Karakorum Highway & Chitral Valley

Welcome in Pakistan at Islamabad airport. We take a rest before driving the Karakorum Highway (KKH) to Naran. This photogenic, 160km long valley embraced by forested peaks of the lesser Himalayan range, is one of the Pakistan's most popular summer holiday spots, and famous for its colourful panorama. We continue on the KKH and cross the mighty Babussar Pass (4175m) and continue our journey to Chilas, situated on the bank of the Indus River. At Raikot bridge we transfer to purpose built jeeps to tackle the narrow and nerve testing track to Tato village. From here we walk up to Fairy Meadows, well named with unsurpassed views of Nanga Parbat (8125m). We spend 2 nights in wooden cabins.We have a free day to either relax in your cabin and take in the views or there is the option of trekking to a fabulous viewpoint of Nanga Parbat at 3400m or for the more adventurous, to Nanga Parbat base camp, we are well looked after here with food served in the camp kitchen.

We walk back down the valley to Tato where our jeep will take us back down to Raikot Bridge. We drive on through the Astore Valley, a magnificent pine forested valley reminiscent of Austrian scenes. The roads become smaller and narrower and eventually we reach the remote village of Tarashing on the opposite side of Nanga Parbat. The following day we trek up to Herrlikoffer Base Camp, a day hike which takes us over the glacier, through small settlements and past herds of yaks and cattle. We may meet mountaineers waiting to climb to the summit and if we are lucky with the weather we'll see Nanga Parbat at close proximity. Back at Tarashing, there will be free time in the village to chat to friendly locals and see how life is lived in these remote areas where glacial water supply is vital and ever decreasing. We enter the area known as Little Tibet (Baltistan) and cross the Deosai Plains - 3800m (second in area and height to the Tibetan Plateau!) During the summer months the wild flowers are truly stunning giving colour to this wild landscape. If we are lucky we may see a fleeting glimpse of Brown Bear, Marmot or Markhor (wild goat). Stopping off for our daily afternoon tea stop, we marvel at the magnificent Satpara Lake and the Buddha image carved in to the rock. Overnight in Skardu on the banks of the Indus River.

Shigar Valley is a very fertile area through which the Indus River flows and where fruit orchards thrive along the banks. We take a trip out to Amborik Mosque and Shigar Fort where we can see the Tibetan influence in the architecture. A short drive away is the stunning Katchura Lake where we can take in the views over the crystal clear water. The evening is free to explore and maybe take another hike up to Khorpocho Fort (8th Century) where we can get an impressive view over Skardu. We take an alternative, but equally impressive, route to Gilgit where we spend some time in the lively bazaar. Gilgit is surrounded by lofty peaks, the most impressive being Rakaposhi (7788m). If we are lucky we will see a Polo Match - Pakistan is where it all began!. Back on the KKH we travel north in to the Hunza Valley and the scenic town of Karimabad. It is a fairytale land, surrounded by 7000m plus peaks! We take a guided tour around the forts of Altit and Baltit (700 and 900 years old) which are both perched high up in the mountains. Altit Fort was not only used for defence, but it served as the seat of power before the political centre moved in to modern day Karimabad.