Northern Areas or North Pakistan is very beautiful which attracts not a local tourists but also international tourist to visit and stay this heaven on earth. North Pakistan spread round about 72,496 sq. km. These area is very beautiful for its small and big valleys, natural lakes and highest peaks, these ye catching peaks attracts even in winter with heavy snowfall and these peaks are highest peaks in the world these peaks started with heights from 1,000 meters to 8,000 meters, this heaven on earth includes regions of Gilgit-Baltistan Hunza, and Shangrila. Now converted to a new province namely Gilgit-Baltistan.
The entire North Pakistan has its own cultural trends and these regions also very interesting as its geographical locations. The people of this region has best customs and traditions with typical costumes, folk dances, music and sports like polo and buzkashi, its also attracts the national and international tourists to an unforgettable experience of this heaven on earth. These area has distinction that world top 14 peaks above 8,000 meters highest peaks on world or earth are in in North Pakistan , Four are also lies on world highest glacier namely Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram range in North Pakistan. These Peaks included world top peaks like K2 or Mount Godowin Austin which is 8,611 meter high and this peaks is world’s second highest peak in the entire globe.
The top and highest peaks in North Pakistan are Gasherbrum-I which is 8,068 meter high , secondly Broad Peak which is 8,047 meters high and thirdly Gasherbrum-II which is 8,035 meter high. Nanga Parbat is also another top peaks which is also a great, which is highest in this range Nanga Parbat is also 8,126 meter high and this is located at the western most end of the Himalayas. There are many other highest peaks in North Pakistan in-which 68 peaks are over 7,000 meter and hundreds others of over 6,000 meters high, these also attracts and encourage for those hikers who want to reach these top, beautiful and most dangerous peaks of the world.
Islamabad International Airport
Subject to your flight schedule
Arrival at Islamabad international airport, transfer to centrally located hotel/guest house. In the afternoon site seeing of twin cities (Islamabad & Rawalpindi), visit modern mosque Shah Faisal, Doman-e-koh, Shakarparian hills, Lok Versa, Modern markets (Jinnah supper & super markets), Raja Bazaar, Cant area etc. O/N stay in hotel
This morning, we will start our journey (5-6 hrs drive) toward the mountain kingdom of North Pakistan on the famous Karakorum Highway/ancient silk route. En route visit Taxila Museum (1-hour drive). The modern town of Taxila is 35 km from Islamabad. Most of the Archeological Sites at Taxila (600 B.C-500 A.D) are located around Taxila Museum. For over 1000years, Taxila remained famous of as a center of learning in respect of Gandhara Art of Sculpture, education, and Buddhism in the days of Buddhist glory. There are over 50 archeological sites scattered in a radius of 30 km around Taxila. Some of the most important sites include Dharmarajika, Stupa, and Monastery (300 B.C – 200 A.D), Bhir Mound (600-200 B.C) Sirkap (200 B.C – 600 A.D, Jundial Temple (250 B.C), and Julian Monastery (200-600 A.D). After our visit, we continue our drive, en route we will stop for a cup of Pakistani tea and toilet break. O/N stay at the hotel.
Following breakfast, 4×4 ride (50 minutes each from Shogran) to beautiful Seri Paye for panoramic views. You will come back to shogran and continue another 2 hours car drive to Naran. Night stay will be at hotel Northern Retreat which is quite newly build hotel.
Following breakfast, you will drive for an hour each way to beautiful saiful Maluk Lake (walking, horse riding & boating on self-payment). After spending few hours at lake, you will drive down to Naran and continue our drive to Lalazaar plateau. In the evening we will back to Naran walking along the river or bazaar will be optional. Dinner & overnight stay will be at hotel.
A spectacular ascend on jeeps to Babusar Pass (4173m) provides views of whole Kaghan Panorama. Drive steep down hill for 50kms to Chilas and join Karakorum Highway till confluence of Astore valley road. Across KKH and Indus River through Astore gorge to beautiful Rama at (3480m).
