20-Day Budget Tour of Karakoram Himalayas and Hindukush in Pakistan

• Arrive in Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan, and transfer to the hotel for rest.

• In the afternoon, take a city tour of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

• By evening, stroll down the narrow streets of Raja Bazaar.

• Overnight at the hotel.

• Drive to Taxila, the capital of Gandhara Buddhist civilization. Visit the ruins of a former city at Sirkap, a former monastery at Jaulian built on top of a hill, and the splendid site museum that contains artifacts recovered from the excavation sites. Here, you can also see the gold and silver coins of Alexander the Great (326 BC) and local kings.

• After Taxila, drive towards the Karakoram Highway, passing through the lush green valleys of Mansehra and enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the valley. The KKH is a joint effort of Pakistan and China. Its completion took 20 years, and 300 Chinese and 600 Pakistanis sacrificed their lives for the completion of this road.

• Overnight at a motel. (4/5 hours, 200 km)

• Early in the morning, drive to Gilgit, the capital city of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. At Thakot, cross a Chinese-made bridge to enter the gorge of the Indus River. For centuries, this branch of the Silk Route was used by traders and Buddhist missionaries. There are many rock carving sites from that time, and Shatial rock carving is one of them.

• Have lunch in Chilas.

• Then stop at Thalichi for the best viewpoint of Nanga Parbat (8,125 m), the 9th highest peak in the world and the second highest after K2 in Pakistan, also known as the Killer Mountain. Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and the Haramosh Range can also be viewed from here.

• As you drive north, arrive at the meeting point of the mountain ranges. The three highest mountain ranges in the world - the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindukush - meet where the Indus River is joined by the Gilgit River.

• Continue along the Gilgit River. Overnight at the hotel. (9/10 hours, 320 km)

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

• At Kargah, visit the rock-carved Buddha from the 7th century AD. In ancient times, the Kargah Valley used to be the traveling route of Buddhist monks on their way to Taxila.

• Stroll down the colorful bazaars of Gilgit.

• Later, drive to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route. On the way, see the old Silk Route once used by Buddhist monks and traders.

• En route, make a short stop at the Rakaposhi (7,788 m) viewpoint.

• Enter the Hunza Valley and arrive at the capital, Karimabad.

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

• 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. You can also see some beautiful peaks of the Karakoram Range from Karimabad: Rakaposhi 7,788 m, Diran 7,266 m, Ultar 7,400 m, Golden Peak 7,027 m, 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 all their own food. The people are very friendly and cheerful.

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

• Overnight at the hotel.

• Take a short drive through the heart of the Karakoram.

• Stop at the village of Gulmit, in the shadow of the 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, transport will pick you up for the 15 km drive to Passu. Passu is a small, charming village set against the backdrop of the soaring Passu Cones, with Passu and Batura glaciers at short walking distance.

• Walk through the village to see rural life at its best.

• Overnight at the lodge. (1 hour, 50 km)

• Today, go on an excursion with a morning walk to the Passu Glacier and Passu Lake. 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, which 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 the snout of the glacier, you have fascinating views of Shispar (7,611 m) and Passu Peak (7,478 m).

• Walk back for lunch.

• In the afternoon, visit the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 800-foot-long bridges over the Hunza River are still in use.

• In the morning, drive on the KKH along the Hunza River, with the soaring rocks of the Karakoram on both sides of the gorge.

• Arrive at the small village of Minapin in the shadow of Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Diran (7,265 m).

• After some rest at Minapin, trek to Tagafuri. This is an interesting moderate trek, passing through hills covered by juniper, thorn, and rose bushes, with occasional fields of barley and potatoes.

• Have lunch at a summer settlement.

• Later, follow a path through steep pastures to arrive at the campsite between the lateral moraine and the foot of Rakaposhi. The campsite is ideally located in the green patch between the Diran Glacier and the ridge of Rakaposhi, offering fascinating views.

• Overnight at camp. (Long day, 11/12 hours)

• Return to Minapin.

• Walk down from Tagafuri to Minapin village.

• Camp overnight.

