Itinerary

1. Day 1: Full-Day City Tour in Islamabad

   • In the morning, arrive in Islamabad. 

   • Visit the Federal Capital of Pakistan: Islamabad. 

   • Explore the Faisal Mosque, Damen-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa Museum and Shakar Parian Park. 

   Overnight at the hotel.

2. Day 2: Drive to Peshawar

   • Morning drive to Peshawar, on the Grand Trunk Road laid down by the Pathan Emperor of United Indian Empire: Sher Shah Suri. 

   • En-route visit Taxila, the former capital of Gandhara civilization. 

   • Next, see the archaeological remains of a monastery (Julian), a city (Sirkup ) and the site museum. 

   • Continue to drive towards Peshawar. 

   • While crossing the Indus River at Attock, we may stop for a photo at the meeting point of Indus & Kabul rivers just beyond the Attock bridge. 

   • Arrive and transfer to hotel. Peshawar has always been important in the history of the sub-continent because of its location nearby Khyber Pass & Gandhara civilization. The city is now known more for its special feeling of being a frontier town than its monuments.

   • Visit the street of story-tellers: Kissa Khawani bazaar, the street of Gold Kasera bazaar, Karavan Serai and Mahabat Khan Mosque & Museum of Peshawar, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts. 

   Dinner & overnight stay at hotel Peshawar. (170 km, 3/4 Hours).

3. Day 3: Drive to Swat Mingora

   • Crossing over the historic Malakand Pass, the pass between Peshawar and Swat valleys, we will enter Swat valley. 

   • En-route visiting another Buddhist archaeological site, Takht-e-Bhai and some other places we will reach in Swat valley.

   • Swat shines with fruit-laden orchards, flower-filled slopes, meandering rivers, rumbling streams and is surrounded by the mighty ranges of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram. The valley is 2,250 feet above sea level. Saidu Sharif & Mingora are the towns that form the twin capital of this valley.

   • Visit Swat museum and Butkara excavation site from 1st to 7th century AD. 

   • Transfer to hotel for an overnight stay in Mingora.

4. Day 4: Drive to Chilas

   • As it is a long drive so we will take an early start from Swat. 

   • Continuing on the road leading towards the upper Swat valley for one hour, we will turn North from a small beautiful town called Khuaza Khaila. 

   • Now, driving on a single mountain road, we will cross Shangla Pass between Hindukush & Karakoram mountain ranges. 

   • After crossing Shangla Pass, we will enter the Karakoram and arrive at Besham. An important city on the Karakoram Highway. 

   • Lunch in Besham and continue to drive now on the Karakoram highway, a joint effort of Pakistan Army and Chinese engineers. It took 850 lives and 20 years to complete reputed as the eighth wonder of the world.

   • Driving through the Indus gorge, we will arrive at Chilas on the bank of Indus. 

   • Transfer to hotel for dinner and night stay. (9/10 hours drive).

5. Day 5: Trashing - Our trek head

   • Early morning drive to Jaglot on KKH, from Jaglot board on 4x4 jeeps. 

   • Drive to Trashing village, our trek head. En route short stay at Astore, 56 km from Jaglot, Astore is an important place as many treks, and jeep road towards Deosai and Kashmir starts from here.

   • Trashing, the start of Rupal Valley, is 30 km from Astore. 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).

6. Day 6: East Face of Nanga Parbat

   • 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. At the other side of the glacier is the lower Rupal Valley, with two large summer settlements and big wheat fields. 

   • 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 east face of Nanga Parbat.

   Overnight camping in Bazin. (4/5 hours trek -3600m).

7. Day 7: Bazin - Shaigiri

   • Today at the start of the trek, we walk on the Bazin Glacier, which takes about two hours. 

   • After crossing the glacier, the 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 many expeditions to Nanga Parbat. Herligkoffer was also the leader of the 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 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 a campfire with local songs and dances. 

   • Enjoy the beautiful views of South Face. (5/6 hours, 3700m).

8. Day 8: At Shaigiri

   • Day free to explore the area or optional climb to Rupal Peak (5580m).

