24-Day Fairy Meadows and Shimshal Pass Trek with Manglik Sar

• Arrive at Islamabad airport in the morning.

• Transfer to air-conditioned buses and proceed overland to Chilas or Naran. As you begin your drive from Islamabad, travel along the highway reputed as the eighth wonder of the world. It was jointly constructed by Pakistani and Chinese engineers and took 850 lives and 20 years to complete, reaching the point where the Indus River is joined by the Gilgit River.

• Continue the drive to Chilas.

Overnight stay at Hotel/GH (07/08 hours, 320 km)

• Drive on the Karakoram Highway and arrive at Raikot.

• At Raikot, board 4x4 soft-top jeeps and, after a one-hour drive, arrive at Tattu, a small village inhabited by Shina-speaking Chilasis and the trek commencement point.

• As loads are distributed among the porters, leave the jeeps and start walking.

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

• Soon, enter the narrow, barren gorge of the Tato River, where the track clings high on its left bank.

• Cross through green juniper and pine trees and arrive at Fairy Meadows for an overnight stay in huts or camp. (07/08 hours)

• An ideal day's walk to the base camp of Nanga Parbat.

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

• After about two hours, traverse the lateral moraine of the glacier and then arrive at the flat meadow of Bayal camping site.

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

• Eat lunch at 4,000 meters.

• Enjoy thrilling views of Nanga Parbat and its surrounding peaks.

• Later, walk back to the camp at Fairy Meadows hut or camp. (7/8 hours round trek.)

• Take a two-hour downhill walk from Fairy Meadows along the Tattu River.

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

• At Raikot, the air-conditioned van will be waiting for you. Transfer into the van and drive on the KKH to Gilgit, the capital city of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

• At Raikot Bridge, cross the Chinese-made bridge to enter the gorge of the Indus River. For centuries, traders and Buddhist missionaries used this branch of the Silk Route.

• Drive out from Gilgit and re-enter the town by 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 travelling route of Buddhist monks going to Taxila.

• Stroll through the colourful bazaars of Gilgit.

• Continue the tour to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route.

• On your way, see the old Silk Route 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 Hotel/GH. (2/3 hours, 110 km)

• Enjoy 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, including Rakaposhi 7788 m, Diran 7266 m, Ultar 7400 m, Golden Peak 7027 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 Hotel.

• In the morning after breakfast, drive to Minapin.

• With the soaring ridges of the Karakoram on both sides of the gorge, arrive at the small village of Minapin in the shadow of Rakaposhi (7788 m) and Diran (7265 m).

Camp/GH (120 km, 5-6 hours)

• Trek to Tagafuri. This is a moderate trek, full of interest, as it passes through hills covered with juniper and roses, with occasional fields of barley and potatoes.

• Eat lunch at a summer settlement.

• Later, follow a path through steep pastures to arrive at your overnight campsite in a meadow between the lateral moraine of the Diran Glacier and the foot of Rakaposhi. The views are spectacular.

(Trek 5-6 hours)

• Start a Diran Base Camp full-day excursion to Kacheli (Diran Peak Base Camp), crossing Minapin Glacier from the top end of the meadow at Tagafuri.

• Walk over soft snow and medial moraine to Kacheli, a meadow studded with wildflowers that offers superb views of Diran and Rakaposhi.

• Return to camp for the overnight stay.

(Camp, 7-8 hours round trek.)

• Go on 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 and 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, the transport will pick you up for a 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 village life. 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 that 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.

• Walk to the Passu Glacier and Passu Lake (45 minutes one way). From the snout of the glacier, you have fascinating views of Shispar (7,611 m) and Passu Peak (7,478 m).

• Visit the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 800-foot-long bridges over the Hunza River are still used by local people.

Overnight at Lodge.

• Start the day with a short ride on soft-top 4x4 jeeps from Passu village towards Shimshal Valley. The jeep track passes through the narrow gorge of the Shimshal River.

• After a relatively easy 2-hour jeep ride, arrive at the travellers' hut of Ziarat for a short stop. 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. From Ziarat, you can see Karoon 1 (7164 m) Peak. There are beautiful views of Dastagil Sar (7885 m) from here. Shimshal is one of the remotest areas of the Karakoram. Around 900 years ago, Shimshal Valley was discovered by a Sufi saint who settled here, and all Shimshali people are from his family.

GH/Camp overnight. (4/5 hours, 3300 m)

• For the next two days, your walk will mostly be a traverse through the really narrow gorge of the Shimshal River. However, for the first two hours today, the walk from the village is in the open valley along the river. Soon, leave the main valley and turn left to enter the gorge. Most of the trek is safe, although in a few places you will need good balance on the narrow foot track. En route, enjoy views of Kunianchish and Yazgildoom peaks, both above 7000 m. Furzin, a narrow camp along the side stream, is known for its birch trees.

Overnight in Furzin. (5/6 hours)

• This may be the hardest part of the trek. Start from the camp with a steep ascent of 200 meters on the cliff facing the camp, traverse gradually for half an hour, and then descend steeply to the Shimshal River.

