16 DAYS  ITINERARY (Day by Day)

DAY 01: ARRIVAL ISLAMABAD           . Sight seeing, cultural exploration

Arrival Islamabad today. A member of the Vertical Explorers staff will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Today either you relax or you can enjoy an exploratory walk in the old part of Rawalpindi; wander past the vegetable and spice markets, beautifully carved old houses and trucks, cows pestering the vegetable vendors,  catch traditional craftsmen at work in silver and gold bazaars .You will then continue on the main street linking the Twin cities - Murree Road - before arriving at the gleaming new capital, Islamabad. You pass shining new buildings and thousands of park areas - a full 50 percent of the 350 square mile site is set aside for parks. You will then stop at the Shakar Parian, " Sweet Hills" to catch a bird's eye view of Islamabad. Our next stop will be Shah Faisal Mosque which is the landmark of Islamabad. This evening you  will enjoy a welcome dinner with other trekkers.

Meals provided: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Green Palace Hotel, Regency Hotel, Civic Hotel

DAY 02:   GILGIT OR CHILAS

We rise early to be at the airport in time for our flight to Gilgit. First departure only. If the weather is good, we'll be treated to one of the finest views available in the world of aviation, as we thread our way up the largest congregation of mountains of Karakoram, Hindukush, Himalaya and Indus River gorges, one of the deepest in the world. Gilgit is the administrative capital of Northern Area.If the flight is unable to operate because of bad weather, we will resort to travel by road on Karakoram Highway (KKH) to Chilas. The drive is compensated by the beautiful scenery along the Karakoram highway and Indus gorges. The journey on the Karakoram Highway is most exciting and thrilling. It is a monument to the engineering feast and one of the most spectacular roads and the world’s highest metalled border crossing. It connects Pakistan and China stretching over a distance of 1300km between Islamabad and Kashgar, winding through three mountain ranges and following the ancient Silk route along the Indus Valley to the Chinese border at Khunjerab Pass. We pass through the historical town of Taxila, beautiful hill station of Abbottabad, lush green towns of Mansehra, Shinkiari and finally meet the great Indus on Thakot Bridge. From there onward the road snails along the bank of the Indus with contrasting landscape after every two kilometers. We pass through Besham, Dassu, Komila and Shatial to arrive at Chilas with many rocks carving and inscriptions along the way left by Chinese pilgrims and ancient travelers of 5^th century A.D. CHILAS was on the ancient caravan trail over the Babusar Pass into India and on the Indus trail of Besham, and many rock engravings were left by travelers in this area. . The drive through the Indus Gorge is guaranteed to knock your socks off! The view after crossing the Rakhiot Bridge of Nanga Parbat is without any parallel. Standing at around 1,000 m. you see a mountain which rises to above 8,000 m.! This is the largest land escarpment in the world. This is also where the three greatest mountain ranges meet; Himalaya, Hindukush and Karakoram.

Meals provided: Breakfast
Accommodation: Chilas In Hotel

DAY 03:   GILGIT / CHILAS – TARISHING

                        An early departure by coach to Thalichi and we turn off the Karakoram Highway at  Thalichi drive by jeep towards Astore Valley, which is the launching ground for many treks to Deosai Plateau and expeditions to Nanga Parbat. Before independence the trek up the Astor Valley and over the Burzil Pass was an ancient caravan route and the only link between Kashmir and Gilgit. The Indo Pak line of control has closed the Burzil. The valley above the gorge is wider with tiny villages perched on either side of the river. The village of Astor is perched on both sides of Rama- Astor road, which has been improved in 1987 passes through the narrow Astor gorge of 30km long with sheer sides.  We will drive to the village of Tarashing in Rupal valley which is last village from where our trekking starts. The Rupal valley is a beautiful forested valley with pine trees.

