06Nights / 07Days
Sust-Gulmit-Karimabad-Gilgit-Besham-Taxila-Islamabad
TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 01: Tashkurgan (China)-Khunjerab Pass-Sust-Gulmit
Upon arrival meet & assist after custom’s immigration formalities transfer to Gulmit.
Khunjerab Pass (at an elevation of 15397 ft / 4693 m) is a high mountain pass in the Karakuram Mountains in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on the southwest border of the Xinjiang province of China. The Khunjerab Pass is the highest cemented international border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakuram Highway. The road across the pass was completed in 1982, and has old-fashioned the unpaved Mintaka and Kilik Passes as the primary passage across the Karakorum Range. On the Pakistani side, the pass is 42 kms from the National Park station and checkpoint in Dih, 75 km from the customs and immigration post in Sost, 270 km from Gilgit, and 870 km from Islamabad. On the Chinese side, the pass is 130 kms from Tashkurgan, 420 kms from Kashgar and some 1890 kms from Urumqi city. The Chinese port of entry is located 3.5 km along the road from the pass in Tashkurgan region.
Sust is the first town within Pakistan on the Karakoram Highway after Chinese border. It is elevated 2800 meters above sea level. The town is an important place on the highway for all passenger and cargo transport because all traffic crossing the Pakistan-China border passes through this town, Pakistani immigration and customs department offices are based here. Pakistan and China have opened border for trade and tourism at Khunjerab. The Main languages spoken here is Wakhi and Brushaski. The Silk Route Dry Port started its business operations at the port Sost (Upper Hunza) near Khunjarab pass Gilgit-Baltistan.
After lunch in Sust, drive to Gulmit Village via suspension bridge.
Continue your traveling to Sust by visiting Hussaini Suspension bridge Known as the most dangerous bridge in the world, the Hussaini Hanging Bridge is only one of many precarious rope bridges in Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan.
Gulmit is the head quarter of Tehsil Gojal, in the upper Hunza region of District Hunza/Nagar of Gilgit/Baltistan. Territory is located in the deep in the Karakuram Mountain Range. Gulmit is a centuries-old historic town, with mountains, peaks and glaciers. It is a tourist spot and has many hotels, shops and a museum. Its altitude is (7900 ft / 2408m) above the Arabian Sea level. Gulmit is also a Turkish or Iranian word which means the valley of flowers. Before 1974, when Hunza was a state, Gulmit used to be the Summer Capital of the formerly Hunza state. After the abolition of the state it became the Tehsil’s set up of government. The oldest undamaged house in Gulmit is more than six centuries old.
Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.
Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Gulmit. (Lunch & Dinner).
Day 02: Gulmit-Karimabad via Attabad Lake
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Karimabad via Attabad Lake.
Continue drive to Karimabad through friendship tunnels. Arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Karimabad is the delightful old capital of the Hunza Kingdom. From Karimabad, with its souvenir shop, post office and tea shop, you can obtain a superb view of the valley laid out below you and of the peaks at the back. Karimabad area is scattered with natural flowers and blossoming fruit orchards. We will spend half our day in this town enjoying the greenery and enchantment in the sound of waterfall.
Lunch at the hotel. PM. Visit Baltit Fort & Bazaar.
Baltit fort (Museum) was the old palace of the Mirs of Hunza and was settled until 1960. It is more then 700 years old. Baltit is a questioning long-winded old place and has four stories, strongly built of stones, sun-dried mud and wood. Baltit is built on a cliff edging at the back side; it is a gorge and then the Ultar glacier shining in the sunshine. The structural design here, as at Altit Fort, reflects a Tibetan influence. The local people says that a Princess of Baltistan get married a time in power Mir and brought with her Balti masons, carpenters and craftsmen to build Baltit and Altit as part of her gift/dowry. In the ‘museum room’ are coats of mail, weapons and the warning drums that sounded the alarm in an attack. The view from the top of the fort is well worth the climb.
Dinner & overnight in Karimabad. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
Day 03: Karimabad-Duiker Sunrise & Nagar Valley Excursion
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning proceed to Duiker to view Sunrise by Willy Jeep. Altit Fort & Garden.
Duiker is a small village which is 4-5 kms away from Karimabad, situated above Altit Village at a height of (9,327 ft / 2,850 m) approximately, from where one can get gorgeous view of whole Hunza valley and all adjoining peaks as well as Hoper Glacier from this view point.
Altit Fort is an very old fort at Altit town in the Hunza valley in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It was initially home to the rulers family of the Hunza state who accepted the title Mir, although they moved to the somewhat younger Baltit fort nearby three centuries later. Altit Fort and in particular the Shikari tower is around 1100 years old, which makes it the oldest monument in the Gilgit–Baltistan.
Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon visit Nagar Valley.
A short 4WD Jeep traveling will take you to Nagar Valley. The beauties of the village are fruit orchards, longevity of local people and enjoy the many mountain flowers that point the landscape. We have excellent views of Ultar Peak, and the Hunza Valley as seen from Nagar.
Dinner & overnight in Karimabad. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
Day 04: Karimabad-Gilgit Kargah Buddha Visit
After breakfast drive to Gilgit along Karakorum Highway. On the way lunch in a suitable restaurant.
Gilgit is administratively capital city of Gilgit/Baltistan and business hub in the region. Its ancient name was Sargin, later it is locally known as Gilit. Gilgit was an important city on the Silk Road, along which Buddhism was spread from south Asia to rest of the Asian countries.
Visit to Kargah Buddha. Kargah is an archaeological site located about 9.5 km outside of Gilgit city, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is a carved image of a large standing Buddha in the cliff-face in Karghah Nala. The carving, which is in a style also found in Baltistan, probably dates to the 7th century. Probably this carving was supposed to invent in 1931 and completed in the 7th century and discovered in 1938-39.
Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Dinner & overnight in Gilgit. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
Day 05: Gilgit-Besham
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and drive to Besham. On the way stop at Nanga Parbat view point and 3 mountain ranges junction point.
En-route lunch at local restaurant in Chilas. Continue traveling to Besham.
Arriving at Besham we are at the base perimeter of Indus valley with fascinating view of the Indus River and the legendary road known as the Karakuram Highway (KKH) 8th wonder of the world. The widen of our traveling from Besham to Thakot (Shangla) is just a slight glance of the wonders and inspirational values that this road has in store for its travelers who take their journey with it on upstream path. Arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Dinner & overnight in Besham. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
Day 06: Besham-Taxila-Islamabad
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Islamabad on the way visit Taxila museum and sights.
Taxila is 40 kms away from Islamabad the capital city of Pakistan, was once the seat of Oriental civilization. In 6th century B.C, It was first talked about as a satrapy of the Archemenian Empire. It was attacked by Alexander the Great (Sikandar-e-Azam) & passed along to other monarch until finally he reached the hands of Ashoka, who give the shape of the city into a learning and cultural centre. The original Gandhara era pursued in a while. After that Taxila remained the centre of learning, thinking and sculptures. It came to a devastating and deplorable closing stage when sacked by White Huns. Today, here is a well-maintained museum & eight sites sprinkled in the region of a very short radius. Amongst the best conserved are Sirkap, Jaulian (the University) and Mohra Moradu. Arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.
Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Islamabad. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 07: Islamabad City tour-Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
AM. Sightseeing tour will start from, Faisal Mosque, Shakar Parian & National monument with a trip to Damn-e-Koh, to catch an eye bird view of the twin cities.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
PM. Free at leisure OR free for shopping.
Dinner in a local restaurant and then after transfer to Islamabad International Airport for your return flight.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
SERVICES END