Hunza & Nanga Parbat, Gilgit-Baltistan
This tour pairs the orchards and forts of Hunza with the alpine meadows below Nanga Parbat (8,126 m). It is the most popular way to see the highlights of northern Pakistan in a single journey.
If you only have ten days and want the best of northern Pakistan, this is the trip. You get Hunza's culture and colour, then swap it for the pine forests and giant mountain wall of Fairy Meadows.
Fairy Meadows sits directly beneath the Rupal and Raikot faces of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain on Earth. A short walk from the meadows reaches a viewpoint over the Raikot Glacier.
Day 1
Pickup, briefing and overnight.
Day 2 to 5
Drive north and explore Karimabad, Attabad Lake and upper Hunza.
Day 6
Transfer south, then the thrilling jeep ride up to Tato village.
Day 7
A 3 to 4 hour walk through pine forest to the meadows and your cabins.
Day 8
Walk toward Beyal camp and the Raikot Glacier viewpoint below Nanga Parbat.
Day 9 to 11
Descend and drive back with a night en route.
Hotels and guesthouses in Hunza, and wooden cabins or tents at Fairy Meadows with mountain views.
Local and traveller-friendly meals throughout; simple hearty food at Fairy Meadows.
Mostly easy, with one 3 to 4 hour forest walk up to Fairy Meadows and an optional half-day walk to the viewpoint.
Pakistan tourist visa required. Park fees for Fairy Meadows included; no special trekking permit needed.
A well-established route with experienced jeep drivers on the Raikot track. Our guide accompanies you throughout.
Read our altitude and safety guide and is Pakistan safe for foreign trekkers.
Yes. Fairy Meadows sits directly beneath the Raikot Face of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), and a short walk reaches an even closer base camp viewpoint.
The Raikot jeep track is narrow and dramatic but driven daily by experienced local drivers. It is a highlight for most travellers rather than a hazard.
About 3 to 4 hours uphill through pine forest from Tato village. Ponies can carry bags, and the pace is relaxed.
May to October. The meadows are green in summer and gold in autumn. The Raikot track and higher trails are usually closed in winter.
Yes. It is mostly road-based with short walks, so it suits first-time visitors and reasonably active families.
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.
This short, scenic trek climbs from the pine meadows of Fairy Meadows to the Raikot-side base camp of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), one of the most accessible views of an 8,000-metre giant anywhere.
