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14 Day itinerary in Pakistan, Asia

Skardu and Hunza Valley Cultural Tour

Baltistan is a beautiful district in the Karakoram range and a famous destination for adventure and cultural tours. This region is known as the mountaineer’s paradise, four of the 14 highest peaks in the worlds (above 8000m) are situated in the Baltistan region, and hundreds of 7000m high peaks. Aut... Read More

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Hina

By Hina

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Minimum 12
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Maximum 70
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Operated in

English, Hindi

GUIDANCE

Tour Leader, Tour Guide

starting point

Islamabad

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Skiing/Snowboarding

Historic & cultural landmarks

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Enjoy Autumn colours with the experience of rich cultural heritage

2

Spectacular high mountains peaks such as Masherbrum, Nanga Parbat and many more

3

Beautiful lakes, including Sadpara, upper Kachura, Sheosar and Blind Lake

4

Safranga Cold desert

Itinerary

Mid-Range ($$) expand_more

Day 1

place Islamabad Arrival

Arrival at Islamabad International airport and transfer to Hotel in Islamabad. Our guide will receive you from the airport, and participants will be transferred to Hotel. Participants will enjoy leisure time to relax and recover from the journey on this day

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena or similar
Day 2

place Islamabad – Skardu - Khaplu

Early morning hike up to Toqsikhar (old fort), a viewpoint of the confluence of rivers Shyok, Hushe & Saltoro. Visit & witness the architectural heritage of the famous Chaqchan mosque and then drive to Macholo valley (1 hour). Spend some free time enjoying the splendid view of Masherbrum Peak, also known as K-1, leisure time for photography, meeting local people and enjoying the pristine natural beauty. Drive back to Sailing and enjoy a cultural walk through the village streets and interact with local people—lunch at the Sailing fish farm and drive back to Khaplu. In the afternoon, visit Khanqah-e-Maula and then move to Hanjor Broq to witness the sunset. 


Accommodation: Hotel

Altitude: 2500 m

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Driving duration: 3 to 4 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Khaplu Palace
Day 3

place Khaplu – Sailing – Macholo - Khaplu

Drive from Khaplu to Shigar valley with short stops at multiple points of interest for photography. Visit the famous Sarfaranga cold desert and Shigar fort for lunch. Visit the fort museum and garden, and spend time exploring the area. (The Shigar Fort- Fong Khar, which means The Fort on Rock, is an old fort built in the 17th century by the Raja of the Amacha Dynasty of Shigar). End the evening with a short hike up to the old fort to witness the sun setting over the Shigar river. 


Accommodation: Hotel

Altitude: 2500m

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Driving duration: 3 to 4 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Khaplu Palace
Day 4

place Khaplu – Shigar)

We will spend a whole day in Skardu. Visiting Shangri-La resort (optional boating), drive to upper Kachura, and walk through the local houses, fields & trees. After 20 minutes beautiful walk, we will reach upper Kachura Lake, having free time to explore the area and enjoy boating. Then drive to Soq valley (a beautiful valley near upper Kachura), and enjoy fishing and lunch. Drive back to Skardu and hike to Nansoq village (50 minutes), a beautiful hike to the first organic village of Baltistan. 11 homes and 92 Inhabitants, visited by King Charles and Prince Agha Khan IV! This centuries-old tiny settlement is one of the most peaceful places in the region. Explore the area and enjoy leisure time with a host family. Hike back to Skardu (50 minutes) and visit Skardu Bazar for shopping (local handicrafts, jewellery, carpet etc.). Drive back to Shigar for an overnight stay. 


Accommodation: Hotel

Altitude: 2300m

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Driving duration: 4 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Shigar Fort
Day 5

place Shigar – Skardu - Shigar

We will spend a whole day in Skardu. Visiting Shangri-La resort (optional boating), drive to upper Kachura, and walk through the local houses, fields & trees. After 20 minutes beautiful walk, we will reach upper Kachura Lake, having free time to explore the area and enjoy boating. Then drive to Soq valley (a beautiful valley near upper Kachura), and enjoy fishing and lunch. Drive back to Skardu and hike to Nansoq village (50 minutes), a beautiful hike to the first organic village of Baltistan. 11 homes and 92 Inhabitants, visited by King Charles and Prince Agha Khan IV! This centuries-old tiny settlement is one of the most peaceful places in the region. Explore the area and enjoy leisure time with a host family. Hike back to Skardu (50 minutes) and visit Skardu Bazar for shopping (local handicrafts, jewellery, carpet etc.). Drive back to Shigar for an overnight stay. 


Accommodation: Hotel

Altitude: 2300m

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Driving duration: 4 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Shigar Fort
Day 6

place Shigar– Astore- Gilgit

Drive to Gilgit via Deosai Plains, the second highest plateaus in the world. We will visit Manthal rock Budha, Sadpara Lake, Ali Malik top, Bara Pani and Sheosar Lake (4114 m). Enjoy leisure time to explore the area. The plains are a floral extravaganza of the summer months with a recorded number of 406 species (Nawaz et al., 2006). We will also travel through small villages of Astore valley and witness a different culture. While traveling on Karakoram Highway, We will have short stops including Nanga Parbat view point and junction point of three highest mountain ranges in the world. Check into the hotel in Gilgit and free time in the evening.


