Skardu Hunza and Gilgit Tour

Departure to Skurdu from Islamabad by Air Safari (subject to weather situation on every Saturday and normal flight operates daily) which will provide a life time experience to view the World highest snowy mountains. It will fly for one hour over the three highest mountains ranges of the World i.e Karakorum, Himalayas and Hindu Kush and you can see closely second highest peak K 2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gashabrum s, Deosai plains, Saif ul Muluk lake and 100s of peaks over 7000 meters mostly still virgin. After landing at Skurdu Air Port the group will be taken to Shangril la resort for hi tea (only in case of air safari).  After photography secession the group will move in PRADOS for light lunch in Concordia Restaurant. You may buy a mobile SIM to remain in communication during the tour. Group will move from here to Jurbusso lake which is located in a cold desert 30 minutes’ drive or Katpana Desert 7303 feet high, one of the highest in the world and enjoy swimming in warm water stunning with its scenic beauty and the view of this lake is magnificent and exotic. It has beautiful meadows on sides.  The group will then move to Blind / Zharba Tso lake a panoramic lake in Shigar Valley surrounded by Indus Valley on one side and Shigar River on other side which is 1 hour drive.  This lake is situated in the middle of cold desert.  We will do short hiking in the cold desert and along the lake enjoying the Sun setting behind the lake and the mountains. Move to Hotel Serena for overnight stay. This hotel is a Fort located in the town of Shigar built in 17TH century by Raja of Amacha Dynasty, renovated following scientific guideline while preserving the cultural and architectural values on one hand presents a through learning of the history and culture and on the other hand offers a comfortable stay in traditional rooms / suites with continental and local food varieties. It is managed by Serena International Hotel Chain. Spend the evening in the cool and beautiful orchard where apricots and cherry season on its peak (June / July). We also arrange mango party here on request. Buy some beautiful handicraft from the shop inside the hotel.

After breakfast at Hotel Serena Fort departure to Chutron (means hot spring in Balti Language) which is two and a half hour drive in Basha valley at the base of Haramosh  mountain range . We will be bypassing Hyderabad which is a gateway to World highest mountains including K 2, Masherbrum, Gasherbrum, World longest Glacier Baltoro (63 kms) outside polar region.  After tea and refreshment, you are free to take bath in hot water spring which is around 38 C.  Hand towels will be provided and do carry your swimming costumes as this mineral rich water which is cure of many diseases including arthritis, eliminate toxins from the body, lower blood pressure, reduces insomnia, improves bones joint mobility etc. One can feel the skin has gone very healthy after bath but little dry. A hot lunch will be served at around one o clock including local dishes. Chutron is partially shaded and relatively cool village with its scalloped terraced wheat fields, cherries / apricot trees and stone field boundaries. The group will be taken for one hour walk to view lush green fields, calm skies, cheerful bunnies and colorful wild flowers which retained its charm of centuries old unique Himalayan culture that weaves nature and people together into same fabric of life. (Houses and cattle sheds). Departure from Chutron around 3 o clock for Gulab Pur rest house to take a close view of River Shigar formed from the melted water of Baltoro Glacier, Biafo Glacier and hundreds of other small glaciers. Also visit the gold particles collection spots if river is not in high flood. Alternately we will visit a house of our ex-mountain guide and take a close view of Himalayan culture and local delicacies.  After tea (saltish tea specialties of the area) we move back to hotel Serena for overnight stay.

After the breakfast the group will be guided to a museum with artifacts depicting the Himalayan centuries old culture inside the Shigar Fort. It is very interesting for those who have love for history. The group will move in the transport to a beautiful orchard on the bank of River Shyok which is a tributary of River Indus originates at the Rimo Glacier of Siachin. Enjoy fresh fruits juices of apricot, cherries etc in plenty if it is a season (June / July). From here we move to a natural lake where you can catch live trout fish and will be cooked for hot lunch in front of you. Than to Khaplu Valley which was second largest kingdom in old Baltistan of Yabgo Dynesty and guarding the silk trade route to Ladakh along the Shyok River. It has a mosque naming Chaqchan means The Miraculous Mosque 700 years old founded by Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamdani. The mosque is one of the oldest in the region and dates from the time when the area populace converted a masse from Buddhism to Islam.  Drive back to Sarena Khaplu Palace hotel for overnight stay. It is one of the finest surviving examples of a royal residence in Baltistan. The hotel is spiritual sanctuary of five buildings constructed back to 1840.

After breakfast the group will move to Manthokha Water Fall which is located in Kharmang Valley 180 feet high and 78 kms from Skurdu. It is one of the most enchanting and beautiful places in Skurdu and refreshing which freezes like a glacier in winter. After a light tea break, the group will move to Skurdu for lunch in Concordia Restaurant.    Afternoon move to Shangri-La Resort which is also known as HEAVEN ON EARTH at 8000 feet nestled amongst some of the world highest peaks. It encircles the heart shaped Kachura lake surrounded by fruit laden orchards and flower filled garden. Optional Hiking or driving to upper Kutura Lake in the evening for taking the panoramic view of surrounding areas and boating in the lake.  Overnight stay in Shangri la Resort.

