Encompassing the North
Duration:
21 days
Next Departure:
April 2022
Airport:
Islamabad
Reference:
CH236A
Summary:
On this tour you’ll get to see it all as you travel on an in-depth journey from the plains to the mountains of the north. From the Babusa Pass and Kaghan Valley to the high-altitude Deosai Plateau; this journey offers you breathtaking experiences. From the surreal landscapes of Skardu to the towering Nangha Parbat at Fairy Meadows and majestic Rakaposhi in Hunza, from the forts of Baltit, Mastuj and Chitral to the otherworldly valleys of the Kalash – you will be left awe-struck by the spectacular scenery. With thrilling walks, fascinating historical sites and wondrous human culture, this is a trip that will leave you spellbound.
Itinerary:
Day 1: ISLAMABAD
Tour starts in Islamabad. Today we will have an introduction to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and vist the Faisal Mosque and Heritage Museum.
Day 2: ISLAMABAD - NARAN
This morning we head out on our drive through the Kagan Valley to Naran - a popular location for domestic tourists.
Days 3 & 4: NARAN - FAIRY MEADOWS
Day 3: Our journey today will continue through the Kaghan Valley over the Babusa Pass to Raikot Bridge. An adrenalin jeep ride takes us up to the start of our walk to Fairy Meadows to enjoy the splendid views of Nanga Parbat.
Day 4: We have a full day in this magical place to walk among the foothills and enjoy the incredible scenery.
Day 5: FAIRY MEADOWS - RAMA LAKE
Driving on today we cross the famous Indus River before reaching our accommodation near Rama Lake.
Day 6: RAMA LAKE - DEOSAI PLATEAU – SKARDU
After a walk around the lake we will head over the stunning Deosai National Park on our way to Skardu, the gateway to the Karakoram Mountain range.
Days 7 & 8: SKARDU - KHAPLU
Day 7: We will take time out to look around the town this morning before heading off to the newly restored Khaplu Fort, one of our favourite properties.
Day 8: Jumping into open-top jeeps today we head into the Hushe Valley to visit the following the rivers as we go.
Day 9: KHAPLU - SKARDU - GILGIT
Today is an epic drive beneath some of the most striking mountains on earth. We will stop regularly as the drive takes most of the day but is simply stunning.
Days 10, 11 & 12: GILGIT - HUNZA
Day 10: A quick look around the frontier town of Gilgit in the morning leads to our preceeds our drive to Hunza and the Eagles Nest Hotel, prepare to be impressed!
Day 11: We head out of town for the day to visit the Hoper Glacier, followed by a visit to the newly formed Attabad Lake with beautiful azure waters and a backdrop of cathedral peaks.
Day 12: Since we have had a busy few days we can chill out today at the Eagles Nest. There are optional walks for those who still are not done exploring.
Day 13: HUNZA - PHANDER
Departing Hunza this morning we drive back through Gilgit and on to Phander where we can have dinner by a log fire.
Day 14: PHANDER - MASTUJ
Driving on to the Shandur Pass this morning we will break and take a walk and picnic at the top before moving on to Mastuj.
Day 15: MASTUJ - CHITRAL
The drives on this trip are all incredible, but this one might just be the best as we get up close to Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor en route to the sleepy town of Chitral.
Days 16 & 17: CHITRAL - KALASH
Day 16: We go into the Kalash Valley this morning and arrive in time for the festivities and stay in a hotel.
Day 17: This is a full day to enjoy the colour and fun of this unique summer festival of Uchaw.
Day 18: KALASH - AYUN
Departing the Kalash this morning we will head to the town of Ayun . Here we can enjoy his beautiful garden and some walks in the local area.
Day 19: AYUN - TAXILA
We will be up early for our last big drive, through the Lowari tunnel down towards Islamabad. Tonight we will stop in the Taxila.
Days 20 & 21: TAXILA - ISLAMABAD
Day 20: We will have a leisurely start this morning and explore the sites of Taxila before heading back to Islamabad for our final group dinner.
Day 21: The tour concludes this morning after breakfast.
Additional Information:
The above schedule should be taken as a guide only. Inclement weather may cause delays in our journey, whether we are on foot or travelling by vehicle. Our schedule has been planned to allow for variations and where necessary, spare days will be used to compensate for these changes. Our guide reserves the right to make modifications or alterations to the trip schedule in the best interests and safety of all involved. A flexible approach will allow us to efficiently and effectively achieve trip objectives.