Chilinji Pass Chapurson Valley Trek

Departure for Pakistan

Day in Islamabad to finalize trekking permits with the Ministry of Tourism. Evening free.

After breakfast, drive to Chilas along the Karakoram Highway (KKH), the 500-kilometer legendary route that winds its way through the Himalayan, Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountains. Construction of the highway, known as the eighth wonder of the world, was a joint venture between Pakistan and China, took 20 years to complete and cost the lives of about 850 workers. Meals and overnight at hotel. (500 km, 12-hour drive in the air-conditioned bus)

Continue along the KKH to Gilgit, through the precipitous gorge of the Indus River. As we near Gilgit we will get our first spectacular view of Nanga Parbat (8125m). After lunch in Gilgit, we transfer to 4×4 soft-top jeeps and continue the drive towards the Ghizar Valley and the village of Chatorkhan, our first overnight camping site. Overnight at the hotel. (230 km, 8/9 hours)

If road conditions permit we will drive as far as Bilhinz, otherwise we will take the easy trek from Chatorkhan into the Ishkoman Valley. We camp overnight at the small village of Bilhinz. ( 2-hour drive, 5-6 hour walk)

Today, if road conditions permit we will make half the journey by jeep, otherwise it will be an easy day’s walk to our overnight camping site at Matramdas, a friendly village of about 10 houses besides the Chilinji River, the last permanent settlement before the Chilinji Pass. (6-7 hour walk)

An early start today, because after a 15-minute walk, we must cross a water channel before the water level gets too high. After an easy day’s trekking, we arrive at Yasin, the most beautiful camping site on our trek with its green meadows and trees. ( 5-6 hour walk)

A steep climb of about 200 meters to begin the day as we make our way to a point to cross the Yasin Glacier. It is easy walking after this to the Chilinji River which we will cross on a swinging pulley, one by one. We camp overnight at the Chilinji summer settlement. ( 5-6 hour walk)

Today, as the whole trek is uphill, we will make an early start. From Chilinji we will turn toward the east for Chilinji Pass (to the west lies the Broghil Valley and the route towards Chitral). After resting at the Chilinji Pass base camp we will make the steep climb to the high camp just below the pass. (7-8 hour uphill walk)

From the high camp, it will take us about three hours to climb the 250 meters to the top of the pass. From the summit, it is all downhill to Baultar via a series of snowfields along the Chilinji Glacier. Our day’s walk ends at Baultar, an oasis of green that lies parallel to the Wakhan corridor and the Chilinji River, where shepherds live in stone cottages. Overnight camping at Baultar. (7-8 hour walk)

We walk along the Chapurson Valley which will provide a gentle contrast to the Ishkoman Valley which we trekked through earlier. We cross the red mountains that form the boundary between the Hindukush and Karakoram ranges and arrive at the holy place of Ziarat Baba Ghundi, where there is a shrine to the famous Muslim saint Baba Ghundi Shah. After lunch here we join our jeeps again and drive towards Sost, the last Pakistani town before the Chinese border and then down the Karakoram Highway towards Passu in the upper Hunza Valley. The small, picturesque village of Passu is set against a backdrop of the soaring Passu Cones and is a short walking distance from the Passu and Batura glaciers. There will be an opportunity to walk through the village and experience local life. About 70 years ago Passu was the second largest settlement in Hunza (after Karimabad). However, the glacier upstream of the Hunza River created a huge dam which later broke, washing away the houses and fertile fields. Now the river has claimed the major share of the valley, confining Passu village to its right bank. Overnight at lodge. (5-6 hour walk, 4-5 hour drive)

A morning walk to the Passu Glacier and Passu Lake (45 minutes one-way). From the snout of the glacier, there are spectacular views of Shispar ( 7611m) and Passu (7478m) peaks. We will also visit the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 250m-long bridges over the Hunza River are still used by the local people, who are known for their friendliness towards visitors. Then we drive to Karimabad, capital of upper Hunza and its panoramic views of some of the most beautiful peaks of the Karakoram -Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar, Golden Peak. In Hunza, each family is self-sufficient in wheat, maize, apricots, and walnuts and they also make their own clothes, shoes, wooden and stone bowls. In the afternoon there is time to walk to Ultar Glacier by following an irrigation channel through the village or to stroll through the single-lane bazaar for more views of the peaks that soar overhead and to visit the 800-year-old Altit and Baltit forts. Overnight in hotel.

En route for Chilas, we make a short stop at the Rakaposhi (7788m) viewpoint and later have lunch at Gilgit and stroll through the colorful bazaar. At Kargah there is an ancient reminder of the area’s history as a route used by silk traders, and by Buddhist monks on their journeys to Taxila – a 7th century AD Buddha carved into the rock. Overnight at Besham hotel, beside the Indus River. (260km, 6-7 hour drive.)

An early start for the 12-hour drive along the Karakoram Highway to Islamabad with a short stop at Besham for lunch. Overnight in Islamabad hotel. (500km, 11-12 hour drive)

Transfer to airport for flight home