(21 days; trek around Nanga Parbat and visit the Hunza & Swat valleys 10 nights camping and 10 nights in hotels)

Travel to the fertile land of Swat, called Udyana by the Buddhists. Across Shangla Pass and onto the Karakoram Highway. Driving next to the Indus River heading north cross Chilas and embark on a 10 day trek around Nanga Parbat 8125m, the naked mountain with the biggest wall on earth measuring above 5000 meters. The trek is strenuous and involves the use of crampons and rope work. After finishing the trek, enjoy a couple of days in Hunza valley before heading back to Islamabad.

Itinerary
DAY 01:-At Islamabad, full day city tour
Visit the Federal Capital of Pakistan: Islamabad. Visit Faisal Mosque, Damen-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa Museum and Shakar Parian Park. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 02: -Drive to Peshawar
Morning drive to Peshawar, on the Grand Trunk Road. En route visiting Taxila, the former capital of Gandhara civilization. Continue drive to Peshawar. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Visit the street of story-tellers: Kissa Khawani bazaar, the street of Gold Kasera bazaar, Karavan Serai and Mahabat Khan Mosque & Museum of Peshawar, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts. Dinner & overnight stay at hotel Peshawar. (170 km, 3/4 Hours)

DAY 03: -Drive to Swat
Crossing over the historic Malakand Pass, the pass between Peshawar and Swat valleys, we will enter in Swat valley. En route visiting another Budhist archeological site, Takht-e-bhai and some other places we will reach in Swat valley. Visit Swat museum and Butkara excavation site from 1st to 7th century AD. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay in Mingora.

DAY 04:-Drive to Chilas
Continuing on the road leading towards the upper Swat valley for one hour we will turn North from a small beautiful town called Khuaza Khaila. Now driving on a single mountain road we will corssing Shangla Pass between Hindukush & Karakram mountain ranges. After crossing Shangla Pass we will enter in the Karakoram and arrive at Besham. Lunch in Besham and continue drive now on the Karakoram highway. Driving through the Indus gorge we will arrive Chilas on the bank of Indus. Transfer to hotel for dinner and night stay. (9/10 hours drive)

DAY 05: -Trek head
Early morning drive to Jaglot on KKH, from Jaglot board on 4x4 jeeps. Drive to Trashing our trek head. En route short stay at Astore, 56 kms from Jaglot, Astore is an important place as many treks and jeep road towards Deosai and Kashmir starts from here. Trashing the start of Rupal Valley is 30 kms from Astore. Mostly the population here in Trashing is Kashmiri and Shina speaking. At Trashing our camping staff will welcome us. Overnight camping at Trashing. (6/7 hours drive - 2900m).

DAY 06:-East Face of Nanga Parbat
First half hour of the trek is steep upto the lateral moraine of Trashing Glacier then it will take another half hour to cross the glacier. At the other side of the glacier is lower Rupal Valley with two large summer settlements and big fields of wheat. From lower Rupal Valley trek is green and gradually ascending. After about three hours walk from here we will arrive Bazin just under the solid ice wall of east face of Nanga Parbat. Overnight camping in Bazin. (4/5 hours trek -3600m)

DAY 07:-Bazin - Shaigiri
Today in the start of trek we walk on the Bazin Glacier which takes about two hours. After crossing the glacier, trek is going through Juniper and Willow trees. The trek continues up to the Rupal River. An hours walk will take us to a place called Herligkoffer Base Camp. After a short stay here we walk further for about an hour and reach at a place called Second Base Camp. Our campsite Shaigiri is not very far from here after an hour`s walk we will arrive at Shaigiri. Normally porters asked here for a goat and they slaughter the goat here and arrange campfire with local songs and dances. Enjoy the beautiful views of South Face. (5/6 hours, 3700m)

DAY 08: -At Shaigri
Day free to explore the area or optional climb to Rupal Peak (5580m).

