Northern Areas Tour
Alpine Karakoram Adventure
Northern Areas Tour
Alpine Karakoram Adventure
Alpine Karakoram Adventure
Northern Areas of Pakistan cover some of the most breathtaking mountain landscapes on Earth, where the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush ranges meet. This vast region includes valleys and districts such as Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit, Shigar, and Astore, each offering unique scenery and culture. It is home to some of the world’s highest peaks, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, attracting adventurers year-round. With dramatic seasonal changes, from lush green summers to snow-covered winters, the Northern Areas provide endless travel possibilities. Guided by experienced local teams, visitors can explore remote villages, iconic highways, and pristine valleys tailored to their journey length and interests.
Trip Stats
Difficulty
Moderate
Max Altitude
4,734 meters
Wind Speed
15-30 km/h
Temperature
-10°C to 25°C
Overview
The Northern Areas of Pakistan stretch across 72,971 square kilometers of the world's most spectacular mountain terrain, encompassing Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's northern valleys, and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir . This is where the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush converge, holding five of the world's fourteen highest peaks above 8,000 meters, including K2 and Nanga Parbat . The region is divided into two main administrative divisions—Baltistan and Gilgit—each with districts like Skardu, Hunza, Ghizer, Astore, and Shigar that offer distinctly different landscapes and cultural experiences. For travelers, the Northern Areas present a year-round destination, but each season reveals a completely different face of these mountains. Alpine Karakoram Adventure has spent years building relationships across these valleys—with families who run guesthouses in remote villages, drivers who know every bend of the Karakoram Highway, and guides who can read weather patterns in the way clouds sit on Rakaposhi. Whether you have seven days or three weeks, we can craft the perfect Northern Areas itinerary based on when you travel and what you want to experience.
Trip Highlights
What makes this trekking special
Explore Hunza Valley when cherry and apricot blossoms blanket the terraced fields beneath Rakaposhi's 7,788-meter peak
Float on Attabad Lake's turquoise waters, formed by a 2010 landslide that buried entire villages and created a 22-kilometer-long lake
Drive the full length of the Karakoram Highway, the eighth wonder of the world that took twenty years and 900 worker lives to build
Trek to Fairy Meadows and stand beneath Nanga Parbat's Rupal Face, the world's highest mountain wall dropping 4,600 meters
Cross Shandur Pass at 3,700 meters during the annual polo festival, watching teams from Chitral and Gilgit compete on the world's highest polo ground
Walk through Skardu's Katpana Cold Desert at 2,300 meters, where sand dunes meet snow-capped peaks in a landscape found nowhere else on earth
Visit the Kalash Valleys when golden foliage frames villages where 4,000 people practice an animist religion with roots in ancient Indo-European culture
Explore 700-year-old Baltit Fort in Karimabad and 900-year-old Altit Fort, both guarding Hunza Valley since the Silk Road era
Photograph the Passu Cones at sunrise, their jagged spires reflected in the Hunza River near the famous Hussaini Suspension Bridge
Camp in Deosai National Park when the "Land of Giants" blooms with wildflowers and Himalayan brown bears emerge from hibernation
Experience the silence of Khunjerab Pass, the world's highest paved border crossing at 4,734 meters, with the Pamir Plateau stretching into China
Enjoy winter sports at Malam Jabba or Naltar Valley with views of peaks that remain snow-covered year-round
Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive at Islamabad International Airport. Our representative meets you with an Alpine Karakoram Adventure signboard and transfers you to your hotel. Islamabad sits at 540 meters, with the Margalla Hills rising behind the modern capital. Evening briefing with your guide about the journey ahead—what to expect, how to prepare for altitudes, and answers to your questions. We recommend an early night. The mountains await. • Distance: 30 km from airport • Altitude: 540 meters • Accommodation: Hotel in Islamabad • Meals: None (own arrangements)
