Day 1 / 17.7. / Helsinki – Islamabad
Meeting the tour leader at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. Direct flight to Istanbul at 19.35-23.25
Day 2 / 18.7. / Flight from Istanbul to Islamabad
At 01.10 a.m. connecting flight to Islamabad. At 07.55 our flight arrives in Islamabad. After the meeting we have a transfer to the hotel. Morning at leisure.
At 13.00 we start our sightseeing tour of Islamabad. Islamabad has no old buildings at all, but modern, monumental architecture. The most famous architectural sights include the Shah Faisal Masjid, the Saudi-Pak Tower and the Pakistan Memorial.
Dinner and hotel accommodation. Roomy hotel. (B,D)
Day 3 / 19 July / Islamabad – Balakot – Naran ( 250 km, 7 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. At 09.00 we drive to the Kaghan Valley National Park, one of the most beautiful places in northwest Pakistan. This enchanting valley is renowned for its fairytale landscapes that offer visitors breathtaking views; soaring mountain peaks, lush meadows and crystal clear alpine lakes.
We drive on the newly built Hazara Expressway, passing the towns of Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. Balakot is the gateway to the Kaghan Valley.
From Balakot, our drive continues to Naran, following the lifeline Kunhar River upstream in the Kaghan Valley.
The Naran-Kaghan Valley is not only known for its natural beauty, but also for its rich history dating back to the British colonial era. People have lived here since the Stone Age in various villages and later towns such as Swati, Awan, Kashmiri, Durai, Mughal and Quraish. Due to its rich historical background, the valley has many ancient buildings and monuments. There are Buddhist temples and monasteries and stupas, Islamic monuments, Hindu and Sikh temples and colonial buildings. In addition, this area is associated with several folklore sites, including archaeological tombs and legendary buildings famous for their historical background.
At the end of the evening we arrive in Naran, dinner and accommodation in Naran. Falettis hotel. (B,D)
Day 4 / 20 July / Naran – Babusar Pass – Karakoram Highway – Karimabad (Hunza Valley) (320 km, 8 hours)
After breakfast, we depart for Hunza, making several stops on the way, including for photography. We continue along the Kunhar River and arrive at Lulusar Lake, where the Kunhar River flows out. Driving uphill, we reach the Babusar Pass at 4170 metres above sea level. The pass acts as a boundary between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the giant lofty peaks of the Himalayan and Karakoram regions of Gilgit-Baltistan.
After driving down the winding road, we arrive in the Indus Valley and continue on the famous Karakorum Highway, a modern engineering road, a modification of the ancient Silk Route. Passing the town of Chilas, we continue driving on the Karakoram Highway and cross the Indus River at Raikot Bridge.
We make a short photo stop at Thalech to capture the mighty Nanga Parbat. Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain in the world (8125 m). Nanga Parbat means ‘naked mountain’. Our next stop is at a unique point with three world famous mountain ranges: Karakorum, Himalaya and Hindu Kush. It is located near the confluence of the Indus and Gilgit rivers. Our journey continues along the Gilgit River, passing the town of Gilgit.
We continue our drive on the Karakoram Highway and make a short important photo stop at the point of collision of the continental plates, a spectacular geographical phenomenon, after which we cross several Nagar villages to reach the rest/photography spot at Rakaposh viewpoint, located near Gilgit. It offers an enchanting glimpse of Rakaposhi, known as “The Topping”. This iconic peak at 7788m is known for its beauty and challenging climbing routes.
After a rest and a cup of tea, we will drive towards Karimabad, the capital of the former independent state of Hunza, known as Baltit or Hunza. Dinner and accommodation in Karimabad. Roomy Daastaan hotel. (B,D)
Day 5 / 21.7. / Karimabad, city tour
Breakfast at the hotel. We rise (if desired) early in the morning to witness unique natural phenomena and sunrise at Rakaposh and other peaks.Ultar, Hunza Dome, Bublimating, Golden/Spanti and Diran are the famous peaks that surround us in Karimabad.
We visit the Baltit Castle in Karimabad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Gilgit Baltistan was abandoned by the leader of the Hunza Valley in 1945. The castle began to decay and deteriorate, but the Royal Geographical Society of London began restoration work with the support of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s historic cities programme, a programme that restores historic buildings and public spaces to encourage social, economic and cultural development. We will also visit the bazaar.