Accommodation: Hotel

Altitude: 1500 m

Meals include: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

driving duration: 7 to 8 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Shigar Fort
Day 7

place Gilgit-Hunza

After breakfast, drive to Hunza. On our way to  Hunza, we will have a short stop to visit the Berano suspension bridge (one of the oldest suspension bridges in the region) and the Danyor tunnel. We will also have quick stops for photography at the collision point of two tectonic plates, the ancient silk route viewpoint and the Rakaposhi viewpoint. While passing through the small villages in Nagar and Hunza valleys, we will witness village life. Check into the hotel in Karimabad and have some free time. We will do an evening walk (40 minutes) at Samarqand kohl (water channel) through the apricot orchids in the village and explore the local culture. We will drive to Dongo Das (a 20-minute drive) for stargazing at night. Enjoy your precious time under the dark sky. Drive back to our hotel for the night stay.


Accommodation: Hotel

Altitude: 2400m

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Driving Duration: 2 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Hotel Islamabad
Day 8

place Karimabad-Altit-Duiker

Enjoying a full day in Hunza, we will visit 800 years old Baltit Fort (30 minutes walk), Karimabad Bazar (for shopping for Handicrafts, gemstones, dry fruits etc.), Altit Fort (900 years old), and enjoy traditional Lunch at Kha Basi Café (a café owned by Serena hotels and run by local women). After lunch, we will visit the music school in Altit, where local children learn and play traditional music (guests can also practice playing regional musical instruments). Later in the afternoon, we will visit Ganish village (the oldest settlement in Hunza) and visit a local family home. We will drive to Duikar (2800 m) to enjoy the best view of the sunset. After a 15-minute beautiful hike, we will arguably reach one of the best sunset viewpoints in the world with a birds-eye view of the whole of Hunza and Nagar valleys and the splendid views of seven mountain peaks above 7000m. Drive back to our hotel in Karimabad for the night's stay.


Accommodation: Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Altitude: 2400 m

Driving duration: 2hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Main: Serena Hotel Islamabad
Day 9

place Karimabad-Passu-Karimabad

Today we will drive to Passu through numerous small villages in upper Hunza. After stopping at the Atabad Lake and enjoying boating, we will reach Gulmit village, where we will walk through the orchids and then visit the old house & music school. Enjoy a short hike, Pakistan's highest & longest stairs, to Ondra fort (01-hour), a community-based tourism initiative in Gulmit village of Gojal Valley. Free time to enjoy the beautiful view of Passu cones and upper Hunza. Later in the afternoon, drive to Borith Lake (a beautiful lake in upper Hunza famous for migrating birds). After witnessing the magnificent migrating birds, we will proceed to Passu to enjoy leisure time in the afternoon; we can do an evening trek to Passu glacier beside the stream (2 hours trek both ways) - optional. Enjoy the sunset from glacier breeze restaurant with a cup of tea/coffee and the famous apricot cake. We may participate in a cultural event/spring festival in upper Hunza (if time matches). Drive back to our hotel in Karimabad for the night's stay.


Accommodation: Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Altitude: 2400 m

Driving duration: 5 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10

place Karimabad-Hoper-Minapin

After breakfast, we will drive to Hoper valley – for 1 hour (2800 m). En route, we will visit Nagar Khas (a village in Nagar valley) and meet locals to witness a different culture and Nagar fort. Then continue to travel to Hoper village where we can do a beautiful short hike to Hoper glacier (2 hours) and experience walking on the glacier. Then drive to Minapin village to enjoy leisure time and a famous traditional lunch (Gurkun karahi) while a local historian briefly explains the region's history. After lunch, drive to KHO (a beautiful viewpoint) in local jeeps. Drive back to Karimabad in the evening. 


Accommodation: Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Altitude: 2400 m

Driving duration: 6-7 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11

place Karimabad-Khababad-Gilgit

Drive to Khanabad village in lower Hunza and spend most of the day here. We will witness village life with a host family and experience practical participation in village people's routine activities. We will visit fruit orchids, walk through the streets, meet locals, including artisans/historians and enjoy traditional lunch with a host family. We can also enjoy meditation/yoga in the village. Drive back to Gilgit in the afternoon and visit Kargah Budha (7th century Budha). 


Accommodation: Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Altitude: 1500 m

Driving duration: 2 to 3 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12

place Gilgit-Islamabad

Fly from Gilgit to Islamabad (1-hour scenic flight). Transfer to hotel and after lunch sightseeing. OR

Drive from Gilgit via Karakoram Highway with short stops (in case of flight cancellation)


Accommodation: Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Altitude: 540 m

Driving duration: 1 hour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13

place Contingency day

If we cannot fly due to the weather, we will travel down to Islamabad by road. If we fly from Gilgit to Islamabad, we will enjoy sightseeing in the capital, or your leader will advise you on the options available for today. (Day excursion to the Taxila museum and archaeological sites will be one of the options.)
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Accommodation: Hotel
Altitude: 540 m
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14

place Departure

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to the airport for international flights.


Altitude: 540 m

Meals: Breakfast

Driving duration: 40mins

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Serena Khaplu Palace
  • Serena Shigar Fort
  • Serena Hotel Islamabad
  • Serena or similar

Meals expand_less

  • Lunch (12)
  • Dinner (12)
  • Snacks (3)
  • Breakfast (13)

Transport expand_less

  • Domestic Flight to/from Islamabad-Skardu
  • Luxury Car for Pick & Drop to Airport
  • 4 x 4 Jeep Safari through out the Tour

Activities expand_less

  • Sightseeing
  • Cultural Heritage Visits
  • Interaction with Local Community
  • Short Day Treks

Extras expand_less

  • 24/4 local assistance

Not Included expand_less

  • Tips for Ground & Support staff
  • Any personal expense
  • Pakistani Visa is not included.
  • International Air Travel
  • Insurance

About Hina

TEAM LEAD

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Expertise: 

Skiing/Snowboarding

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Historic & cultural landmarks

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$3,200.00 USD