Itinerary

1. Day 1- Islamabad - Sharkul - Besham

   • Arrive at Islamabad airport in the morning and connect with your tour representative.

   • Drive to Sharkul.

   • Proceed on Grand Trunk Road leading to Afghanistan en-route visit Taxila- the capital of Buddhist Gandhara civilization. It is reputed as one of the most important archaeological sites of the sub-continent.

   • Also, visit the ruins of a former city- Sirkup, and a former monastery- Julian, built on top of a hill and the splendid site museum that contains the artifacts recovered from the excavation sites. 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 was jointly constructed by Pakistani and Chinese engineers and took 850 lives over 20 years of construction.

   • Reach Besham.

   Stay overnight. 

2. Day 2- Besham - Gilgit

   • Drive through the Indus gorge at Thakot. Cross Chinese made a 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, and Shatial rock carving is one of them.

   • Get lunch in Chilas. Stop at Thalichi for the best view point of Nanga Parbat (8,125 m)- the 9th highest peak of the world and the second highest after K 2 in Pakistan. Rakaposhi (7,788m) and Haramosh range can also be viewed from here.

   • Drive north and arrive at the meeting point of the mountain ranges. The three highest mountain ranges of the world, Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindukush meet where Indus river is joined by Gilgit river. Continue the drive to Gilgit the capital city of Northern areas of Pakistan.

3. Day 3- Gilgit - Karimabad

   • Drive from Gilgit to re-enter the town from a 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 travelling route of the Buddhist monks to go to Taxila.

   • Stroll down the colourful Bazaars of Gilgit. The tour will continue to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route.

   • On the way, see the old Silk Route used by the Buddhist monks and traders. En route, rest at Rakaposhi (7,788 m) viewpoint.

   • Enter Hunza valley and arrive at the capital Karimabad.

   Stay overnight at a hotel. 

4. Day 4- Karimabad - Hunza Valley - Karimabad

   • Enjoy a free day in Karimabad for short walks to Altit and Baltit Forts and other explorations in Hunza Valley. You can also see some beautiful peaks of the Karakoram ranging from Karimabad; Rakaposhi 7788m, Diran 7266m, Ultar 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 their own food.

   • In the afternoon, walk to Ultar glacier, follow the irrigation channel through the village or stroll through the single lane bazaar for better views of soaring peaks around you.

   Stay overnight in the hotel. 

5. Day 5- Karimabad - Gilgit - Fairy Meadows

   • Drive back to Gilgit on Karakoram Highway.

   • Cross Gilgit and arrive at Raikot. 

   • Board on 4x4 soft top jeeps and head to Jaile- a small village inhabited by Shina speaking Chilasis.

   • Begin the trek gradually and walk through the dry lunar landscape of the Hindukush and the Himalayan range meeting point.

   • Enter the narrow, barren gorge of the Tato river. The track clings high on its left bank.

   • Cross the green juniper and pine trees and arrive at Fairy Meadows for overnight camping. 

6. Day 6- Fairy Meadows

   • Morning light brings the incredible view of Nanga Parbat massif from the campsite.

   • After breakfast, 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. The view of Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) soon fills the horizon in the southeast.

   Stay overnight at the dreamy campsite. 

7. Day 7- Fairy Meadows - Nanga Parbat Base Camp - Fairy Meadows

   •  Walk through the pine trees, covered valley with Raikot glacier flowing on our left side and the summit of Nanga Parbat straight ahead.

   • After about two hours of traversing, the glacier's lateral moraine arrives at a flat meadow of the 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 usually filled with Himalayan flowers and shouting marmots. Half an hour from here is German mountaineer Drexel's monument.

   • Have lunch at 4,000 meters. Enjoy thrilling views of Nanga Parbat and its surrounding peaks.

   • Later walk back to the camp at Fairy Meadows. 

8. Day 8- Fairy Meadows - Besham/Narran

   • Commence three hours long downhill walk from Fairy Meadows along the Tato river to Jaile.

   • At Jaile, board on your jeeps once again and arrive at Raikot Bridge on KKH over the Indus river.

   • Transfer to Besham/ Narran for overnight stay. 

9. Day 9- Besham/Naran - Islamabad

   • Continue driving on Karakorum Highway towards Islamabad.

   • Reach Islamabad. Use the free time for sightseeing, shopping or rest. 

10. Day 10- Departure

    • Transfer to the airport to board your departure flight.