2023
• For those only taking the North tour, you will need to arrive in Islamabad before 10:00. For those taking our South Punjab tour, you will arrive here the previous evening.
• Visit Saidpur Old Village, Shah Faisal Mosque, Shakarparian Hills and the Pakistan monument.
• Overnight in Islamabad.
• Start our journey towards the mountain kingdom of North Pakistan on the famous Karakorum Highway. En route, we will visit the Taxila Museum. For over 1000 years, Taxila was a centre of learning of Gandhara art, education and Buddhism. There are over 50 archaeological sites scattered around Taxila.
• Continue our roughly 7-hour drive to Besham.
• Long drive today, but the scenery more than makes up for it. Our destination is Gilgit. Before we get there, we stop to see pre-historic rock carving inscriptions at Shatial, rocks with ancient graffiti at Chilas and the viewpoint of Nanga Parbat (the 9th highest peak in the world). This location is where the Karakorum, Himalayas and Hindukush mountain ranges meet.
• Overnight in nearby Gilgit.
• Half-day tour of Gilgit, visiting the mountain bazaar, suspension bridges, Kargha Buddha and a walk along the Gilgit River.
• Drive along the beautiful Hunza River in the late afternoon towards Karimibad. We will make stops along the way at the Monument of Karakorum Highway—the collision point of Indian and Eurasian Plates and the viewpoint of the historic Silk Route and Rakaposhi peak. As we approach Karimabad, the Rakaposhi dominates the skyline to the east. Above Hunza stands the prominent rock spire 'Ladyfinger peak' and the impressive Ultar peaks.
• Overnight in Karimibad.
• In terms of nature, few places compare with the small mountainous region of Hunza. This valley lies on the ancient trade route to Kashgar in the Chinese province of Sinkiang. Today the Karakorum Highway runs along this route, with Karimabad being the main town of Hunza. Tibetan traders referred to the beauty of this humble paradise as 'Shangri-La'. We take a full-day tour of the region today including Hopar glacier and Baltit fort.
• In the evening, we will drive to Passau village, where we will stay overnight.
• Full-day excursion to Khunjerab Pass—the border between Pakistan and China and one of the highest international borders in the world. At Khunjerab, we can see Marco Polo sheep, Ibex and marmots all along the roads. We will spend an hour at the border before driving back to Gilgit.
• En route there, we will stop at the viewpoint of Batura glacier, Passu Cathedral Peaks, and Passu glacier, as well as take a walk across the Passu suspension bridge.
• Overnight in Gilgit.
• Today we will walk around Passu village and get a feel for the harsh mountain life that the locals experience. Afterwards, we will walk to Borit Lake and also get a close-up view of Passu glacier.
• After lunch, we will descend to the Karakoram Highway and walk along the Hussani suspension bridge before taking a boat ride on Atabad Lake. We finish with viewing pre-historic cave paintings before driving to Gilgit where we will stay overnight.
• Journey back to Besham, taking the twelve-hour scenic route—a perfect chance to reflect on the Pakistani natural beauty you saw.
• Continue our drive along the Karakorum highway for around 5 hours as we head back to Islamabad.
• Witness Pakistan’s famous truck painting art along the way.
• Arrive in Islamabad, shop in the local markets, and have a farewell dinner.
• Transfer to Islamabad airport for your flight back home.