The Ancient Wakhan Corridor
From Chitral and the Kalash valleys along an offshoot of the Silk Road, over the Broghil plateau and the Chilinji Pass into upper Hunza.
The roof of the world
One of the finest treks in the Hindu Kush, through an area visited by very few travellers. The route passes the mountain villages of the Chitral valley beneath Tirich Mir (7,708 m), the highest peak of the range, and the isolated Kalash valleys, whose people trace their traditions back to the time of Alexander the Great.
From the Yarkhun valley you trek on an offshoot of the legendary Silk Road, once travelled by camel and yak caravans between Samarkand, Bukhara and the subcontinent. It is a land of high pastures, serene lakes and snow-capped peaks, where herds of yaks, goats and sheep graze — the locals call it the roof of the world.
The trek crosses the Chilinji Pass (5,290 m) into the Chapursan valley of upper Hunza and ends at Baba Ghundi Ziarat, an old Sufi shrine, before jeeps take you back to the Karakoram Highway.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Islamabad
Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit to Faisal Mosque, Daman-e-Koh and the bazaars of Rawalpindi.
- Days 2 – 3
Dir & the Lowari Pass
Drive to Dir, visiting the archaeological museum at Chakdara, then over the Lowari Pass (3,118 m) to Chitral.
- Day 4
Kalash valleys
A day in Bumburet and Rumbur, visiting Kalash homes to learn about their customs and traditions.
- Day 5
Yarkhun Lasht
By jeep along the Chitral river to the Yarkhun valley, where the trek begins.
- Days 6 – 8
Kishmanja, Ishkarwaz & Chikar
Easy walking on pony trails beside the Yarkhun river, past shepherds’ huts and through birch and willow, to Chikar at the mouth of the Darkot pass.
- Days 9 – 10
Broghil & Karambar Lake
Across the high Broghil plateau, summer home of Gujar nomads, to the great Karambar Lake with its flowers and migratory birds.
- Days 11 – 13
Towards the Chilinji Pass
Through juniper and birch to Warghut, then up through high pastures to camp at the foot of the pass.
- Days 14 – 15
Over the Chilinji Pass
An early, steep climb over the pass (5,290 m) and down to Baba Ghundi Ziarat in the Chapursan valley.
- Day 16
Khunjerab Pass & Gulmit
Drive to the Pakistan–China border at 4,733 m, then back past Passu to Gulmit.
- Days 17 – 18
Karimabad
Rock carvings and old wooden mosques at Ganish, Baltit and Altit forts, and a free day — perhaps to Duikar for the sunset over Rakaposhi and Diran.
- Days 19 – 21
Back to Islamabad
Via the Rakaposhi viewpoint and the Kargah Buddha to Gilgit, then down the Indus past Nanga Parbat and the Chilas rock carvings to Besham, and on to Islamabad via Taxila.
- Day 22
Departure
Transfer for your onward journey.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: The Wakhan corridor — USAID U.S. Agency for International Development, Public domain
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