Explore Northern Pakistan: The Ultimate Adventure Expedition 2026-2027

Your journey begins as you land in Islamabad, where our representative will warmly welcome you and escort you to the Hotel. After checking in, take some time to rest, freshen up, and unpack.
 

In the afternoon, enjoy a short and relaxed city drive. The highlight will be a visit to the iconic Faisal Mosque, where you can take a peaceful 20–45 minute walk around the grounds and enjoy the serene views of the Margalla Hills. This is a perfect way to ease into the trip.

In the evening, join us for a welcome dinner. During this session, you’ll receive a brief orientation about the tour, important safety guidelines, and the overall plan for the coming days. 

Hotel:  Margalla Hills / Similar

Start your day with an early breakfast before departing Islamabad. The journey follows the scenic Hazara Motorway leading through Mansehra, Balakot, and Naran. This is one of the most beautiful drives in Pakistan, with changing landscapes and cool mountain breezes as you gain altitude.

Make a short stop at Naran Bazaar for tea/snacks and optional shopping  especially local goodies like fresh apricots, honey, and jams. Continue toward the breathtaking Lulusar Lake, famous for its glacial blue water. Enjoy a 15–30 minute walk along the lake’s shoreline and soak in the serene views.

The road then climbs toward Babusar Top, the highest point of the journey. Pause here for photos, panoramic views, and fresh mountain air. 

From Babusar, descend toward Chilas while joining the legendary Karakoram Highway. Reach our Chillas Hotel by evening, followed by dinner and rest after a long but rewarding travel day.

Hotel: Shangri-la Chillas

Start your day with breakfast and an early checkout from your hotel in Chilas. The day begins with a scenic drive to Raikot Bridge, which takes around 2–3 hours depending on road conditions. The journey itself is beautiful, winding through rivers, valleys, and rugged mountain scenery.

At Raikot Bridge, it’s time for a thrilling jeep ride. Switch to local 4x4 jeeps for the rugged track to Tattu, a ride of about 1–1.5 hours. The rough road and breathtaking views make this one of the most exciting parts of the day.

From Tattu, begin your 2–3 hour trek to Fairy Meadows. If preferred, you can arrange horseback rides. The trail is easy to moderate, passing through dense forests with numerous scenic photo stops. Along the way, enjoy the fresh mountain air and panoramic views that make every step memorable.

Upon arrival, check into Fairy View Point huts. Take a short walk to the viewpoint to witness your first sunset over Nanga Parbat, accompanied by a relaxing evening tea. Later, gather around a campfire or enjoy a cozy hut dinner, then rest early to acclimatize to the altitude (~3,300 m / 10,800 ft).

Hotel: Fairy Meadows ViewPoint

After breakfast at Fairy Meadows, we will start our guided hike toward Nanga Parbat Basecamp. The trail first takes us to Bayal Camp, where we will stay for the night and also have lunch. After some rest and tea/noodles at Bayal Camp, we will continue hiking toward Nanga Parbat Basecamp. The full hiking journey for the day is around 8–9 hours in total, depending on your pace and fitness level. Along the way, you will enjoy close and clear views of Nanga Parbat and the surrounding glaciers and mountains. After spending some time at Basecamp for photos and rest, we will return to Bayal Camp for dinner and overnight stay in huts.
 

Important points for this hike (Basecamp altitude approx. 4,000m):

This is a long and moderate-to-challenging hike, good fitness is required.

Walk slowly and keep a steady pace to avoid altitude sickness.

Drink plenty of water during the hike (at least 2–3 liters).

Carry warm layers, weather can change quickly at high altitude.

Wear proper hiking shoes with good grip.

Bring sunglasses, sunblock, and a cap, sunlight is strong at altitude.

Keep some energy snacks (chocolate, nuts, energy bars).

Follow the guide at all times and do not hike alone.

Inform the guide immediately if you feel headache, dizziness, or nausea.

After breakfast, we will start our trek down from Fairy Meadows to the jeep point at Tattu/Raikot. This downhill walk usually takes ⅔ hours, so we will move at a comfortable pace. From the jeep point, we take local 4x4 jeeps to Raikot Bridge. Here we will stop for lunch or tea and take some rest after the trek.

After the break, we continue our journey by road toward Hunza on the Karakoram Highway. This is a 3/4 hrs long but very scenic drive with views of big mountains, rivers, and small villages along the way. We will make short stops at viewpoints, including a Rakaposhi view point, and at a few roadside tea spots so you can relax and take photos.
 

By evening, we reach Central Hunza (Karimabad) and check in at Qayam Hunza or Eagle Nest Hotel. After some rest, you can take a short walk in Karimabad Bazaar, Cafe De Hunza and explore local shops and handicrafts, and enjoy the peaceful mountain town atmosphere before dinner and overnight stay.

