Jeep Safari & Trek HINDUKUSH PAKISTAN

Jeep Safari & Trek HINDUKUSH Pakistan
DAY-01, Departure for Pakistan

DAY-02 Arrive Peshawar You will be met on arrival at Islamabad airport, freshen up at a hotel & then drive to Peshawar along the Grand Trunk Road which was created by the Pathan emperor of the United Indian Empire: Sher Shah Suri. Crossing Indus River at Attock, we may stop for photo at the meeting point of Indus & Kabul rivers just beyond Attock bridge. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Peshawar. (170 km, 3-4 Hours)

DAY-03 Peshawar Morning excursion to Khyber Pass, the most important and strategic land route leading to the Indian sub-continent. Historic invaders, including the armies of Alexander the Great of Macedonia, have used this route to explore the wonders of fertile land that lies south of this pass. We may be allowed to visit Michni Post from where we have a panoramic view of the Pak-Afghan border. (45 km one way) Afternoon city tour. Peshawar has always been important in the history of the sub-continent because of its location near the Khyber Pass & Gandhara civilization. The city is now known more for its special feel of being a frontier town than for its monuments. Visit the street of story-tellers, Kissa Khawani bazaar, the street of gold (Kasera bazaar), Karavan Serai and Mahabat Khan Mosque. The museum of Peshawar, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts, should also be visited. Overnight at hotel

DAY-04 Enter Chitral Drive to Chitral, passing through the fertile green plains of the valley of Peshawar, crossing the branches of the Swat River. Climb the Malakand Pass and enter the valley of Swat. At Chakdara you turn left to by-pass Churchill’s Picket and cross the bridge that leads to Dir. Lunch at Al-Manzar hotel, Dir. Proceed towards Lowari Pass (3200 metres). The descent takes travellers through about 96 hairpin down to the valley floor. Arrive at Chitral town, transfer to motel for meals and overnight. (330 km, 10-11 Hours)

DAY-05 Visit Kalash Morning city tour of Chitral town, the capital of the valley. While your guide arranges for the permit to enter the Kalash valleys, we have time to visit the colourful bazaar where we will find people from all over Afghanistan and North Pakistan. Enjoy fascinating views of Tirich Mir (7708m), the highest mountain of Hindu Kush range, and visit the town’s central mosque. Lunch at hotel then drive to Kalash Valley the home of the Kafir Kalash. This tribe are known as the infidels as they still believe in the old gods, and they are also legendary for their known to the outside world for their celebrations and general enjoyment of life. Legend says that they are descendants of four Greek soldiers of Alexander’s army. The women wear black robes and skull-caps decorated with sea shells and coins. We camp by their village overnight. (40 km, 1-2 hours)

DAY-06 Trek in Kalash We start early to escape the heat in the gorge. It is a good idea to take a good supply of water as there are few springs along the way. This trek takes us over a steep 3000m ridge separating the Bumburet and Birir valleys. The trek offers good opportunities to enjoy the Kalash valleys’ unique landscape and to experience the daily life of the local population. We camp overnight at Bomburet, the largest village of the Kalash tribe. (TREK, 7-8 Hours)

DAY 07 Bomburet - Mastuj Morning drive from Bomburet to Mastuj village, beside the Chitral River. The Hindu Kush landscape is arid, as this area is outside the reach of the monsoon so receives very little rain. We stop at a small village for lunch and then continue north, enjoying spectacular views of snow-clad peaks reaching up to 4500m. Meals & overnight at camp.(163 km, 7-8 hours)

DAY-08 Through Shandur Drive up the Phander jeeptrack over the Shandur Pass to Phander Lake. After Laspur village the zigzag jeep track climbs up the Shandur Pass (3500m). At the summit we leave the jeeps and walk over the pass to the highest polo ground in the world. Every year a grand festival of polo takes place where teams from throughout North Pakistan meet to decide the champion team. The festival is attended by many enthusiasts from every village, who camp here for days to see their team work their way towards the glory. We continue by jeep to Phander lake to camp overnight. (80 km, 6-7 hours)

DAY -09 To Punial Jeep drive to Punial , with occasional stops for short interesting walks. As we progress we bid farewell to Hindu Kush Range and enter the Karakoram Range. This is a region of wild landscapes, rarely visited, which is snow- covered during the winters when it is passable only by nomads moving their flocks of goats in search of greener pastures. Camp. (160 km, 6-7 hours)