• Today is at Fairy Meadows, with the option to trek to the Base Camp of Nanga Parbat after crossing the glacier.

• Carry a packed lunch from the camp at Fairy Meadows and have it at the Base Camp, then return to camp.

• In the morning, walk for about three hours to reach Tato to board the jeeps.

• From Tato, drive down to Raikot Bridge on the KKH and continue the drive to Gilgit.

• Arrive in Gilgit and transfer to the hotel. The evening is free.

• Overnight in the hotel.

• Go on a jeep drive to Phander with occasional drop-offs from the jeep for short walks along the route. As you drive, bid farewell to the Karakoram Range and enter the Hindukush Range. Wild landscapes meet you during the drive, as this route is visited by fewer people and is snow-covered during the winters, so only nomads move with their goats, searching the higher slopes for green pastures.

• Camp overnight.

• From Phander, the jeep track leads over to Mastuj. A zigzag jeep track climbs up the Shandur Pass, so leave the jeeps and walk over the pass to the highest polo ground in the world. This is where every year a grand polo festival takes place, with teams from all over Pakistan meeting to decide the champion. The festival is attended by many enthusiasts from every village, who camp here for days to see their team progress towards glory.

• Continue the drive to Mastuj.

• In the morning, drive from Mastuj village along the Chitral River, which flows in the main valley bed. The landscape of the Hindukush Range appears arid and dry, as this area is outside the reach of the monsoon and receives very little rain.

• Stop at a small village for lunch and then continue north, now enjoying fascinating views of snow-clad peaks reaching 4,500 meters.

• Meals and overnight at the hotel.

• Start the trek, carrying plenty of water, as few springs on the way have a doubtful supply. This trek takes you over a steep 3,000-meter ridge separating the Bumburet and Birir valleys. Begin with the first light of the day to cross the ridge in the cool hours. The trek offers a good opportunity to experience the unique landscape of the Kalash valleys and to meet the local population going about their daily life.

• Arrive in Bomburet, the largest village of Kalash.

• Return to Chitral. Overnight in the hotel.

• In the morning, drive to Swat.

• Proceed towards Lowari Pass (3,200 meters). The ascent is very interesting, with around 96 hairpin turns bringing you to the top of Lowari Pass.

• Descend to Dir, Chakdara, and Malakand Pass.

• Arrive in Swat, a land that shines with fruit-laden orchards, flower-filled slopes, meandering rivers, and rumbling streams, surrounded by the mighty ranges of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram. The valley is 3,250 feet above sea level, and Saidu Sharif and Mingora are the towns that form the twin capital of this area.

• Arrive and transfer to the hotel for overnight in Mingora.

• After breakfast, proceed for a full day of sightseeing in the valley. Visit the museum, White Palace, some rock carvings from the Buddhist period, and in Upper Swat visit Malam Jabba and Kalam.

• Drive back to Mingora for overnight.

Peshawar has always been important in the history of the subcontinent because of its location near the Khyber Pass and the Gandhara civilization. The city is now known more for its special feel of being a frontier town than for its monuments.

• In the morning, visit the street of storytellers, Kissa Khawani Bazaar, the street of gold at Kasera Bazaar, Caravan Serai, Mahabat Khan Mosque, and the Peshawar Museum, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts.

• Take a morning excursion to Khyber Pass, the most important land route leading to the Indian subcontinent. All historic invaders, including Alexander, used this route to explore the wonders of the fertile land that lies south of this pass.

• You may be allowed to visit Michni Post, from where you have a panoramic view of the Pak-Afghan border. (45 km one way)

• Evening free. Overnight in the hotel.

• In the morning, drive to Islamabad along the Grand Trunk Road laid down by Sher Shah Suri, the Pathan Emperor of the United Indian Empire.

• Cross the Indus River at Attock. You may stop for photos at the meeting point of the Indus and Kabul rivers just beyond Attock Bridge. Bypass the important archaeological site of Taxila, and by evening reach Islamabad.

• In the afternoon, visit the federal capital of Pakistan. Overnight at the hotel.

• Departure transfer to the airport for your flight home.