Today’s drive will be a life-time memory of driving through a treeless wilderness at 4000m, knee deep in summer grass with beautiful wild flowers, whistling marmots and grazing yaks. Descend down through narrow Satpara gorge to the deep blue Satpara Lake.
Morning till afternoon, we will visit skardu include khapochu fort, walking on sand dunes of Skardu and local bazaars. Later, we will drive to Khaplo and en route we will make several photo stops. Dinner & overnight stay will be at hotel.
Morning, we will visit Khaplo Palace, old mosque and later we will drive to Talish Village in Hushe Vallay to view Amazing Masherbrum Peak. Around late noon, we will drive back to Skardu for accommodation.
We will leave hotel in the morning and drive for an hour to Shangrila, we will spend couple of time in shangrila resort and then we will continue our drive along the Indus river to Chilas. En route we will make several interesting photography of Indus canyons, Nanga Parbat view point, junction point of three highest mountain ranges, tea and toilet breaks. We will reach hotel in Gilgit around evening, after check-in dinner will be served.
For half a day, we will drive along the beautiful Hunza river, one of the most special parts of Pakistan, en route visit Chinise graveyard, monuments, Rakaposhi view points. As we approach Karimabad the peak Rakaposhi (7788m) dominates the sky line to the east. Above Hunza stands the prominent rock spire Bublimating 6000m and the Impressive Ultar peaks. The former Mir of Hunza now lives in Modern Palace in Karimabad. We will have time to Explore the shops and city of Karimabad. Overnight stay at hotel.
This morning we will drive by 4×4 jeeps to Hopar village (Nagar Valley) on opposite site of River Hunza for a walk on the Hopar Glacier. After lunch at at Hopar, we will drive back to Duikar (The top village of Central Hunza) for sun set and sunrise photography.
Excursion to historical Khunjerab Pass at 4733m, border between Pakistan & China with en route stop at Gulkin Glacier, Passu Glacier and Khunjerab National Park.
We will drive back to Gilgit. Reminder the evening is free you to witness once again the polo match and visit of Bazaar. O/N stay at hotel.
On the footsteps of the Marcopolo to Punial Valley than to spectacular drive to the Phandar Lake, full of golden trout. A paradise for anglers. Dinner will be served with trout fish. Overnight stay at hotel.
Ascent to Shandur Pass at 3724m. The highest polo field in the world with beautiful mountains panoramas. Continue drive to Mastuj once the capital of little “Bolor Kingdom”.
Following freakfast, we will journey to lower Chitral, a central town and staring point of the side valleys. En route we will stop for photography, lunch we will have in Boni and contine our drive to Chitral City. After check-in at hotel, we will visit Fort, Shahi Mosque, walk along the river and bazaar. Dinner & overnight stay will be at hotel.
Drive to Kafir-Kalash, visit three villages, Birir, Rumbur & Bamburat. En route we will stop for photography, tea and toilet break. We will reach Kalash around late noon and remaining time, we will walk in Bamburat Village and meet local people.
Today we will explore Kalash Valley and the most interesting thing here will be meeting with local people and you will be amazed by knowing their history culture and traditions. As this only part of Pakistan that someone can see the local in very traditional. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel.
Following breakfast, we will drive to Swat Valley via lowari pass or tunnel. En route we will stop for photography, tea and toilet break. We will reach Swat around late noon and remaining time, we will walk Mingora Bazaar. We will return to hotel for dinner & accommodation.
Half day excursion to Malamjaba, is beautiful place and also best place for skiing. After lunch we will come back to Swat visit museum, swat butkaras, murghizar and bazaar walk. back to hotel for dinner & accommodation.
We will leave Swat in the morning to Islamabad. En route, we will visit Takht-e-bhai Monetary. Later we will continue our drive to Islamabad. Dinner & Check-in at hotel.
You will be transfer to Islamabad International airport. From peace and serenity of Hunza to the hustle and bustles of “modern” trends, you say Khuda Hafiz, the typical farewell, as you depart after a tour into Shangri-La. End of the tour.
Copyright Activity Captured