Morning transfer to Islamabad Airport for the 50-minute flight to Skardu. This flight alone is worth the trip—weather permitting, you'll see Nanga Parbat and the Karakoram giants from your window. On arrival at 2,230 meters, our Skardu team meets you. Visit Satpara Lake, its crystal waters reflecting the mountains. Afternoon visit to Kharpocho Fort, perched above Skardu city, offering panoramic views of the Indus River and surrounding valleys. Evening free to acclimatize. The air here is thin and dry—drink plenty of water. • Distance: Flight distance 320 km • Altitude: 540m to 2,230m • Accommodation: Hotel in Skardu • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Full day exploring Skardu Valley. Morning visit to Shangrila Resort, famous for its heart-shaped Lower Kachura Lake. Then continue to Upper Kachura Lake, a pristine natural lake surrounded by apricot orchards—far quieter than Shangrila and perfect for photography. Afternoon at Katpana Cold Desert, one of the world's highest deserts at 2,300 meters, where sand dunes meet snow peaks . Short walk on the dunes before sunset. Return to Skardu for overnight. • Distance: 50 km local driving • Altitude: 2,230m to 2,300m • Accommodation: Hotel in Skardu • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Drive to Shigar Valley, 40 minutes from Skardu. Visit Shigar Fort, a 400-year-old palace restored as a boutique hotel and museum . Walk through Shigar's old town with traditional Balti architecture. Afternoon option: short trek to Amburiq Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the region with unique wooden architecture. Evening free in Shigar's peaceful setting. The valley feels untouched, with irrigation channels watering fields that have been farmed for centuries. • Distance: 40 km, 1 hour driving • Altitude: 2,230m to 2,250m • Accommodation: Hotel in Shigar • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Early start for Deosai National Park, the "Land of Giants." At over 4,000 meters, this is one of the highest plateaus in the world . The 2-hour drive crosses Chilim Pass into the park. From late June through September, the plains burst with wildflowers. Keep eyes open for Himalayan brown bears, ibex, and golden eagles. Picnic lunch by Sheosar Lake, a pristine alpine lake reflecting the surrounding peaks. Afternoon return to Skardu. Note: Deosai access depends on snow melt—typically open from July through September. • Distance: 150 km round trip, 4-5 hours driving • Altitude: 2,230m to 4,100m and back • Accommodation: Hotel in Skardu • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Long but spectacular drive day. Follow the Indus River upstream on the Karakoram Highway. Stop at Jaglot for the confluence monument where the three mountain ranges meet. Continue past Gilgit and into the narrowing Hunza Gorge. Rakaposhi comes into view—7,788 meters, the Queen of Mountains. Reach Karimabad at 2,400 meters by evening, with Ultar Peak rising directly behind town. The drive reveals why the Karakoram Highway is called the eighth wonder of the world. • Distance: 220 km, 6-7 hours driving • Altitude: 2,230m to 2,400m • Accommodation: Hotel in Karimabad • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Walk through Karimabad bazaar in the morning—shops selling apricots, walnuts, and hand-woven fabrics with the mountains as backdrop. Visit Baltit Fort, 700 years old, perched on a spur above the valley . Inside, restored rooms show how Hunza's rulers lived. Walk downhill to Altit Fort, even older at 900 years. Below the fort, the old village preserves traditional stone-and-timber houses and irrigation channels that have watered these fields for generations. Afternoon free—walk an irrigation channel or sit at Eagle's Nest watching sunset over Rakaposhi. • Walking: 3-4 hours gentle walking • Altitude: 2,400m throughout • Accommodation: Hotel in Karimabad • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Early start north through the narrowing Hunza Gorge. Stop at Attabad Lake—turquoise water where a landslide buried villages in 2010, creating a lake 22 kilometers long . Short boat ride on the lake. Continue to Sost, the last Pakistani settlement, then climb to Khunjerab Pass at 4,734 meters, the highest paved border crossing in the world connecting Pakistan with China's Xinjiang province . Khunjerab National Park protects ibex, Marco Polo sheep, and snow leopards. Return to Passu village beneath the Passu Cones. View the Hussaini Suspension Bridge spanning the river—local people cross it daily. • Distance: 200 km round trip, 6-7 hours • Altitude: 2,400m to 4,734m and back • Accommodation: