The amazing North(1)
A vista of mesmerizing mountain scenery and exotic culture

 

Pakistan’s northern region is blessed with sky rising mountains and in their laps lays the fascinating mountainous valleys with exotic cultures whose people are warm-hearted, with smiling faces and friendly attitude. Settled in mountain gorges along mighty rivers these valleys’ landscape is equally alluring with thrilling road drives. With mesmerizing mountain scenery, awe-inspiring adventurous road along the mighty rivers and exotic cultures, this magical journey has been designed to thrill you, charm you. We embark on this spectacular cultural voyage at Islamabad, the political and administrative city of Pakistan. Driving towards north, we stop at Taxila to visit ancient Buddhist Civilization’s remains, one of the alluring archaeological sites in the world. We drive through the beautiful Naran valley to Gilgit, the administrative town of Gilgit Baltistan. The smiling, welcoming and friendly inhabitants of Hunza truly make your stay at home. Views from fairy tale like Baltit Fort, the old residence of Mirs of Hunza standing atop Karimabad, the former capital of Hunza Valley are incredibly beautiful. A walk along Barbar irrigation channel with striking views of Karakoram Mountains adds more essence to your journey. The beautiful Attabad Lake with its unique blue colour, Gulmit valley surrounded by high mountains and glaciers, and the most scenic Phander valley and its mesmerizing Phander Lake is an experience of lifetime. Crossing Shandur Pass, the highest polo-ground in the world, we will reach Mastuj and then Chitral. Chitral with the unique Kailash Valley (known as the Wearers of Black Robes) – a remaining minority of approximately 3500 people living in three isolated but beautiful valleys known as Bumburet, Rambur and Berir. The people of Kailash have a rich culture and are very headstrong about their identity. These people stand out from the remaining tribes, cultures and communities due to their distinct traditions, religious practices and festivals. After visiting Swat and Peshawar, our trip will conclude in Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan. 

 

Trip Facts

Trip Code: ATP-AMN-01

Route: Islamabad-Naran-Chilas-Fairy Meadows- Gilgit-Karimabad Hunza-Atta Abad – Gulmit-Passu-Borith Lake- Gilgit Phander-Shandur Pass-Chitral-Kailash-Swat-Peshawar Islamabad.

Gulmit-Passu-Borith Lake- Gilgit Phandar-Shandur Pass-Chitral-Kailash-Swat-Peshawar Islamabad

Best time: May to October 

Duration: 19 nights/ 20 days (shorter & longer trip itineraries available)

Standard Itinerary

(Shorter & Longer Itineraries Available)

DAY-1: ISLAMABAD

  • Full day city tour of Islamabad & Rawalpindi. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Shah Faisal Mosque – the largest mosque in Pakistan, Lok Virsa (Folk Heritage) Museum, Pakistan National Monument, Daman-e-Koh (Islamabad View Point), Golra Sharif Rail Museum or Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum, External view of Parliament House, President House, Prime Minister House & the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

DAY-2: ISLAMABAD – NARAN

  • Islamabad-Taxila-Naran: 282 kms/ 6 hours’ drive
  • Islamabad – Besham- Chilas: 470 kms/10-11 hours’ drive
  • Drive to Naran visiting Taxila en-route or drive to Chilas via Besham. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Taxila Museum-showcasing antiques and artifacts of Gandhara civilization, Julian Buddhist Stupa & Monastery, Dharmarajika complex and stupa or Shatiyal rock inscriptions if KKH is taken.

DAY-3: NARAN-FAIRY MEADOWS

  • Naran – Raikot Bridge: 155 kms /4.5 hours’ drive
  • Chilas – Raikot Bridge: 58 kms/1.5 hours’ drive
  • Raikot Bridge-Tato: 12 kms/1.5 hours’ drive
  • Tato-Fairy Meadows: 9 kms/2-3 hours’ hike
  • Altitude: Tato: 2560M/8448F, Fairy Meadows: 3310M/10800F
  • Drive to Raikot Bridge via Babusar Pass, change vehicles and take jeeps to Tato Village from where a 3 hours’ hike will take us to Fairy Meadows. Or drive from Chilas to Tato via Raikot Bridge and hike to Fairy Meadows. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Lulusar Lake, Babusar Pass.

DAY-4: FAIRY MEADOWS-ASTORE

  • Fairy Meadows-Tato: 2 hours
  • Tato-Raikot Bridge: 1 hour
  • Raikot- Rama: 65 kms/2.5 hour
  • Rama-Astore: 20 kms/1 hour drive
  • Trek down to Tato and drive to Astore. Stop at Thalichi – The Nanga Parbat View Point.

