Itinerary
- Day 1
Islamabad
You'll arrive in Islamabad and head to your hotel for a 1pm welcome meeting. After settling in, the afternoon takes you to Faisal Mosque, where you'll see the striking Bedouin-style tent architecture up close. From there, you'll walk through the Pakistan Monument with its petal design reflecting Mughal influences, then spend time at the Heritage Museum learning about the country's ethnology. Later, you'll make your way to Rawalpindi's Twin City to explore the narrow lanes and bustling Raja Bazaar, which contrasts quite a bit with Islamabad's wider boulevards.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Faisal Mosque
- Visit Pakistan Monument
- Tour Heritage Museum
- Explore Rawalpindi's old city and Raja Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Faisal Mosque Pakistan Monument Heritage Museum Raja Bazaar - Day 2
Islamabad to Naran
Today's an eight-hour drive to Naran in the Khagan Valley as you gain altitude through forested peaks of the lesser Himalaya Range. You'll spot colorful trucks on the Friendship Highway between Pakistan and China during the journey. The drive includes several photo stops so you can take in the scenery. Once you reach Naran, the rest of the day is yours to relax and wander around this small riverside town at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Naran town
Landmarks/POIs Khagan Valley - Day 3
Naran to Tarashing
You'll head north through high-altitude lakes in Lulusar National Park before joining the Karakoram Highway, also called the Friendship Highway. This legendary road took 20 years to build as a joint Pakistan-China project and runs 1,300 kilometers through the Karakoram range to Khunjerab Pass. You'll cross Babusar Pass at 4,173 meters and drop down to Tarashing for a two-night stay. The eight-hour drive includes scenic stops throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Lulusar National Park Babussar Pass - Day 4
Tarashing
You have two options today. The main activity is a five-kilometer walk up to Herligkoffer Base Camp on Nanga Parbat's lower slopes, taking three to four hours with about 400 meters of ascent and descent. The route passes through lush meadow and follows Bazhin Glacier to a natural spring, giving you close-up views of the world's 9th highest mountain. If you prefer, you can take a 4WD tour of Upper Rupal Valley instead with scenic stops and a short village walk.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to Herligkoffer Base Camp (optional alternative: 4WD tour of Upper Rupal Valley)
Optional Activities
- 4WD tour of Upper Rupal Valley with village walk
Landmarks/POIs Herligkoffer Base Camp Nanga Parbat Lower Rupal Valley - Day 5
Tarashing to Skardu
This full day involves driving out of Astore Valley to Deosai Plateau at 4,100 meters. The national park protects habitat for Himalayan Brown Bears and is one of the world's highest alpine plains. You'll stop at Sheosar Lake for a two-kilometer walk around its dark-blue waters, then continue to Satpura Lake with its turquoise waters from melting ice. You'll reach Skardu in the early evening after a long but scenic drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Short walk around Sheosar Lake
- Stop at Satpura Lake
Landmarks/POIs Deosai Plateau Sheosar Lake Satpura Lake - Day 6
Skardu
An early start in 4WD takes you to Shigar village to see the 14th-century Amboriq Mosque with its entirely wooden UNESCO-listed construction and Shigar Fort. You'll have lunch with traditional Balti dishes like Chapsuro, Gittey, and Mamtu. After eating, you'll head to Katpana Desert with its rolling sand dunes (sometimes snow-covered in winter). On the return, there's a two-hour walk up to 16th-century Kharpocho Fort on a clifftop overlooking the Indus and Shigar Rivers confluence.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Balti lunch with local dishes including Chapsuro, Gittey, and Mamtu), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Shigar Fort
- Visit Amboriq Mosque
- Walk to Kharpocho Fort
Optional Activities
- Explore Katpana Desert
Landmarks/POIs Shigar Fort Amboriq Mosque Katpana Desert Kharpocho Fort - Day 7
Skardu to Gilgit
You'll travel in 4WD vehicles north out of Skardu Valley, rejoining the Karakoram Highway at Jaglot before heading to Gilgit (roughly five hours). You'll arrive for lunch, then explore this bustling town at the heart of Gilgit-Baltistan. Later, you'll walk through Gilgit's bazaar, stop at the 158-meter Gilgit Bridge from the Raja period, visit the old British Cemetery, and see the 7th-century Kargah Buddha rock carving that marks the town's role in spreading Buddhism along the Silk Road.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk through Gilgit's bazaar
- Visit Gilgit Bridge
- Visit old British Cemetery
- Visit Kargah Buddha
Landmarks/POIs Gilgit Bridge British Cemetery Kargah Buddha - Day 8
Gilgit to Karimabad
