8-Day Nature Tour of North-Eastern Pakistan via Hunza and Karakorum

• Meet our representative at 12:30 pm and drive to Lahore city for lunch. After lunch, continue to Islamabad on the M2 motorway. En route, enjoy sightseeing and take toilet breaks.

• Upon arrival in Islamabad, transfer to the hotel and rest in the evening.

• Enjoy dinner at the Kabul Restaurant.

The approximate driving distance is 5/6 hours from Lahore.

• Go to the domestic airport to catch the flight for Gilgit. The ATR plane flying over the Himalayans and Karakorum mountains offers pretty views of K2 - the world's second-highest mountain, Nanga Parbat - the world's 9th highest mountain, Rakaposhi Peak, and Saiful Mulk Lake in the Kaghan and Naran valleys, as well as the Babusar Pass (4170 m) and the mighty Indus River. All flights to Gilgit Baltistan are subject to weather conditions. If a flight is cancelled due to bad weather or any other issue, this day will be transferred to Chilas on the Karakorum Highway.

• Drive to Hunza Valley, about two hours from Gilgit Airport, along the Hunza River through the enchanting lush green Nagar and Hunza valleys.

• Visit Baltit Fort and Altit village, and walk around the traditional and colourful Bazaar of Karimabad.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Travel to Nagar Valley across the Hunza River. After just a 5 km drive, stop at the small junction point where the Hunza and Nagar rivers meet.

• Drive to Nagar Khas, passing beautiful orchards of apricots, apples, and cherries. This valley offers an excellent setting for blossom and autumn colours. Stop near the main bazaar of Nagar to enjoy a magnificent view of the backdrop - the Ultar Mountains and the south-west Golden Peak.

• Continue with a drive to Hoper Valley. Enjoy your time meeting the locals and observing their unique cultures. Take in this lush green valley, surrounded by high mountains and the largest glaciers outside the polar regions.

• Drive back to Hunza and head to Duiker on a dotted route. Walk to the photography point for sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding 7000 m mountains.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Observe the beautiful sunrise over Diran Peak with breathtaking views of Golden Peak, Rakaposhi, Ultar 1, Ultar 2, and Lady Finger, looking down into Hunza Valley and Nagar.

• Drive through tall fruit tree-dotted fields being readied for spring planting and cross the long tunnels to Attabad Lake. Here, enjoy a boat tour to explore the lake formed when a landslide blocked the Indus River, submerging a village and farmlands.

• Stop at the Hussaini suspension bridge before Borit Lake for lunch under the looming Shispar Peak. Look down onto Passu Glacier's white crevasses, pass by the Ghulkin Glacier, and see the spectacular cathedral peaks over the Hunza River and beautifully rounded river rocks.

Overnight stay at the hotel. The hotel is situated on the tongue of the Passu Glacier.

• Drive to Gahkuch Valley through a small village and the Karakoram, with beautiful views of mountain landscapes. Have lunch at Gilgit.

• Drive to Kargha Buddha, and then continue for a further two hours along the Ghizer/Gilgit River to Gahkuch Valley on the Gilgit/Shandur road. See nine valleys full of colourful fruit trees - peach, apricots, and cherries.

• Head to Upper Gahkuch Valley. Reach Upper Gahkuch and stop for spectacular views of the entire Gahkuch and Selfi village, one of the best places for photographers.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Start the journey early in the morning and depart for Besham via the Karakorum Highway.

• En route, stop at the meeting point of the world's three greatest mountain ranges - the Karakorum, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush - along with the confluence of the mighty Indus and Gilgit rivers.

• Travel to Dassu via the Karakorum Highway after lunch at Chilas. The whole journey follows the KKH along the mighty Indus River. The Karakorum Highway is a remarkable engineering road that passes through the gorges of the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains. Since its construction between 1968 and 1978, it has been open to the public since 1980. Before the construction of the KKH, the Silk Route was the main route from east to west, created by the Han dynasty of China for trading purposes. En route, stop for photography and toilet breaks.

• Visit Dassu Patton and finally reach Besham.

The approximate driving distance is 12/13 hours.

• Drive through the greener Himalayan foothills. At Thakot, leave the Indus River and enter the Shimla hills. Stop for lunch en route.

• Stop at the heritage sites of the Taxila Museum and the Dharmarajika Stupa site. Ancient Taxila was the centre of the Gandhara Civilization, and empires that invaded here included the Persians, Greeks, Indo-Greeks, Kushans, and others.

• Drive to Islamabad and visit the Faisal Mosque for its Turkish architectural design.

• See the Shah Faisal Mosque and other Islamabad sights.

• Enjoy dinner at a Chinese restaurant.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

The approximate driving distance is 4/8 hours.

• Drive to Lahore on the motorway. The M2 Motorway is a north-south motorway in Pakistan connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Lahore. The M2 Motorway is 375 km long and is located entirely in Punjab.

• En route, stop only for lunch and toilet breaks.

• Upon arrival in Lahore, transfer to the Wagah Border before immigration closes. Immigration timings are from 9:00 to 14:00 hours. Enter India with many good memories of colourful culture and high mountains. Goodbye, and have a good rest!