• Cross the river on a footbridge and then walk for another hour to Pariyan camp for the cool breeze off the Maidur Nallah and a fresh lunch.

• After lunch, take on the last part of the gorge walk, involving one and a half hours of ascent on a well-maintained yet steep foot track to the top, called Pariyan Sar, with fascinating views of Manglik Peak and many other summits.

• Here, enjoy the vista and take a relaxing one-hour walk to the camp.

• Camp at Arbabparian, a shepherds' settlement for winter, with plenty of fresh water.

(4/5 hours)

• Compared to the last two days, this is a relaxing walk along the river with views of peaks soaring above 6,000 meters. On your way, you will pass Ganj Dour Valley, leading north to the China border, with many pastures for yaks and goats. This valley is known for its substantial population of blue sheep, Marco Polo sheep, ibex, and also a few snow leopards and bears. Shunjerab is the summer home of the Shimshalis, with 60 houses and huge yards to house both animals and people. People stay here in May and June and then proceed over Shimshal Pass to Shuwart to spend the winter.

• Camp overnight (4/5 hours)

• East from Shunjerab is Gulchi Washk, the carpet of flowers, a gradual 200-meter ascent that brings you just under Manglik Sar.

• Walk in a wide-open valley running east to west, with two lakes located just before Shimshal Pass. In summer, yaks, goats, and sheep roam the green pastures.

• Build your camp after a 2/3-hour walk, just under the main ridge of Manglik Sar.

• In the afternoon, one could walk over to Shuwart summer settlement, consisting of 60 houses. Inevitably, you might get invited for dinner, a great chance to visit local houses and also to taste the energetic nomad food made from yak's cheese, butter, and wheat flour.

• Camp overnight. (4/5 hours, 4735 m)

• Base camp rest day for acclimatization and to explore the area. You will also visit some local houses on this day. Shuwart Glacier is one of the places to visit here.

• Camp overnight.

• Full day to attempt the trekking peak Manglik Sar (6050 m), just north of the camp.

• As you start in the soft morning light, ascend gradually for the first few hours on the main ridge leading to the summit.

• At 5,800 meters, leave the ridge and head toward the eternal snow of the peak. Progress can be slow here due to the altitude and the increased ascent of the peak. Yet near the top, it is as wide as a football field and not so steep.

• Enjoy fascinating views of the valley from the top. On a clear day, one can see K2 and Broad Peak far to the east. Safety rope and other required climbing equipment will be carried by the mountain guide.

• Descend to base camp. (9/10 hours excursion).

• Another full day to attempt the peak. On this trek to Shimshal Pamir, there is an option to climb Manglik Sar 6050 m or one of two other peaks nearby. Those who do not want to make the summit can trek around or go to Shuwart. Here, you take on the ascent of a 6,050 m trekking peak. It is an easy trekking peak and does not require technical climbing, but the team needs to travel on rope. It is normally a one-day climb with 1500 m ascent and 1500 m descent. It is a safe and easy climb that can take a good, physically fit trekker to the top of this peak. This is a popular and easy-to-access 6000 m peak. To climb this peak, you need snowshoes, gaiters, harness, and rope. There are two other peaks just below 5500 m, Kuz Sar and Lup Zhui Sar, which can also be climbed in one day using the same base camp of Mangalik Sar. A special campfire will be arranged that night with local music and dances to celebrate the successful attempt on the peak.

• Camp overnight.

• Follow the same trek you passed through on your way to Shuwart. It will take a much shorter time because of the continuous gradual descent of the trail.

• Camp overnight. (5/6 hours)

• It is an easy walk. Follow a stream flowing from Shuwart to Maidur. There are many summer settlements in Maidur Valley.

• Pitch your tents at a small settlement with only two or three houses. It is a beautiful valley, and water is easily accessible here.

• Camp overnight. (4/5 hours)

• Today, make an early morning start to cross Shapodin Pass (5150 m). The climb up to the pass is not technical, and one can cross it with the help of walking poles only. Passu Peak (7478 m), Shispar Peak (7611 m), and the giant Dastagil are visible from the pass. Water is easily available on the way.

• After crossing the pass, arrive at the camping place of Shapodin, which is also a summer settlement.

• Camp overnight. (7/8 hours)

• Head back toward Shimshal. It is an easy trek down to the village. Kanjut Sar (7760 m) is visible from the pass. After the pass, there is a beautiful blue-water lake.

• En route, make a short stop for rest and lunch at Pachodewashk.

• Proceed towards Mandikshlakh. There are seven houses in Mandikshlakh, and water is easily available for washing.

• Camp overnight. (5/6 hours)

• After breakfast, drive to Hunza.

• Make a short stop at Passu and arrive in Hunza.

• Check in and stay overnight at Hotel/GH.

• Early in the morning, drive in air-conditioned transport on the Karakoram Highway towards Besham.

• Eat lunch in Dassu or Naran.

• Proceed towards Besham or Naran.

Overnight at Motel. (11/12 hours)

• After breakfast, drive towards the Federal Capital.

• Spend half a day sightseeing in Islamabad after lunch.

• Free evening.

Overnight at Hotel. (5/6 hours)