Afterwards, we will also visit the adjacent Duiker Hills, which offer great views of the mountains. Afterwards we have dinner and take a taxi back to the hotel (Hotel Hunza Darbar). Dinner and accommodation in Karimabad. (B,D)
Day 6 / 22.7. / Karimabad – excursion Khunjerab Pass ( 180 km, 4 hours/way)
After an early breakfast, we make a full day excursion.
We drive to the border between Pakistan and China, to the Khunjerab Pass. It is the highest international border crossing in the world (4963 metres) and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. We will then visit two viewpoints and stop to take photographs at the viewpoint of Atabad Lake and Passu Glacier, from where we will continue towards the town of Sost or Sust.
The town is located in Gojal, in the Upper Hunza state of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is also the last town on the Karakoram Highway before the Chinese border. Sost is an important town as all traffic crossing the Pakistan-China border passes through this town. During the day we may get a chance to see yaks, marmots and the occasional wild goat.
After this we will head towards Karimabad and the hotel. Dinner and accommodation in Karimabad. (B,D)
Day 7 / July 23 / Karimabad – Excursion to the Hopari Glacier (Nagar Valley) (20 km, 2 hours one way). Karimabad – Gilgit (95 km, 3 hours)
After breakfast, we will make an excursion to the Hopar glacier and drive to the Nagar valley across the Hunza River. Rakaposhi, Diran and Golden peaks are located in Nagar, while the view is mainly from the Hunza valley.
We drive in local 4×4 jeeps to the head of the valley to see the nearby glacier, Hopar. The Hopar Glacier is also known as the Bualtar Glacier. Located in the heart of the incredible Karakoram range, the Hopar Glacier is a testament to the awe-inspiring beauty of Pakistan’s northern regions. Located in the Nagar region of Gilgit-Baltistan, this glacier is a fascinating destination for adventurers and nature lovers. Its pristine landscape, towering peaks and crystal clear ice formations make it a must-visit for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the splendour of the Himalayas.
After a photo break, we will drive back to the Karakoram Highway and head towards Gilgit town. Gilgit is located in the north-east of Pakistan, on the right bank of the Gilgit River at an altitude of about 1500 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Gilgit Baltistan. It occupies an important position and serves as a gateway to the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains. The history of the city is partly known through legends. Gilgit was conquered by the Arabs from the Chinese in 751 and in the 1100s the region was conquered by Samsir of Turkic origin, who overthrew the Buddhist rulers of the region. Gilgit was once a Buddhist centre and, according to legend, six Sufi saints came to the town and converted the inhabitants to Islam.
A short distance away, outside the town of Gilgit, we visit an archaeological sculpture of a standing Buddha, carved into a rock about 15 miles high (subject to time availability).
Dinner and accommodation in Gilgit. Gilgit Serena Hotel. (B,D)
Day 8 / 24.7. / Gilgit – Islamabad
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for the Gilgit-Islamabad flight.
This is one of the most scenic flights in the world, and on a clear day Nanga Parbat stands high to the left of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. After a short 50 minute flight we arrive in Islamabad, transfer to the hotel. In Islamabad, the evening is free for shopping, etc. Dinner and accommodation in Islamabad. (B,D)
Day 9 / 25.7. / Islamabad
Breakfast at the hotel. Advance day with occasional possibility of flight cancellation (Gilgit-Islamabad previous day).
In Islamabad, we drive to Taxilan to explore the unique art of truck painting. We will also visit a car decoration workshop. In Pakistan, trucks are decorated like Christmas trees in our country. Vehicle decoration is popular throughout South Asia. Rickshaws, buses and trucks can be seen on the roads in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Yet nowhere are trucks in particular as lavishly decorated as in Pakistan. Thousands of euros can be spent on decoration, and it has become a competition. During our drive, we see many colourful trucks all over the country. Dinner and accommodation in Islamabad. (A,I)
Day 10 / 26.7./Heading home
Early wake up. At 02.30 am transfer to Islamabad airport. Direct flight to Istanbul at 05.25. At 08.55 we arrive in Istanbul. At 15.00 connecting flight to Helsinki. At 18.40 our flight arrives in Helsinki.
