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If I had to name my favorite country in the world, that would be Pakistan.
Home to staggering and unspoiled landscapes, Pakistan is the only country where you find the three highest mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush.
From trekking to glaciers, reaching the Nanga Parbat base camp or just relaxing in alpine lakes, in this tour, we will explore the most gorgeous northern valleys, including the off-the-beaten-track and barely visited regions of Shimshal and Astore.
Nevertheless, Pakistan is also known for its beautiful, welcoming, and charming people, some of the most hospitable people I have ever met during my travels, so this tour will also have a strong focus on learning about the local community.
July 3rd to July 16th, 2027
€2890
14 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
1 – Jul 3rd: Arrival in Islamabad
2 – Jul 4th: Driving the Karakoram Highway to Chilas
3 – Jul 5th: Driving to Tarishing
4 – Jul 6th: Trekking to Nanga Parbat base camp
5 – Jul 7th: Driving to Passu
6 – Jul 8th: Gulmit village and Ondra Polygah
7 – Jul 9th: Passu bridge
8 – Jul 10th: Drive to Shimshal
9 – Jul 11th: Trekking to Yazghil glacier in Shimshal
10 – Jul 12th: Attabad Lake and Karimabad
11 – Jul 13th: Explore Karimabad
12 – Jul 14th: Driving to Chillas
13 – Jul 15th: Driving to Islamabad
14 – Jul 16th: Departure
Day 1 is the arrival day in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
We will spend the day picking you up from the airport and checking in at the hotel.
We will visit Faisal Mosque and then, in the evening, we will invite you for a welcome dinner at Monal Restaurant, one of the most popular restaurants in town, serving high-quality Pakistani food.
The drive between Islamabad and Gilgit Baltistan is a 600-kilometer ride over an entangled road, not feasible to do it in one day, so we will stop and spend the night in Chilas, a small town along the Karakoram, where we will get our first glimpse of the local life in this part of Pakistan.
The drive is very scenic, and adventurous, with plenty of worldwide famous Pakistani trucks.
The whole journey from Islamabad to Chilas takes around 12 hours, with breaks, unexpected events and checkpoints included.
Why not fly into Gilgit instead?
Because flights get canceled too often and we can’t risk that. We understand that it’s a long drive but if we took a domestic flight instead to cut one day short, and the flight got canceled, we’d run into a big problem.
This is the most beautiful and epic drive of the whole trip, where we will try to reach Tarishing, a small settlement located at the base of Nanga Parbat, an 8,100-meter peak that belongs to the Himalayan range.
Overnight in Tarishing.
Have you ever watched the Brad Pitt-starred movie 7 Years in Tibet? Well, the mountain they try to climb at the beginning of the movie is Nanga Parbat itself and on this day, we will reach the base camp.
Translating into Killer Mountain, Nanga Parbat is one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world, but the base camp is quite accessible and can be reached in a few hours.
Picnic lunch in Nanga Parbat base camp before heading back to Tarishing.
Scenic drive to one of the most beautiful villages in Pakistan – Passu – along the most beautiful stretch of the Karakoram Highway.
We’ll arrive in Passu in the afternoon, just in time to relax, while enjoying the outstanding views from this part of the world.
Overnight in Passu.
We will spend the day exploring Gulmit and its surroundings, with a particular focus on local culture. This will include visiting a women-run carpet workshop and enjoying lunch in a local family home.
Later in the day, we will hike to Ondra Poygah, a spectacular viewpoint offering some of the best panoramic views over the Hunza Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Overnight in Passu.
Day 8 is one of our travelers’ absolute favorites.
Early in the morning, we will stop at the famous Hussaini Suspension Bridge, one of the most vertiginous footbridges in the world. From there, we’ll hike to the village of Passu, crossing another spectacular suspension bridge with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the Passu Cones.
After the hike, we’ll visit the impressive Passu Glacier, where we’ll have the opportunity to walk close to the ice and admire one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Hunza region.
Overnight in Passu.
The road connecting the Hunza Valley with Shimshal is, quite honestly, one of the most spectacular roads in all of Pakistan.
Carved into sheer cliffs and winding through dramatic mountain scenery, the journey itself is an adventure and one of the highlights of the expedition.
Overnight in Shimshal.
Shimshal is the highest permanent settlement in the Hunza region and one of the most remote and least-visited areas in Pakistan.
Needless to say, the valley is absolutely spectacular. Early in the morning, we will set off on a hike to the stunning Yazghil Glacier, a rewarding trek through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Karakoram.
We will enjoy lunch overlooking the magnificent glacier before hiking back to the village, where we’ll spend the rest of the day experiencing life in one of Pakistan’s most isolated communities and interacting with the local people.
Overnight in Shimshal.
We will say goodbye to Shimshal and head back to Karimabad.
The journey itself offers plenty of opportunities for stops, so we’ll keep the day flexible and adapt it to the group’s interests. One of the highlights is Attabad Lake, where we will stop for a picnic lunch and a relaxing afternoon.
