Northern Pakistan

Himalayas Trekking 🇵🇰🏔

April 25 – May 2, 2025

Trip Highlights: 

• 🏔️Trek to the basecamp of the 9th tallest mountain in the world, Nanga Parbat

• 💎Explore the ruby and sapphire bazaars of the north

• ✈️A flight over the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges

• 🏡Staying in a traditional local Ismaili family homestay

• 🚙4x4 off road jeeps along one of the worlds wildest roads

• 🌁Crossing the 300 Pasu hanging rope bridge

• 🍖A yak BBQ night around the fire with local music and (moonshine optional)

• 🧊Trek on some of the worlds longest glaciers

• 🛶Boat rides on cerulean blue lakes

• 🌄Cliff hanger photo ops over the enormous Ghulkin Gorge

• 🍛Trying 3 diverse types of Pakistan cuisine across the 12 days

Route: Islamabad (ISB airport) – Skardu – Fairy Meadows – Hunza – Passu – Skardu – Islamabad (ISB airport) - or, Lahore (LHE airport)

Itinerary: 

Day 1 (April 25) - Arrive Islamabad

Ideally, arrive before 12 noon if you wish to attend the Wagha border ceremony, a daily ceremony and marching drill that takes place at the border between India and Pakistan. We will depart at 1pm from the accommodation, go for lunch and help anyone who needs to change currency to do so. The rest of the day, we will explore a local Bazaar to pick up local clothing and get into the spirit of things. We will do a short trek up the Margalla Hills for sunset to get people's trekking momentum started. 

Day 2 (April 26) - Jaglot - Lakes and cold dessert in Skardu

We head to ISL airport to take a very scenic flight over the Himalayas to Skardu International Airport. On arrival we will make haste and see as much as possible in the area including the most scenic lakes, the cold desert and then onwards to Jaglot after dinner. This will maximise our time there. This will leave us primed for our adventure to Fairy Meadows the following day. 

Day 3 (April 27) - Fairy Meadows - 4x4 Jeeps and Trek

After breakfast, we will drive to the Jeep start point at Raikot Bridge and embark on the 2 hours journey on one of the world's most perilous roads. The journey should take about two hours before we hop out and trek the rest of the way by food. For anyone who has a low level of fitness, there are optional donkeys they can take to go the rest of the way. We will have a short snack for lunch on the way and allow any slow trekkers to catch up. We arrive around 4pm to Fairy Meadows and will get everyone settled in, explore Fairy Meadows village, including the mountain reflection point and start a fire for everyone to relax around. 

Day 4 (April 28) - Fairy Meadows - Basecamp

A hearty Pakistani breakfast and we are off to head towards Bayal Camp walking through the alpine forests to get there. We have tea and take in Nanga Parbat for the first time up close before making our way to the Pakistani View point. Here the group can head back to Fairy Meadows with lunch along the way or those who are keen to see Nanga Parbat Basecamp and think they have the fitness, can then head onwards with a secondary team. Everyone will meet back at our Log Cabins in the evening for dinner and stargazing. 

Day 5 (April 29) - Karimabad - Cultural Bazaar

We will grab breakfast and trek down through the treeline for 2 hours to meet our jeeps waiting for us and return the way we came along the cliff road. When we arrive at Raikot Bridge, our Coaster will be waiting for us and we will take to the Karakoram Highway. We will have lunch along the way with a mix of Afghan and Pakistani food, under some fruit trees. People will have time to explore the craft shops of Karimabad on arrival and after a traditional Hunza meal, a notable variation from the normal Pakistani food

Day 6 (April 30) - Baskochi Trek - Attabad Lake - Passu Bridge - Night at family homestay

We will enjoy a buffet breakfast at the OffTo resort and then make our way to a short 2 hours trek to Baskochi meadows where if you are daring enough you can get an epic shot with legs over the cliff looking out onto Attabad Lake. We make our way down to enjoy a boat ride on Attabad Lake, before heading onwards to enjoy Lunch at a local guesthouse. After lunch we head onwards to take on a short trek down to Passu Bridge for a nail biting bridge crossing. The 300m over and 300m back is an option and anyone not so hardened can enjoy the view, get shots at the start of the bridge and join the group on the way back. We next move onto the Passu Cones for a group shot with everyone on top of the bus. We then make our way to Ghulkin Village where we will stay in an Ismaili homestay with a local family to enjoy a home cooked meal and spend the night together.

