Hindukush & Karakoram

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£1499

💥 14 Days

Included

🚘 Airport transfers in Islamabad

🏨 13 nights of accommodation in hotels mentioned in FAQ

📄 Letter of Invitation (needed for the visa)

🚐 Private coaster and Jeeps (when needed) with experienced driver across Pakistan.

🍴 All meals, including dinner in a fancy restaurant on arrival day + breakfast on departure day.

✔️ Clearance for all checkpoints

🤵 Pakistani local guide

👱‍♂️ International tour leader

🏰 Entrance fees, cultural activities and guided tours to all places listed in the itinerary.

Not Included

 ✈️International flights to Islamabad

 📜 Visa fees (from $35 to $60, depending on nationality).

 🍷 Alcoholic drinks or any extra drink

🏨  Single supplement. Having your own private room costs $200

Introduction

Pakistan is a country close to our hearts...and for good reason. Home to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world, thriving cities, colourful markets and warm hospitality, a trip to this part of the world is bound to excite even the worldliest travellers. Having run trips here for more than ten years, we understand the political complexities of travelling to this fascinating country and our paramount consideration has always been the safety of our clients.

Despite the negative images painted by the press, we believe that most areas in Pakistan - particularly around Chitral and the mountains of the north - pose little or no danger within the current climate.

On this amazing journey along the Northwest Frontier, you will drive up from the capital Islamabad, through stunningly spectacular scenery, to the ancient kingdom of Chitral. Here we will spend two days with the Kalash before heading on over the Shandur Pass to one of the most beautiful places on earth, Hunza. We will complete our circuit by returning to the Islamabad via the Buddhist University town of Taxila.

Day 1: TOUR STARTS IN ISLAMABAD

Main Arrival Gate, Start Point Islamabad International Airport, Airport 12:00 - 04:00

Today the tour starts in Islamabad, 'City of Islam', Pakistan's capital city. It replaced Karachi back in the 1967 and is now the political and commercial heart of the country. Situated against the lush backdrop of the Margalla Hills it is a city where old and new collide. Leafy green boulevards are home to modern buildings, and shopping malls, but also dotted with traditional homes and mosques. The group flight doesn't arrive until late evening so anyone arriving early might want to take a stroll and familiarise yourself with the city.

Day 2: ISLAMABAD - SWAT VALLEY

Today we will start our journey north by driving through the Northwest Frontier and into the beautiful Swat Valley. Until quite recently this region was out of bounds to foreign tourists, but now it has opened up again offering us a great chance to explore the regions ancient Buddhist past. Once we have checked into our hotel we’ll visit the local museum, packed with many fine Gandharan artefacts, and other Buddhist sites.

Day 3: SWAT VALLEY - AYUN

After breakfast we will have a spectacular drive, past Chakdarra – where a young Winston Churchill saw action back in the 1890s – before continuing over the Lowari Pass (or going through the new tunnel) and into the ancient kingdom of Chitral. Here we’ll drive on to Ayun where we’ll arrive in the afternoon and check into the wonderful Ayun fort Inn.

Day 4: AYUN VALLEY

Today we have all morning to relax and enjoy the Ayun valley and take one of the many wonderful villages walks nearby. Most people prefer to walk the last few miles through this gorgeous valley.

Day 5: Bumburet - KALASH VALLEY

Drive to Bumburet valley in the morning.

Today, we will begin to explore the Bumburet Valley. We will go to the local museum, the Kalasha Graveyard, and the Town Centre. After that, we will join a big festival where all the tribes will gather in Bumburet. We will dance, take pictures, and talk to the Kalasha people to learn about their unique culture. Then, we will travel to Chitral and stay overnight in the villa Ayun, which is next to the Chitral River.

Day 6: Rambur Valley

Our destination today is the Rumbur Valley, which is a significant village inhabited by the Kalasha Tribe. Our objective is to witness and partake in the Chilam Joshi Festival, a noteworthy celebration held to welcome the arrival of spring in the area. As part of our visit, we'll stroll down to the town centre, where we can get a glimpse of the remarkable Kalasha culture. Additionally, we'll have an opportunity to relish the local cuisine during lunch at a local's residence. As the sun sets, we'll head to Bumburet, where we'll spend the night, Villa Ayun.

Day 7: KALASH - CHITRAL

On this day, we will explore the majestic Chitral town.

• Visit the Chitral Fort of the Kingdom of Chitral.

• Visit Shahi Mosque in the Fort

• Visit the Birmughalasht the highest viewpoint to get an aerial view of Chital Explore Chitral city

Overnight stay in Pamir riverside Inn hotel Chitral.

This morning, we have more time to explore the valley before driving back to the sleepy mountain town of Chitral. We’ll hope to catch a game of mountain polo and in the late afternoon if a match is being played and then we’ll travel on towards Chitral National Park to see the markhor, a kind of mountain antelope and favoured prey of the snow leopards, before checking into our lovely local Pamir hotel and have dinner.

Day 8: CHITRAL - MASTUJ

After breakfast we will drive to Mastuj. This is one of the most beautiful and dramatic drives you are ever likely to take as we wind our way up the Mastuj Valley, passing Tirich Mir and Boni Zong, before finally entering the Yarkund Valley at the top of which lies Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. Here we will stay at a hotel next to the fort in PTDC Mastuj. On arrival we will take a stroll around the village.

