Itinerary

1. Arrival In Islamabad

   • Pick-up from the airport.

   • Transfer to the hotel and freshen up.

   • Have lunch and go on a tour of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan.

   Overnight at the hotel. 

2. Drive from Islamabad to Besham/ Narran

   • Take a drive on the historic Grand Trunk Road.

   • Visit Taxila, the former capital of Gandhara Buddhist civilization, which is situated 34 km from Islamabad. We visit the splendid site Museum and the archaeological site.

   • Leave the GT road and turn north on the Karakoram highway.

   • Pass through the lush green alpine landscape of Hazara and arrive at Sharkool - a cool place situated on top of a hill.

   • Descend from Sharkool and emerge on the bank of Indus river at Thakot.

   • Enter the narrow rocky gorge of Indus.

   Overnight at the hotel.

   (300 km, 7-8 hours)

3. Drive Besham – Gilgit - Hunza

   • Continue the drive on Karakoram Highway to Gilgit. Building the KKH was a joint venture between Pakistan army and Chinese engineers and it took 20 years and the sacrifice of 850 lives to complete this 8th wonder of the world.

   • Get a fascinating view of Nanga Parbat (8,125 m) as you get closer to Gilgit.

   Overnight at the hotel.

   (330 km, 10-11 hours)

4. Drive Gilgit- Hunza - Passu (2,500 m)

   • Visit the town of Gilgit at 1,600 m. It is the administrative capital of northern areas of Pakistan and a traditional staging post on the historical Silk Route from Kashgar.

   • Walk to the suspension bridges over Gilgit and Ghizer rivers.

   • Continue driving on the Karakoram Highway to the charming village of Passu in the heart of Karakoram Mountains. We will have fascinating views of soaring peaks all around us, including Rakaposhi (7,788 m).

   Overnight in Passu Tourist Lodge. 

   (150 km, 4-5 hours)

5. Hunza- Passu - Shimshal

   • Take jeeps from Passu. (2 hours drive in the narrow valley of Shimshal up to Waeenben)

   • Cross two suspension bridges and reach Ziarat. This is the place where the famous Sufi Saint Shams-e-Tabrez had stayed for a long time for meditation and fasting. The followers of the Sufi saint visit this sacred place to cadge prayers. They put colourful flags on the rocks around. Three houses have been constructed by the people of Shimshal here in Ziarat, as it is in their daily route up or down from civilization.

   • Have lunch in Ziarat.

   • Continue journey towards Kuk. It takes 3 hours to get there. Kuk is well known for its hot spring water. The visitors take bath and enjoy the view of Malangoti Glacier. When the weather is clear, the great Dastagir can be seen at the head of the Malangoti glacier. Other peaks like Madhelsar, Shimshal white horn, Malangoti Sar etc. can also be seen from this point. 

   • Walk up to Shimshal. Cross a suspension bridge and get to Kutdoor and climb a small steep rocky patch. From the top, two small villages of Shimshal Tangashsar and Farmanabad can be seen.

   • Reach Farmanabad where lives the famous climber of Pakistan Mr. Rajab Shah. Rajab Shah is the only Pakistani climber who has climbed all eight-thousander peaks of Pakistan. A short tea break can be taken at Rajab’s house.

   • Walk up to the centre of the village.

   • Arrive in main Shimshal valley for overnight camping.

   (4-5 hours walk, 3,000 m) 

6. Shimshal – Zartgarban / Gar Sar

   • Make an early start. After crossing the Shimshal river, reach Band-e-Sar and enter the narrow gorge of Tang, which goes up to Zartgarben.

   • Climb the steep ascent, cross through a memorious gate and reach Zartgarban. The plain land is charming and encircled with high mountains. Zartgarban is basically a summer pasture where villagers keep their animals for 5-6 months in summer.

   (6-7 hours, 3,700 m) 

7. Zartgarban – Targin / Paryan Sar

   • Start from the camp with a steep ascent of 200 meters on the cliff.

   • Cross two passes. The first pass is Wayeen Sar (4,800 m), which takes two hours from Zartgarben to reach the top and one hour to descend to Yarzeen where we will have lunch.

   • Continue ascending to Shach Merk Pass (4,500 m), which takes three hours to reach the top. We can take a small pause on the pass for photos of the peaks and surrounding areas. Many peaks of the area can be seen from both high passes.