Departure for Deosai plain 30 kms from Skurdu after breakfast which is 13,497 feet high above sea level spread in an area of 3,58,400 hectors and second highest plateau in the world after Changtang Tibetan Plateau. Deosai is located where two biogeographically provinces merge in the Himalayan, Karakoram and Pamir highland.  This is well known for flora and fauna in the world and home of 124 resident and migratory birds. Deosai is also home of Himalayan Brown bear, red fox, golden marmot (very extensively seen around), grey wolf, snow leopard etc.  The water of Deosai Plateau is home to the local snow trout which reaches enormous size. It is important resting place and breeding ground of migratory birds of international importance. Deosai is also the home to hundreds of species of medicinal and aromatic plants and wide variety of rare butterflies. We continue to Sheosar Lake at the height of 13,589 feet which is one of the world’s highest lakes surrounded by flowers of hundreds of species. Move back to Skurdu and in way a stopover at Satpara Lake which is 8,700 feet above sea level and Manthal Buddha Rock carving. This carving was done on granite rock in 8th century when Buddhism was religion of the area.  Transfer to Shingri la hotel for overnight stay.

Departure for Gilgit by road after breakfast and we will stopover at Aztek  Nullha for hot lunch. The Astak River originates from Astak la and joins by Goropha, Kutia and Tooklana Strems and fall into Indus after completing a course of 30 km. Haramosh Peak is a land mark with height of 7049 meters. Arrival by afternoon and transfer to Serena Hotel. Evening free to explore the markets of Gilgit or optional visit to Kargah Buddha an archaeological site located 9 kms from here. There is a carved image of a large standing Buddha in the cliff facing Kargha nullha dated back to 7th century. From 3rd century to 11th century, it was a Buddhist center and few meters upstream a Buddhist monastery and three stupas containing Sanskrit manuscripts were excavated in 1931. Gilgit is an oldest city of some 2000 years BC, been an important trading post for centuries because of its location on the silk route. There are more than 50000 pieces of rock art petro glyphs all along Karakoram Highway and some sites are found here. These are left by various invaders, traders and pilgrims who passed along the trade route dated back to 5000 and 1000 BCE. Marco Polo visited this area around 1280AD on way to China and commented that valley is ringing with kingdoms.

Departure for Hunza and in the way see the thousands of years old Silk Route clinging to the mountain. Shepherds still use this route to go to their pasture lands. A convergent boundary between Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate can be seen near Chalt which is 58 kms from Gilgit from the road side. The Himalayan mountains range and Tibetan plateau have formed as a result of the collision which began 50 million years ago and continues till today by rise of one cm per year. The British awarded three Victoria Crosses during the campaign of Anglo Brusho War of 1891 here to Lieutenant Manner Smith, Captain Aylmer and Lieutenant Boisragon and number of orders of merit to others. A mule was also awarded with the medal for carrying a gun on its back. Rakaposhi Mountain on the right which is 21st highest and is the steepest mountain of the planet which changes color with the sun light. Hunza was a former princely state for about 900 years and surrounded by four peaks above 7000 meters i.e., Rakaposhi, Diran, Golden and Ultar nowhere in the world.  Transfer to the hotel Darbar e Hunza.  Evening visit to impressive Altit and Bultit forts built by the rulers of Hunza from wood, rocks and mud 700 years ago. The bazaar of Karimabad is colorful and items of interest includes local handicraft, souvenirs, hand woven rugs, embroidered caps, shawls, hand woven cloth known as paffu and gemstones.

Departure for full day excursion to the Khunjarab Pass after breakfast. After few minutes’ drives from hotel is located Haldeikish sacred rock is one of the earliest and most reliable sources available for understanding the history of entire region during the first millennium CE. Spread over four rocks, thousands of graffiti and petroglyphs, names, titles, dates, formulae, and designs in bactrian, Kharoshti, Sogdian, Tibetan, Chinese and Brahmi scripts reveal the diverse linguistic and geographical origins of the visitors and travelers via Hunza. They highlight the important role of the Hunza Valley as a transition for cultural exchange on the silk route networks. Khunjarab pass is high mountain pass on the Northern border of Pakistan with China at an elevation of 4,733 meters above sea level thus making it highest crossing in the World. Soon after crossing the Upper Hunza there Passu Glacier can be seen touching the road. It is 56 kms and fifth longest non polar glacier of the world. The region beyond Dhee is declared as Khunjerab National Park and while driving through it one can see grazing wild asses, yaks, marmots and ibex. The sight of Marco Polo sheep, urial and snow leopard is rare but in winter they can be seen when the area is covered with snow.  The friendship gate between Pakistan and China is just on the top with hundreds of Chinese tourists visit on other side.  On way back the group will stop at a restaurant run by a lady for lunch and then will visit a small mosque some 700 years old. This last mosque before entering China was constructed by preacher of Islam under most difficult situation. Some of you may offer two rakats of namaz here and pray for those great preachers.   (FROM HISTORY PAGE: Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas headed for China for the third time in 650–51 after Caliph ‘Uthman asked him to lead an embassy to China, which the Chinese emperor received warmly. ).   Move back to hotel Serena for overnight stay.

Departure for Gilgit and will visit Attabad lake 14 kms upstream of Karimabad created by massive slide in January 2010 and thus blocking Hunza River for five months. The 24 kms of road was also washed away and rebuilt in 2015 with five tunnels to restore the Pakistan China trade route. The lake length is 21 kms with 1000 meters depth and fed by five rivers. The lake provides many entertainments for enjoyment includes boating, jet-skiing, water scooter and other recreational activities at the lake. We will stop for lunch at Rakaposhi view point.  Transfer to hotel Serena for night stay.

Departure to Gilgit Airport to fly back to Islamabad. In case PIA flight do not operate due to inclement weather then the group will move by road which is 12 hours’ drive to Islamabad on KKH. By road we will stop at a junction point where three highest mountain ranges of the World Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush meet, from Raikot Bridge River Indus can be seen passing through World deepest gorge 2 km deep. We will also pass by Basha Diamer Dam sites which are under construction.