Planned trips

Hunza is the Karakoram at its most accessible, with orchards and bazaars in Karimabad, 7000 m peaks above the valley, and Baltit and Altit forts over the Hunza River. You boat on Attabad Lake, walk beneath the Passu Cones, and when the road is open reach Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 m, the highest paved international border crossing in the world. A night in Sost puts you an hour from the pass, so the Khunjerab day is a morning excursion instead of a twelve-hour round trip from Karimabad.

Skardu sits where the Indus meets Baltistan, with silver dunes at Shigar backed by snow peaks, Manthoka waterfall, and Shigar Fort, a seventeenth century palace on the rock above apricot orchards. In season Deosai National Park opens above 4,000 m on 4x4 jeeps with a night at Pakistan Glamps, or we head into the pine forests of Basho Valley when Deosai is closed. Daylight driving on the Jaglot to Skardu road and a Chilas BBQ night on the return keep the journey comfortable from start to finish.

Fairy Meadows is one of Pakistan's most famous mountain camps, a lush alpine meadow at 3,300 m facing the immense Raikot wall of Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest peak on Earth. You follow the Karakoram Highway to Raikot Bridge, ride 4x4 jeeps to Tattu Village, and trek the pine forest trail to Broad View Hotel with a guided day walk all the way to Beyal Camp and Nanga Parbat Base Camp. Three consecutive nights at the meadows with a bonfire evening and fresh Karahi dinner let you experience the mountain properly instead of rushing up and down.