On the first morning, our group will meet for introductions and a short briefing. In the afternoon, we’ll explore Islamabad, visiting local markets and mosques, and finish the day with our first group dinner together.

The next step of our journey takes us from Islamabad to the mountains. We’ll take a scenic flight to Skardu, a beautiful town surrounded by dramatic peaks and rivers. If the weather is clear, the flight offers stunning aerial views of Nanga Parbat and the mighty Karakoram Range. From Skardu, we begin our overland adventure, driving along winding mountain roads, crossing rivers, and passing through small villages as we make our way toward the legendary Hunza Valley. The drive itself is an unforgettable experience, with every turn revealing new landscapes and towering mountains.

We’ll begin the day with a refreshing hike in the Hunza Valley, surrounded by towering peaks and terraced fields. Later, we’ll explore the historic Altit and Baltit Forts, where centuries of Hunza’s history come alive along with incredible valley views. Between visits, we’ll enjoy a taste of local life ,trying traditional Hunza bread, apricot dishes, and the valley’s famous walnut cake — a perfect way to experience the culture through its flavors.

We leave Hunza and drive to Minapin, a small village at the foot of Rakaposhi. From here, the trail climbs gently through farms and forest before opening into wide mountain views. After a few hours of steady walking, we reach Hapakun Camp (2,800m), a quiet meadow surrounded by pines and snow-capped peaks, where we set camp for the night.

We continue the trek from Hapakun with a steady climb on a zig-zag trail. As the forest thins, the scenery opens into wide alpine meadows with stunning views of Rakaposhi and Diran Peak. After about 3–4 hours of hiking, we reach Taghafari (Rakaposhi Base Camp, 3,500m) — a breathtaking campsite set directly beneath the towering south face of Rakaposhi. Here we rest, enjoy the incredible panorama, and spend the night surrounded by glaciers and high peaks.

After breakfast at Taghafari (Rakaposhi Base Camp), we begin our descent, retracing the trail back down through Hapakun and into the Minapin Valley. The walk takes around 5–6 hours, with plenty of time to enjoy the mountain views one last time. At Minapin Village, our vehicles will be waiting to take us back to Hunza, where a hot shower, comfortable beds, and a hearty local dinner await.

Today we drive further north into Upper Hunza (Gojal Valley). On the way we stop at Attabad Lake, a deep blue lake formed after a landslide. The road continues past small villages until we reach Passu, where the famous Passu Cones rise sharply against the sky and the Passu Glacier flows down the valley. We also visit Gulmit village and, for those who are up for it, walk across the old Hussaini Suspension Bridge, one of the most adventurous bridges in the region. The day is full of big mountain views, friendly locals, and quiet moments in one of the most beautiful valleys in Hunza.

From Hunza we drive along the Karakoram Highway towards Raikot Bridge, the gateway to Fairy Meadows. Here we switch to local jeeps for a rough but exciting ride up a narrow mountain track that winds high above the Indus River. After about an hour, we reach the small village of Tato, where the road ends. From Tato, it’s a gentle 2–3 hour hike through pine forest before arriving at Fairy Meadows (3,300m), a wide grassy plateau with breathtaking views of Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest mountain in the world. We spend the evening here, relaxing in wooden huts, enjoying local food, and watching the sun set behind the giant peak.

From Fairy Meadows we set out on a full-day hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp (4,100m). The trail first passes through Beyal Camp, a small cluster of huts with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. From here, the path climbs steadily across alpine meadows and moraines, with the huge north face of Nanga Parbat getting closer at every step. After 3–4 hours of hiking, we reach base camp, where the scale of the mountain is overwhelming — ice cliffs, glaciers, and rock walls rising straight into the sky. We spend time here taking in the view, having lunch at Belay Camp, and enjoying one of the most famous spots in the Himalaya. Later in the afternoon, we hike back down the same trail to Fairy Meadows.

After breakfast at Fairy Meadows, we hike back down to Tato village and take the jeeps down the rough track to Raikot Bridge. From here, we rejoin our private transport and begin the long but scenic drive towards Naran in the Kaghan Valley. The journey takes us along the Karakoram Highway, crossing through valleys, rivers, and mountain villages before climbing towards the lush green landscapes of Naran (2,400m). We arrive by evening, check into our hotel, and enjoy a relaxing dinner after a full day of travel.

We leave Naran in the morning and drive towards Islamabad. The route takes us through the beautiful Kaghan Valley, with plenty of mountain views along the way. As we descend, the air gets warmer and the landscape changes from alpine scenery to plains. By evening, we reach Islamabad, where we settle in and enjoy our last night together, sharing memories of the trip.

We arrange for transfers to Islamabad International Airport for those who are flying out this morning. Check out of the hotel is around 11 am today. You can choose to stay on at the same hotel if you are not flying home right away, though any additional nights at the hotel are not covered by Karakoram Ascents.