Northern Pakistan: Wonders of the Karakoram
Northern Pakistan: Wonders of the Karakoram
14 Days
Visiting: Pakistan
Tour operator:
Tour code:
HAS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Interests:
From:
$3744 (USD)Tour Overview
On this amazing journey through the mountains of the famous Karakoram Highway - the eighth wonder of the world - we will experience stunning scenery, historical forts, regional cuisine, imposing plateaus and heritage properties as we venture into the Baltistan region.
Beginning in Islamabad, we travel north through the beautiful forested landscapes of Kaghan Valley and over the spectacular Babusar Pass to the classic frontier town of Gilgit. From here we continue to Hunza, home to colourful local markets, the impressive UNESCO Baltit Fort and some of the region’s most epic mountain scenery.
More of the northeast’s natural gems await as we arrive in the alpine meadows of Rama Lake and journey on to the stunning Deosai Plateau National Park, the second highest plateau in the world. Discover the cultural highlights of Khaplu and Skardu where we will explore morning markets and spend time with local communities, before returning south to Islamabad.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tour Starts In Islamabad
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Today the tour starts in Islamabad, 'City of Islam', Pakistan's capital city. It replaced Karachi back in 1967 and is now the political and commercial heart of the country. Situated against the lush backdrop of the Margalla Hills it is a city where old and new collide. Leafy green boulevards are home to modern buildings, and shopping malls, but also dotted with traditional homes and mosques. After checking in to our rooms, available from 14:00 or possibly earlier, we have the chance to visit some of the famous sights of Islamabad including the Faisal Mosque, the largest in South East Asia, and 5th largest mosque in the world. We will also take time to visit the Lok Virsa Museum and Pakistan Monument.
Day 2: Islamabad – Naran
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast leave for the beautiful valley of Kaghan, a drive of approximately 7 hours. The valley has a beautiful river flowing through it, flanked by stunning mountains. Check into the hotel in Naran in the late afternoon and enjoy an evening at leisure. The majority of the people here are Pashtun and you should have the opportunity to have a stroll around the bazaar this evening or sit and watch the world go by in one of the rooftop cafes.
Day 3: Naran - Gilgit (4173M Approx)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departing early this morning we will continue through the forested Kaghan Valley and over the spectacular Babusar Pass and Raikot Bridge, enjoying more spectacular scenery as we drive along the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit.
Day 4: Gilgit - Hunza
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we have a chance to take a look around this classic frontier town, once considered the furthest outpost of the empire. We will see the Christian graveyard and the bazaar, before heading north on the KKH to Hunza in the famed Hunza Valley. We know we use a lot of superlatives in this tour but this journey really is epic, particularly as you round the corner and see the titanic form of Mount Rakaposhi basking in the sun, right beside the road. We will take lunch on the way – at the Rakaposhi View Restaurant – before continuing on to Hunza. On arrival we will have the chance to explore this laidback little town and admire the mountains that surround it before continuing on to our hotel for our first night situated, as the name suggests, 2,850m above sea level, 800m above the valley floor with panoramic views of seven 7,000m peaks!
Day 5: Around Hunza
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we rejoin the Karakorum Highway and drive to Gulmit (located in Upper Hunza) along the banks of the newly-formed Attabad Lake, a significant addition to the natural beauty of Hunza. On reaching Gulmit we can enjoy a walk through the village and learn more about carpet weaving and other traditional handicrafts. From here we will drive on to Borith Lake situated just north of Gulmit, stopping en route to see the spectacular Hussaini Hanging Bridge. The lake can be reached from Husseini village, which lies adjacent to Gulmit village. Proceed to Passu to enjoy fabulous views of Tupupdan Sar, Passu Peaks, Shispare and Boyohagur, before enjoying refreshments at the local hotel and then returning to Hunza.
Day 6: Around Hunza
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Another full day around Hunza gives us the chance to take a wonderful water channel walk down to Hunza town where we’ll visit the famous Baltit Fort, recently restored by the Aga Khan Trust to a fantastic standard, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll also have plenty of time for shopping in the town’s pretty bazaar as well as time simply to relax. After all this is a holiday!
Day 7: Hunza - Astore
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we return south and head for the alpine meadows of Rama Lake and Astore. The 215km-long journey will take around 5-6 hours as we pass through some of the region's most impressive landscape. Continuing on the KKH to Thilachi, we then divert into the 55km-long narrow Astore Gorge, eventually reaching our hotel. This afternoon we will then visit Rama Lake, which will involve a walk of around 3km each way to reach the lake from the road. After soaking up the stunning lake views, return to Astore for the evening.
Day 8: Astore – Deosai Plateau – Skardu (4100M Approx)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast we'll set off for the amazing Deosai Plateau National Park. Deosai Plain has an average elevation of 4,114m above sea level, making it one of the highest plateaus in the world. We’ll enjoy a hearty picnic lunch with views of the Himalayas before continuing on to Skardu. Today will be a long day as we are covering large distances but will be rewarded with yet even more striking scenery.
