Hitch Hike Himalayas

Deo-Sai Plains – Rama Lake – Babusar Pass – Kaghan Valley

No. of days : 8
Camp Nights : 4
Best Season : Mid June to Mid Oct
Maximum Elevation : 4733 meters
Mountain Range : Hindu Kush – Karakoram – Himalayas

This trip is a combination of soft and adventure tours. We visit Kachura and Satpara, two picturesque lakes in the vicinity of Skardu, the capital town of Baltistan. Then we climb up Deo-Sai Plains, a treeless wilderness filled with rolling grasslands with lovely flowers. Deo-Sai is also a home of Himalayan Brown Bear and during our camp; we will make an attempt to watch the wild beasts in their natural habitat. Shoesar Lake is another lovely place on high plateau before descending down to Astore Valley and we further cross Babusar Pass and enter in Kaghan Valley to touch Lulusar and Saif-ul-Muluk, the heart capturing lakes of Kaghan.

ITINERARY

    Day 01 Islamabad - Chilas

    We depart from Islamabad and arrive at Besham crossing the famous towns of Abbottabad and Mansehra. Later on following the upstream course of River Indus, we will make photo stops at Shatial rocks with ancient graffiti's on it. After a long day aboard, we arrive at Chilas and transfer to hotel for overnight.

    Day 02 Chilas - Skardu

    We keep on following the course of River Indus, and make a brief stop at Chilas rocks carvings. Our next stop is at Nanga Parbat viewpoint which offers breathtaking views of the huge massif of Nanga Parbat. Before entering into the narrow gorge of River Indus, we make another stop at the unique point where three mountain ranges, Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindu Kush meet near the confluence of Indus and Gilgit Rivers.

    Our onwards journey is through the narrow and barren gorge of Indus and the scenery changes at Kachura, a picturesque lake of Baltistan, where we make an brief stop and later drive on to Skardu town to stay for overnight. Evening is free at Skardu to hike to Khorpocho Fort perched on a hill along River Indus.

    Day 03 Skardu - Excursion Shigar Valley
    Skardu - Deo-Sai Plains

    We make an early departure, crossing the River Indus and driving through a sandy land, we reach in green and fertile Shigar Valley. At Shigar, we will visit the old mosque and Shigar Fort residence. We return back to Skardu and depart for Satpara Lake, at the foot of Deo-Sai plains. After a brief photo stop, we start driving uphill to Deo-Sai plateau, a treeless wilderness of rolling grassland at an average height of 4000m above sea level. We pass through the waters of Shatung Nala and reach at Bara Pani to camp for overnight.

    Day 04 Deo-Sai – Nature Exploration

    We spend half day at top and visit the habitat of Brown Bear of Deo-Sai. Later on we depart for Astore Valley and cross Kala Pani, other stream of Deo-Sai plains, before reaching at Shoesar Lake, a vast water reservoir on the plateau. We reach Astore and drive to Rama for overnight stay.

    Day 05 Rama - Excursion Rama Lake
    Rama - Chilas

    We enjoy a trip to Rama Lake and in noon depart for Chilas for overnight stay.

    Day 06 Chilas - Naran

    Here starts another adventure as we start driving to a newly constructed track and cross Babusar Pass at 4100m. and descend in to Kaghan Valley. Kaghan, an alpine valley is completely different from the landscape of Northern Areas and offers green hills and forested mountains. We pass through the summer settlement of Gitidas, Lulusar Lake and villages of Burwai, Jalkhad and Batakundi to arrive in Naran, the main attraction of the valley.

    Day 07 Naran - Excursion Lake Saif-ul-Muluk
    Naran – Khannian / Shogran

    Today, we will make a visit to the legendary lake, Saif-ul-Muluk at 3200m. where Malika Parbat ( 5271m ), the highest peak of the valley, towers over the lake and offers great venues for candid shots and superb photography. Lake can be approached by jeeps, on foot or riding a hired pony. After a packed picnic lunch at lake, we will return to Naran and in afternoon, we depart for Shogran.

    We enjoy a drive along River Kunhar and crossing the village of Kaghan, we stay for overnight at Khannian. Our stay will be at a picturesque resort, on the banks of fast flowing Kunhar. Or we will drive to Kawai and further on to Shogran, a high plateau with superb panorama around.

    Day 08 Khannian – Excursion Paya
    Paya – Balakot – Islamabad

    Early departure for Paya, a vast plateau at the foot of Makra Peak, bordering Kaghan with Azad Kashmir. After enjoying a superb panorama around, we drive down to main road and reach Balakot, the last town of Kaghan Valley while descending. Balakot is settled on the banks of River Kunhar, the lifeline of the Kaghan Valley. After a short break, we resume driving to Mansehra and reach Islamabad after crossing Abbottabad, Haripur and Taxila. On we drop you at a designated place.

    End of the Tour


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