Hotel in Passu • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Morning walk to Passu Glacier. Trail follows the river then climbs through moraine to the glacier snout, 45 minutes one way. Shispar at 7,611 meters and Passu Peak at 7,478 meters frame the view. Drive to Borit Lake, an alpine lake reflecting peaks. Visit Gulmit village for Wakhi culture—traditional houses, a polo ground, people who have lived here for centuries. Walk through terraced fields. Return to Passu for evening. • Trekking: 2-3 hours easy walking • Altitude: 2,400m to 2,800m • Accommodation: Hotel in Passu • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Drive south on Karakoram Highway to Raikot Bridge, then take jeep track to Tattu Village—a thrilling ride on narrow mountain roads. From Tattu, trek 2-3 hours to Fairy Meadows at 3,300 meters, with Nanga Parbat's massive face dominating the view . The meadows are lush green in summer, dotted with wildflowers. Wooden huts provide basic but comfortable accommodation. Evening around the campfire, watching stars appear behind the Killer Mountain. • Distance: 180 km driving, 2-3 hours trekking • Altitude: 2,400m to 3,300m • Accommodation: Fairy Meadows huts • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Early morning for sunrise over Nanga Parbat—the 9th highest mountain at 8,126 meters, its Rupal Face dropping 4,600 meters in one unbroken wall . After breakfast, trek toward Nanga Parbat Base Camp. The trail climbs through pine forests to Beyal Camp at 3,600 meters, then continues toward the base camp at 3,800 meters. Not everyone needs to reach the top—sometimes the best views are from the meadows themselves. Return to Fairy Meadows for second night. Optional: easier day simply enjoying Fairy Meadows. • Trekking: 4-5 hours optional • Altitude: 3,300m to 3,800m and back • Accommodation: Fairy Meadows huts • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Morning trek down to Tattu Village (2-3 hours), then jeep to Raikot Bridge. Drive to Islamabad (approximately 8 hours) via Karakoram Highway, following the Indus downstream. Arrive Islamabad by evening. Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for departure. Journey ends, but the mountains stay with you. • Distance: 300 km driving, 2-3 hours trekking • Altitude: 3,300m to 540m • Transfer: Islamabad International Airport • Meals: Breakfast
Note: The Northern Areas require flexibility. Flights to Skardu and Gilgit are weather-dependent and can be delayed or cancelled on short notice—always build buffer days into your schedule . Road conditions change with landslides, river flows, and snow melt. Babusar Pass typically opens in late June and closes by October. Khunjerab Pass closes from December through March . Deosai National Park opens only from July through September when snow clears. Your guide has authority to modify routes for safety, and we ask for patience when conditions require changes. Alpine Karakoram Adventure plans for reality so that you can focus on the mountains.
What's Included
Included
11 items included
- Twin-sharing accommodation in hotels, lodges, and guesthouses
- Daily breakfast and meals specified in remote areas
- All land transportation in air-conditioned vehicles with experienced drivers
- 4x4 vehicles for high passes and off-road sections
- English-speaking licensed guide with Alpine Karakoram Adventure
- Local specialist guides at forts and cultural sites
- All entrance fees to monuments, forts, and national parks
- Domestic flights where specified (Islamabad-Skardu/Gilgit)
- Bottled drinking water during the tour
- Letter of invitation for Pakistan visa application
- All taxes and service charges
Not Included
11 items not included
- International airfare to and from Pakistan
- Pakistan visa fee
- Travel insurance with medical coverage and evacuation
- Lunches and dinners not specified in inclusions
- Photography fees at sites with additional charges
- Personal expenses including laundry, souvenirs, phone calls
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
- Single room supplement
- Costs from unforeseen circumstances beyond our control
- Optional activities not specified
- Horse hire for Fairy Meadows trek (available locally)
We understand that every traveler has unique needs and different seasons require different approaches. The inclusions above represent our standard touring package. However, Alpine Karakoram Adventure can customize your plan based on your travel season, interests, and time available.
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