traditions. In 1980, Taxila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with multiple locations.

Your last day in Pakistan, time to say goodbye! Depending on your flight schedule we will bring you to the airport 3 hours before your scheduled departure time. If you still have some time today we can arrange additional sightseeing in or near Islamabad.