HINDUKUSH AND KARAKORUM JEEP TRIPS

Tour operates: June until September
No of days: 15 Tour cost from: 1397 US Dollar
Tour Route: Islamabad/Swat/Kalash valley/Chitral/Mastuj/Shandur pass/Phander/Gilgit /Karimabad /Gulmit /Khunjerab pass/Besham/Taxila
Transport: Private busses 4x4 Jeeps
Tour starting point: Islamabad

Itinerary

Day 01 Islamabad
On arrival at Islamabad airport you will be received by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of twin city Islamabad and Rawalpindi overnight hotel Islamabad (LD)

Day 02 Islamabad-Swat valley
After break fast drive to Swat valley, on the way we will be stopping at Takht Bahi Monastery, overnight at hotel. (BLD)

Day 03 Swat Valley-Kalash
After breakfast drive Kalash Bomboret over Lawari Pass.
Bomboret is the largest of three valleys about 2 hours jeep drive from Chitral. There used to exist two distinctive types of Kafirs (Infidels), the red and the Kalash (Black) until the end of the last century. The Red Kafirs were conquered by Amir of Afghanistan and converted to Muslims. Overnight at hotel (B-L-D).

Day 04 Free day-Kalash valley
Full free day in Kalash to explore the local culture of Kalasha peoples. Overnight at hotel (BLD)

Day 05 Kalash-Mastuj
Afternoon drive to Mastuj, Mastuj is a beautiful village 76 miles to the North-East of Chitral. The jeep track carves its way through the stark and rugged mountains. This traditional route has been used for centuries by the traders for trade between Chitral and Gilgit.
Overnight at hotel (BLD)

Day 06 Mastuj-Phander
After breakfast drive to Phandar. The perilous jeep road connects to a wide plateau with a lake and a Polo field. At the famous Shandur Pass at 12,250 feet. Annual polo matches are played between the Chitralis and the Gilgities. We will be staying near Phander lake, this trout laden serene lake allows one forget the bumpy and trying jeep journey.
Overnight at hotel (BLD)

Day 07 Phander-Gilgit
After breakfast we will be driving through Punyal valley to Gilgit..
GILGIT As the administrative capital of the region, the town is of strategic importance to the northern areas of Pakistan. Even before it became important during the imperial rivalries of the Great Game of the late 19th century, it was the centre of numerous regional disputes amongst the petty kingdoms that inhabited the area. With the arrival of the highway, the town has undergone rapid social and economic change, and most people who travel through northern Pakistan make a stop here.
Overnight at hotel (BLD)

Day 08 Gilgit-Karimabad
After breakfast drive to Karimabad on the way we will stop at Rakaposhi Peak (7788m) view point for lunch and stunning view of the mountain which is just above your head. Later drive to Karimabad the capital of Hunza. In the afternoon will be visiting Baltit fort Overnight in hotel (BLD).

Day 09 Karimabad
Early morning tour to Duiker village for sunrise depends on the weather
Duiker Viewpoint - an early morning jeep excursion can be taken to Duiker Viewpoint from where you will see sunrise overlooking magnificent snow-covered peaks including Ultar (7388m), Rakaposhi (7788m) and Diran (7266m). Following breakfast at Duiker, return down to the villages to visit Altit.
And proceed to Hoper valley NAGAR VALLEY - which can be seen from Duiker is on the opposite, eastern side of the Hunza River. This is another fertile valley and is predominantly Shia Muslim. A half day excursion to probably one of the world's fastest moving glaciers at Hoper. This glacier leads down from Karakorum Mountain range.
Return to your hotel afternoon free, if we have a big size of group so in this case we will arrange some traditional light Hunza Music with local Hunza food. (Overnight at Hotel (BLD).

Day 10 Gulmit-Khunjerab pass excursion
Early morning drive to Khunjerab pass the border between Pakistan and China. Drive back to Gulmit Overnight at hotel (BLD).

KARAKORAM HIGHWAY
From Islamabad the modern capital of Pakistan, to Kashgar in the west of Xinjiang, China, the Karakorum Highway winds its way through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. Before the highway was completed in 1971, these areas were inaccessible to everyone except the most tenacious mountaineer.
Work on the road began in 1959. The job was so formidable that by 1965, the workers had laid only the most rudimentary surface. In 1967 it was announced that the road would extend over the Khunjerab Pass to terminate in Kashgar. Seven battalions from the Pakistan Army and a further 10,000 men from the Frontier Works Organisation were needed to complete the 1,300km of road. Since then, the route has been enlarged into an 7027m.

KHUNJERAB NATIONAL PARK
Once the road enters the Khunjerab National Park, the hills and valley begin to open out. The final ascent to the top of the Khunjerab pass is covered by twisting round 12 hairpin bends. Although almost impossible to glimpse, this area is home to the snow-leopard, Marco Polo sheep, wild goats, yak, ibex, and several rare birds and animals. At 4733m, it is the world's highest paved boarder crossing and even the slightest exertion leaves one breathless.
Gulmit Village
in Upper Hunza, approximately 40 km further north of Karimabad, nestles beneath Ghulkin Glacier. This village gives the visitor the opportunity to experience a smaller Hunza community. The Mir of Hunza would once stay in a royal guesthouse, which is situated by the village polo field. The community organizes several festivals each year to celebrate their traditional dance and polo.

Day 11 Gulmit
In the morning we start our hike though the beautiful village of Gulmit than into Ghulkin here you will be invited to visit a local family for a small brunch, if you wish you can carry on hiking through the Ghulkin glacier to Borith Lake or you can drive there as well. Arrive at Borith Lake enjoy the beautiful scenery later drive back to Gulmit on the way you can stop at Hussaini village to cross the suspension bridge. Back to your hotel for overnight at Silk rout Lodge.
*Note: this hike is optional you can drive to the village as well if you don't want to walk but the walk is pretty easy Overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 12 Gulmit-Gilgit
Free morning later we will be driving to Gilgit overnight at hotel. (BLD)

Day 13 Gilgit- Besham
After breakfast we will drive to Besham which is a half way to Islamabad overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 14 Besham-Taxila-Islamabad
After breakfast we drive to Islamabad en-route we will visit Taxila. Taxila is one of the most important archaeological sights in Asia, full of remains of monasteries, temples and whole cities built by the various peoples who settled in the area (Kushans, Scythians etc).later we drive to Islamabad for overnight at hotel.

Day 15-Airport Transfer
Our service will finish with airport transfer

Guarantee departures: Every Monday
Minimum 2 people

Tour cost

No of Pax.	2-5	6-9	10-15
Price in US Dollar per person	$1750	$1520	$1397

COST INCLUDES

• All domestic transportation and transfers
• Twin sharing accommodation at hotel with en-suite private facilities
• Meals full board (B breakfast-L Lunch-D-Dinner)
• All the sightseeing tours as described in the itinerary and entrance fees
• Fully escorted by our English-speaking guides
• Tips for hotel staff

COST EXCLUDES

• Visa Fees
• Expenses in hotels such as laundry, telephone and room service, etc
• Optional activities
• Meals not mention above
• Personal expanses
• Single supplements
• Tips for Guides and drivers