Family Holidays

Gilgit Baltistan Naran Tour

Fifteen days along the Karakoram Highway — Hunza, the Khunjerab Pass, Skardu, Deosai — returning over the Babusar Pass through the Kaghan valley.

15 daysDuration
By roadTravel
4,734 mKhunjerab Pass
Hunza · SkarduHighlights
Overview

The grand tour of the north

This road journey takes in the best of Gilgit-Baltistan: the Indus gorge and the rock carvings of Chilas, the meeting point of the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindukush, the forts and terraced fields of Hunza, the Sino-Pakistan border at Khunjerab, and Baltistan — “Little Tibet” — with its lakes, valleys and the high Deosai plains. The return crosses the Babusar Pass into the Kaghan valley.

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Islamabad to Chilas

    Drive via Abbottabad, Mansehra and Besham, then follow the Indus upstream with a photo stop at the Shatial rocks and their ancient graffiti. Overnight in Chilas.

  2. Day 2

    Chilas to Karimabad, Hunza

    Rock carvings at Chilas and the Nanga Parbat viewpoint, then the point where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindukush meet, near the confluence of the Indus and Gilgit rivers. Bypassing Gilgit, continue up the KKH through Hunza and Nagar, with a stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint, to Karimabad.

  3. Day 3

    Karimabad

    Surrounded by Ultar, Hunza Dome, Bubli Mutin, Spantik and Diran, with Rakaposhi (7,788 m) dominating the panorama. Visit Baltit and Altit forts; the rest of the day is free to wander the villages and terraced fields.

  4. Day 4

    Karimabad to Gulmit

    View Bubli Mutin from Ganish and the ancient rock inscriptions near the village, then on to Gulmit, the former winter resort of the rulers of Hunza.

  5. Day 5

    Khunjerab Pass

    A day trip through Passu and Sost to the Chinese border at Khunjerab — at 4,734 m, the highest point on the KKH and one of the highest trade routes in the world. Return to Gulmit.

  6. Day 6

    Gulmit to Gilgit

    Back to Gilgit, with free time to explore the bazaar and walk along the Gilgit River.

  7. Day 7

    Gilgit to Skardu

    Drive to Skardu (2,438 m), capital of Baltistan, set against the great peaks of the Karakoram.

  8. Day 8

    Shangrila

    A free day at Shangrila resort.

  9. Day 9

    Shigar & Sadpara Lake

    Shigar valley, gateway to K-2 and the Gasherbrums, with its 400-year-old wooden mosque and fort, then Sadpara Lake. Overnight in Skardu.

  10. Day 10

    Khaplu valley

    The scenic Shyok valley, 103 km from Skardu, home to Masherbrum, Saltoro, Sia Kangri, K-6 and K-7. Overnight in Skardu.

  11. Day 11

    Deosai plains

    A day trip to Deosai, the “Land of Giants” — at around 4,100 m one of the highest plateaus in the world, snowbound from November to May and carpeted with flowers and butterflies in spring.

  12. Day 12

    Skardu

    A free day to rest before the long drive.

  13. Day 13

    Skardu to Chilas

    About nine hours via Astak Nala, Sassi and Jaglot, with lunch at Thalichi.

  14. Day 14

    Chilas to Naran

    Over the 4,200 m Babusar Pass into the Kaghan valley — about twelve hours.

  15. Day 15

    Naran to Islamabad

    An early start via Balakot, Mansehra and Abbottabad, arriving in Islamabad in the evening.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: The Gilgit river and Gilgit city — Ahmed Zohair, CC BY-SA 3.0

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