Karakorum-Hindukush Jeep Safari

Pakistan offers the best Tourist destinations, but it need to be explored. The tourists are attracted to these areas because it is ideological based and historical culture, adventure and thrilling areas and more than that hospitality of their people. Pakistan always offer the best Adventure tours and jeep safaris from the core of highest and biggest mountain ranges (Himalaya, Karakorams and Hindukush) Pakistan. This Adventure Jeep Safari will take you right across the beautiful mountain ranges of Himalaya and Karakoram. Traveling on KKH, you will enjoy the most spectacular scenery on earth.

Four wheeler visit the most remote and unspoiled valleys, including their civilization, as tourist visit these areas one must find that the primitive days life style still exist, while going to these areas one has to go to the 8th wonder of the world, Karakoram Highway it is unique, it has been forced through some of the world’s toughest mountains and glaciers.

Facts:

Duration:                    22 Days

Altitude:                     Min 500m - Max 4000m

Zone:                          Open

Trip Nature:                Soft Adventure

Best Time:                  May - September

I T I N E R A R Y
Day 1	Rawalpindi/Islamabad Hotel, trip briefing. We will have ample time for sightseeing and shopping in colorful old bazaars of Rawalpindi and new markets of Islamabad. We may also drive to the huge modern Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
Day 2	Shogran (2,362 m. 7,750 ft.) Hotel, drive. We drive through Taxila and enter the foothills of the Himalayas near Abbottabad. The lush green terraced fields are a beautiful sight. Here we enter an alpine environment; not unlike Switzerland and The Rockies. From Abbottabad we drive to Balakot and enter the famous Kaghan Valley of stunning alpine forests, deep blue high altitude lakes, lush green meadows and distant snowy peaks with the ever present frothing and gushing Kunhar River right next to the road. It will take about 6 to 7 hours of driving from Islamabad to reach heavenly Shogran.
Day 3	Naran (2,440 m. 8,000 ft.) Hotel, drive. This is a 2 hour drive into the heart of the Kaghan valley. Naran is the capital of the scenic Kaghan valley and has one of the best trout fishing in Pakistan. You can go on a side excursion to the legendary Saiful Muluk Lake (3,215 m.) for the day.
Day 4	Naran (2,440 m. 8,000 ft.) Hotel, rest. Today we can just take it easy and perhaps do some fishing in this beautiful valley.
Day 5	Chilas (1,000 m. 3280 ft.) Hotel, drive. This is a long day’s drive as we drive up to the Babusar Pass (4,529 m.) and descend into the hot, dusty and dry Indus Gorge. At the pass we try to climb an easy short slope towards our left for unbelievable views of the great Nanga Parbat (8,125 m.) and the high Karakoram peaks beyond. We will cherish this sight for a long time! This drive may take more than 8 hours. At Chilas we meet up with the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
Day 6	Astore (2,345 m. 7,690 ft.) Guest house, drive. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to drive from Chilas and under Nanga Parbat as we enter Astore village. On the way the views of the 8,125 metres Nanga Parbat from an altitude of only 1,000 metres is breathtaking; it is the largest land escarpment in the world.
Day 7	Deosai Plateau (4,000 m. 13,120 ft.) Camp, drive. It takes about 14 hours to drive from Astore to Skardu. We will have to break our journey on the way at a wayside tent shelter put up by the local people. These shelters are equipped with beds and tents. Deosai plateau is a wildlife refuge and home to many animals such as the Himalayan Brown Bear. It is truly a fascinating place. Our staff will make sure that you are well provided for at this rugged stop. Note: However, we will try our best to do the drive in a single day. They key is to leave very early in the morning from Astore. If we are able to do this then we can have one more day in Satpara or Skardu.
Day 8	Satpara Lake (3,100 m. 10,170 ft.) Guest house, drive. Just before Skardu we will stop at this beautiful lake and have another chance to do some trout fishing.
