Trek Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains

Welcome to Islamabad! Your transfer from the Islamabad International Airport to your hotel is included. If you arrive early in the day, be sure to join your leader and other members of your group for lunch and a city tour this afternoon. Back at the hotel, meet up for a Welcome Meeting at 6 pm and get all the details on your upcoming trek into the Yosemite of Pakistan.

First things first, check the weather – if it’s good, you’ll fly from Islamabad to Skardu (a one-hour scenic flight). If the weather isn’t cooperating, you’ll instead make the trip via the Karakoram Highway, making stops along the way among mountain peaks humans have yet to step foot on. In Skardu, the gateway to the Karakoram mountain range, you’ll have some free time to explore and pick up any personal favourite snacks or a few souvenirs from the Skardu bazaar. You’ll also have the chance to rent any hiking gear here that you may have forgotten to pack. While in Skardu, don’t miss Manthal Rock Buddha, Kharpocho Fort and Nansoq Organic Village

Carry on into the mountains as you drive to Khaplu, passing through the small villages of the Ghanche district. Along the way, stop where the Shayok and Indus Rivers meet. Visit the small village of Yugo and enjoy lunch and a cultural village walk where you’ll get a feel for village life and meet some locals. This afternoon, travel onwards to Khaplu, the Ghanche district’s capital city. After checking into your hotel, enjoy some free time to explore. Don’t miss the Khaplu Fort Museum and organic garden.

Lace up your hiking boots! After breakfast, drive from Khaplu to Kanday Village, the trailhead for your trek into Nangma Valley and meet your local support crew of guides, porters and camp cooks. The first leg of your hike is short but with a few steep parts. From Kanday, descend to cross a wooden bridge over the Hushe River and then ascend through the narrow valley, across two suspension bridges to the Mingulo Broq campsite. This lush site near the water and surrounded by willow trees is also a local pasture. You’ll likely get the chance to meet local shepherds. After lunch at the campsite, you’ll have time to explore nature or relax at camp. For dinner, your kitchen team will prepare local Balti cuisine, like balay (soup), chapshoro and other Pakistani dishes. Before sliding into your sleeping bag, be sure to turn your gaze upwards and take in the stunning star-filled night sky.

Fuel up on a hot breakfast and then carry on from Mingulo Broq to Nangma Valley, passing through lush green fields alongside a glacial stream. Today’s trek is relatively flat, crossing over one stream and through another. You’ll arrive at your next stop, the Nangma Valley campsite, by lunch, where you can tuck into a freshly prepared hot meal and then enjoy some free time to take in the incredible views. Looking out over the valley, you’ll see the North Ridge of Shingu Charpa. For dinner, enjoy another hot meal of local soup and a mix of regional and continental Chinese/Pakistani dishes.

Check in with your feet this morning and decide how you’d like to spend the day. Opt to take a day hike to Amin Brakk base camp (4500 metres), at the base of the towering rock face that’s known as one of the most spectacular climbs in the world. Start with a steep climb and continue on a relatively flat plateau, before the final, steep push through a rocky trail. While at the base camp, enjoy some free time for your own exploration before tucking in to refreshments and tracking your own steps back to Nangma campsite. Or if you’d rather lay low, choose to kick back and relax at camp. Either way, you won’t want to miss the sunrise from up here. If you choose to stick close to camp for the day, test your scrambling skills on nearby rocks or go on a scavenger hunt for local Karakoram bird and flower species. This evening, enjoy a live music and dance show by local Balti performers. Feel free to join in!

Make the trek back down to Kanday this morning and enjoy a traditional lunch with a local family in the village. You and your group will travel by road back to Shigar/Skardu this afternoon, following the southern bank of mighty Indus River. The views are stunning as you travel down a valley surrounded on all sides by towering peaks before arriving at the surreal landscape of the Safranga 'Cold Desert'. At 2300m above sea level it's one of the highest deserts in the world. After the obligatory photo stop (or two) continue on to the small town of Shigar then on to Skardu.

Once again, the weather may play a role in today’s plans. If the weather is nice, you’ll drive from Shigar to the Skardu airport where you’ll fly back to Islamabad. In this case, you’ll check into your Islamabad hotel, enjoy lunch and enjoy some free time for sightseeing. Be sure to ask your leader for recommendations. If the weather isn’t agreeable, you’ll spend some free time in Naran, where your leader will be pleased to offer suggestions or plan an excursion around town for the group.

If you didn’t fly yesterday, today you’ll make the journey by road to Islamabad. If you’re already there, do some sightseeing in the capital. Don’t miss the Taxila Museum, which sits in the middle of a number of important archaeological sites, hosting a rich collection of Gandharan art dating back to the 1st century.

Your journey comes to an end today after breakfast. Enjoy a transfer to the airport.