Sunday 17th September – Islamabad – Rawalpindi

• Arrival at your convenience in the city of Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city with great flights connecting from Europe, Middle East and Asia.
• Driver will meet you at the airport and take you to the meeting location.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at 11:00am to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Head off to the truckyard where Pakistani trucks, vans and anything that basically moves is painted with vibrant and bedazzled works of art
• Visit the Faisal Mosque – the national Mosque of Pakistan and the largest Mosque within South Asia (6th in the world!)
• Stop by the Pakistan Monument – the monument was constructed to symbolize the unity of the Pakistani people.
• We head to the top of Daman e-koh for a spectacular sunset over the Islamabad
• Overnight stay in Rawalpindi.

Monday 18th September – Rawalpindi – Abbottabad – Naran

• We don’t use this word very often but begin your epic drive along the Karakoram Highway
• Got your Navy Seal T-shirt? Well, it’s time to put on a jumper, we’ll be having a tea break in Abbottabad, the city where Osama Bin Laden was killed.
• We’ll take a detour from the Karakoram Highway, to see an even better part of this specific area. Driving past incredible peaks, right next to Indian Kashmir, we’ll make our way to Naran. So sit back and enjoy the road trip, we will have plenty of stops for photos and rest breaks.
• Overnight in Naran

Tuesday 19th September – Naran – Fairy Meadows / Nanga Parbat

• After breakfast, we set off for another long day of photography opportunities on winding roads along the Kunhar River to Lulusar Lake. After a short break we’ll resume our journey toward Babusar Pass at 4173m, where await panoramic views of west Himalayas and Hindukush.
• Descend down to Chilas and join the Karakoram Highway to Raikot bridge, from where we shift to 4WD Jeeps to experience one of the hair raising adventure journey for few hours to Jhel village
• 3 hour hike to Fairy Meadows, located at base of majestic Nanga Parbat (8126m). The second highest peak in Pakistan & 9^th in the world ranking, this is one of the most beautiful parts in northern Pakistan, and a must-visit place. It’s optional to ride horse instead of hiking.
• We can arrange horses for those who would like to ride instead.
• After arrival we will overnight in a camp (tent or a hut) where, at night, we’ll get to go stargazing.

Wednesday 20th September – Fairy Meadows

• We have a full day around Fairy Meadows to explore the magnificent sights of west Himalayas & Karakorams. It offers plenty of options, you may want to rest and explore surrounding with mesmerizing views. For those who would like to go for further hikes, it is possible to go to the view point located next to Raikot glacier or all the way to Base Camp and return to Fairy Meadows in the afternoon.
• Overnight in our camp in Fairy Meadows.

Thursday 21st September – Fairy Meadows – Hunza

• Breakfast and begin making our way back down by hiking to the jeeps and take the 4×4 back to our minivan.
• We continue our road trip along the Karakoram Highway towards Hunza Valley with several stops along the way.
• Triphiglight: We’ll stop enroute to the point where three of the world’s greatest mountain ranges (Hindu Kush, Karakorum and the Himalayas) meet.
• Lunch break at Gilgit at a local school, the capital town of Gilgit Baltistan region before heading north to the Hunza valley – making a few stops along the way for photography.
• Overnight in the Hunza Valley

Friday 22nd September – Around Hunza

• We will have a full day in Hunza to explore life in the valley
• Visit the ancient forts of Baltit and Altit, the traditional residences of the Mirs of Hunza
• We will walk on the high irrigation channels carved into rock for tremendous views and an insight into how the people of Hunza created their Shangri-La.
• Overnight in Hunza Valley

Saturday 23rd September – Hunza – Passu – Khunjerab Pass

• Today, we’ll continue along the Karakoram Highway making our way to the Chinese border, crossing the newly formed Attabad Lake to Passu. The 30 km long lake was only formed in 2010 after a massive landslide dammed the mighty Indus river.
• Our route will take us through Khunjerab National Park – if it’s our lucky day we’ll spot an ibex or a snow leopard.
• Overnight in Passu

Sunday 24th September – Passu – Hunza – Gilgit

• Cross the famous rope bridges near the village of Husseini.
• We will visit the Passu glacier while passing by Borit Lake.
• Drive from Passu to Gilgit – Gilgit was once a major centre for Buddhism, as well as an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. Today it serves as a major junction along the Karakoram Highway.
• We’ll stop along the way for stunning photos from various lookouts including of Attabad Lake.
• Dinner and overnight stay in Gilgit. The largest town in the North of Pakistan.

Monday 25th September – Gilgit – Besham

• We continue our drive on the Karakoram Highway from Gilgit to Besham – Besham is located on the right bank of the Indus River. It has been home to many Buddhist hermits, as well as a large Hindu community. Besham was a part of a former kingdom known as the State of Swat, established in 1849 that was ruled by chiefs known as Akhunds. It was then recognized as a princely state in alliance with the British Indian Empire between 1926 and 1947. Until the Independence of Pakistan.
• Upon arrival we’ll explore the city of Besham.
• Overnight stay in Besham.

Tuesday 26th September – Besham – Peshawar

• As we continue our drive onwards along the Karakoram Highway we descend down from the mountains and arrive at the plains of Punjab making our way to Peshawar – located on the border of Afghanistan. Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with the largest Pashtun majority city.
• We’ll drive via Swat Valley – an area known for its breathtaking landscapes, but also an area once occupied by the Taliban. A famous female education activist Malala comes from this area.
• Late arrival in Peshawar with an overnight stay.

Wednesday 27th September – Peshawar

• We’ll spend today exploring the sights and sounds of Peshawar which has a heavy Afghanistan influence on the city.
• Begin touring the old city centre with a visit to Ghanta Ghar – the clock tower which was one among the pair (the other being in England) that was presented by the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth.
• Explore Mahabat Khan Mosque – named after the former governor of Peshawar and built it in 1630 AD during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan – the ruler of the Mughal Empire in India from 1628 until 1658.
• Wander the Qissa Khwani Bazaar and Bazar-e-Kalan for lunch. We highly recommend trying Kulfa – a local special ice cream.
• Visit the Peshawar Museum – most notable for its collection of Buddhist artwork dating from the ancient Gandhara region.
• Dinner and overnight stay in Peshawar.

Thursday 28th September – Islamabad

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our drive back to Islamabad (3 hours)
• On arrival we’ll conclude the tour – YPT can provide advice or recommendations for accommodations or for flights out.

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