DAY-10 Karakoram Short drive from Punial on jeep track to Gilgit town. We rest at Gilgit, the administrative capital of the Northern areas of Pakistan. Gilgit, 630km from Islamabad along the Karakoram Highway, has a small airport and is connected to the outside world with modern communication systems. After lunch we continue drive on Karakoram Highway, crossing the Gilgit River on an historic suspension bridge. Driving along the Hunza river, the soaring ridges of the Karakoram on both side of the gorge, we arrive at small village of Minapin in the shadow of Rakaposhi (7788m)and Diran (7265m) mountains. Camp. (120 km, 5-6 hours)

DAY-11 Trek to Tagafuri This is a moderate trek, full of interest, as it passes through hills covered with juniper and roses, with occasional fields of barley and potatoes. Lunch at a summer settlement. Later follow a path through steep pastures to arrive at our overnight campsite in a meadow between the lateral moraine of the Diran glacier and the foot of Rakaposhi. The views are spectacular. (Trek 5-6 hours)

DAY -12 Diran base camp Full day excursion to Kacheli (Diran Peak base camp ) crossing Minapin Glacier from the top end of the meadow at Tagafuri. Walk over soft snow and medial moraine to Kacheli, a meadow studded with wild flowers, which offers superb views of Diran & Rakaposhi. Return to camp for overnight. (Camp, 7-8 hours round trek.)

DAY-13 To Hunza Walk down from Tagafuri to Minapin village, where our jeeps will be waiting to take us to Karimabad. We say goodbye to our trekking staff who leave us here to return to Islamabad. We drive on Karakoram Highway to Karimabad, enjoying fascinating views of snow-clad peaks in all directions. Afternoon free. Dinner & overnight at hotel, Karimabad - Hunza. (Trek 4 hours + 1-hour drive)

DAY-14 Karimabad Day at leisure, In the morning visit the 800-year-old Altit Fort that overlooks the ancient old silk route and the new Karakoram Highway. Later visit the newly restored palace of the Mir of the Hunza Kingdom that also served asa fort during many wars.. Afternoon walk to Ultar Glacier. Meals and overnight at Hunza View hotel. Optional excursion to Nagar Valley. (Trek & sightseeing)

DAY-15 The Charms of Passu Morning drive from Karimabad to Passu village. Trek from village to Passu glacier. Lunch at Passu, afternoon walking trip to the 250-metre long suspension bridge over Hunza River. Evening walk around the village. Meals and overnight Lodge.

DAY-16 To Himalaya Drive on Karakoram Highway, we come to the meeting place of the Indus River with the Gilgit River. This is a breath-taking and unique place as it is the meeting place of the world’s three highest mountain ranges. Before you can clearly be seen the Karakoram, Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges. Continue driving to Raikot Bridge over the Indus, where we leave the narrow jeep track to tiny Tatto village where we leave our jeeps to start the trek for to Fairy Meadows at the foot of Nanga Parbat (8125 m), the ninth highest peak in the world. This peak is also known as “the Killer Mountain” as many climbers have died while attempting to reach the top. The view of the mountain, the glacier flowing from it and the pine forests at its feet is simply superb. Camp overnight. The jeep track from Raikot Bridge on KKH to Tatto village can be blocked due to landslides. In such case we have to start the track from the landslide on the jeep track ( 200 km, 6-7 hour Jeep + Trek 3/4 hours.)

DAY 17 Fairy Meadows A full day at Fairy Meadows with an optional trek, crossing the glaciers to the Nanga Parbat base camp of Nanga Parbat. We will eat a packed lunch at the base camp before returning to our camp. (At Fairy Meadows we use the services of Fairy Meadows Sarai, a permanent camp run by the locals who provide tents, mattresses and all meals.) (Trek 7-8 hours)

DAY-18 Fairy Meadows Day free to explore Fairy Meadows further. Meals & overnight at the Sarai Camp.

DAY-19 On Karakoram Highway We start walking down from Fairy Meadows early in the morning, and in three hours meet our jeeps which will take us down the short track to Raikot bridge on the Karakoram Highway. We drive through the fascinating scenery along the Karakoram highway down the arid Indus gorge. Arrive at Sharkool a small village on top of a green hill. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (Trek 3 hours, Drive Tatto - Raikot - Sharkool 320 Km, 8-9 Hours)

DAY-20 Sharkol - Islamabad Drive to Islamabad, en route visiting Taxila, the former capital of Gandhara civilization. We visit the archaeological remains of a monastery (Julian), a city (Sirkup ) and the site museum. Continue the drive to Rawalpindi, transfer to hotel. (200 km, 5-6 hours). Afternoon visit of the Federal Capital of Pakistan: Islamabad. Visit Faisal Mosque, Damen-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa Museum and Shakar Parian Park. Overnight at hotel.

DAY-21 ISB - departure Transfer to airport for departure flight.