Our staff will meet all clients at the airport and you will be transferred to the hotel, where you can check into your room, have breakfast, and catch up on sleep. The day is free to recover from your journey. In the afternoon and we offer an optional hike to the Margalla hills surrounding the capital. This will be a gentle, short hike giving you an opportunity to stretch your legs, get some sun to help recover from jet lag and enjoy the beautiful view overlooking the city with some chai and samosas. Later in the afternoon, the trek leaders will give a full trip briefing, this will also be an opportunity to review your gear and make any last-minute purchases required for the trip. We will conclude our evening with a group dinner, this will be an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, ask questions and enjoy a restful evening before our journey begins.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Boutique Hotels: Gilgit Serena Hotel

We have a relaxed morning, allowing for some time on Phander Lake after which we continue our journey to Hunza. We will stop in Gilgit for lunch. Here we will have a chance to visit the famous Kargah Buddha, a 7th-century carving of a large standing Buddha. Hunza was a princely state, bordering China to the north-east and Pamir to its north-west, which continued to survive until Bhutto. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east. The state capital was the town of Baltit (also known as Karimabad) and its old settlement is Ganish Village.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Eric Shipton called Hunza ‘the ultimate manifestation of mountain grandeur’ and at 2400m(7847ft) surrounded by towering peaks, Hunza is indeed a place of ‘ethereal beauty’. The backdrop of Hunza is the Ultar peak 7388m(24,288ft); across the valley, we can see the Rakaposhi 7788m(25,551ft) and to the east lies Spantik (known as Golden Peak on this side of the valley). We will visit the 1100 years old Altit Fort, the original seat of the Hunza state and the oldest monument in Gilgit-Baltistan. Our next stop is the 700-year-old Baltit Fort where the Mir (title of the Hunza ruler) resided until the 1950s. After lunch, we will visit the nearby 1000-year-old Ganesh village. This village is the oldest settlement on the ancient Silk Road; the original layout of the village remains, along with three of the original watchtowers and seven 500-year-old richly carved mosques. There will be an opportunity for an optional hike behind the fort along an irrigation channel with views of Hunza Valley, the surrounding peaks, and terraced fields with views of daily life. The trek ends at the high point (Eagle’s nest) where you can view the entire Hunza Valley.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We head to “Passu Cones” also known as Cathedral Ridge a series of pointed 6,000 m peaks that are located next to the Karakoram Highway. After a short break on the Passu glacier, we will continue towards Khunjerab Pass, the land route to the Chinese border, and at 4,934m(16,187ft) the highest border crossing in the world. The scenery is beautiful, with high peaks all around and if we are lucky we will get to see herds of Yaks and Ibex roaming in the grasslands below as we drive through the mountains. Due to the dramatic change in altitude, we will only take a brief stop at the top before heading back. Our last stop for the night is Attabad Lake, formed in 2010 after a landslide that blocked the flow of the river. We will take a boat ride to our hotel where we will spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We start early today and head to Raikot bridge from where we will travel to Fairy Meadows. We will see views of the great mass of Rakaposhi, the 27th highest mountain in the world 7,788m (25,551ft), and sights of Nanga Parbat Massif (the 9th highest peak in the world). Nanga Parbat is a colossal mountain, the peak can be seen from miles away and forms a glacial amphitheater at the head of Raikot Gah. It is here at Raikot bridge that we take Jeeps over a 17km steep and narrow dirt road to Tattu village, where the hiking trail to Fairy Meadows begins. This is a well-established trail and we walk through the forest on a gentle climb for about 2-3 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will drive to Raikot bridge for our journey to Fairy Meadows with views of Nanga Parbat. We will stop for views of the great mass of Rakaposhi, the 27th highest mountain in the world at 7,788m (25,551ft). The mountain is truly beautiful with snowy peaks, glaciers, and precipices. The view runs straight up the Ghulmet glacier to the top, 5,838m (19,153 ft) from the base, making this the highest unbroken slope on earth. We will stop in Gilgit for lunch. Here we will have a chance to visit the famous Kargah Buddha, a 7th-century carving of a large standing Buddha. At Raikot Bridge we will take Jeeps over a 17km steep and narrow dirt road to Tattu village, where the hiking trail to Fairy Meadows begins.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We start early today and head to Deosai about 5 hours drive. Deosai National Park at 4114m(13497ft) the second highest plateau in the world. The sudden elevation change might make you feel light-headed. The Deosai is rolling pasture land with remarkable biodiversity, we will stop at the beautiful Shausar lake and you will have an opportunity to walk in the area, after spending a couple of hours in the area we will drive to Skardu. Our drive ends at our beautiful resort on lower Kachura lake.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Katchura Lakes are two beautiful alpine lakes We will have an optional hike to upper Kachura lake, for those interested it is possible to go boating and fish for Trout in these lakes. We will have lunch here and later will visit the historic Kharpocho fort. The current fort was built on the foundation of an earlier 15th-century fort. According to some accounts, this location has always had a fort and during Buddhist times a monastery. At the top, we have views of the surrounding area. We will have time to explore Skardu town for some shopping. In the afternoon we will visit the historic Kharpocho fort. The current fort was built on the foundation of an earlier 15th-century fort. According to some accounts, this location has always had a fort and during Buddhist times a monastery. At the top, we have views of the surrounding area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will visit the 14th-century Amburiq Mosque in Shigar Village, a UNESCO award-winning site. We will then move to our hotel in Shigar Fort, where you have an option to further explore the area or relax and enjoy the location. In the evening we will visit private hot springs and relax before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will hopefully take the early morning flight to Islamabad, if unable to fly we will drive the Karakoram Highway back to Islamabad Our private bus will be waiting at the airport to transfer us to the hotel and once we have settled in it will be time to take lunch. After lunch, the rest of the day is free for independent sightseeing, shopping or to relax at the hotel. This evening we come together again for a celebratory meal at a local restaurant. We will hopefully take the early morning flight to Islamabad, if unable to fly we will drive the Karakoram Highway back to Islamabad Our private bus will be waiting at the airport to transfer us to the hotel and once we have settled in it will be time to take lunch. After lunch, the rest of the day is free for independent sightseeing, shopping or to relax at the hotel. This evening we come together again for a celebratory meal at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Boutique Hotels: Islamabad Serena Hotel

Transfer to Airport is included

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch