Deosai & Fairy Meadows
Pony treks across the high Deosai plateau, to the foot of Nanga Parbat’s Rupal Face, and up to Fairy Meadows — an easy, scenic two weeks.
Plateau, lakes and the Rupal Face
Most visitors to the Deosai plateau never leave the roadside. This trip takes you deeper, across lush grazing pastures and watershed meadows to huge, serene lakes seldom seen by outsiders. Deosai is home to brown bears, musk deer, snow leopards, brown marmots, rare falcons and many migratory birds.
The journey begins with the spectacular flight to Skardu past Nanga Parbat and K-2. From Deosai we drive to Tarishing beneath the Rupal Face — one of the highest vertical walls on earth — and visit the pine forests of Rama before walking up to Fairy Meadows.
On the trek you sleep in two-person tents with mess and toilet tents, and your cook prepares meals every day.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Islamabad
Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing: Faisal Mosque, Daman-e-Koh and the bazaars of Rawalpindi.
- Day 2
Flight to Skardu
Fly to Skardu, weather permitting, past Nanga Parbat and K-2. Afternoon at Kachura and Satpara lakes.
- Days 3 – 4
Deosai National Park
Over the Ali Malik pass onto the plateau by jeep. A full day on ponies through the meadows, including the brown bear watching point.
- Days 5 – 6
Murtaza Chowki & Sheosar Lake
Gentle pony trails along streams and meadows through brown bear country, to Sheosar Lake with its view of Nanga Parbat.
- Day 7
Tarishing
Drive through the mountain villages of Chilim and Gudai to Tarishing.
- Day 8
Rupal Face excursion
An easy walk through Rupal village to Bazin, below the south face of Nanga Parbat, and back.
- Day 9
Rama
A resort of pine forest and meadows. Visit Rama Lake and the shepherds’ huts.
- Days 10 – 11
Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat Base Camp
Through the Astore and Raikot gorges to Tato, then a three-hour walk to Fairy Meadows and its log huts. A full day to Nanga Parbat Base Camp through pine and birch forest.
- Days 12 – 13
Chilas & Islamabad
Down to Chilas and its rock carvings, then along the Indus to Islamabad, stopping at the 4th-century carvings at Shatial.
- Day 14
Departure
Transfer for your onward journey.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows — Imrankhakwani, CC BY-SA 4.0
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