DARKUT PASS (14,500 feet)
Open through May to October; it derives its name from the village located at the foot of the route which leading to the pass. Darkut pass connects Broghil valley in Chitral to the Ghizar valley. The border between Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan runs through the pass over Darkut Glacier. 8 miles to the south is village Darkut (11 miles north of Barkluti) on the River Darkut (small tributary of Ghizar River). To the northeast of the pass is Chitral (Yarkhun river valley). 10 miles to the NW of the pass is village Chilmarabad, just one miles south of Broghil pass. The pass is 10 miles away from the highest peak of Ghizar valley Koyo Zom (6872m) the pass is. At 747AD Chinese invade Gilgit Baltistan through the pass. just foot of the pass are the hot springs
Darkut Hot Springs 3600m
Nature has been lavish in endowing its gifts to Darkut valley of Yasin. Snow white mountains, green steppes, crystalline brooks, impressive glaciers and mesmerizing alpine vistas.one such precious gift, which adds to the beauty and fame of Darkut , is the miraculous hot spring. This hot spring has many healing and therapeutic qualities. Located in the beautiful valley of Rawat, Darkut the hot spring is a popular tourist destination in summertime. People, from natives to international tourists, make their way to the spring to relish a hot curative bath or a mineral-rich sip of the spring water. The water gushing out of the spring has very high mineral content, containing everything from simple calcium to lithium, and even radium. Those visiting the spring have found the spring-water curative in skin and bone related diseases such as joint and knee aches. A swimming pool has been constructed for those intending to take a hot bath. The water at the mouth of the spring is too hot to use therefore, mixed with cold water in a tank downstream. The track to the spring is jeep-able till the foot of the spring-hill from where a foot-walk of 2 hours is required to reach the mouth of the spring. Visiting Darkut Hot Spring is doubly relishing, adventurous, and curative. The best period to visit the spring is June/July in summer season.
Utter Pass Darkut
This picturesque pass situated in Bohraik valley, Darkut connects the Ishqoman valley of district Ghizer with Yasin Valley. At the top of the pass is one of the most beautiful lakes of Pakistan, the Utter Lake. The Utter Lake is the origin of Darkut River in Yasin as well as the Ishqoman River on the other side. The distance from Darkut to Utter Pass is roughly around 20 km.
Baaoster Pass Nazbar Yasin
Baaoseter pass is a high altitude pass in The Nazbar valley of Yasin. The 14 thousand feet pass is roughly 50 Km away from Yasin rest house. The track to Baaoster pass is around 8 hour long from Yasin. For Tourists there are a number of beautiful camping places along way to the pass. The first camping place is near “Qaqa Bool”(the Acrid Spring),”Ashtan Kusi”.while the last is just near the pass. Baaoster pass connects “Dahemal” in Phandar Valley on the one side and Chumar Khand in Chitral on the other side. Befor the pass is the famous sour spring.
The Sanative Sour Spring of Nazbar
Nazbar Valley of Yasin houses a curative spring, called ‘Qaqa Bool’ (The Sour Spring) in the local language. Located in the beautiful valley of ‘Rating Kushi’ the spring is a main attraction for the local and the foreign tourists. People from all over Gilgit-Baltistan visit the valley to savour the sour taste of the remedial spring water, which they say is curative in stomach related diseases and headache. The spring-water has higher concentration of iron, which gives the water a reddish color that is beneficial for suffering from low blood pressure. For all those who feel dizzy at higher altitude areas a glass of this water is suffice to take their dizziness way, normally caused by low blood pressure at higher altitudes.The spring is 25 km away from Yasin rest house and takes almost an 8 hours foot walk.
