8-Day Hunza Valley and Fairy Meadows Tour with Khunjerab Pass

Welcome to Pakistan in Islamabad. Transfer to your hotel for rest.

In the morning, visit the Ministry of Tourism for a briefing session and permit formalities.

In the afternoon, enjoy a city sightseeing tour of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which offer a great contrast in culture and archaeology. Rawalpindi is an old city with narrow lanes and bustling bazaars, while Islamabad is a modern city and the only planned city of Pakistan, serving as the capital of the country. See Raja Bazaar, Murree Road, take a Metro Bus ride, and visit the Lok Virsa Museum and Shah Faisal Mosque with your Pakistani tour guide.

Start your journey on the GT Road, then turn onto the Karakoram Highway and travel towards Chilas, a place at the foot of Nanga Parbat where hundreds of rocks bear inscriptions, writings, and drawings from ancient times.

Make photo stops at Chilas and the Shatial Rocks.

Continue driving to Chilas for an overnight stay at a hotel.

Gilgit has been the most important garrison town for ages. Today, it is the largest and most important commercial center of the region, settled on the banks of the Gilgit River.

After a brief tour of the town, depart for Hunza along the Karakoram Highway and make a spectacular stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint.

Cross several villages of Nagar and Hunza States before finally arriving at Karimabad, the capital town of Hunza Valley.

Make an excursion to the Sino-Pak border at Khunjerab, crossing the villages of Gulmit, Passu, and Sost en route. Khunjerab is the highest point on the Karakoram Highway at 4,734 meters and is considered the highest trade route in the world.

In the evening, return to Karimabad with your Pakistani tour guide.

Start early for a great but soft adventure to the base camp area of Nanga Parbat, 8,125 m, the lone giant of the Himalayas and the second-highest mountain in Pakistan after K-2.

Drive to Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway and continue onwards to Jail (Tato) by jeep, at the foot of Fairy Meadows. From the end of the jeep track, hike for about three hours to the legendary Fairy Meadows, truly deserving of its name with unsurpassed views of Nanga Parbat.

At Fairy Meadows, stay in tents or log cabins available for accommodation.

Start trekking with a gentle walk of two to three hours through dense pine forest, later passing through birch trees and along shallow streams, until you reach Beyal, a summer settlement of shepherds with stunning views of Nanga Parbat, 8,125 m.

From Beyal, hike to the base camp, crossing glacier tails along a well-identified track. At the base camp, a monument has been erected in memory of climbers who died on the mountain.

After a packed cold picnic lunch at Basecamp Thep, return to your campsite.

At Fairy Meadows, enjoy early morning photography.

Start descending through the village of Fantoori to Jail.

Drive to Raikot Bridge and continue along the Karakoram Highway.

Arrive at Chilas, where another adventure begins as you drive on a newly constructed road and cross Babusar Pass at 4,000 m.

Descend into Kaghan Valley. This alpine valley is completely different from the landscape of the northern areas and offers green hills and forested mountains.

Pass through the summer settlement of Gitidas, Lulusar Lake, and the villages of Burwai, Jalkhad, and Batakundi before arriving at Naran, the main attraction of the valley.

Make an early start to visit the legendary Lake Saif ul Malook at 3,200 m, where Malika Parbat (5,271 m), the highest peak of the valley, towers over the lake and offers great opportunities for candid shots and superb photography. The lake can be approached by jeep, on foot, or by riding a hired pony.

Return to Naran and depart for Balakot, the last town of Kaghan Valley. Balakot is settled on the banks of the River Kunhar, the lifeline of the Kaghan Valley.

Continue driving to Mansehra and finally reach Islamabad.