Pakistan Karakoram Highway Expedition

Islamabad

THE PAKISTAN KARAKORAM HIGHWAY ADVENTURE BEGINS: Arrive in Islamabad and enjoy a welcome lunch. Begin a city tour at the iconic Faisal Mosque, a masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture. Visit the Pakistan Monument and Museum to explore the nation’s history and culture. Stop at the Heritage Museum to see artisans crafting traditional handicrafts and shop for souvenirs. Return to Sayed Par Village for an early dinner in a peaceful setting. Relax and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Chitral

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HINDU KUSH MOUNTAINS: After breakfast, drive to Chitral through the scenic Hindu Kush Mountains. Pass through Chakdarra and cross the legendary Lowari Pass, once traversed by Winston Churchill. En route, stop to watch a thrilling polo match, a cherished local sport. Enjoy a lunch break in Dir, a picturesque mountain town. The drive takes 7-8 hours, offering breathtaking views of valleys, rivers, and traditional villages. Arrive in Chitral by late afternoon.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Chitral

Kalash

IMMERSING IN AN ANCIENT CULTURE: Travel into Rumbor Valley, home to the Kalash people. Meet our guide Yashill, who introduces us to their unique traditions. Enjoy a traditional village lunch. Explore preparations for the upcoming Kalash festival, offering insights into their customs and lifestyle. Experience their ancient beliefs, music, and folklore, gaining a rare glimpse into this fascinating culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kalash

CELEBRATING SPRING IN THE KALASH VALLEYS: Experience the vibrant Chilam Joshi Festival, held in May. Witness traditional dances, rhythmic drumming, and lively celebrations. See women in brightly woven dresses and elaborate headdresses, while men wear traditional shalwar kameez. The festival includes prayers for fields and livestock, with milk offerings to the gods. Young men and women gather for matchmaking, making this a joyous, community-driven event. Spend the day immersed in music, feasting, and cultural festivities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Chitral

DISCOVERING HISTORY AND WILDLIFE: Visit the Kalash Tribal Museum to learn about Kalash history and traditions. If possible, stop at a local school to engage with students and teachers. Explore the unique cemetery in Karkal, where wooden coffins are placed above ground, following ancient burial customs. After lunch, return to Chitral. Visit a local hat maker crafting traditional Chitrali caps. Before dinner, head to the mountains to spot the rare Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Chitral

Gupis

A JOURNEY ACROSS THE SHANDUR PASS: Drive over the spectacular Shandur Pass, known as the "Roof of the World" and home to the world’s highest polo field at 3,700 metres. Enjoy breathtaking views and photography stops. Arrive in Gupis by evening, a charming town along the Gilgit River. Dinner features fresh River Trout, a local delicacy, rounding off a truly unforgettable day.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gilgit

THE HEART OF THE KARAKORAM HIGHWAY: Journey along the legendary Karakoram Highway. Stop at the unique confluence of the Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Himalayan mountain ranges. Follow the Gilgit River to reach Gilgit. Visit the British Cemetery, a relic of the region’s colonial past. Lunch is served at the tranquil Serena Hotel, offering stunning mountain views. Spend a relaxed afternoon in the gardens. In the evening, enjoy an authentic home-cooked meal at Eshan’s family home, prepared with fresh, local ingredients.

Gilgit

Passu

A JOURNEY THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS WONDERS: Continue along the breathtaking Karakoram Highway. Pass towering peaks, deep valleys, and glacial rivers. Stop at the iconic Passu Cones, their jagged summits a dream for photographers. Enjoy a roadside tea break while admiring the views. Pause at ancient petroglyphs, revealing early human settlements along the Silk Road. Lunch at the Rakaposhi Viewpoint, offering panoramic views of the 7,788m peak. Visit Attabad Lake, a stunning turquoise lake formed by a landslide in 2010. Take a scenic boat ride before dinner featuring locally sourced Yak meat.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Karimabad

EXPLORING THE ROYAL HERITAGE OF HUNZA: Journey to Khunjerab Pass, the highest international border crossing at 4,693m. Experience the dramatic meeting point of Pakistan and China. Drive through Khunjerab National Park, watching for yaks, ibex, and marmots. Lunch in Sost, the last town before China. Visit Borit Salt Water Lake and cross a suspension bridge with stunning valley views. Arrive in Karimabad, the historic capital of Hunza, where the region’s rich culture and hospitality await.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Karimabad

DISCOVERING ANCIENT FORTS AND MOUNTAIN CULTURE: Explore Baltit Fort, a 700-year-old palace perched high above the Hunza Valley. Learn about the region’s royal history and mountain life. Visit Altit Fort, home to the 1,100-year-old Shikari Tower. Its strategic position once protected Silk Road traders. Drive to the legendary Eagle’s Nest viewpoint. Watch the sun cast a golden glow over the Karakoram peaks, with a possible view of Needle Peak (6,000m). Return to the hotel for a traditional Hunza dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gilgit