DAY 09:-To the base of Mazeno
Follow the lateral moraine of Rupal Glacier. Turn your backs for views of Nanga Parbat, Rupal and Laila Peaks. The camp site is at 4200m with few Junipar trees and a small water stream. (4/5 hours)

DAY 10:-Base camp to high camp of Mazeno Pass.
Trek is comparatively steep and ascending up to the Mazeno glacier which is coming straight from Mazeno Pass. The campsite is not green anymore because of the height. Water is available. The high base camp is at 4724meters. (5/6 hours)

DAY 11: -Cross the Pass!
Early morning start before sunrise. The climb up to the pass is not very difficult but other side of the pass is steep and it requires rope, ice axe, sit harness and crampons. Steep area is about 250m in length. After crossing the pass Loiba glacier starts and we will camp here at upper Loiba at a height of 4300m. (7/8 hours)

DAY 12: -Loiba Meadows
Trek down from upper Loiba to Lower Loiba called as Loiba Meadows. It is a comfortable walk through the lush green meadows and trees. Campsite consist of many shepherds houses at of 4000m. (3/4 hours)

DAY 13: -Meadows - Kachal
Today we will have beautiful views of Nanga Parbat and the trek is very easy through pine and birch trees cross Airil River and enter the Kachal summer settlement at the base of Kachal pass (4400m). We will camp at 3000m. (4/5 hours)

DAY 14: -Diamer Base Camp
From Kachal four treks are crossing, one is going to Kachal Pass, second is going to Zangot, third is going back to Loiba and the forth one to Diamer Base camp. We will take Diamer Base camp trek a small water channel is flowing along the trek and the trek is gradually ascending, En route short stay in Kutgali. Arrive Diamer Face base camp. World`s most famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner climbed Nanga Parbat form this side in 1979 and he lost his brother during their way back. It is reputed as the most difficult route of Nanga Parbat. Short stay for exploration and photos. Walk back by the same route and camp at Zangot 4200m. (6/7 hr)

DAY 15:-Back to civilization
Warm and bit steep trek down to Diamer river to arrive Dimroi. From Dimroi board on 4x4 jeeps and continued towards Gilgit, capital of Northern areas of Pakistan. Arrive Gilgit transfer to hotel and enjoy hot shower. (7/8 hours trek, 4 hours drive)

DAY 16:-The Hunza valley
We drive out from Gilgit to re-enter the town from the historic route, crossing a suspension bridge over river. Drive to Kargah to visit the rock-carved Buddha from 7th century AD. In the ancient times the Kargah valley used to be the traveling route of the Buddhist monks, to go to Taxila. Stroll down the colorful Bazaars of Gilgit. The tour will continue to the beautiful, breath taking Hunza Valley through a scenic route. On our way we see the old Silk Route used by the Buddhist monks and traders. En route short stay at Rakaposhi (7,788m) viewpoint. Enter the Hunza valley and arrive at the capital Karimabad. Overnight at Hotel. (2/3 hr, 110 km)

DAY 17:-In Hunza, full day excursions
Day free 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 Karakoram range from Karimabad; Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar,Golden peak and the Nagar valley on the left bank of 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 soaring peaks around you. Overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 18: -Excursion to Khunjerab Pass (4733meters) {Upper Hunza}
Short drive through the heart of Karakoram. We stop at the village of Gulmit, in the shadow of virgin Gulmit tower. Walk through the village fields to 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 15 km drive to Passu. Passu is a small charming village in the backdrop of soaring Passu Cones, with Passu and Batura glaciers at short walking distance. Walk through the village to see the village life. Some 70 years ago Passu used to be the second largest settlement in Hunza after Karimabad. The glacier upstream on 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 village on its right bank. From Passu you have fascinating views of Shispar (7,611 m) and Passu Peak (7,478 m). Visit to the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 800 feet long bridges over Hunza river are still used by the local people. Later drive to the Khunjerab Pass, border between Pakistan and China, the highest metal road border crossing in the world. Spend some time at Khunjerab top and drive back to Karimabad for Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 19:-Drive back to Chilas
Drive along the bank of Hunza river on Karakoram Highway. We might stop at Gilgit town for lunch. Arrive Chilas on the bank of Indus river, overnight stay in hotel. (260 km, 6/7 hours drive.)

DAY 20:-Back to Islamabad
Full day drive on Karakoram Highway to Islamabad. Short stay in Besham for lunch, by evening we will reach Islamabad. Transfer to hotel for overnight. (11/12 hours, 500 km)

DAY 21: -Fly home
Transfer to airport for departure flight.

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