Hunza Appricot Blossom / Summer & Autumn 11 Days Tour

Lunch enroute at local restaurant, continue till Besham/Naran.  

Besham – is the largest town and commercial centre. Shops are famous for China and international goods. In summer this small town is the centre of international and national holiday makers who use this route to visit the Northern areas of Pakistan.  

Naran is near about 280 kms from Islamabad; 150km from Babusar Top is 4173m above sea level. Naran is a famous summer destination and remains busy in summer. There are several day excursions i.e. Lake Saiful Muluk, Lalazar, Lake Lulusar and Babusar Pass. There are also several short walks and treks around Naran to enjoy and spend adventurous time in the beauty of Nature.  

 Arrive and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight

Chilas is a small town along the famous Karakorum Highway. It is located at a height of about 3000 feet above sea level at the foot of Nanga Parbat which stands as a wall against the monsoon winds leaving no rain for Chilas. This fact makes Chilas dry and rough very hot in summer and very cold in winter with chill winds. There are more than 20,000 pieces of rock carvings, which were left by various invaders, traders and pilgrims who passed along the trade route, the earliest date back to between 5000 and 1000 BC, showing single animals and triangular men and hunting scenes.

Gilgit is an old tribal town that acted as a rest stop for weary travelers on the silk route- the famous road from China to the Arabian Sea. It is located in the heart of the Karakorum Range, surrounded by lofty peaks, the most majestic being Rakaposhi.  

Arrive and transfer to the hotel for dinner & overnight

Enjoy the Apricot blossom Enroute to Karimabad. Make a lot of photo stops for photo and also make few hundred meters walk, few times to get close to Apricot trees.

Lunch at Rakaposhi View Point.

Rakaposhi View Point: Rakaposhi is a mountain in the Karakoram mountain range and is situated in the middle of the Nagar and Bagrote valleys and Danyor. Rakaposhi Peak 7788 meter high peak, which is the 27th highest mountain and considered one of the most beautiful. Rakaposhi is also known as Dumani (“Mother of Mist” or “Mother of Clouds”). Rakaposhi is the only mountain in the world which rises straight from beautifully cultivated fields to the height of 25,550 feet. From many places this wonderful spectacle can be viewed right from the base to the top. A number of shops are on both sides including souvenir shop with lot of variety.

Arrive Ganish and make short walk to about 400 year old village, renovated by UNESCO.

Ganish village: Ganish means gold in local Brushaski language. The  village is the oldest and first settlement on the ancient Silk Road in Hunza. The site of various ancient watch towers, traditional mosques, religious centers, and a reservoir. The 400-year-old house was awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2009.

Arrive Karimabad and continue drive to Duikar.

Duikar – is summer village, which is located at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet. From the crest of the hill, we have panoramic views of lower Hunza Valley, Nagar Valley, Rakaposhi, Hoper Glacier and Ultar among the others.

Upon arrival transfer to hotel. In the evening group can enjoy the Sun-Set view of the Hunza valley. Overnight at the hotel.

Ganish Rock Carving: The carvings on the rock dates back to the 1st Millennium AD, with a lot of carving of Ibex, Horse, Donkey, Camel and also a lot of Karoshti inscription is there. You can also find some old Chinese writings.

Enjoy the view of Ultar Peak 7388 Meters & Dastagilsar peak, 7885 from KKH. Also in Upper Hunza, enjoy the view of Passu Peak (7284 metres), Shisper (7611 metres), Batura (7785 metres), and the most remarkable is Passu cathedral peak at 6500 metres.

Gulmit is a Turkish or Iranian word which means the valley of flowers. It is the largest settlement of Gojal in the Upper Hunza region.  It locates on the main Karakorum at an altitude of about 2408m (7900ft) above the Arabian Sea level. Gulmit is old historic town, with mountains, peaks and glaciers.  

Passu is the mixing bowl of ancient civilization and dream of nature lovers is well known about its extraordinary contrast of landscapes of the world. Passu is one of the most beautiful villages of Pakistan. From times, immemorial the village has been promising Mountainous resort. Situated in the spectacular Karakorum Mountains on the old silk route, on the west banks of Hunza River and close to border on China.

Hiking in Upper Hunza: Beside the regular tour, we will make a short hiking tour in Gojal (Upper Hunza). It would be total 03 hour hike. We have different options and the hiking site would be decided, depending on that specific weather. Make hike to Borith Lake, to enjoy the spectacular view.

Lunch at local restaurant at Gulmit, later visit a small Museum at Gulmit. Also make a short walk in Gulmit village to enjoy the landscape and to see local culture. We will also visit local carpet factory run by local ladies, in a 400 year old house.

Later transfer to hotel at Gulmit for dinner and overnight.

Visit the Hoper Glacier and enjoy the landscape of surrounding peaks like Uttar Peak, Golden Peak and Bawaltar Peak.

Nagar – was an autonomous principality in close association with neighboring Hunza. The British gained control of both states between 1889 and 1892. The British retained Nagar’s status as a ‘principality’ until 1947. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south and west, and the former princely state of Hunza to the north and east. The state capital was the town of Nagar.

After lunch at local restaurant in Nagar drive back to Karimabad, arrive & visit Baltit Fort and Bazaar.

Baltit Fort- was the old palace of the Mir of Hunza and was inhabited until the 1950. The Fort is about 800 years old. The local people say that a princess of Baltistan married with reigning Mir and brought with her some Baltit masons, carpenters and craftsmen to build Baltit as part of her dowry. It stands on a cliff edge and now is a museum and cultural centre. For a spectacular view of Fort, walk along the irrigation channel that comes from Ultar Glacier.

Later transfer to hotel for dinner & overnight.

Spend the time in taking the photographs of Apricot and visit the environment. Then drive back to Karimabad and visit Altit village and Altit Fort.

Altit Fort is the majestic & about 3 km above from Karimabad. It has been built on a sheer rock-cliff that falls 300 meters (1000 feet) into the Hunza River. It was originally home to the ruler of the Hunza State, who carried the title Mir. It is said that the present language Brushaski was brought here by the white Huns in 47 A.D.

Return to hotel for dinner & overnight

Later drive from Karimabad to Gilgit. On the way, visit Minapin village, in the foot hills of Rakaposhi Peak, 7788Meter.

Minapin Village: 05 KM off from the Karakorum Highway, there is the old village of Minapin. It’s a popular place for travelers’ start of an excellent trek to another Rakaposhi base camp and Diran Peak.

After lunch at Rakaposhi View Point, continue drive to Gilgit. Arrive and transfer to hotel for dinner & overnight. 

OR

Gilgit – Besham/Naran

Upon arrival at Islamabad, proceeds for sightseeing of Islamabad including: Faisal Mosque, Daman-e-Koh view point and in Rawalpindi visit Raja Bazaar.

Return to hotel for dinner & overnight.             

OR

If flight gets cancelled, drive from Gilgit to Besham/Naran via Chilas.

Arrive and transfer to hotel at Besham for dinner & overnight.

Taxila – is the main centre of Gandhara. Alexander the great in 326 BC and Greek culture came to this part of the world. Taxila later came under the Mauryan dynasty and reached a remarkable level of development under the great Ashoka. During the year 2 BC, Buddhism was adopted as the state religion, until the year 10 AD. During this time Taxila, Swat and Charsadda became three important centers for culture, trade and learning.

Enjoy visiting Sirkap, Julian and Museum at Taxila, Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon drive back to Islamabad & transfer to the airport for flight back to home.

OR

Complete the road journey from Besham/Naran to Islamabad, via Taxila visit. Islamabad.

Later drive to Islamabad & transfer to the airport for flight back to home.