Gilgit- Hunza Baltistan Appricot Blossom / Summer & Autumn 11 Days Tour

OR

Islamabad- Besham/Naran

Chilas

Skardu – is the capital of Baltistan and is the gateway to the world’s famous mountains and glacial system and hundreds of beautiful trekking routes in the Karakorum mountain range. Skardu is also known as “Little Tibet” and the local language is called Balti which is spoken in the entire Baltistan, Kargil and Ladakh regions in India. 

After lunch, proceed for Bazaar, Sadpara and Buddha. After visit return to hotel for dinner and overnight

OR In case flight cancelled, drive to Besham/Naran up to Chilas.

Lunch at Besham. 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.  

Chilas 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 carving all along the Karakoram Highway. The carvings were left by various invaders, traders and pilgrims who passed along the trade route, as well as by locals, the earliest date back to between 5000 and 1000 BC, showing single animals and triangular men and hunting scenes

Arrive and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight

Upper Kachura Lake is of clear water and has a depth of 70 metres (230 ft). In summer it has a temperature of 15 °C (59 °F). In winter the surface is frozen solid. The upper Indus River flows nearby at a lower elevation. The beauty of the Upper Kachura Lake is almost un-tampered and mostly unexplored by travelers; due to lack of infrastructure owing to its rough terrain the area has a rich flora of the Western Himalaya mountaineering.

Afternoon free  or visit Lower Kachura Lake:

Lower Kachura Lake is also known as Shangrila Lake and is within a tourist resort named Shangrila Resort outside the town of Skardu.

Later return to hotel for dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Khaplu is a very beautiful, famous and scenic town for its cultural beauty, natural feel and diverse tradition. Khaplu has many picnic spots and tourist points as well, lying 103KM east of the town of Skardu. It serves as the administrative capital of the Ghanche District. It was the second-largest kingdom in old Baltistan of the Yabgo dynasty. Khaplu is a base for trekking into the Hushe valley which leads to Masherbrum Mountains. Khaplu was also very well known in the 17th and 18th century due to its close political and family ties with the royal family of the neighboring country of Ladakh.

Lunch, dinner and overnight at the hotel

Lunch at Astak Nala.  

Karimabad formerly known as Baltit is the capital of Hunza, in the Gilgit – Baltistan Province of Pakistan and is one of the best tourist point and is located on the west bank of the Hunza River and is at 8,200 feet (2,500 m) elevation. The town is made up of stone walled steep sloping large terraces.  It is surrounded by snowcapped mountain peaks such as the Rakaposhi, Ulter and deep gorges. Karimabad is accessible by mountain road from Gilgit.

Upon arrival transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight

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.  

PM visit to Altit/Baltit and Bazaar. 

Altit Fort is 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.   

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 Balti 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. You can also climb the steep path to the hill on the other side of the ravine behind Baltit and walk down to Altit village. 

After visit return to hotel for dinner & overnight.

Arrive Gulmit and transfer to the hotel for lunch.

Gulmit is a small village at a breathtaking scenic point in Hunza valley. Gulmit is 2500 meters or approximately 8200 feet above sea level. It is a fertile plateau with irrigated fields growing maize, wheat and potatoes besides the orchids of Apricots, Apples Walnuts and peaches. Gulmit is a place to relax in an environment free from all the worries of life. In Gulmit one can spend time by walking in the fields and into mountain passes along the irrigation canals. One can also do day walks to Ghulkin and other villages nearby. 

After lunch, visit Gulmit Museum and return back to Karimabad. Arrive & transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Rakaposhi View Point – is on the way (about 30 minutes) before Hunza. It is a sort of picnic spot and exceptionally attractive, forcing the traveler to halt for a while.  

Nangaparbat View Point – is the most wonderful view point of great Nanga Parbat. It is a unique place as one can see a perfect view of 8,000m mountain peak. 

Rock carving at Chilas: Buddhist rock carvings and inscriptions along the Indus river near Chilas, Typical Buddhist images with stupa or meditating Buddha’s engravings of animals ibex, Markhor, etc various motifs related to Shiva, Vishnu or Zoroastrian influences and inscriptions in various languages scribbled into a stone. Interesting carvings can be seen on the rocks at Chilas, even from the window of the vehicle.  

Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for dinner & overnight

Lunch on the way at Besham.

Abottabad – the city of pines is 50 km northeast of the capital Islamabad. The city is blessed to have a pleasant weather all around the year. The city is famous of its good educational institutions like Abbottabad Public School (APS), Burn Hall School and many Medical colleges like Ayub Medical College and military establishments. The city of Abbottabad has always been attracting tourists point.

Arrive and transfer to hotel for dinner & overnight

After lunch, proceed for Islamabad city tour including: Faisal Mosque, the largest mosque in South Asia and the fourth largest mosque in the world, Shakar Parian, “Sweet Hills” to catch a bird’s eye view of Islamabad also Pakistan Monument and Museum at Shakar Parian.  

In Rawalpindi, the famous places to look are Raja (King) Bazaar, Silver and Gold bazaars will allow us to catch traditional craftsmen at work.  

After city tour return to hotel, after an early dinner transfer to Islamabad Airport for your onward flight