The Amazing North

• Tour Name: The Amazing North

• Tour Code: ATP-AMN-01

• Tour Duration: 20 days/19 nights

• Route: Islamabad-Naran-Chilas-Fairy Meadows- Gilgit-Karimabad Hunza-Atta Abad–Gulmit-Passu-Borith Lake-Gilgit Phandar-Shandur Pass-Chitral-Kalash-Swat-Peshawar-Islamabad.

• Best time: May to October

• Tour Grade: Easy

• Visa Category: Tourist Visit Visa

Arrival in Islamabad, transfer to hotel. City tour of Islamabad.

Key Attractions:

• Shah Faisal Mosque – the largest mosque in Pakistan

• Lok Virsa (Folk Heritage) Museum

• Pakistan National Monument

• Daman-e-Koh (Islamabad View Point)

• Golra Sharif Rail Museum or Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum

• External view of Parliament House, President House, Prime Minister House & the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

• Islamabad-Taxila-Naran: 282 kms/ 6 hours’ drive

• Islamabad – Besham- Chilas: 470 kms/10-11 hours’ drive 

Drive to Naran visiting Taxila en-route or drive to Chilas via Besham.

Key Attractions:

• Taxila Museum-showcasing antiques and artifacts of Gandhara civilization

• Julian Buddhist Stupa & Monastery

• Dharmarajika complex and stupa or Shatiyal rock inscriptions if KKH is taken.

• Travel: Naran – Raikot Bridge (155 kms / 4.5 hours’ drive)

• Raikot Bridge – Tato (12 kms / 1.5 hours’ drive)

• Tato – Fairy Meadows (9 kms / 2-3 hours’ hike)

Altitude: Tato: 2560m/8448f, Fairy Meadows: 3310m/10800f

Drive to Raikot Bridge via Babusar Pass, change vehicle and take jeeps to Tato Village. A 3 hours’ hike will take us to Fairy Meadows.

Key Attractions:

• Lulusar Lake

• Babusar Pass

• The Fairytale Fairy Meadows

Note: Naran/Kaghan Road via Babusar Pass is open from June to October and subject to snow conditions.

• Beyal Camp Altitude: 3500m/11650f

• Nanga Parbat Base Camp Altitude: 4000m/13135f

The day is available for exploring the surroundings of the fairytale meadow. A nice hike takes you closer to the ice giants in the direction of Nanga-Parbat base camp if conditions (little or no snow) allow. If you don’t feel like hiking, stay on the fairytale meadow and enjoy the day at the foot of the ninth highest peak on earth. Overnight stay as the day before.

• Fairy Meadows – Tato (2 hours)

• Tato – Raikot Bridge (1 hour)

• Raikot – Rama (65 kms / 2.5 hours)

• Rama – Astore (20 kms / 1 hour drive)

Trek down to Tato and drive to Astore.

Key Attractions:

• Stop at Thalichi – The Nanga Parbat View Point

• Rama Meadow

• Rama Lake hike (optional)

• Astore to Skardu via Deosai Plateau (160 kms / 7 hours drive)

Drive to Skardu through scenic landscapes via the Deosai Plateau.

Key Attractions:

• Sheosar Lake

• Bara Pani

• Deosai Plateau

• Chota Pani

• Great spot for photography of flora and fauna

• Sadpara Lake

• Manthal Buddha (optional)

Full-day tour of Skardu with an overnight stay.

Key Attractions:

• Upper Kachura Lake

• Kachura Choq

• Visit Katpana Desert

• Kharpocho Fort

• Sarfaranga Cold Desert

• Skardu–Gilgit Karimabad: 300 kms / hours’ drive

Drive to Karimabad Hunza along the River Indus and Hunza River.

Key Attractions:

• Travel along the Indus River

• Stop at Nanga Parbat view point

• Visit the unique place where three great mountain ranges; the Himalaya, the Karakoram, and Hindu Kush meet

• Stop at Rakaposhi View Point Ghulmet

Full day exploration of central Hunza.

Key Attractions:

• Baltit Fort

• Karimabad Bazaar

• Walk Along Barbar Water Channel

• Altit Fort

• Altit Cluster/Altit Village

• Sunset from the Eagle’s Nest View Point in Duiker.

Explore Nagar Valley and Upper Hunza.

Key Attractions:

• Ganish Cluster – the oldest settlement of Hunza Valley

• Hopar Nagar – excellent view of Golden Peak, Ultar Peak, Hunza Peak & Lady Finger

• Dong Rock Inscriptions

• Atta Abad Lake

• Gulmit Village

• Hussaini Bridge

• Passu Cones/Passu Cathedrals

Atta Abad Lake – Gilgit: 135 km / 2.30 hrs drive

In the morning hike to Borit Lake and then to Rakaposhi glacier viewpoint. After lunch drive to Gilgit for overnight stay.

• Gilgit-Phander: 165 kms/7 hours’ drive

Drive from Gilgit to Phander visiting Kargah Buddha on the way.

Key Attractions:

• Kargah Buddha

• drive along Ghizer river

• the beautiful villages along the road

• Phander Lake

• Gupis–Mastuj: 96 kms/5-6 hours’ drive

Drive to Mastuj via Shandur Pass (3719m) a scenic drive which connects the province of Gilgit-Baltistan with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Key Attractions:

• Shandur Pass- the highest polo ground in the world.

• Mastuj-Chitral: 120 kms/4 hours’ drive

Drive from Mastuj to Chitral. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Half day sightseeing & overnight stay in Chitral.

Key Attractions:

• Chitral Bazaar

• Shahi Mosque

• Tirich Mir View Point

• Chitral – Bumburet Kalash: 22 kms/1.5 hours’ drive

Drive to Bumburet via Rambur valley. 

Key Attractions:

• Rambur Valley Kalash

Full day for exploring the uniqueness of Kalash Valley and its people. Short walks in the valley.

Key Attractions:

• Kalash Museum

• Traditional House to explore the way of life

• Sacred places

• Bumburet Kalash to Mingora Swat: 246 kms / 7 hours’ drive

Drive from Kalash to Swat. Upon arrival visit Swat Museum.

Key attractions:

• Swat Museum – showcasing collections of Gandhara Art

• Swat to Takht Bhai to Peshawar: 184 kms / 4 hours’ drive

Before leaving for Peshawar, visit Budkara. En-route visit Barikot and Takht Bhai and other Gandhara archaeological sites.

Key Attractions:

• The Buddhist sacred Area of Butkara

• Barikot archaeological site

• monastery in Takht Bhai

• Peshawar- Islamabad: 186 kms/2.5 hours’ drive

Explore Peshawar today.

Key Attractions:

• Peshawar Museum – collection of Buddhist artwork

• Mahabat Khan Mosque – built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan

• Qissa Khawani Bazar (The bazar of story tellers)

• Saithi House – The Mughal Central Asian Architecture

• The historic Qila Bala Hissar (Bala Hissar Fort) from outside

If the departure flight is from Islamabad, drive to Islamabad for overnight stay.

Transfer to the Islamabad International Airport for home bound flight. Or transfer to Peshawar airport for the departure flight.