08 Day Tour to Narran, Hunza - Gojal Valley Gilgit Pakistan
Experience the confluence of the highest mountain ranges of the world: Karakoram, Himalayas and the Hindu Kush.
As you travel along the Karakoram Highway, reputed as the 8th wonder of the world you will go through the dramatic, deep gorges of the Indus: the Lion River.
Spend a few days in Hunza, a region inhabited by Ismaili Muslims and renowned for the longevity of its inhabitants.
Walk to the glaciers flowing down from the soaring peaks.
- Visit local houses in Hunza
- Altit & Baltit forts
- Passu Glacier and Passu Lake
- Gulkin Glaciers and Borit Lake
- Karimabad
- Kargah Valley
- Scheduling: Semi-Private Tour
- Languages offered on the Activity / Tour: English, German, French, Chinese, Urdu
- Duration: 8 days
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Printed or Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Pick-up servicePick up from Islamabad Airport.
- Easy CancellationThere is no cancellation fee once Customers Cancel at least 7 day(s) prior to the date of the activity or tour.
There is 50% cancellation fee for Customers to Cancel 3 and 6 day(s) prior to the date of the activity or tour.
There is a 100% cancellation fee for Customers to Cancel 2 day(s) prior to the date of the activity or tour.
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
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Cut-off TimeAvailable to be booked until 12 before the tour starts. We reserve the option to confirm the tour or not due to availability.
- Visit Local houses to experience unique culture of Hunza Gojal Balistan.
- English-speaking guide.
- Transport: Air conditioned transport on Karakoram Highway, soft top 4x4 jeeps for Hunza excursions.
- Accommodation on a twin-share basis at standard category hotels in towns.
- Entrance fees at sites and museums
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- any expenses of a personal nature not mentioned above.
- Any Other natural calamities or acts of God beyond the control of Rock valley Tours, their staff and suppliers.
- any expenses due to cancellation of flights, landslides.
- Domestic/International airfares and airport taxes.
- Travelling Insurance
- Tips and Portage anywhere during tours
Morning flight to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city.
At the airport, you will be met by “Rock Valley Tours” and begin the 28km drive to Taxila, the ancient capital of Buddhist Gandhara civilization which is regarded as one of the most important archaeological sites on the sub-continent.
Here we will visit the ruins of a former city (Sirkup), a hill-top former monastery and the splendid site museum that contains artefacts excavated from the sites.
Among these are gold and silver coins from the time of Alexander the Great (326 BC).
After lunch, we head towards the Karakoram Highway (KKH) via the beautiful lush green valleys of Mansehra District.
The highway was a joint project between Pakistan and China and took 20 years to complete and during its construction 300 Chinese and 600 Pakistani workers lost their lives.
An overnight stay at a motel. (4-5 hour drive, 200 km).
You will have an early morning drive to Gilgit, the capital of Pakistan’s Northern Areas.
At Thakot, we cross a Chinese-made bridge and enter the Indus River gorge.
For centuries this branch of the Silk Route was used by the traders and Buddhist missionaries.
There are many rock carving sites dating back to that time, including the carvings at Shatial.
After lunch at Chilas, we stop at Thalichi, the best view point of Nanga Parbat (8125m) the 9th highest peak in the world and the second highest in Pakistan after K2 , which is also known as the Killer Mountain.
There are also spectacular views of Rakaposhi (7788m) and the Haramosh Range from the same spot.
As we drive north we reach the meeting point of the world’s three highest mountain ranges – the Karakoram , Himalayas and the Hindukush.
At this amazing place the Gilgit River also joins the mighty Indus.
We follow the Gilgit River to Gilgit and an overnight stay at a hotel. (9-10 hours, 320 km).
After crossing a suspension bridge of the river we reach Kargah and visit the 7th century Buddha carved into the rock.
In ancient times the Kargah Valley was used by Buddhist monks as a route to and from Taxila.
