19-Day Yak Safari in Shimshal Valley with Hunza and Khunjerab Pass

• 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.

• Drive on the historic Grand Trunk Road.

• Visit Taxila, the former capital of the Gandhara Buddhist civilization, situated 34 km from Islamabad. Visit the splendid site museum and the archaeological site.

• Leave the GT Road and turn north onto 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 the Indus River at Thakot.

• Enter the narrow rocky gorge of the Indus.

Overnight at the hotel.

(300 km, 7-8 hours)

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

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

Overnight at the hotel.

(330 km, 10-11 hours)

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

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

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

Overnight in Passu Tourist Lodge.

(150 km, 4-5 hours)

• Take jeeps from Passu for a 2-hour drive through 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 stayed for a long time for meditation and fasting. Followers of the saint visit this sacred place to seek prayers and place colourful flags on the surrounding rocks. Three houses have been constructed here by the people of Shimshal, as it lies on their daily route up or down from civilization.

• Have lunch in Ziarat.

• Continue the journey towards Kuk, which takes 3 hours to reach. Kuk is well known for its hot spring water. Visitors can bathe here and enjoy the view of Malangoti Glacier. When the weather is clear, the great Dastagir can be seen at the head of the glacier. Other peaks such as Madhelsar, Shimshal White Horn, and Malangoti Sar can also be seen from this point.

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

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

• Walk up to the centre of the village.

• Arrive in the main Shimshal Valley for overnight camping.

(4-5 hours walk, 3,000 m)

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

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

(6-7 hours, 3,700 m)

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

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

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

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

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

(7-8 hours, 3,400 m)

• Reach Puryen and have lunch.

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

• See 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, and it is also a nice place to bathe in the crystal-clear water.

(4-5 hours, 4,150 m)

• 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 through 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. You might be invited for dinner by the people settled there with their animals. This is a great chance to visit local houses and taste energetic nomad food made from yak's cheese, butter, and wheat flour.

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

• Rest day after the long trekking for personal activities.

• Follow the same track taken to reach Shimshal Pass. It will take a shorter time to complete because of the continuous descent.

• Return to Arbab Parian.

Overnight camping.

(5-6 hours)

• 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)

• Cross Shapodin Pass (5,150 m).

• See 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)

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

• Continue the trek and descend to Shimshal village.

Camp overnight.

(4-5 hours)

• Reach Passu from Shimshal by jeep. The journey takes about 3 hours.

• Visit Khunjerab Pass.

Overnight stay in Passu Tourist Lodge.

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

• Visit the Altit and Baltit forts and walk through the bazaar, where shops are full of traditional woollen gowns, caps, ladies' suits, and decorative pieces prepared by the women of Hunza.

• View the fascinating mountains of Rakaposhi, Ultar Peak, Golden Peak, and Lady Finger.

(50 km, 2,250 m)

• Reach Gilgit from Karimabad on a 3-hour journey.

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

• Have lunch and continue the drive down to Chilas.

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

• View Nanga Parbat.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Chilas.

(230 km: 6-7 hours)

• 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.

• Transfer to the airport for departure.