Nanga Parbat BC Round Trek Over Mazeno Pass (5,377m)

Early morning land in Islamabad, The Federal Capital of Pakistan. Transfer to hotel for fresh ups. Board on a conditioned minibus for a drive to Chilas. We drive on Grand Trunk Road leading straight to Afghanistan, After an hour’s drive on G.T. Road, we turn north on the Karakorum Highway. KKH is a joint effort of the Pakistan Army and Chinese engineers. It took 850 lives and 20 years in its completion, reputed as the eighth wonder of the world. Lunch at Besham / Balakot. After lunch, we drive through the deep Indus gorge. Arrive Chilas/Narran on the bank of Indus. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay. (9/10 hours drive)

Early morning drive to Jaglot on KKH, from Jaglot board on 4×4 jeeps and drive to Trashing our trek head. En route short stay at Astore, 56 km from Jaglot. Astore is an important place as many treks and jeep roads towards Deosai and Kashmir start from here. Trashing the start of Rupal Valley is 30 km from Astor. Mostly the population here in Trashing is Kashmiri and Shina speaking. At Trashing our camping staff will welcome us. Overnight camping at Trashing. (6/7 hours drive – 2900m).

The first half-hour of the trek is steep up to the lateral moraine of Trashing Glacier then it will take another half-hour to cross the glacier. On the other side of the glacier is the lower Rupal Valley with two large summer settlements and big fields of wheat. From the lower Rupal Valley trek is green and gradually ascending. After about three hours’ walk from here, we will arrive at Bazin just under the solid ice wall of the east face of Nanga Parbat. Camp overnight. (4/5 hours trek -3600m)

Today the start of the trek we walk on the Bazin Glacier which takes about two hours. After crossing the glacier, trek is going through Juniper and Willow trees. The local people of the area are friendly and helpful. The trek continues up to the Rupal River. An hours walk will take us to a place called Herligkoffer Base Camp. He was a famous climber and led eight expeditions to Nanga Parbat. Herligkoffer was also the leader of Nanga Parbat Expedition in 1953 when Herman Buhl climbed it for the first time. After a short stay here we walk further for about an hour and reach at a place called Second Base Camp, another summer settlement. Our campsite Shaigiri is not very far from here after an hour`s walk we will arrive at Shaigiri. Normally porters asked here for a goat and they slaughter the goat here and arrange campfire with local songs and dances. Enjoy the beautiful views of South Face. (5/6 hours, 3700m)

Follow the lateral moraine of Rupal Glacier. Turn your backs on views of Nanga Parbat, Rupal, and Laila Peaks. The campsite is at 4200m with a few Juniper trees and a small water stream. (4/5 hours).

Trek is comparatively steep and ascending up to the Mazeno glacier which is coming straight from Mazeno Pass. The campsite is not green anymore because of the height. Water is available. The high base camp is at 4724meters. (5/6 hours).

Early morning starts before sunrise. The climb up to the pass is not very difficult but the other side of the pass is steep and it requires a rope, ice ax, sit harness and crampons. The steep area is about 250 m in length. After crossing the pass Loiba glacier starts, and we will camp here at upper Loiba at a height of 4300m. (7/8 hours)

Trek down from upper Loiba to Lower Loiba called Loiba Meadows. It is a comfortable walk through the lush green meadows and trees. The campsite consists of many shepherds houses at 4000m. (3/4 hours).

Today we will have beautiful views of Nanga Parbat and the trek is very easy through pine and birch trees cross Airil River and enter the Kachal summer settlement at the base of Kachal pass (4400m). We will camp at 3000m. (4/5 hours).

From Kachal four treks are crossed, one is going to Kachal Pass, the second is going to Zangot, the third is going back to Loiba, and the fourth one to Diamer Base camp. We will take the Diamer Base camp trek a small water channel flows along the trek and the trek is gradually ascending, En route short stay in Kutgali. Arrive at Diamer Face base camp. The world`s most famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner climbed Nanga Parbat form this side in 1979 and he lost his brother during on their way back. It is reputed as the most difficult route of Nanga Parbat. Short stay for exploration and photos. Walk back by the same route and camp at Zangot 4200m. (6/7 hours)

Warm and bit steep trek down to Diamer river to arrive Dimroi. From Dimroi board on 4×4 jeeps and continued towards Gilgit, capital of Northern areas of Pakistan. Arrive Gilgit transfer to the hotel and enjoy a hot shower. (7/8 hours trek, 4 hours drive)

Early morning drive on Karakorum High Way along the Indus River to Besham which is in Swat Dist. As we leave Gilgit in the morning we catch exciting views of Nanga Parbat again from KKH. Arrive Besham on the bank of the Indus, Overnight in a Motel. (7/8 hours drive)

Continue to drive on the greener part of KKH to Islamabad. If time permits we may stop at Taxila, the archaeological site of the Gandhara Buddhist civilization dating from 500 BC to 500 AD. Arrive in Rawalpindi / Islamabad the twin cities transfer to hotel for overnight.
(7/8 hours drive)