07 Days Trek Fairy Meadows Nanga Parbat Base Camp Pakistan

Arrive at Islamabad airport in the morning. Transfer to Air Conditioned buses, proceed overland to Besham /Narran. As we start our drive from Islamabad we shortly drive on Grand Trunk Road leading to Afghanistan, en route visit Taxila, the capital of Buddhist Gandhara civilization.

It is reputed as one of the most important archaeological sites of sub-continent. We visit the ruins of a former city (Sirkup), a former monastery (Julian) built on top of a hill and the splendid site museum that contains the artefacts recovered from the excavation sites.

Here one could also see the gold and silver coins of Alexander The Great (326 BC) and local kings. After Taxila turn north to head towards Karakoram Highway. The Highway, reputed as the eighth wonder of the world - was jointly constructed by Pakistani and Chinese engineers and took 850 lives & 20 years to complete. Arrive Besham/ Narran and transfer to hotel, for meals and night stay. (5/6 hours, 200 km)

For the second half of our journey, we drive through the Indus gorge, at Thakot, we cross Chinese made bridge to enter the gorge of Indus river. For centuries this branch of Silk Route was used by the traders and Buddhist missionaries. There are many rock carving sites of that time: Shatial rock carving is one of them. Lunch in Chilas, we stop at Thalichi for the best viewpoint of Nanga Parbat (8,125m) the 9th highest peak of the world and the second highest after K 2 in Pakistan, also known as the killer mountain.

Rakaposhi (7,788m) and the Haramosh range can also be viewed from here. As we drive north we arrive at the meeting point of the mountain rages. The three highest mountain ranges of the world Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindukush meet where Indus river is joined by Chilas river.

Continue to drive to Gilgit the capital city of Northern areas of Pakistan. (9/10 hours, 320 km)

we will arrive at Raikot; at Raikot board on 4x4 soft top jeeps after one hour drive, we will arrive at Jaile, a small village inhabited by Shina speaking Chilasis. Our trek commencement point. As loads are distributed among the porters, we leave the jeeps and start walking.

We ascend gradually, walking through the dry lunar landscape of this meeting point of Hindukush and Himalayan range. Soon we enter the narrow, barren gorge of Tato river, the track clings high on its left bank. Crossing through the green juniper and pine trees arrive at Fairy Meadows for overnight camping/Huts. (8/9 hours)

An ideal day’s walk to the base camp of Nanga Parbat. We walk through the pine trees, covered valley with Raikot glacier flowing on our left side and the summit of Nanga Parbat straight ahead. After about two hours we traverse the lateral moraine of the glacier and then arrive at a flat meadow of Biale camping site.

From here turn right for a short patch to arrive at the OLD BASE CAMP of Nanga Parbat. The meadow here is normally filled with Himalayan flowers and shouting marmots. Half an hour from here is German mountaineer Drexel’s monument. Lunch at 4,000 meters. Enjoy thrilling views of Nanga Parbat and its surrounding peaks. Later walk back to the camp at Fairy Meadows camp/Huts. (7/8 hours round trek.)

Three hours downhill walk from Fairy Meadows along Tato river to Jaile. At Jaile board on your jeeps once again and arrive at Raikot bridge on KKH over Indus river.

At Raikot our AC van will be waiting for us. Transfer into the van and drive to Besham / Narran for overnight at PTDC motel (8/9 hours trek)

Evening free for bazaars and sight seeing in the capital city. Overnight stay at the hotel (6/7 hours drive)