"Nature is such a friend of ours, we don't lose until death; and even after death we disappear into nature." (Tolstoy)

Culture, traditions and the majestic Karakoram range, the world’s largest ice-bound mountain! The Hunza Valley, an embodiment of the most exquisite nature on earth! An unforgettable journey along the valley to the Chinese border (the Khunjerab Pass, the highest border crossing in the world – 4700 m above sea level)! Trekking in the world’s two highest mountains – the Himalayas and Karakoram at one go – the base camps of Nanga Parbat (8126 m) and Rakaposhi (7788 m). One of the most mesmerizing treks in our history :)

Ниво: Начинаещи Научете повече за нивото

Pakistan’s northernmost province Gilgit-Baltistan is the meeting point of the three highest mountain ranges on earth – the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush. This is the land of deep river valleys – the Indus, Shigar, Gilgit, Braldu, Hunza, walled by 6- and 7-thousanders. The stunning Hunza Valley is nested near the border with Afghanistan and China. The original Silk Road used to cross the valley on the way to China. Hunza is often referred to as Shangri-La, or heaven on earth.
In the past, the visit of the Hunza Valley required a special permit, but this changed once the Karakoram Highway was completed in 1979. The highway is known as the 8th wonder of the world and its construction claimed thousands of lives.
The other highlight in our journey, Nanga Parbat, needs no introduction. This awe-inspiring and humbling mountain is one of the most charismatic 8-thousanders! Its first ascent was performed by Hermann Buhl, a member of the 1953 German-Austrian expedition. The first winter ascent took place only recently, in 2016.

Itinerary:

Day 1 

Flight Sofia-Islamabad. We arrive early at the airport and check in at the hotel. Our local team are highly experienced in the mountaineering business. They have assisted some of the top climbers for the past 40 years. They helped us complete successfully the rather difficult trek to the K2 base camp and the crossing of the Gondogoro La in 2019. If we have time, we will visit the old town of Rawalpindi, the centre of Islamabad and the Taxila Museum.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 2

After breakfast, we start a 12-hour drive to Chilas along the amazing Karakoram Highway. We cross the Indus Valley. Our road takes us through the famous Babusar Pass (4172 m).

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel

Day 3

After breakfast we continue our journey on the Karakoram Highway to reach the village of Minapin in 7 hours. The highlight for the day is the viewpoint to Nanga Parbat where we stop for a shooting session. Then we continue to the Rakaposhi range (7788 m) and the Hunza Valley.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 4

We trek to the base camps of Rakaposhi and Diran. The elevation gain for the day is 800 m, or 5 hours of hiking (Minapin is at 2000m, while Hapakun is at 2816 m). Hapakun is our first campsite.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a tent.

Day 5

We continue our trek to Tagafari, which is 3 km away, and 450 m in elevation gain. Tagafari is actually the Rakaposhi base camp. Its name comes from the local Burushaski language, meaning ‘snow covered’. We reach the camp in 4 hours and have time for lunch, strolls and marveling at the view.

The package tour covers three meals а day; Overnight stay at a tent.

Day 6

Today we reach the base camp of Diran (7266 m). Located at 3700 m, it reveals an amazing view to Karakoram’s giants. Our hike is 4 or 5 hours for the day. We go back to Tagafari for the night.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a tent.

Day 7

After breakfast we are back to Minapin (5-6 hours), from where our transport takes us to the town of Karimabad, known also as Baltit, the capital of the Hunza Valley. We’ll appreciate the shower after the three-day camping experience.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 8

One-day trip to the ancient fortresses of Altit and Batit and the Roof of the World area, offering a view of the peaks of Spantik (7027 m) or the Golden Peak, Rakaposhi, Ultar (7388 m), Diran, Lady Finger (6000 m) and Distaghil Sar (7885 m). We stay in Karimabad for the night.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 9

On this historic day we are back on the Karakoram Highway to reach the end of its Pakistani section: the Khunjerab Pass at 4700 m. This is the highest border checkpoint on earth. We steal a peek of China but go back to Karimabad for the night.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 10

We open a new page in our unforgettable journey in Pakistan. We reach the Fairy Meadows under the monumental Nanga Parbat. After a two-hour drive we reach the Raikot bridge. Here we leave the Indus river behind and head towards Nanga. After a 1-hour jeep drive and 3-hour trek, we are at the Fairy Meadows, enchanted for good! Located at 3306 m, this place opens up dramatic views to Nanga Parbat.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a tent.

Day 11

Today we hike to the Nanga Parbat base camp. As the elevation gain is 660 m, we need some 3 or 4 hours to reach 4000 m. Once our camera batteries go dead, we hike back to the Fairy Meadows for our last camping night.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a tent.

Day 12

We have a jeep drive to the Raikot bridge and then a bus takes us to the town of Naran. We may be tired but we enjoy our evening after a blissful shower.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 13

After breakfast we head off to Islamabad. We have time for sight-seeing. As the tradition goes, we have dinner at a luxury restaurant on top of the highest hill in Islamabad. This is a heart-warming and unforgettable epilogue of our adventure in Pakistan.

The package tour covers three meals a day; Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 14

Flights from Islamabad to Sofia.

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