14-Day Shimshal Trek from Islamabad with Chafchingol Pass

• Drive on the Karakoram Highway to Besham or Naran in air-conditioned transport. (6-7 hours drive)

Overnight stay in the hotel.

• Drive through the gorge of the Indus and Hunza rivers. (8-9 hours drive)

• Visit the meeting point of the world's three highest mountain ranges: the Himalayas, Hindukush, and Karakoram. Enjoy views of Nanga Parbat (8,125 m) and Rakaposhi (7,788 m).

Overnight stay in the hotel.

• Start the day with a short ride on soft-top 4x4 jeeps from Passu village towards Shimshal Valley.

• Pass through the gorge of the Shimshal River, with ascent and traverse in the gorge along the right bank of the river.

• Arrive at the 'travellers hut' of Ziarat. Some 600 years ago, a Sufi saint, Shah Shams, from Central Asia arrived here and stayed for several nights. He also preached Islam in this region.

• See Karoon 1 Peak (7,164 m) from here.

• Cross two suspension bridges and a few small streams joining the river from side valleys. After a four-hour trek, we will be at Kuk, opposite Mulungudi Glacier, with hot springs.

• Enjoy beautiful views of Dastagil Sar (7,885 m). It is an easy descent to the central valley and an hour and a half to the main village. Shimshal is one of the remotest areas of the Karakoram. About 900 years ago, Shimshal Valley was discovered by a Sufi saint who settled here. It is believed by the local population that all Shimshali people are his descendants.

Camp overnight.

Duration of the trek: 7-8 hours.

• Take rest. This day is for acclimatization.

• Take a 5-6 hour steep walk to reach the plateau of Zardgurdbin from Shimshal.

• Begin the trek and cross a big plateau between Zardgurdbin and Shapodin.

• Arrive at the camping place in Shapodin, which is also a summer settlement.

Camp overnight.

Duration of the trek: 2-3 hours.

• Cross Boisam Pir Pass (5,090 m) this day. It is an easy trek up to the pass. Kanjut Sar Peak (7,760 m) is visible from the pass.

• See a beautiful lake of blue water.

• Make a short stop on the way and have lunch at Pachodewashk.

• Proceed towards Mandik Shlaq.

Camp overnight.

Duration of the trek: 5-6 hours.

• Explore Mandik Shlaq and camp overnight.

• Begin the trek after breakfast.

• Stay at Havdiji on the way, which is a settlement having seven houses. Have lunch.

• Proceed towards Werbin.

Camp overnight.

Duration of the trek: 4-5 hours.

• Cross three small rivers during this day's trek, which will be great fun and adventure. The place is also famous for ibex.

• Camp overnight. (5-6 hours) This base camp will be our base camp for the Sonia Peaks. There are three peaks in the Sonia group - the highest one is 6,400 metres, and the lowest is around 6,000 metres.

• Trek from the base camp up to Chafchingol Pass (5,151 m). See Dastagil Sar Peak (7,885 m) from the pass.

• Reach KKH at Kuksil (4,150 m), which is just 15 km from Khunjerab Pass. The area is in Khunjerab National Park. (7-8 hours trek and 2-3 hours drive)

• Proceed to Hunza.

Overnight at the hotel.

• Explore the valley in Karimabad and take an excursion to Passu and Batura glaciers. Visit the Altit and Baltit forts, which are landmarks from the time when Hunza was a sought-after staging post on the Karakoram branch of the Silk Route.

• See Hunza cultural dance in the evening.

Meals and overnight at the hotel.

• Go on an early morning drive in air-conditioned transport on the Karakoram Highway towards Besham or Naran.

• Have lunch and proceed towards Besham.

Overnight at the motel.

• Drive on the Karakoram Highway to Islamabad.

• Stop at Taxila to visit the archaeological site of the Gandhara Buddhist civilization, dating from 500 BC to 500 AD.

• Go for half-day sightseeing in Islamabad after lunch.

• Spend a free evening. (5-6 hours)

• Get transferred to Islamabad airport for an international departure flight in the morning.