Day 7 (May 1) - Drive to Skardu, Flight to ISL - Faisal Mosque / Pak Monument / Sunset in Margalla Hills

We will rise up early in the morning after a brief breakfast to drive a few hours to Skardu. From here we take our flight from Skardu to Islamabad. Upon arrival, we take people for an Afghan BBQ lunch to keep energy levels high. After lunch we will head to Faizal Mosque avoiding major prayer times and end the day with a visit to the Pakistan Monument before we make our way to dinner. Here we will say goodbye to those who have onward flights early in the morning and make our way back to the accommodations so that people can prepare for their flights

Day 8 (May 2) - Departures

Most people will have flights early in the morning on this day and will need to go to the airport around midnight or thereabouts. Anyone who wishes to travel onwards in Pakistan, we will advise them accordingly.

Fitness level: This journey includes several accessible hikes, designed to be enjoyable for individuals with a casual fitness level. While adventurous, the routes are manageable and balanced with moments of rest, ensuring an engaging yet comfortable experience amidst stunning landscapes.

Option to extend your trip with a Lahore 2-day add-on:

Day 8 (May 2) - Islamabad-Lahore travel day

• Breakfast at accommodation (9am)

• Depart accommodation (10:30am)

• Arrive Lahore & Lunch en route (4pm)

• Wazir Khan and and Old Lahore freetime around Hammam (4-5:30pm)

• Evening chill / Speakeasy Underground bar

Day 9 (May 3) - Explore Lahore

• Breakfast at hotel (8am)

• Depart Hotel (9:30 am)

• Lahore Fort (10-11)

• Badhsahi Mosque (11-12)

• Lunch at Haveli (12-1:30pm)

• Depart for Wagha (3:30pm)

• Arrive Border Ceremony (4:30pm)

• Wrap up speakeasy party (optional)

Day 10 (May 4) - Departures

• Depart from Lahore airport anytime today

What’s Included:

1. Fully trained guides, fluent in English with several years experience

2. High quality transport with Air Con, on board fridge and cleaned regularly on tour

3. 2x domestic flights (valued at $180-200/person) – this saves us 2 days by flying up and back rather than driving 12-14 hours each way, so we have 2 days worth of additional activities in our 8 day itinerary

4. Three square meals a day and varied where possible to give a diversified experience of the cuisine

5. All accommodation (in double-sharing rooms) within the trip dates: Guesthouses, Hotels, Camps, Homestays, Mountain Chalets. People arriving before or staying on after can be accommodated with minor supplement fee

6. Off road Jeeps and drivers (4 people per jeep)

7. Any camping equipment: Tents, mats, chefs, sleeping bags etc

8. All fees required for certain sites

9. Any porters fees and provisions

10. Letters of Invitations required for visa application

11. Customer service for all attendees

12. Airport collection and drop offs

13. Support advice for onward travel in Pakistan for those wishing to explore a little more

Price:

• $1950 for full April 25-May 2

• +$250 for Lahore add-on May 2-4

🚨⏰Secure your spot on this trip today!

$500 deposit due upfront to confirm your spot.

Final payment due 6 weeks prior to arrival.

**Payment plan options available to space out the payments, and options may be available to reduce the overall cost of the trip by removing activities or shortening your trip if needed. 

Fill out this interest form to secure your spot!

Hope to be hiking in Pakistan with you !! - Caitlyn :)