Karimabad is the largest settlement in Hunza, a lively mountain town offering comfortable accommodations, good facilities, and spectacular views of the surrounding peaks.
Time to relax!
After several days in the mountains, Karimabad will almost feel like a big city. In reality, however, it’s a charming mountain town home to fascinating historical forts, spectacular scenery, and a surprisingly lively local market.
We’ll take it easy today, exploring the town at our own pace and enjoying everything that makes Karimabad one of the most pleasant places to spend time in northern Pakistan.
Overnight in Karimabad.
This will our last day in the mountains so, we will take our time, enjoying breakfast and the beautiful Himalayan range, before heading down to Chilas, slowly, enjoying one last time of the scenery.
In the morning, we will slowly drive back to Islamabad.
After breakfast, we will take care of your transfer to Islamabad airport.
Airport transfers in Islamabad
13 nights of accommodation (twin shared)
Private transportation across Pakistan
All meals, including dinner in a fancy restaurant on arrival day + breakfast on departure day
Clearance for all checkpoints
English-speaking local guide
International tour leader (see FAQ)
Entrance fees, cultural activities and guided tours to all places listed in the itinerary
International flights to Islamabad
Alcoholic drinks or any extra drink
Tips: In Pakistan, the local team (guides and drivers) expects a tip
Single supplement. Having your private room for 13 nights costs €550
July 3rd to July 16th, 2027
€2890
14 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
Yes, we certainly can.
If our scheduled dates don’t work for you, or you’d prefer to travel solo or with a group of friends accompanied only by our guides, we can help you organize this itinerary or tailor a different one.
Yes, we have a specific discount policy for those who have already traveled with us.
For first-time travelers, we offer up to a 10% discount when booking more than one expedition at the same time.
For security reasons, the name of the hotels we stay will only be shared upon booking your spot.
The price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will share the room with another like-minded traveler from the group.
If you want a single room, you will have to pay an additional €550.
You can apply for an online visa here.
You’ll need a Letter of Invitation and some sponsor details, but we’ll provide everything for you.
As of April 2026, the visa takes around 7-10 days to process and the fees depend on your nationality:
The visa fee for other nationalities ranges from $8 to $60.
The visa is valid for 90 days, and it’s multiple-entry.
Pretty much all nationalities.
We will do 2 day hikes but nothing particularly challenging, no camping and stuff like that.
This means that both hikes are optional and that alternatively, you can hang out in the villages. Shimshal and Tarishing are so rural and awesome that you won’t feel you missed something.
Islamabad has an international airport, with some common connections being Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Jeddah.
If you want to visit the cultural capital of Lahore, I recommend flying there, yes, and then you can take a bus to Islamabad (around 5 hours).
We limit our tours to a maximum of 12-14 people.
To secure your spot on the tour, we require a deposit.
We accept payments in both Euros and US dollars. All details will be shared upon booking your spot.
Information about the risks and dangers of the trip:
The traveler is expressly informed that the activities included in the travel itinerary are adventurous and/or take place in conflict zones, which entail dangers and imply the risk of physical, and psychological injuries, and/or death for the traveler.
Due to the characteristics of the destination and/or activities, the specific risks and dangers of the trip are, by way of example but not limited to, those listed below:
War; terrorism; political instability; arbitrary detentions, gunfire in the activity area; and/or violent crime.
Regarding the potential dangers of the destination, travelers are advised to consult the travel recommendations for the destination country provided by their country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, in the case of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these recommendations can be accessed on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan
FCDO advises against all travel to certain parts of Pakistan, including: Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Balochistan Province, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Sindh Province.
In Against the Compass, we don’t visit any of these areas but remember that on our way to Gilgit Baltistan, we’ll drive through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Yes. If you want to join any of our expeditions, you must purchase travel insurance.
We recommend IATI Insurance.
Why do we recommend IATI?
Against the Compass has been a partner of IATI for a very long time. We personally know their CEO and marketing team, and we collaborate regularly, so in the unlikely event that something happens, we know exactly what to do.
Moreover, IATI Insurance covers all the countries where the FCDO advises against all travel, something that most insurance companies don’t.
You can also benefit from a 5% discount by purchasing it through the link below.
Get a quote here to claim your discount
Can I use a different company?
Yes, you can, as long as your insurance covers the destination you’re travelling to.
An international tour leader is an Against the Compass representative and a beloved member of our family who accompanies the group throughout the trip. You can learn more about our team here.
The role of the international tour leader is to support the local guide, help coordinate logistics, and ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout the tour. They also act as a bridge between travelers and the local team, assisting with communication, group management, and any issues that may arise during the trip.
Please note that an international tour leader will only join the tour if a minimum number of participants is reached. The exact number required depends on the destination and will be specified in the contract we share with you before confirming the trip.
Please check our General Conditions.
However, specific conditions might apply depending on the destination. Example: when the trip includes airfare.
Full details will be shared upon booking your spot.