You'll continue along the KKH to Karimabad, stopping en route for panoramic views of Rakaposhi (7,778m peak). You'll explore the 700-year-old Baltit Fort with its Tibetan-style architecture, then travel to Duikar Village viewpoint for sunset views over Hunza Valley. If time allows, visit Sharma Rehabilitation Center supporting disabled individuals through rug and carpet making. This evening, you'll join a local Huzakut family for dinner in their village home, tasting Buttering Daudo, Chap Churo, and Burish Chapik.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional local meal with Huzakut family including Buttering Daudo, Chap Churo, and Burish Chapik)
Included Activities
- Explore Baltit Fort
- Evening meal with local Huzakut family
Optional Activities
- Stop at Rakaposhi viewpoint
- Visit Duikar Village viewpoint for sunset
- Visit Sharma Rehabilitation Center
Landmarks/POIs Rakaposhi Baltit Fort Duikar Village Hunza Valley Sharma Rehabilitation Center - Day 9
Karimabad
A full-day sightseeing tour by foot and 4WD starts early with a drive to Hoper Nagar, then a short 10-minute walk to Hoper Glacier viewpoint. You'll explore Hunza Sacred Rocks and reach Attabad Lake viewpoint. Afternoon brings a drive to Passu with a stop at the famous Hussaini Suspension Bridge (64 meters, weathered wooden planks and steel cables). You'll pause at Borith Lake for lunch near Passu Glacier, then walk 4km to Passu Glacier viewpoint (1.5 hours with brief ascent). Return to Karimabad stops at Korgah Women-Led Carpet Weaving Center showcasing traditional handcrafted carpets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Borith Lake with views of Passu Glacier), Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to Hoper Glacier viewpoint
- Explore Hunza Sacred Rocks
- Visit Attabad Lake viewpoint
- View Hussaini Suspension Bridge
- Walk to Passu Glacier viewpoint
- Visit Korgah Women-Led Carpet Weaving Center
Optional Activities
- Cross Hussaini Suspension Bridge
Landmarks/POIs Hoper Glacier Hunza Sacred Rocks Attabad Lake Hussaini Suspension Bridge Borith Lake Passu Glacier Korgah Women-Led Carpet Weaving Center - Day 10
Karimabad to Gupis
You'll leave Karimabad and travel along the Karakoram Highway before turning off to join the main highway linking Chitral and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the west with Gilgit Baltistan in the east. The drive through wide-open landscapes framed by snow-capped peaks is quite scenic. You'll stop for a picnic lunch in Gahkuch village set on a sweeping bend of the Gilgit River. After roughly six hours of driving, you'll reach Gupis for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in Gahkuch village), Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Gahkuch - Day 11
Gupis
You'll spend a full day exploring Yasin Valley in the Hindu Raj Mountain Range with a glacial river carving through the valley floor and 6,000m+ mountains backing the area. A 4WD takes you to Darkot village to observe daily life for locals, then to Ghasum where the road ends. You'll walk to Ghamubar Glacier snout (with an option for an additional hour walk into the glacier). After lunch overlooking the glacier, you'll continue to picturesque Ghamubar Lake before returning to Gupis in the afternoon. Total walk time is about 1.5 hours with roughly 200 meters altitude gain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch overlooking the glacier), Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to Ghamubar Glacier snout
- Visit Ghamubar Lake
Optional Activities
- Walk into Ghamubar Glacier (additional hour walk)
Landmarks/POIs Yasin Valley Darkot Ghamubar Glacier Ghamubar Lake - Day 12
Gupis to Naran
You'll leave the remote valley area and head east to rejoin the main highway. You'll cross Babusar Pass at 4,100 meters and stop at Lulusar Lake before descending down Kaghan Valley to Naran. After checking into your hotel, you'll get a short orientation tour of the town and its bustling main bazaar to get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Short orientation tour of Naran town and main bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Babusar Pass Lulusar Lake - Day 13
Naran to Islamabad
You'll continue losing altitude as you drop back down to the foothills, traveling through Mansehra and Abbottabad. You'll explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Taxila, an ancient city dating back to the 6th century BC. This area was fought over throughout centuries by many civilizations that inhabited it. After exploring, you'll head back to Islamabad to end your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Taxila UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks/POIs Taxila - Day 14
Islamabad
After breakfast at your hotel in Islamabad, the tour ends. There are no activities planned, so you're free to depart at any time that works for you. Luggage storage is available if your flight departs later in the day, which gives you flexibility with your schedule.
- Meals
- Breakfast