Day 9: Skardu - Khaplu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we’ll visit the old bazaar, and then head out to see the Manthal Buddha rock carving just outside Skardu. After this we’ll drive to Khaplu for a real treat as we stay in one of the most wonderful heritage hotels in the whole subcontinent. This has been recently converted by the Aga Khan Cultural Development Trust and runs as a community project.
Day 10: Khaplu - Hushe - Khaplu (3050M Approx)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today the adventure continues as we follow the Shyok and Hushe Rivers into the heart of the Karakoram. Draining an enormous area of the eastern Karakoram, much of which is now in India, the Shyok and Hushe rivers cut a spectacular trail into this eastern most part of Baltistan. We'll drive up the Hushe Valley, where we have the opportunity to visit our foundation-sponsored school in the remote village of Baleygon. From here we’ll continue a little further up the valley to Marzigone where we see the magnificent sight of the 7,000m Mashabrum Mountain standing sentinel before us. In the late afternoon, as the sun is setting, we’ll return to Khaplu.
Day 11: Khaplu - Skardu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we drive the shorter two-hour drive back to Skardu. In the afternoon we can then spend some time exploring Kharapocho, also known as Skardu Fort, before visiting the sand dunes of Skardu's unusual 'Cold Desert'.
Day 12: Skardu - Islamabad
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will fly south back to Islamabad. After checking in, we can enjoy some lunch at a local restaurant before setting off for the neighbouring 'twin city' of Rawalpindi. Here we will visit the colourful Raja Bazaar before finally visiting the Margalla Hills to enjoy magnificent views over the twin cities.
Day 13: Around Islamabad
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will have a relaxed start and take a short drive to Taxila to explore this fascinating Buddhist university town, dating back to the Gandaharan era of Alexander the Great. We’ll then return to Islamabad where they may be time for some last minute shopping before our farewell dinner.
Day 14: Tour Ends In Islamabad
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tour ends in Islamabad after breakfast.
What's Included
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MEALS
13 x Breakfasts13 x Lunches13 x Dinners
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TRANSPORT
Local Prado or classic re-conditioned 1970s Willys jeeps for certain sections in the north; coasters everywhere else.
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to climate and community projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary
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ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Low / Moderate
What's Not Included
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We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational .Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport .Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights.Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
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We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flightsBeverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Visas
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for Pakistan.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is a mandatory requirement for all travellers to Pakistan. Also, if your travels are for 4 weeks or more, you will be required to show proof of a Polio vaccination on exiting the country.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
Malaria is present in some parts of Pakistan and precautions are essential.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. Please note there are some long driving days and in places the drive can be bumpy.
When travelling in jeeps, we open the roof when the weather permits to fully embrace the nature of adventure travel that this mode of transport allows and maximising our opportunity to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Travelling Solo and single supplements
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
Insurance
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
Check out our Q&As
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Dates & Availability
Saturday - Friday
Aug 17, 2024 - Aug 30, 2024Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Wild Frontiers allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 90 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wild frontiers charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 51 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Wild Frontiers' COVID Promise
You will have the right to transfer without any transfer fee, from any of our trips at ANY time if your trip is not Covid Viable (see below).*
We will not ask you to pay your final balance if your trip is not yet Covid Viable.
If your trip is not Covid Viable, by 30 days prior to departure at the latest, we will cancel your holiday and you can either transfer your funds to another departure or have a refund.**
We will only consider a trip Covid Viable*** if pre-departure it meets all of the following criteria:
There is no national lockdown or ban on foreign travel for the period when your trip is due to depart.
Destinations on the tour must not be on the UK’s Red List. ****
No destinations visited on the tour have in place any significant COVID-19 restrictions for travellers.
Tourist visas (if required) are available.
There is reliable airline access to/from the start/end of the trip.
Following an assessment by both Wild Frontiers and our local partners we are confident that your trip is able to run in both a safe and enjoyable manner.*****
** If you were originally booked to travel before 30 April 2020 and transferred to a later date, or if you have a tailor-made booking, there may be some irrecoverable costs which we cannot refund. Please speak to us and we will be able to advise you if this is the case for your booking.
***Since our HQ is in London, Covid Viable status for our Group Tours will be assessed on UK-based travellers. However we are fully aware that many of our clients live in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. As such, when we deem a trip to now be Covid Viable, everyone booked will have a chance to review their own personal situation before deciding whether or not to remain booked on the trip. Anyone wishing to, will have the option to transfer without fees to another trip at this time. For tailor made bookings, we may also able to consider additional countries’ travel advice when deciding if a trip is Viable. Please discuss this with us at the time of booking.
**** This relates to bookings from UK clients only. We may operate trips to destinations which the British FCDO advise against travel for Covid reasons. If this is the case, anyone wishing to will have the option to cancel with a refund or transfer to another trip. In some cases we may choose to offer a tour to a Red destination but these will be at both clients’ and Wild Frontiers’ discretion and will be subject to alternative conditions to be discussed on an ad hoc basis.
*****If a destination, that we have deemed to be Covid Viable, subsequently fails any aspect of the criteria for two consecutive weeks, you will have the right under our Covid Promise to transfer without any fees.