Our tour continues along the breathtaking Hunza Valley where we will be able to see the original Silk Route used by both traders and monks.
En route we will make a short stop at the Rakaposhi (7788m) viewpoint before arriving at Karimabad, the capital of the Hunza Valley.
An overnight stay at a Hotel. (2-3 hour drive, 110 km).
You will have a free day in Karimabad with time for short walks to the Altit and Baltit forts, and for more exploration of the Hunza Valley.
There are superb views of the Karakoram Range from here - Rakaposhi 7788m, Diran 7266m, Ultar 7400m and Golden Peak 7027m, along with glimpses of the Nagar Valley on the other side of the river.
The friendly, long-lived people of the Hunza are almost self-sufficient, growing wheat, maize, apricots and walnuts and making their own clothes, shoes, and wooden and stone bowls.
In the afternoon there will be time to walk to the Ultar Glacier by following the irrigation channel through the village or to stroll through the single-lane bazaar to enjoy more spectacular views of the mountain peaks soaring around you.
An overnight stay at a Hotel.
Today we take a short drive into the heart of Karakorams.
We will stop at the village of Gulmit, in the shadow of the unclimbed Gulmit Tower and walk through the village fields to visit the polo ground and historic houses and later take a short trek to the Gulkin glaciers and Borit Lake.
Our transport will meet us near Borit Lake to take us the 15km to Passu.
Passu is a charming village set against a backdrop of the soaring Passu Cones, and the Passu and Batura glaciers within short walking distance.
About 70 years ago Passu was the second largest settlement in Hunza after Karimabad. However, the glacier upstream on the Hunza River began to advance, creating a dam which later broke, washing away houses and fertile fields.
Now the river occupies the major share of the valley.
There will be time for a walk through the village before an overnight stay at a lodge. (1 hour, 50 km).
Today you will take a morning walk to the Passu Glacier and Passu Lake (45 minutes one-way).
From the snout of the glacier, there are spectacular views of Shispar ( 7611m) and Passu Peak (7478m).
Walk back to Lodge for lunch and afterwards visit the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 800 feet long bridges over the Hunza River are still used by the local people.
An overnight stay at a lodge.
Today you will drive back along the KKH following the Hunza River enjoying more amazing views of the Karakorams.
We spend the night at Besham/ Narran on the banks of the Indus River. (6-7-hour drive, 260km).
Today we start early for the 8-hour drive along the KKH to Islamabad, with a short stop at Abbottabad for lunch.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to home to your destination. ( 11-12-hours drive, 500 km).
- Staying connected Before leaving for Pakistan, do your homework online to find the best option for the SIM card you will be using here. This way, you can avoid costly roaming charges. You can choose your service provider based on your needs: area coverage, data volume and call frequency. As soon as you touch down, make your way to the nearest sales and service centre of the company you’ve finalised and follow the procedure to acquire your local SIM card.
- Safety first As is the case with most developing countries, visitors are advised to remain vigilant, obtain information about preferred timings to visit certain locations beforehand, and heed warnings. It’s also prudent to carry valuables inconspicuously and divide cash into two to three portions and keep it in your pockets and wallet separately.
- Food, water and alcohol The typical Pakistani palate favours spicy food, drinking water is best if bottled, and alcohol is frowned upon as the country is an Islamic republic. Many restaurants do feature milder options and foreign cuisines, but these are harder to find in smaller cities and towns. Don’t miss out on the delicious local dishes, and the fruits in Pakistan are among the best in the world.
- Carry photocopies of all your documents Make sure that you carry all necessary travel and identification documents and bring as many photocopies as you can, because visitors are often required to register at a number of check posts for their own safety. The personnel in charge are usually courteous, and while frequent questions can be irksome, just remember that all the precautions are for your own good.
- Take a quick look at these valuable tips first. Whether you’re travelling to Pakistan for the mountains in the north, the sea to the south, the historical sites dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization or the stunning Mughal architecture, some preparation beforehand can certainly make your trip more memorable.