Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
Islamabad is the calm, green capital of Pakistan and the main gateway for treks and expeditions to the north. It is where most international visitors arrive, sort logistics, and connect onward to Gilgit and Skardu.
Islamabad is Pakistan's purpose-built capital, and for most international trekkers it is the point of arrival. The Islamabad International Airport handles flights from the Gulf, Europe, and beyond, and the city is the natural place to spend your first and last nights while you connect to the mountains.
Compared with older Pakistani cities, Islamabad is quiet, green, and orderly, laid out in a grid beneath the Margalla Hills. This makes it an easy soft landing. You can recover from your flight, buy any last supplies, and meet your guide before heading north. Most trips start with a briefing here.
From Islamabad you have two ways north. You can fly to Gilgit or Skardu in about an hour, which is scenic but weather dependent and prone to delays. Or you can drive the Karakoram Highway, a longer but more reliable and spectacular journey. We often plan to fly one way and drive the other.
If you have a spare day, Islamabad rewards a little exploring. The vast Faisal Mosque sits below the Margalla Hills, the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint looks out over the city, and nearby Rawalpindi offers older bazaars and street food. A half-day tour is plenty before you head for the peaks.
On the practical side, most visitors need a visa, and Pakistan's online e-visa system covers many nationalities. We help with the invitation letter and documents where needed, arrange airport pickup, and handle your onward flights or transport so your arrival is smooth and stress free.
Yes, Islamabad is the main gateway for treks and expeditions in northern Pakistan. Its international airport and onward flights to Gilgit and Skardu make it the logical arrival point.
You can fly from Islamabad to Gilgit or Skardu in about an hour, or drive the Karakoram Highway over one to two days. Flights are faster but weather dependent, so we often plan a mix.
Most foreign visitors need a visa, and Pakistan's online e-visa system covers many nationalities. We can provide an invitation letter and guidance to help your application go smoothly.
You can visit the Faisal Mosque, take in the city from Daman-e-Koh in the Margalla Hills, and explore the older bazaars of nearby Rawalpindi. A half-day tour covers the highlights.
Yes, Islamabad is calm, orderly, and considered one of the safer cities in Pakistan for foreign visitors. Normal city precautions are enough, and it makes an easy first stop after a long flight.
The Hunza Valley is the friendliest introduction to northern Pakistan: ancient forts, turquoise Attabad Lake, the Passu Cones and the Karakoram Highway to the China border, all at a gentle, scenic pace.
The K2 Base Camp trek walks the length of the Baltoro Glacier to Concordia and the foot of K2 (8,611 m). It is the classic Karakoram adventure and the trip most foreign trekkers ask us about first.
Skardu is the staging town for every Karakoram expedition, but it is a superb destination in its own right: alpine lakes, cold deserts, ancient forts and the road to the Deosai Plains.
Tell us your dates and what you want to see. We reply with a tailored itinerary, a clear price and honest advice, usually within a day.