9. Day 9: To the base of Mazeno Ridge

   • Follow the lateral moraine of Rupal Glacier. 

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

10. Day 10: Base Camp - High Camp of Mazeno Pass

    • Start your trek to a comparatively steep route, ascending to the Mazeno glacier, 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)

11. Day 11: Cross the Mazeno Pass!

    • Early morning start before sunrise. 

    • The climb up to the pass is not very difficult, but the other side of the pass is steep, and it requires rope, an ice axe, sit harness and crampons. The steep area is about 250m in length. 

    • After crossing the pass, the Loiba glacier starts, and we will camp here at upper Loiba at the height of 4300m. (7/8 hours).

12. Day 12: Loiba Meadows

    • 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 of 4000m. (3/4 hours)

13. Day 13: Meadows - Kachal

    • Today we will have beautiful views of Nanga Parbat, and the trek is straightforward through pine and birch trees, cross Airil River and enter the Kachal summer settlement at the base of Kachal pass (4400m). 

    Camp at 3000m. (4/5 hours).

14. Day 14: Diamer Base Camp

    • From Kachal, four treks are crossing; 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 hike, and the walk is gradually ascending, an 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 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 hr)

15. Day 15: Back to the Civilization

    • Warm and bit steep trek down to Diamer river to arrive Dimroi. 

    • From Dimroi board on 4x4 jeeps and continued towards Gilgit, capital of Northern areas of Pakistan. 

    • Arrive Hunza transfer to hotel and enjoy a hot shower. (7/8 hours trek, 4 hours drive).

16. Day 16: The Hunza Valley

    • Drive out from Gilgit to re-enter the town through the historic route, crossing a suspension bridge over the river. 

    • Drive to Kargah to visit 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, breath-taking 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 the Hunza valley and arrive at the capital Karimabad. 

    Overnight at the hotel. (2/3 hr, 110 km).

17. Day 17: In Hunza

    • Day free in Karimabad for short walks to Altit and Baltit Forts and 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, Diran, Ultar, Golden peak and the Nagar valley on the left bank of the 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. They are very friendly and cheerful.

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

    • Excursion to Khunjerab Pass (4733meters) {Upper Hunza}

    • Short drive through the heart of Karakoram. We stop at the village of Gulmit, in the shadow of virgin Gulmit tower. 

    • Walk through the village fields to visit the Polo ground and old houses. Later take a short trek to Gulkin glacier and Borit Lake. 

    • As you end your trek near Borit Lake, the transport will pick you up for a 15 km drive to Passu. Passu is a small charming village in the backdrop of soaring Passu Cones, with Passu and Batura glaciers short walking distance. 

    • Take a walk through the village to see the village life. Some 70 years ago, Passu used to be the second-largest settlement in Hunza after Karimabad. The glacier upstream on the Hunza river moved down to create a large dam that later broke and destroyed the fertile fields and houses. Now the river occupies the major share of the valley, with the village on its right bank. 

    • From Passu, you will see the fascinating views of Shispar (7,611 m) and Passu Peak (7,478 m). 

    • Visit the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 800 feet long bridges over the Hunza river are still used by the local people. 

    • Later, drive to the Khunjerab Pass, the border between Pakistan and China, the world's highest metal road border crossing. 

    • Spend some time at Khunjerab top and drive back to Karimabad for an overnight stay at the hotel.

18. Day 18: Drive back to Besham / Narran

    • Drive along the bank of Hunza river on Karakoram Highway, enjoying fascinating views of Karakoram Peaks from a different angle. 

    • We might stop at Gilgit town for lunch.

    • Arrive Chilas on the bank of Indus river, overnight stay in hotel. (260 km, 6/7)

19. Day 19: Back to Islamabad - Departure

    • Full day drive on Karakoram Highway to Islamabad. 

    • Start early in the morning to cover the 12 hours long drive. 

    • Short stay in Besham for lunch. By the evening, we will reach Islamabad.

    • Transfer to Airport for your international flight back home.