SONIA PEAK Situated in the heart of the Karakoram range in Shimshal, the remotest valley in the whole range. The mountains are some of the toughest, with some of the high virgin peaks lying here. You start the trip in Islamabad and drive on legendary Karakoram Highway to Passu in upper Hunza, from where we take soft top 4×4 jeeps to enter the valley. It takes two days walk to reach the main village – Shimshal in the valley. From the village it is 4 days trek to the summer settlement, towering above two lakes and flower-filled meadows roamed by Yaks. After resting at meadows, we take a six days trek over three passes to arrive at Karakoram Highway, just south of Khunjerab Pass at the Pak China border.
Arrive in Islamabad, after a short stay for a fresh up and breakfast drive on the Karakoram Highway to Besham in air-conditioned transport. Overnight stay in the hotel. (260 km, 6/7 hours)
Exciting drive through the gorge of the Indus & Hunza rivers. En route visit the meeting point of the world’s three highest mountain ranges; the Himalayas, Hindukush, and the Karakoram. Enjoy views of Nanga Parbat (8,125 m) & Rakaposhi (7,788 m). Overnight in a hotel. ( 515 km, 8/9 hours)
We start the day with a short ride on soft-top 4×4 jeeps from Hunza /Passu village towards Shimshal valley. The jeep track passes through the gorge of the Shimshal an hour from KKH. washing. (jeep 4/5 hours
Rest & acclimatization day
5/6 hours steep walk to reach the plateau of Zardgurdbin.
Today we take a late start as the trek today is easy is short and basically today we will cross a big plateau between Zardgurbing and Shapodin. Arrive at the camping place of Shapodin which is also a summer settlement. Camp overnight. (2/3 hours)
We will cross Boisam Pir Pass (5090m) on this day. It’s an easy trek up to the Pass. Kanjut Sar (7760m) Peak is visible from the Pass. After the pass, there is a beautiful lake of blue water. En route short stay for rest and lunch at Pachodewashk. Proceed towards Mandikshlakh. There are seven houses in Mandikshlakh and water is easily available for washing. Camp overnight. (5/6 hours)
Quite an easy trek. We will start after breakfast. Enroute stay at Havdiji . Havdiji is also a settlement and there are seven houses. The local people will stop us here for lunch and without serving us they will not let us go forward so we take a break here. Proceed towards Werbin. Camp overnight. (4/5 hours)
We will cross three small rivers in this day’s trek which will be great fun and adventure if the water level goes up in the rivers. The place is also famous for Ibexes. Camp overnight. (5/6 hours)
This base camp will be our base camp for the Sonia Peaks. There are three peaks in the Sonia group the highest one is 6400 meters and the lowest is around 6000 meters. To climb the 6000 meters one comfortably we need two days and to climb the highest one we need 4/5 days. So I think it’s better to have 4/5 days here at this base camp and divide the group into two. So that both groups can attempt both peaks.
It will be an early start with a packed lunch because the trek is strenuous and long this day. From the base camp, it’s a steep slope of 300 meters up to Chafchingol Pass (5151m). We can see Dastagil Sar (7885m) Peak from the Pass. After the Pass water is available and the walk is also quite normal. We will reach KKH at Kuksil (4150m) just 15 kilometers from Khunjerab Pass. The area is in Khunjerab National Park. Our vehicle will be ready in Kuksil to take us to Hunza. Proceed to Hunza. Overnight at the hotel. (7/8 hours trek +2/ 3 hours drive)
Day free at Karimabad to explore the valley and possible excursion to Passu & Batura glaciers & visit the forts. Altit & Baltit forts are the landmarks of the times when Hunza was a well-sought-after staging post on the Karakoram Branch of the Silk Route. The frost was erected by the locals to safeguard themselves against the invaders coming mostly from Central Asia, over the high passes. Overnight at the hotel. Meals and overnight at hotel. Hunza cultural dance in the evening.
Early morning drives Air Conditioned transport on the Karakoram Highway towards Besham. Lunch in Dassu. Proceed towards Besham. Overnight at Motel. (11/12 hours )
After breakfast, we will drive on Karakoram Highway to Islamabad. We could stop at Taxila to visit the archaeological site of Gandhara Buddhist civilization, dating from 500 BC to 500 AD. Half day SS in Islamabad after lunch. Evening free. Overnight at Hotel. (5/6 hours)
Morning transfer to Islamabad airport for international departure flight.
+92-3474598096
info@rockvalleytours.com
+92-3474598096
info@rockvalleytours.com