8 Days Gilgit Hunza Tour Adventure By Road

Arrive in Islamabad, where our amiable company representative will warmly welcome you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for a restful overnight stay. If your group arrives during the day, we will treat you to sightseeing in Islamabad and the captivating old city of Rawalpindi.

Departure from Hotel Grand at 0800hrs and travel on the most scenic Hazara Motorway till Thakot which is 3.5 hours drive. We will stop here for tea and continue to Besham for another 1.5 hours which is located on Karakoram Highway and on its West is Swat Valley at a distance of 60 kilometers. Historically here Alexander fought one of his campaigns in 326 BC and has been home to many Buddhist hermits monks dated from 4^th to 9^th century CE and the Hindu community. The Chilas is another 200 km away on the Karakoram Highway via the town of Dasu where two huge dams are under construction. On the bank of the river Indus from Shatial to Hunza there are 50000 historic rock paintings done by different races of people in span of 5000 years. If time permits we would go to visit such paintings while staying in Chilas few minutes’ walk from the Hotel. Overnight in Hotel   

Departure from Hunza and on the way a short stop we will make at Nanga Parbat viewpoint which is the ninth highest mountain in the World and is also Known As Killer Mountain. This is the biggest lump of stone on Earth in the Himalayan Mountain Range. The other point of interest is the junction point where the three highest mountain ranges of the World meet namely Himalaya, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush. A photo stop at the World’s 21^st highest Mount Rakaposhi which is also known as color color-changing steepest mountain. Also, see the thousands of years old Silk Route clinging to the mountain. Shepherds still use this route to go to their pasture lands. A convergent boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate can be seen near Chalt which is 58 km from Gilgit from the roadside. The Himalayan mountain range and Tibetan plateau have formed as a result of the collision which began 50 million years ago and continues till today with a rise of one cm per year.  Rakaposhi Mountain on the right is the 21st highest and is the steepest mountain on the planet which changes color with the sunlight. Hunza was a former princely state for about 900 years and surrounded by four peaks above 7000 meters i.e., Rakaposhi, Diran, Golden, and Ultar nowhere in the world.  Check-in at the hotel for an overnight stay and dinner.

Departure for a full-day excursion to the Khunjarab Pass after breakfast. On the way stop over at  Attabad Lake 14 km upstream of Karimabad created by a massive slide in January 2010 thus blocking Hunza River for five months. The 24 km of road was also washed away and rebuilt in 2015 with five tunnels to restore the Pakistan-China trade route. The lake length is 21 km with 1000 meters depth and fed by five rivers. The lake provides many entertainment for enjoyment including boating, jet-skiing, water scooters, and other recreational activities at the lake. The amazing views of the lake freshen one’s mind and our stopover will be of one hour. Continue to Khunjarab Pass which is a high mountain pass on the Northern border of Pakistan with China at an elevation of 4,733 meters above sea level thus making it the highest crossing in the World. Soon after crossing the Upper Hunza where Passu Glacier can be seen touching the road. It is 56 km and the fifth longest nonpolar glacier in the world. The region beyond Dhee is declared as Khunjerab National Park and while driving through it one can see grazing wild asses, yaks, marmots, and ibex. The sight of Marco Polo sheep, urinal, and snow leopard is rare. The friendship gate between Pakistan and China is just on the top with hundreds of Chinese tourists visiting on the other side. Move back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Departure for Nagar Valley and onward to Hopper Moving Glacier after breakfast. The transport will be four by four Jeep / PRADO and it is an hour’s journey. The road runs almost in the center like a dreamy stream with high-punching mountains soaring up on the sides including Spantik 7027 meters, Bawalter, Rush Peak, and Miar Peak. A few famous glaciers in the area include Geentur, Daranci, Mair, Barpu, and Hoper. The abundance of fruits grows in these valleys especially apricots because of the favorable climate and the grass is lush and springy. Walk for ten minutes to observe the moving Glacier Hopper covered with black gravel. It is moving with a speed of 3 to 4 feet per day and a marked stone can indicate that. After a hot cup of tea at this 8000-foot-high Glacier, we will move back to Hunza for lunch. Evening visit to eagle nest located at Duikar Viewpoint at a height of 10,000 feet connected by jeepable road. It is a famous tourist resort where Sunset and Sunrise give fantastic views. As the Sun sets below the horizon, creating romantic shades of red and orange across the sky we have a chance to breathe in and rejuvenate. The place has magnificent views of Golden Peak, Ultar Peak, Rakaposi Peak, and countless other peaks. We will do some shopping in the Bazaar of Karimabad which is colorful and items of interest include local handicrafts, souvenirs, hand-woven rugs, embroidered caps, shawls, hand-woven cloth known as puffy, and gemstones. Move back to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.          

Today we start back our journey on the same route and depart for Chilas at 0900hrs after breakfast. The same route will give a different view of landscapes and mountains as the direction of the Sun has changed. We will stop for an hour in Gilgit to do shopping of some dry fruits and continue to Jaglot for a lunch stop. Reach Chilas in the evening and transfer to the hotel for overnight.  Dinner in the hotel.

Departure for Islamabad at 0900hrs after breakfast and stop for tea at Dassu and continue for lunch at Besham. Soon we will join Hazara Motorway one of the most scenic roads of Pakistan and frequently listed among the best road trips. The second stopover will be at the service area of the Motorway before turning into Islamabad.

After a satisfying breakfast at the hotel, proceed to the Islamabad International Airport for your departure flight. We bid you farewell, hoping that you depart with cherished memories of the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and the heartfelt hospitality of Baltistan.

Bon Voyage.