Hotel: Qayam Hunza / Similar

After breakfast at the hotel, we start the day by exploring the history and culture of Hunza. First, we visit Baltit Fort, an old fort with great views of Hunza Valley, and spend about an hour there. Then we take a short walk to Altit Fort, where you can see the museum and learn about local life, traditions, and architecture. After the visits, we return to Karimabad for lunch and try local food and tea. In the afternoon, we go to Eagle’s Nest (Duikar) viewpoint to enjoy wide mountain views of Rakaposhi and nearby peaks, and take photos in the evening light. Later, you can walk in Karimabad Bazaar, see local handicrafts and shops, and meet local people. We end the day with dinner at the hotel and overnight stay in Hunza.

Hotel: Qayam Hunza

After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and start our drive on the Karakoram Highway toward Upper Hunza (Gojal). Our first stop is Attabad Lake, where you can enjoy a boat ride or take photos of the bright blue water and mountains. Then we continue to Gulmit village for a short walk to see local houses and daily life. After that, we drive to Passu and stop at the famous Passu Cones viewpoint and nearby glaciers for photos and views. We will have a picnic lunch here at famous Yak Grill Cafe with the mountains around us. In the afternoon, we visit the Hussaini Suspension Bridge (if open) and those who want can carefully walk across it for a thrilling experience. By evening, we check in at Shilmin Resort in Passu and relax. Internet is limited here, so it’s a good chance to rest, unplug, and enjoy the stars at night.

Attabad Lake was created in 2010 after a huge landslide blocked the Hunza River and flooded nearby villages and part of the Karakoram Highway. Over time it became a famous tourist spot because of its bright blue water and mountain views. Passu Cones are sharp, pointed peaks near Passu village and are one of the most photographed mountains in Pakistan due to their unique shape and easy roadside view.
 

Upper Hunza (Gojal) lies on the old Silk Route. Today, the Karakoram Highway passes through this area and goes to China via Khunjerab Pass, one of the highest paved border crossings in the world. The road is called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” because it was built in very tough mountain conditions. The nearby Khunjerab National Park is home to wildlife like ibex, blue sheep, and the rare snow leopard, which locals call the silent ghost of the mountains because it is very rarely seen.

Hotel: Shilmin Resort Passu / Similar

Start early in the morning from Passu for a long but very scenic drive to Skardu. The journey has beautiful views of mountains, rivers, and valleys, though some road sections are rough and slow. We will stop in Gilgit for lunch and a short rest break. If we reach Skardu with enough time in the afternoon, we will visit Lower Kachura (Shangrila) Lake for a short walk, photos, and optional boating, and also make a quick stop at Upper Kachura Lake if possible. In the evening, we check in at Al Noor Starlet Hotel, have dinner, and rest after the long travel day.

Hotel: AL Noor Starlet / Similar

After breakfast at the hotel, head to the Cold Desert near Skardu, also called the Katpana Desert. This desert is unique because it is one of the highest deserts in the world, sitting at over 2,200 meters above sea level. The golden sand dunes against the mountains create a rare landscape, shaped by winds over centuries. Here, you can walk, take photos, ride a 4x4 across the dunes, try Horse Riding, or simply enjoy the quiet and views.
 

Next, drive to Shigar Valley and visit Shigar Fort, a restored heritage site and museum where you can learn about the history and culture of the region. Walk through the nearby village and, if possible, enjoy tea with local residents to experience their warm hospitality. In the evening, return to Skardu for dinner at the hotel and rest after a full day of adventure and culture.

Hotel: AL Noor Starlet / Similar

Start the day with an early breakfast, then transfer to the trailhead for Masur Rock, which takes about 5–8 km depending on the route. The hike gives amazing views of Skardu, the Indus River, and the surrounding mountains.
 

Bring enough water with you, as there is no water available on the trail. Stop along the way for photos and enjoy a packed lunch in the mountains. After the hike, Check in at Katpana Desert Glamps to relax. In the evening, enjoy a bonfire, traditional local dinner, and optional night photography of the stars or storytelling around the campfire.
 

Hotel: Katpana Glamp

Start your final day with an early transfer to Skardu Airport for your morning flight to Islamabad. Morning flights are recommended because mountain weather can cause cancellations.
 

Important: If the flight is cancelled, we will travel by road to Islamabad, which takes 10–12 hours. To avoid problems, we strongly recommend booking your international flight home on day 12 after 6 pm. Your stay on day 11 is included if the flight goes as planned. If not, the journey will be split with an overnight stay on the way back in Naran or Balakot.
 

Upon arrival in Islamabad, you will be transferred to your next connection or hotel, with a possible short meeting to review the trip and share photos.