 Walk: 05-06 hrs, Grade: Moderate, Altitude: 2900 M

Meals provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp

DAY 04:   TARISHING  - HERRLIGKOFFER  B.CAMP

Today we will start our trek through lush and gentle fields and cross the snout of the Tarashing Glacier. When we will cross the first pass, we would be able to see the Chongara Peak and Dain Chori Peak. After crossing glacier we will  enter the Lower Rupal. We will cross the lush green fields. We will see a sheer drop of 5 000 m, the highest in the world. We can see the most difficult route to Nanga Parbat summit which was followed by the famous German mountaineer Herrligkoffer.

Walk: 05-06 hrs, Grade: Moderate, Altitude: 3650 M

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp

DAY 05:  HERRLIGKOFFER  B.CAMP – SHAIGHIRI

We walk across lush green meadows, with crystal streams feasting countless herds of cattle, sheep and yak. Shaighiri offers excellent views of Nanga Parbat on one side and Laila Peak on the other.

Walk: 06-07 hrs, Grade: Moderate, Altitude: 3700 M

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp

DAY 06:     SHAIGHIRI – MAZENO B.C

Resume trek Following a goat trail, we trek along Toshain glacier. We establish our campsite bellow the terminal glacial moraine of Mazeno glacier.

Walk: 05-06 hrs, Grade: Moderate, Altitude: 4200 M

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp 

DAY 07      MAZENO B.C – MAZENO H.C

Today climb is quite strenuous, we start our ascent to the high camp of Mazino Pass. It will be a hard trek as we will be climbing up but this effort will be compensated by the glorious views of the mountains around us Rupal Peak, Shighree Peak, Thoshai Peak and Lila Peak and the glaciers at the foot of the mountain. We will cross the Rupal River and Shighree Glacier.

Walk: 07-08 hrs, Grade: Strenuous , Altitude: 4700 M 

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp 

DAY 08:    MAZENO H.C - MAZENO PASS - LOIBA

Early morning we pack up and continue our ascent up to the Pass. Today will be our longest day of trekking. After 4 hours of trekking we reach the top of the pass, where we can have excellent bird eye views of the whole mountain ranges around us. The scenery all around is breath taking. Descend down from the pass and trek over the muddy glacier to upper Loiba.

Walk: 07-08 hrs, Grade: Strenuous, Altitude: 5350 M 

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp 

DAY 09:   LOIBA – LOWER LOIBA

A pleasant descent takes us to Loiba meadows, this area is lush green and at the meadows you will be able to meet the shepherds who live up here in the summer with their herds of sheep and goats. You will also be able to get very nice views of Airi Guli and other peaks.

Walk: 06-07 hrs, Grade : Moderate, Altitude : 4000 M

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp 

DAY 10:   LOWER LOIBA  - KECHAL

Today We keep continue to descending down numerous shepherds huts and through birches and pine trees. Soon after crossing Arial Gha we reach Kechal, a small isolated village. We get great vistas of the west face of Nanga Parbat.

Walk: 05-06 hrs, Grade: Moderate, Altitude: 3000 M.

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp 

DAY 11:     KECHAL  - ZENGAL

Today we behold beautiful view towards Juliper Peak.

Walk: 06-07 hrs, Grade: Moderate, Altitude: 3400 M.

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp 

DAY 12:   ZENGAL  –  JULIPUR PASS

Today we establish our campsite at the pass, if the weather permits. Optionally we will descent towards Beyal. The path to the pass is a little tricky however the Jilipur Pass at 4837m gives magnificent views of Nanga Parbat massif.

Walk: 05-06 hrs, Moderate, Altitude: 4830 M   

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp

    DAY 13:    JULIPUR PASS  - FAIRY MEADOWS

Across the pass is a steep descent in Raikot Valley, we keep on walking down and arrive at Beyal and will descend a lot and thus quite a loss of altitude, but the route remains easy and pleasant. From Fairy Meadows, a picturesque mountain village, we have magnificent panoramic view of the Nanga Parbat.