EXPLORING THE HOPER GLACIER AND ANCIENT SILK ROAD VILLAGES: Drive to Hoper Valley, home to the Mohaan people, who still practise traditional gold panning. Take a short walk to the Hoper Glacier viewpoint. Admire the colossal river of ice, framed by towering Karakoram peaks. An optional glacier trek is available. Lunch in the tranquil valley. Visit Ganash, a 1,000-year-old Silk Road village and UNESCO site. Walk through narrow alleys, ancient Buddhist relics, and traditional homes. Return to Gilgit for a relaxed evening and dinner at a colonial-style hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gilgit

Tarishing

THE GATEWAY TO NANGA PARBAT: Travel to Tarishing, a remote village nestled in the Himalayas. This small settlement, home to just 200 people, sits on the banks of the Rupal River. Walk through the village, past traditional wooden houses, golden wheat fields, and grazing yaks. Enjoy the serenity of this high-altitude retreat, surrounded by towering peaks and glacial streams. Rest and prepare for the next day’s adventure to Nanga Parbat Base Camp.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nanga Parbat Base Camp

AN ADVENTURE TO THE ‘KILLER MOUNTAIN’: Begin the trek or drive towards Nanga Parbat Base Camp. Traverse dramatic landscapes of glaciers, meadows, and snow-covered peaks. Pass through remote villages, where locals still live traditional mountain lifestyles. Arrive at the base camp, offering awe-inspiring views of Nanga Parbat’s sheer cliffs and hanging glaciers. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the untouched wilderness. Return to the guesthouse in the late afternoon to unwind after this extraordinary journey.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Deosai National Park

THE ROOF OF THE WORLD: Cross into Deosai National Park, the world’s second-highest plateau at 4,114m. This vast alpine grassland is known as the ‘Land of Giants.’ Drive through rolling meadows, glacial lakes, and pristine rivers. Stop for tea and photography along the way, capturing the park’s raw beauty. Look for wildlife, including the playful Golden Marmot and, if lucky, the elusive Himalayan Brown Bear. Arrive at the hotel for a restful evening after a day in one of Pakistan’s most remote landscapes.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shigar Fort

A NIGHT IN A ROYAL HERITAGE SITE: Drive through the surreal Sarfaranga Cold Desert, where golden dunes meet snow-capped peaks. Arrive at Shigar Fort, a 17th-century palace restored into a luxurious heritage hotel. Explore the fort’s intricate wooden architecture, historic artefacts, and stunning valley views. Reflect on the journey through Pakistan’s remote mountain landscapes while enjoying a final evening in royal comfort.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gilgit

TRAVEL THROUGH MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN PASSES: Today is a scenic travel day. As we journey through rugged terrain, mountain passes, and deep valleys, we take in the raw beauty of Pakistan’s northern landscapes. We stop for lunch in a remote village, interacting with local communities whose traditions have remained unchanged for centuries. This provides a rare insight into life in the Karakoram. Arriving in Gilgit by late afternoon, we check into our hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening with a comforting dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gilgit

Taxila

DISCOVERING THE ANCIENT CROSSROADS OF CIVILISATIONS: Take an early morning flight to Islamabad, then travel to Taxila, an ancient hub of Buddhist learning and trade along the Silk Road. Visit the Taxila Museum, home to a remarkable collection of Gandharan Buddhist sculptures and artefacts from Indo-Greek and Persian influences. Stop at a truck art workshop to see Pakistan’s iconic hand-painted trucks, each a moving masterpiece of colour and creativity. If time allows, visit Rawalpindi’s historic railway station, a colonial-era relic built in 1881.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Khewra Salt Mines

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME: Explore the Khewra Salt Mines, the world’s second-largest, in operation since 1812. Walk through vast salt caverns, see a mosque carved entirely from salt, and learn about its use in respiratory therapy. Visit the sacred Katas Raj Temples, a 1,500-year-old Hindu pilgrimage site. These ancient shrines encircle the holy Katas pond, believed to have formed from Lord Shiva’s tears. This day blends natural wonders, ancient history, and religious significance, making it a highlight of our Karakoram Expedition.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lahore

EXPLORING MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY: Travel to Rohtas Fort, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage site built by Sher Shah Suri. Its towering walls and intricate gateways reflect military ingenuity. Visit the Mausoleum of Jahangir, adorned with Mughal frescoes and intricate marble inlays, standing as a testament to the empire’s artistic legacy. Stop at the grand Badshahi Mosque, built by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671. Its vast courtyard and imposing minarets make it one of the world’s largest mosques. In the evening, witness the electrifying Wagah Border ceremony, a patriotic display of precision and national pride at the India-Pakistan border.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Lahore

MUGHAL GARDENS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE: Start the day at Shalamar Gardens, a masterpiece of Mughal landscape design built by Emperor Shah Jahan. Its flowing water channels and lush terraces create a serene oasis. Explore Lahore Museum, home to a vast collection of Gandharan Buddhist sculptures, Indo-Greek relics, and Mughal-era artefacts. Take a final stroll through Lahore’s historic streets, soaking in the sights, sounds, and flavours of this culturally rich city.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lahore - Departure

After three weeks of breathtaking landscapes, cultural discoveries, and unforgettable adventures, it’s time to bid farewell. We arrange your airport transfer for a smooth departure. For those extending their Karakoram Expedition, additional nights can be arranged. As you board your flight, you leave with memories of towering peaks, ancient civilisations, and incredible encounters. Until next time!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch