OVERVIEW

     Day                              To               Distance          Time                Height             Stay

km                   hours               meters

•   1  Narran/ Besham                   200                  5/6                1,350               Motel


•   2 Gilgit                                         430                  10/11               1,600               Hotel


•   3 Hunza                                     100                  3/4                  2,250               Hotel


•   4 Hunza, full day                      -                                               2,250               Hotel


•   5 Passu  Khunjerab pass          50                    1/2               2,515               Lodge


•   6 Passu, full day                         -                                             2,515               Lodge


•   7 Besham                                   280                  6/7                   1,200               Hotel


•   8 Swat                                          350                  9/10                 1,050               Hotel


•   9 Kalam                                                            100                  4/5                       Hotel


•  10  Peshawar                     170                  3-4                     470                     Guest H


•  11   Peshawar, full day                                                470                              Guest H


•  12  ISB                                                    170                  3-4


• 13   Departure                                                Flight

DETAIL  ITINERARY:

 Day 01    Arrive in Islamabad – Besham/ Narran

Morning flight to Islamabad where you will be met by a Rock Valley Tours. From Islamabad, we will drive 28km to Taxila, the capital of Buddhist Gandhara civilization. It is regarded as one of the most important archaeological sites on the sub-continent. We will visit the ruins of a former city (Sirkup), a former monastery (Julian) that is built on top of a hill and the splendid site museum that contains artifacts from the sites. Among the museum’s collection are  gold and silver coins from the time of Alexander the Great (326 BC). After lunch we drive through the beautiful, lush green valleys of the Mansehra District towards the Karakorum Highway (KKH).  The highway took 20 years to construct and was a joint effort between Pakistan and China. During this time  300  Chinese and 600 Pakistanis lost their lives working on the project. After a 4-5 hour drive we will stop for the night at Besham/ Narran .

 

Day 02   Besham/ Narran - Gilgit    (Meet The Indus)

Early morning drive to Gilgit, the capital of Pakistan’s Northern Areas. At Thakot/ Babusar Pass,  we cross a Chinese-made bridge and enter the Indus River gorge. For centuries this branch of the Silk Route was used by traders and Buddhist missionaries and there are many rock carvings in the area dating back to these times, including the carvings at Shatial.  After lunch in Chilas, we stop at Thalichi, the best viewpoint for  Nanga Parbat (8125m), which is also known as the Killer Mountain and is  the 9^th highest peak in the world and the second highest in Pakistan after K2.  Rakaposhi (7788m) and the Haramosh range can also be viewed from here. Further north we stop at the point where the world’s three highest mountain ranges - Karakorum, Himalayas and Hindukush – meet; this is also the point where the  Gilgit River joins the mighty Indus. We follow the Gilgit River to Gilgit and our hotel for the night.

 

DAY 03  Gilgit - Hunza   (Karimabad)

After crossing a suspension bridge over the river we reach  Kargah to visit the  Buddha carved in to the rocks during  the 7^th century AD. In  ancient  times the Kargah Valley  was used by Buddhist monks on their way to  Taxila. We drive on to the  breathtaking Hunza Valley again following the old Silk Route used by Buddhist monks and traders. There will be a short stop at the Rakaposhi (7788m) viewpoint.  Overnight at Hunza View Hotel in Karimabad.

 

DAY 04  Hunza Karimabad   (Full-day excursion)

A free day  in Karimabad for short walks to the Altit and Baltit forts, and  other parts of the valley which is ringed with majestic peaks - Rakaposhi 7788m, Diran 7266m, Ultar 7400m, Golden 7027m peak. There are also glimpses of the beautiful Nagar Valley on the other side of the river. The friendly long-lived people of Hunza are mostly self sufficient, growing  wheat, maize, apricots and walnuts, making their own clothes, shoes, along with wooden and stone bowls.  An afternoon walk could take you to the Ultar Glacier, via the village irrigation channel, or you could  stroll through the single- lane bazaar for better views of  the soaring peaks around you. Overnight at Hunza View Hotel.

 

DAY 05 Karimabad - Passu   (Gojal Upper Gojal)   

We travel further north into the Gojal Valley to Passu. About 70 years ago Passu used to be the second largest settlement in Hunza after Karimabad. However, the glacier upstream on the Hunza River advanced and created a dam across the river, that later broke, washing away houses and fertile fields. Now the river occupies most of the valley floor. We will take a morning walk to the Passu Glacier and Passu Lake (45 minutes one-way). From the snout of the glacier there are stunning  views of Shispar (7611 m) and Passu Peak (7478 m). After lunch at our lodge we will visit the       m (800ft)  suspension bridges of Passu that are still used by the local people. Overnight at lodge.

 

DAY 06 Passu – Khunjerab Pass   (Full-day excursion to Khunjerab Pass)

Drive overland to the highest border crossing in the world at 4733m – the Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China. The pass also marks the end of the Karakoram mountain range and the beginning of the Pamir Range. We stop first at Sust, the last check post in Pakistan for customs and immigration formalities, then continue along the Karakoram Highway beside the Khunjerab River. At Dhee is the start of the Khunjerab National Park where sometimes one can see ibex, Marco Polo sheep and snow leopards. After a short stay at the pass we’ll drive back to Passu. Overnight at Lodge.

 

DAY 07 Passu - Besham                    

Today we drive back down the Hunza River valley on the Karakoram Highway, enjoying new views of the amazing array of mountain peaks. Overnight at Besham on the banks of the Indus River.

 

DAY 08 Besham - Swat         

We leave the  KKH at Besham to drive towards Swat, through the Shangla Pass. The valley of Swat (3250ft above sea level and surrounded by the mighty Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges), is a land rich with  fruit-laden orchards, flower-filled slopes, meandering rivers and tumbling streams. The towns of  Saidu Sharif and Mingora form the twin capital of the area. Overnight in a Mingora hotel.

 

Day 09 Swat  Mingora   (Excursion to Upper Swat Valley)  

After breakfast we head for  Kalam 2000m above sea-level in the Upper Swat Valley, with a visit en route to Bahrain, a town beside the Swat River where trout fishing is a  favourite pastime. Drive back to Mingora to stay overnight.

 

Day 10 Swat - Peshawar

It is about a three-hour drive from Swat to Peshawar, and when we reach the city we will have lunch and freshen up at our hotel. During the afternoon we will take a  city tour. Peshawar has played a vital role in the history of the sub-continent because of its location near the  Khyber Pass and the Gandhara civilizations on the Indus River plains. The city is now known more for its unique frontier town atmosphere. There will be time to visit the street of  the story-tellers (Kissa Khawani bazaar), the street of gold (Kasera bazaar), Karavan Serai and the Mahabat Khan Mosque. The museum of Peshawar, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts, is also well worth a visit. Dinner & overnight at Shelton House.

 

Day 11 Peshawar      (Khyber Pass half-day excursion)

Morning excursion to the Khyber Pass after obtaining permission from the tribal authorities. The Khyber Pass is one of the most important historic and strategic land routes into  the Indian sub-continent.  Many invaders, including Alexander the Great, have used this route on their way to explore the wonders of the fertile lands that lay to the east. We may be allowed to go up to Michni Post from where there is a panoramic view of the Pak-Afghan border and the Jalalabad province of Afghanistan beyond. Lunch at Peshawar. (45km one way)

 

Day 12 Peshawar - Islamabad

We travel along the Grand Trunk Road which was first constructed by  the Pathan Emperor of the United Indian Empire, Sher Shah Suri. There is a chance to stop where the road crosses the Indus River at Attock to take a photograph of the meeting point of Indus and Kabul rivers. We reach Islamabad in the evening.

 

Day 13_ Departure                                                                                 

Fly  to home sweet home

 

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