Walk: 05-06 hrs, Grade: Easy, Altitude: 2700 M   

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp

DAY 14:  FAIRY MEADOWS  - FREE DAY

This is the traditional base camp of Nanga Parbat , known as Fairy Meadows. The local people believe that this beautiful place is an abode of fairies and ghosts. The lush green plateau presents some of the most spectacular sights one can ever witness. One forgets the trying walk up to this magnificent site when one beholds a landscape of rushing torrents with a panoramic back - drop of the mighty Nanga Parbat.

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camp

    DAY 15:   FAIRY MEADOWS  – BESHAM

After breakfast descend to Tato & drive to Besham. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel.Besham is a little transit village now beginning to assume the features of a modern town and has the trappings of modern civilization - petrol stations, cafes, restaurants, hotels , barber shops and bazaars. It is the junction for Swat Valley via the scenic Shangla Pass into Khawzakhela; Kaghan Valley via Manshera and Gilgit.  

Meals provided: Breakfast,
Accommodation: Besham Continental Hotel

DAY 16:     BESHAM  - ISLAMABAD

Today travel on the Karakoram Highway to Islamabad through captivating and enthralling landscape. In places, sheer, snowcapped mountains ascending from deep valleys while elsewhere, lush alpine meadows are carpeted by colorful wildflowers and dazzling apple blossoms. Terraced villages dot this monumental terrain, supported by traditional farming methods and lifestyles that have changed little over the centuries.

Meals provided: Breakfast

Accommodation: Regency Hotel, Green Palace Hotel

Possible Extensions

DAY 17:   BESHAM  -  SWAT

After an early breakfast leave Beham drive to Swat. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel.Afternoon city tour of the following:
Butkara - the remains of one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the valley. This site consists of a main stupa around which jostle 215 votive stupas in apparently glorious disarray. The main stupa was believed to contain some ashes of Lord Buddha and to have been built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. It is difficult to imagine it as it must have been once, all painted and gilded and topped by stone umbrellas. You can still see the statue of lions crouching on their haunches. They probably fell off the tops of the tall columns which once stood near the stupa. Mingora Bazaar, which is the commercial center well - worth visiting, for there you will find emeralds for which Swat is famous. Then continue to Murghazar where you will behold the old white palace constructed from white marble and adorned with ornate carvings. 

Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Swat Guest House

     DAY 18:     SWAT – TAKHT BAI -PESHAWAR

After breakfast drive to Peshawar en-route visiting Budhist monsastry Takhat Bai and Jamal Gari. We will visit the archaeologically rich museum of Peshawar , which houses treasures of the Gandhara period. Proceed to old Peshawar through the Kabuli Gate - one of the sixteen - to the Qissa Khawani bazaar, " the street of story tellers", and witness unusual and unforgetable sights . We will also visit the coppersmith's bazaar, which flourished from the 1st century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. Continue to Mahabat Khan's mosque, built in 1670 by the Governor of Peshawar under Moghal Emperor Shah Jahan. Our tour will pass by Balar Hisar Fort, built by Babar in 1526 - 30, and rebuilt by Hari Singh Nalva, under the guidance of French engineers in 1830

Meals provided: Breakfast

Accommodation: V I P Guest House 

DAY 19:   PESHAWAR – ISLAMABAD  Rest Day

Today morning we will visit Khyber Pass & brief city tour. This famous pass has been a silent witness to the countless number of invaders ,pleasure seekers , adventurers and soothsayers that have filtered through its narrow gateway over the centuries. The historic Khyber Pass begins at a distance 15 miles west of Peshawar at the Babi - Khyber watchtower, which acts as a gateway to the Pass.You then begin a winding journey through a tribal area, passing the Jamrud Fort , and for 36 miles are another `invader`, witnessing the stark and severe beauty of this passage hewn through great rocks. The pass ends at the Torkham Border at Landikotal, which at the height of 3518 feet straddles the top of this historical passageway. At Torkham the Durand line separates Pakistan from Afghanistan. Then.in the evening drive to Islamabad Islamabad International Airport for your departure flight.

Meals provided: Farewell Lunch
Accommodation: None

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