Day 9	Skardu (2,500 m. 8,200 ft.) Hotel, drive. Today we will take some well needed rest in the capital of Baltistan; the gateway to the highest peaks of the Karakoram. It takes only about 30 minutes to drive from Satpara Lake to Skardu town. If we are lucky there might be a polo game going on in the town!
Day 10	Skardu (2,500 m. 8,200 ft.) Hotel, drive. Today we will drive to the beautiful side Shiger valley near Skardu. This is a good chance to see the old Balti culture still flourishing in such remote valleys. We will return the same day to Skardu.
Day 11	Karimabad (2,440 m. 8,000 ft.) Hotel, drive. It will take about 8 hours driving time; first along side the mighty Indus on the Indus Highway and then on the KKH next to the Hunza River to reach Karimabad the capital of Hunza. If there is heaven on Earth, then this must be it! The drive is guaranteed to knock your socks off!! The views of Rakaposhi, Haramosh, Nanga Parbat, Ultar and on and on, are incomparable and unforgettable.
Day 12	Karimabad (2,440 m. 8,000 ft.) Hotel, rest. Today is open as a rest day. One can just sip tea endlessly in the lovely flower strewn garden of your hotel and stare at Rakaposhi and Ultar and the terraced valley; and one will not get bored. Or one can make side visits to other valleys and glaciers.
Day 13	Karimabad (2,440 m. 8,000 ft.) Hotel, drive. Today we will drive to the legendary Khunjerab Pass (4,833 m.) and touch China! Here, at the pass, we will be in the Pamir Mountain Range. So, up till now we have traversed, the Himalaya, the Karakoram and the Pamir mountain ranges. We will return back to Karimabad. This trip will take the whole day on the KKH.
Day 14	Phander Lake (2,800 m. 9,200 ft.) Guest house, drive. We are now on our journey to the Hindukush mountain range and Chitral. We enter the Ghizer valley after leaving the town of Gilgit behind us. This will take more than 8 hours of driving from Karimabad to Phander.
Day 15	Mastuj (2,000 m. 6,560 ft.) Hotel, drive. Leaving early morning we proceed to the Shandur Pass (3,734 m.). Here we will leave the Northern Areas behind and enter the Chitral valley in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. We are now in the Hindukush mountain range. The drive takes about 6 hours.
Day 16	Chitral Town (1,600 m. 5,248 ft.) Hotel, drive. We descend the Chitral valley and arrive in the capital of this mountain region after about 8 hours of driving. On the way we have tremendous views of Tirich Mir (7,708 m.), the highest peak of the Hindukush range and the Buni Zom group in the Hinduraj range.
Day 17	Chitral Town (1,600 m. 5,248 ft.) Hotel, drive. Today we will visit one of the famous Kalash valleys. It is a unique experience to be with these pagan tribes and their ancient culture even in the third millennium! We will return to Chitral for overnight stay.
Day 18	Saidu Sharif (1,000 m. 3,280) Hotel, drive. Leaving Chitral valley we ascend the Lowari Pass (3,118 m.) with its many hairpin road bends. We descend the pass to enter Dir valley and proceed onwards to Swat. On the way we cross Churchill’s Picket. From here the young Churchill dispatched reports to England describing the Pathan uprising. Swat is filled with Buddhist history. It takes about 8 hours from Chitral town to Saidu Sharif in Swat.
Day 19	Peshawar Hotel, drive. From Swat we cross the low Malakand pass and leave the mountains behind to enter Mardan. The drive to Peshawar, capital of NWFP takes about 4 to 5 hours. While in the ancient city of Peshawar, we can visit the Kissa Khawani bazaar (the bazaar of story tellers) and roam the streets of this fascinating old tribal city.
Day 20	Rawalpindi/Islamabad Hotel, drive. In three to four hours of driving we are back in the capital of Pakistan. On the way we cross the River Indus at Attock. This is near where Alexander the Great crossed this mighty river also on his way to conquer this part of India.
Day 21	Rawalpindi/Islamabad Hotel. This is an extra day kept for shopping and sightseeing. This day will also be used in case of any delays due to weather and adverse route conditions on our trip.
Day 22	Departure