Itinerary

1. Fly to Pakistan

   • Fly  to Pakistan 

2. Arrive Islamabad

   • Welcome to the federal capital of Pakistan and transfer to hotel. 

   • Afternoon sightseeing tour of the twin cities of Islamabad & Pindi. 

   1. Enter Faisal Mosque - the landmark of Islamabad.

   2. Visit Daman-e-Koh on top of the hill for a panoramic view of Islamabad. 

   3. Drive onConstitution Avenue for looking at the President House, Parliament, Supreme Court& other state buildings. 

   4. Also, visit Pindi’s colourful Raja Bazaar for bargain shopping. 

   • Overnight at hotel.

3. Islamabad - Shogran - Sari PAYA

   • Drive to Kaghan Valley. The 92-mile long Kaghan valley is one of the loveliest Green-Himalayan areas in Pakistan. 

   • 34 km from Islamabad is Taxila, the archaeological site of the former capital of Gandhara Buddhist civilization dating from 500 BC to 500 AD. We visit the splendid site museum, a former monastery and the city of Sirkup. 

   • Later we head north into the Himalayan foothills and pass through Abbottabad, a garrison town, and at Balakot enter the Kaghan Valley. (180 km, 7/8 hours)

4. Shogran - Saiful-Maluk Lake, Naran (3200 m)

   • As we travel through Kaghan, we pass hamlets with stone and wood homes surrounded by rice fields. 

   • We follow the Kunhar River and may encounter the caravan of handsome Gujjar nomads with their loaded horses until we reach the village of Naran (2,427 m), backed by the river. 

   • We visit Saiful-Maluk Lake, where the peak of Malka Parbat (5390 m) is mirrored in the deep blue waters. This lake was named after Prince Saiful-Maluk who fell in love with a fairy whom he saw bathing in the lake! 

   • Camp overnight. (70 km, 5/6 hours)

5. Drive Lalazar – Basel, Across Babusar Pass to Chilas

   • Follow the Kunhar River and head north, like the Gujjars to see their temporary summer settlements as we proceed to Basel (3,266 m), a highland pasture with a cluster of stone houses that blend into the rocky hillside. 

   • At lake Lulusar, just beyond Basel, jeep tracks lead to the Babusar Pass (4150 m) with the source of the Kunhar River and also the boundary of Kaghan valley with northern areas. The ride across the pass offers extensive views of flowers like pink bistro, blue delphiniums, edelweiss and other flowers reaching white summits. 

   • We descend to the town of Chilas on the bank of mighty Indus River, meals and overnight at hotel. (6/7 hours)

6. Chilas - Skardu

   • From Chilas we follow Karakoram Highway reputed as the eighth wonder of the world. We follow the Indus River towards the north and arrive at the place where the three highest mountain ranges of the world meet -Karakoram, Himalayas & Hindukush. Indus and Gilgit River also meet here at this unique place. 

   • We turn east from here for Skardu. This exciting mountain road that cuts through the deep & narrow gorge of Indus River, offers many challenging views. The landscape is mostly very dry and wild, and villages and settlements along the way are fewer and perched high on the steep mountain slopes. 

   • Just before Skardu, the valley suddenly opens up and becomes wide. The roaring & charging river becomes peaceful and calm. 

   • Arrive and explore the capital of Baltistan, Skardu town. Formerly Buddhist, Skardu, was called’ Tibet Khurd (little Tibet) and was an important stop on the old route to Tibet and the district of Ladakh. Here the Indus River joins the Shigar River to become an enormous oval basin at 2,300 meters enclosed in purple, red, grey and ochre mountains. 

   • Stroll down the narrow bazaar, climb up the cliff to visit the historic "Kharpocho" fort. 

   • Overnight camp at Satpara Lake, a deep blue shimmer just fifteen minutes drive from Skardu.

7. Skardu - Shigar & Khaplu Valleys.

   • The gentle, irrigated slopes with terraces of wheat, maize and barley, and the orchards of apricot, mulberry, peach, plum, pear, apples and nuts - all add to the charm of Shigar valley surrounded by snow-topped mountains. 

   • The town displays impressive carved wooden houses and mosques. 

   • After lunch at the town, we drive to adjoining Khaplu valley. Khaplu, the largest kingdom in old Baltistan, stretches in a wide fan from the base of a semicircular wall of mountain, dropping some 300 meters to the river level. Paths and irrigation channels connect the scattered houses set amid terraced fields and the friendly villagers welcome visitors. 

   • We shall visit the historic wood-carved mosque, dominating the valley from the top end of the alluvial fan. Camp overnight at 2,600 meters.

8. Khaplu (Excursion to Hushe valley)

   • Board soft-top 4x4 jeeps for an exciting ride to the trek head for K2 base camp. 

   • En route, we will have a short stay in Machlu village for the view of Mashabrum Peak (7821 meters). 

   • Arrive at Hushe, a small green village with many beautiful camping sites. It is the starting and ending point of many trekking and mountaineering parties coming or going to Concordia. 

   • Overnight camp at 3200 m.

9. Drive to Upper Kachura Lake

   • Drive back to Skardu. Short stay in Skardu town and continue the drive for another 30km for heart shape lower Kachura Lake. 

   • visit Shangri-La resorts around lower Kachura Lake one of the most beautiful resorts in northern Pakistan. 

   • Proceed further, for four kilometres to upper Kachura Lake. Overnight camping at upper Kachura Lake.

10. Drive to Gilgit

    • Enjoy your last breakfast at safari camp, and say Khuda Hafiz to your camping staff who had been pitching tents for you and preparing meals for you during the safari. 

    • Drive on Skardu road through the deep gorge of Indus River to Gilgit. Visit rock-carved Kargah Buddha from 7th century AD. In the 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. (180 km, 5/6 hours drive).

11. Gilgit to Karimabad.

    • We continue to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route. 

    • On our way, we see the old Silk Route, perched precariously above the riverbank, used by the Buddhist monks, traders and the locals. 

    • As we drive north along the Hunza River, the view is suddenly overtaken by the towering summit of Rakaposhi (7,788m). 

    • We stop a while at the view viewpoint to have a grand view of the mountain. 

    • Enter the Hunza valley and arrive at the capital Karimabad.

    • Overnight at Hotel. (100 km, 2/3 hours drive)

12. Karimabad (Hunza)

    • Today is a free day in Karimabad for short walks to Altit and Baltit Forts, and for other explorations in Hunza Valley. The people of Hunza are famous for their long lives.  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 all their own food. They are very friendly and cheerful. 

    • 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 Hunza river.

    • In the afternoon you could walk up 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. 

    • Overnight at Hotel.

13. Hunza - Chilas

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

    • We might stop at Gilgit town for lunch. 

    • Arrive Chilas on the bank of Indus River, overnight at hotel. (260 km, 6/7 hours drive.)

14. Chilas - Islamabad

    • Full day drive on Karakoram Highway to Islamabad. We start early in the morning, to cover the 12 hours long drive. 

    • Short stay in Besham for lunch

    • By evening we shall reach Islamabad. Transfer to hotel.(500km, 12/13 hours drive)

15. Departure day

    • Morning transfer to airport for departure flight.