   • Descend to the Targeen valley, which is the camping place.

   • Pitch the tents up on the left bank of a small stream.

   (7-8 hours, 3,400 m)

8. Targin - Arbab Parian

   • Reach Puryen and have lunch.

   • Cross a small bridge and climb the high steep of Puryen Sar. We will cross through two wooden gates. These gates were built by the people of Shimshal to defend the village from Chinese troops during the time when the land was disputed area between the two countries.

   • See the Manglik Sar (6,050 m) in front of you. This is a trekking peak in the heart of the Pasture.

   • Arrive at Arbab Parian for overnight camping. This is a beautiful and colourful place with spring water. It is also a nice place to take bath in the crystal clear water.

   (4-5 hours, 4,150 m) 

9. Arbab Parian - Shimshal Pass

   • Continue walking east in the direction of Manglik Sar and reach Shujerab - the last summer pasture before Shimshal Pass.

   • Take a 200-metre gradual ascent and come just under Manglik Sar.   

   • Walk in the wide area of Shimshal Pass running east to west, with two lakes located just before the Pass. In summer, Yaks, goats and sheep roam around the green wide pastures.

   • Pitch the tents near the two lakes of Shimshal Pass.

   • Walk to Shuwart summer settlement with 60 houses. We might get invited for dinner by the people settled there with their animals. This will be a great chance to visit local houses and also to taste the energetic nomad food made from Yak’s cheese, butter and wheat flour.

   Overnight camping at Shimshal Pass. (4-5 hours, 4,735 m)

10. Shimshal Pass Shurth / Shimshal Pass

    • Rest day after long trekking for personal activities.

11. Shuwart / Shimshal Pass - Arbab Parian

    • Follow the same track we took to reach Shimshal Pass. But it will take a shorter time to complete, because of the continues descent.

    • Back to Arbad Parian.

    Overnight camping.

    (5-6 hours)

12. Arbab Parian - Maidur

    • Take an easy downhill walk. Follow a stream flowing from Shuwart to Maidur. There are many summer settlements in Maidur Valley.

    • Pitch the tents at a small settlement with only two or three houses. It is a beautiful valley and water is easily available here.

    Camp overnight.

    (4-5 hours, 4,500 m)

13. Maidur - Over Shapodin ass to Shapodin

    • Cross Shapodin Pass (5,150 m). 

    • See the Passu Peak (7,478 m) and Shispar Peak (7,611 m), which are visible from the Pass. Water is easily available on the way.

    • Cross the pass and arrive at the camping place of Shapodin, which is also a summer settlement.

    Overnight camp.

    (7-8 hours, 5,150 m)

14. Shapodin - Shimshal

    • Take an easy walk on the plain pasture up to Zartgarban.

    • Continue the trek and descend to the Shimshal village.

    Camp overnight.

    (4-5 hours)

15. Shimshal - Passu

    • Reach Passu from Shimshal. (3 hours by jeeps to Passu)

    • Visit Khunjerab pass.

    Overnight stay in Passu tourist Lodge.

16. Passu - Hunza Karimabad

    • Take a short drive to Karimabad, the capital of Hunza Valley.

    • Visit the Altit and Baltit forts and walk through the bazaar with shops full of traditional woollen gowns, caps and ladies suits and decoration pieces, which are prepared by the ladies of Hunza.

    • View the fascinating mountains like Rakaposhi, Ultar Peak, Golden Peak and Lady finger.

    (50 km, 2,250 m)

17. Hunza- Besham- Narran

    • Reach Gilgit from Karimabad. (3-hour journey)

    • Visit the Kargah Nala where you can see the image of Buddha from 4th Century AD.

    • Have lunch and continue the drive down to Chilas.

    • Make a photo stop at the famous spot where world's three highest mountain ranges- the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindukush meet. It is also the meeting point of the Indus river with Gilgit river.

    • View the Nanga Parbat.

    Overnight stay at the hotel in Chilas.

    (230 km: 6-7 hours) 

18. Besham - Narran - Islambaad

    • Take a long drive through the Indus gorge on the KKH.

    • Lunch break in Besham.

    • Reach Islamabad by the evening.

    • Arrive and transfer to the hotel. 

19. Last day in Islamabad

    • Transfer to the airport for departure