11 Days Trek Nanga Parbat Base Camp & Hunza Gojal Valley Pakistan

Board flight for Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan.

Arrive at Islamabad airport in the morning. Transfer to Air Conditioned buses, and proceed overland to Besham / Narran. As we start our drive from Islamabad we shortly drive on Grand Trunk Road leading to Afghanistan, en route visit Taxila, the capital of the Buddhist Gandhara civilization. It is reputed as one of the most important archaeological sites of the sub-continent. We visit the ruins of a former city (Sirkup), a former monastery (Julian) built on top of a hill, and the splendid site museum that contains the artifacts recovered from the excavation sites. Here one could also see the gold and silver coins of Alexander The Great (326 BC) and local kings. After Taxila turn north to head towards Karakoram Highway. The Highway, reputed as the eighth wonder of the world – was jointly constructed by Pakistani and Chinese engineers and took 850 lives & 20 years to complete. Arrive in Besham/ Narran and transfer to hotel, for meals nad night stay. (5/6 hours, 200 km)

For the second half of our journey, we drive through the Indus gorge, at Thakot, we cross the Chinese-made bridge to enter the gorge of the Indus river. For centuries this branch of the Silk Route was used by traders and Buddhist missionaries. There are many rock carving sites of that time: Spatial rock carving is one of them. After lunch in Chilas, we stop at Thalichi for the best viewpoint of Nanga Parbat (8,125m) the 9th highest peak in the world and the second highest after K 2 in Pakistan, also known as the killer mountain. Rakaposhi (7,788m) and the Haramosh range can also be viewed from here. As we drive north we arrive at the meeting point of the mountain ranges. The three highest mountain ranges of the world Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindukush meet where the Indus river is joined by the Gilgit river. Continue to drive to Gilgit the capital city of Northern areas of Pakistan. (9/10 hours, 320 km)

We drive out from Gilgit to re-enter the town from the historic route, crossing a suspension bridge over the Gilgit river. Visit Kargah the rock-carved Buddha from the 7th century AD. In ancient times the Kargah valley used to be the traveling route for Buddhist monks, to go to Taxila. Stroll down the colorful Bazaars of Gilgit. The tour will continue to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route. On our way, we see the old Silk Route used by the Buddhist monks and traders. En route short stay at Rakaposhi (7,788m) viewpoint. Enter Hunza valley and arrive at the capital Karimabad. Overnight at Hotel. (2/3 hours, 110 km)

Day free in Karimabad for short walks to Altit and Baltit Forts, and for other explorations in Hunza Valley. The people of Hunza are famous for their long lives. You can also see some beautiful peaks of Karakoram range from Karimabad; Rakaposhi 7788m, Diran 7266m, Ultra 7400m, Golden peak 7027m, and the Nagar valley on the left bank of Hunza river. In Hunza, each family grows enough wheat, maize, apricots, and walnuts for its own use. The people are mostly self-sufficient, making their own clothes, shoes, wooden and stone bowls, and growing all their own food. The people are very friendly and cheerful. In the afternoon you could walk to Ultra glacier, follow the irrigation channel through the village or stroll through the single-lane bazaar for better views of the soaring peaks around you. Overnight at Hotel.

We will drive back to Gilgit on Karakoram Highway after crossing Gilgit we will arrive at Raikot; at Raikot board on 4×4 soft top jeeps after one hour drive, we will arrive at Jail, a small village inhabited by Shina-speaking Chilasis. Our trek commencement point. As loads are distributed among the porters, we leave the jeeps and start walking. We ascend gradually, walking through the dry lunar landscape of this meeting point of Hindukush and the Himalayan range. Soon we enter the narrow, barren gorge of Tato river, the track clings high on its left bank. Crossing through the green juniper and pine trees arrive at Fairy Meadows for overnight camping. (8/9 hours)

Morning light brings the surprise view of Nanga Parbat massif from the campsite. After breakfast at the dining tents at the camp,
we commence short walks around Fairy Meadows. The route followed by the locals, climbs rather steeply, from the campsite, through the jungle of pine trees to emerge at Fairy Meadows. We take the slightly longer, wide trek that ascends gradually through the jungle. The view of Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) soon fills the horizon in the southeast. We would be walking fairly close to the crystal clear streams flowing through the pine trees. Fairy Meadows at 3,200 meters, is an idyllic campsite – perched above the Raikot glacier flowing from the massif of Nanga Parbat. Nature lovers call it one of the most magical and scenic of all of Pakistan’s beauty spots. Meals and overnight at Camp.

An ideal day’s walk to the base camp of Nanga Parbat. We walk through the pine trees, the covered valley with Raikot glacier flowing on our left side, and the summit of Nanga Parbat straight ahead. After about two hours we traverse the lateral moraine of the glacier and then arrive at a flat meadow of Biale camping site. From here turn right for a short patch to arrive at the OLD BASE CAMP of Nanga Parbat. The meadow here is normally filled with Himalayan flowers and shouting marmots. Half an hour from here is German mountaineer Drexel’s monument. Lunch at 4,000 meters. Enjoy thrilling views of Nanga Parbat and its surrounding peaks. Later walk back to the camp at Fairy Meadows camp. (7/8 hours round trek.)

Three hours downhill walk from Fairy Meadows along Tato river to Jail. At Jail board on your jeeps once again and arrive at Raikot bridge on KKH over the Indus river. At Raikot our AC van will be waiting for us. Transfer to van and drive to Besham / Narran for overnight at Hotel /motel (8/9 hours trek)

Continue drive on KKH, towards Islamabad by passing the important archaeological site of Taxila, and by afternoon arrive in Islamabad, transfer to hotel. Evening free for bazaars and sightseeing in the capital city. Overnight stay at hotel (6/7 hours drive)

After breakfast at the hotel, Transfer to the airport for an international departure flight.