10-Day Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek from Islamabad via Fairy Meadows

• Arrive at Islamabad airport in the morning and connect with your tour representative.

• Drive to Sharkul.

• Proceed on the Grand Trunk Road leading towards Afghanistan and, en route, visit Taxila - the capital of the Buddhist Gandhara civilization. It is reputed to be one of the most important archaeological sites of the subcontinent.

• Also visit the ruins of the former city of Sirkup, the former monastery of Julian, built on top of a hill, and the splendid site museum that contains artifacts recovered from the excavation sites. See the gold and silver coins of Alexander the Great (326 BC) and local kings.

• After Taxila, turn north to head towards the Karakoram Highway. The highway was jointly constructed by Pakistani and Chinese engineers and took 850 lives over 20 years of construction.

• Reach Besham.

Stay overnight.

• Drive through the Indus gorge 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. 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. Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and the Haramosh range can also be viewed from here.

• Drive north and 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 the drive to Gilgit, the capital city of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

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

• Visit Kargah, the rock-carved Buddha from the 7th century AD. In ancient times, the Kargah valley used to be the travelling route of Buddhist monks going to Taxila.

• Stroll through the colourful bazaars of Gilgit. The tour then continues to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route.

• On the way, see the old Silk Route used by Buddhist monks and traders. En route, rest at the Rakaposhi (7,788 m) viewpoint.

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

Stay overnight at a hotel.

• Enjoy a free day in Karimabad for short walks to Altit and Baltit Forts and other explorations in Hunza Valley. You can also see some beautiful peaks of the Karakoram 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 their own food.

• In the afternoon, 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.

Stay overnight in the hotel.

• Drive back to Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway.

• Cross Gilgit and arrive at Raikot.

• Board 4x4 soft-top jeeps and head to Jaile - a small village inhabited by Shina-speaking Chilasis.

• Begin the trek gradually and walk through the dry lunar landscape at the meeting point of the Hindukush and Himalayan ranges.

• Enter the narrow, barren gorge of the Tato River. The track clings high on its left bank.

• Cross green juniper and pine trees and arrive at Fairy Meadows for overnight camping.

• Morning light brings an incredible view of the Nanga Parbat massif from the campsite.

• After breakfast, commence short walks around Fairy Meadows. The route followed by the locals climbs rather steeply from the campsite through the jungle of pine trees to emerge at Fairy Meadows. The view of Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) soon fills the horizon in the southeast.

Stay overnight at the dreamy campsite.

• Walk through the pine trees and the covered valley, with the Raikot Glacier flowing on your left side and the summit of Nanga Parbat straight ahead.

• After about two hours of traversing, the glacier's lateral moraine leads to the flat meadow of the Biale camping site.

• From here, turn right for a short stretch to arrive at the old base camp of Nanga Parbat. The meadow here is usually filled with Himalayan flowers and shouting marmots. Half an hour from here is German mountaineer Drexel's monument.

• Have lunch at 4,000 meters. Enjoy thrilling views of Nanga Parbat and its surrounding peaks.

• Later, walk back to the camp at Fairy Meadows.

• Commence a three-hour downhill walk from Fairy Meadows along the Tato River to Jaile.

• At Jaile, board your jeeps once again and arrive at Raikot Bridge on the KKH over the Indus River.

• Transfer to Besham or Naran for an overnight stay.

• Continue driving on the Karakoram Highway towards Islamabad.

• Reach Islamabad. Use the free time for sightseeing, shopping, or rest.

• Transfer to the airport to board your departure flight.