DAY-6: ASTORE- DEOSAI PLATEAU –SKARDU

  • Astore- Skardu: 160 kms/7 hours’ drive
  • Drive to Skardu via the Deosai Plateau. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Sheosar Lake, Bara Pani, Deosai plateau, Chota Pani, Great spot for photography of flora and fauna, Sadpara Lake, Manthal Buddha (optional).

DAY-7: SKARDU

  • Full day tour of Skardu. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Upper Kachura Lake, Kachura Choq, Visit Katpana Desert, Kharpocho Fort, Sarfaranga Cold Desert.

DAY-8: SKARDU-GILGIT-KARIMABAD HUNZA

  • Skardu– Gilgit Karimabad: 300 kms/ hours’ drive
  • Drive to Karimabad Hunza along the River Indus and Hunza River. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Travel along the Indus River, stop at Nanga Parbat viewpoint, Visit the unique place in the world where three great mountain ranges; the Himalaya, the Karakoram, and Hindu Kush meet. Stop at Rakaposhi View Point Ghulmet.

DAY-9: CENTRAL HUNZA

  • Full day exploration of central Hunza. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Baltit Fort, Karimabad Bazaar, Walk Along Barbar Water Channel, Altit Fort, Altit Cluster/Altit Village, Sunset from the Eagle’s Nest View Point in Duiker.

DAY-10: NAGAR & UPPER HUNZA

  • Explore Nagar Valley and Upper Hunza. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Ganish Cluster – the oldest settlement of Hunza Valley, Hopar Nagar – from where you have an excellent view of Golden Peak, Ultar Peak, Hunza Peak and Lady Finger. Dong sacred rock Inscriptions, Atta Abad Lake, Gulmit Village, Hussaini Bridge, Passu Cones/Passu Cathedrals.

DAY-11: UPPER HUNZA – GILGIT

  • Atta Abad Lake-Gilgit: 135 km/2.30 hours’ drive
  • In the morning hike to Borit Lake and then to Rakaposhi glacier viewpoint. After lunch, drive to Gilgit for overnight stay.

DAY-12: GILGIT-PHANDER

  • Gilgit-Phander: 165 kms/7 hours’ drive
  • Drive from Gilgit to Phander visiting Kargah Buddha on the way. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Kargah Buddha, drive along Ghizer river, the beautiful villages along the road and Phander Lake.

DAY-13: PHANDER-MASTUJ

  • Gupis – Mastuj: 96 kms/5-6 hours’ drive
  • Drive to Mastuj via Shandur Pass (3719m) a scenic drive which connects the province of Gilgit-Baltistan with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Shandur Pass- the highest polo ground in the world.

DAY-14: MASTUJ – CHITRAL

  • Mastuj- Chitral: 120 kms/4 hours’ drive
  • Drive from Mastuj to Chitral. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Half day sightseeing & overnight stay in Chitral. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Chitral Bazaar, Shahi Mosque, Tirich Mir View Point.

DAY-15: CHITRAL-KAILASH

  • Chitral – Bumburet Kailash: 22 kms/1.5 hours’ drive
  • Drive to Bumburet via Rambur valley. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Rambur Valley Kailash.

DAY-16: KAILASH

  • Full day for exploring the uniqueness of Kailash Valley and its people. Short walks in the valley. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Kailash Museum, traditional house to explore the way of life, and sacred places.

DAY-17: KAILASH –MINGORA SWAT

  • Bumburet Kailash – Mingora Swat: 246 kms/7 hours’ drive
  • Drive from Kailash to Swat. Upon arrival, visit the Swat Museum. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; Swat Museum-showcasing collections of Gandhara Art.

DAY-18: MINGORA SWAT –TAKHT-E-BHAI- PESHAWAR

  • Swat- Takht-e-Bhai-Peshawar: 184 kms/4 hours’ drive
  • Before leaving for Peshawar, visit Budkara. En-route visit Barikot and Takht-e-Bhai archaeological sites. Today’s attractions/places of interest include; The Buddhist sacred Area of Budkara, Barikot archaeological site and monastery in Takht Bhai.

DAY-19: PESHAWAR – ISLAMABAD

  • Peshawar- Islamabad: 186 kms/2.5 hours’ drive
  • Explore Peshawar today. Today’s attractions include; Peshawar Museum-collection of Buddhist artwork, Mahabat Khan Mosque built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Qissa Khawani Bazaar (The bazaar of storytellers), Saithi House -The Mughal Central Asian Architecture, The historic Qila Bala Hissar (Bala Hissar Fort) from outside. If the departure flight is from Islamabad, drive to Islamabad for overnight stay.

DAY-20: DEPARTURE FROM ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR

  • Transfer to the Islamabad International Airport for homebound flight. Or transfer to Peshawar airport for the departure flight.
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WILL BE UPDATED SOON