Day 9: MASTUJ - Ghizer VALLEY

Today after breakfast you will drive to the Shandur Pass, stopping for tea en route at the top of the pass at 3,800 metres. From here, if you'd like, you can walk to the Langer – a beautiful plain used for grazing the yaks and dzos – where you can enjoy some time before getting back in your jeep again and drive on to Yasin Valley. Well, known during the 'Great Game' era the Yasin Valley provided a possible route through the Pamirs and Hindu Kush for the Russians to reach Chitral and Gilgit. Today it has a pleasant green and leafy outlook following the path of the Ghizer River. We will pass through the beautiful Langar, Phander Valley.

Overnight in Riverdale resort.

Day 10: GILGIT – Rest Day

After breakfast we will travel on to Gilgit where we have a chance to take a look around this classic frontier town, once considered the furthest outpost of the empire.

Day 11: HUNZA

Next Day we will see the Christian graveyard here as well as the local bazaar, before heading to Hunza. The drive to Hunza is truly spectacular, as you round the corner and see the titanic form of Mount Rakaposhi basking in the sun, right beside the road – the sight will leave you speechless. In Karimabad (Hunza) we will stay for the first night at a spectacularly located hotel, situated 2850m above sea level and 500m above the valley floor, with panoramic views of seven 7,000m peaks!

This morning, we visit the famous Baltit Fort, recently restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to a fantastic standard. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. We will then take lunch in town. In the afternoon those that wish can have a water channel walk down around Karimabad before having a wander around the local shops where there will be plenty to buy.

Day 12: Explore Upper Hunza

Drive further to Attabad Lake in the morning. Visit the majestic Borith Lake and Passu Cones. When at Borith lake, you will have some time to hike to Batura Glacier viewpoint

Otherwise, you can enjoy some quality time at the lake experiencing water adventure activities Overnight stay in Hunza.

Day 13: Road trip to Naran

On this day, we will take a return drive in the direction of Islamabad Stopover at three mountain ranges junction point and Babusar Pass Naran arrival by evening. Hotel check-in at Naran. Overnight stay in Naran

The guests, who wish to skip the road adventure to Islamabad should inform us beforehand so that we will arrange the flight for their return from Gilgit to Islamabad. You will have two extra days in Islamabad to spend or you could shorten the trip as well. (Additional charges will apply)

Day 14: Road trip to Islamabad

We will start the adventure from Naran for Islamabad in the morning Stopovers on the way in Kaghan, Balakot, and Mansehra. Islamabad arrival by evening. Hotel check-in. Overnight stay in Islamabad

Airport drop.

Gallery

FAQ

Which hotels do we stay?
These are the hotels we always stay in – subject to availability.
All are relatively comfortable hotels and lodges with private rooms and attached toilets, usually the best available option in the region we visit.

• Islamabad: MARGALLA Hills Residency, Gofas Lodge.

• Chilas: Shangrila Hotel Chilas

• Passu: Sarai Silk Route, Silk route lodge

• Shigar: Space Hotel

• Skardu: Himalaya Hotel, Maple resort

• Karimabad: Mountain Story Aliabad, Offto resort.

• Attabad Lake: Luxus hunza Attabad lake resort

• Minapin: Roomy yurts resort

• Rama meadows: PTDC motel Rama

• Ghizer valley: Royal guest house, Riverdale resort

• Phandar valley: Top lodge hill

• Ayun Valley: Villa Ayun

• Mastuj/Booni: PTDC Mastuj

• Swat: Swat palace hotel by northin

• Kalam: Zen Luxus

• Kumrat Valley: Latitude resort

• Fairy meadows: Ibex lodge

• Shimshal Valley: Shimshal heights hotel

How does the room distribution work?
Price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will be sharing the room with another like-minded traveler from the group. We always try to group people of the same gender and age together but note that this won’t always be the case.
If you want to have your own single room, price of the single supplement is an additional $200.

How to get a visa?
Today, you can easily apply for a Pakistan tourist visa online, it’s very simple.
As an average, it takes no more than 1 week to get the visa approval.
Tips and instructions will be shared upon booking a spot.

Which nationalities can join this tour?
Pretty much all nationalities.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?
We will do some hikes but nothing particularly challenging, and all will be day hikes, no camping, and stuff like that.
This means that all hikes are optional and that you can always hang out in the respective villages, where you will be surrounded by mountains anyway.

How good is the infrastructure in Pakistan?
As mentioned, in the mountain areas, we always stay in the best available accommodation.
However, note those areas of Pakistan are so remote that even the best possible accommodation can be an issue for some, since electricity and running water might not always be reliable.
Moreover, we always try to eat in the cleanest places but note that hygiene standards in Pakistan are poor and that some travelers might get sick due to the food they eat outside of the hotels.
Nevertheless, if you are keen to have the most epic adventure and are flexible when it comes to tourist facilities, you are welcome to join this tour!

What’s the best way to reach Islamabad?
Islamabad has an international airport, with some common connections being Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Jeddah.

Is it safe?
Nowadays, Pakistan is safe, especially in the Northern Areas.

How many people will attend this tour?
We limit our tours to a maximum of 12-14 people.

Are there ATMs in Pakistan?
You can find ATMs in Islamabad, but better to bring cash for the Northern Areas.
Exchanging money: which currencies do they accept?
Both € and $ can be easily exchanged for Pakistani rupees.

How does payment work?
In order to secure your spot on the tour, we require a security deposit, and the remaining amount can be sent no later than 45 days before the departure date.
Further details will be shared upon booking your spot.