Adventure Tour- Nanga Parbat Fairy Meadows Trek

Legend says that Fairy Meadows is a place where fairies visit at night. We have made it possible for you to witness this legend in this 15 day trek, which winds through the Tato Village and many other historical locations to Fairy Meadows, which lies at an altitude 3300 metres. The trek also includes a stop at the traditional day camp of Nanga Parbat (at 8125 metres it is the ninth highest peak in the world, known as the killer mountain). The day camp is a lush green plateau with the most splendid view one could ever imagine. This tour also gives you a taste of the scenic Swat Valley and the famous Khyber Pass, near Peshawar.

Day 1: Islamabad - Arrive in Islamabad. You will be met and then transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, take a Rawalpindi/Islamabad city tour. We will begin at the old city of Rawalpindi, at the Raja (King) Bazaar. A stop in the silver and gold bazaars will allow us to catch traditional craftsmen at work. We will then continue on the main street linking the Twin cities - Murree Road - before arriving at the gleaming new capital. We pass shining new buildings and thousands of park areas - a full 50 percent of the 350 square mile site is set aside for parks. We will then stop at the Shakar Parian, "Sweet Hills" to catch a bird's eye view of Islamabad. Our next stop will be Shah Faisal Mosque which is the landmark of Islamabad. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Chilas - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Chilas via Taxila. Chilas was on the ancient caravan trail over the Babusar Pass into India and on the Indus trail of Besham, and many rock engravings were left by travellers in this area. Chilas is standing under the shadow of world famous Nanga Parbat. On arrival transfer to the hotel.

Day 3: Karimabad - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Karimabad via Gilgit. 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 magnificent view of the valley laid out below you and of the peaks behind. The Aliabad/Karimabad area is sprinkled with wild flowers and blossoming fruit orchards. We will spend half our day in these two towns enjoying the greenery and delighting in the sound of the babbling brooks. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Karimabad - After breakfast, we take a full day city tour of Hunza including Baltit Fort and Hoper. (please note that Baltit Fort is now a museum). Baltit Fort was the old palace of the Mirs of Hunza and was inhabited until 1960. It is about 400 years old. Baltit is a curious rambling old place, four storeys high and sturdily built of stones, sun-dried mud and timber. Baltit is built on a cliff edge; behind it is a ravine, and then the Ultar glacier glinting in the sunshine. The architecture here reflects a Tibetan influence. The view from the top of the fort is well worth the climb. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Gilgit - After breakfast drive to Gilgit. In the afternoon visit Kargah and take a city tour. Driving to Kargha is an experience in itself, as our jeep bumps and lurches in a wild arid landscape that is dotted with massive chunks of rock. We are at our destination when abruptly around a bend we find ourselves facing a huge carving of Buddha on a rock. It is not exactly known when the carving appeared, but its workmanship reveals a talented master. We will then resume our wild ride back to Gilgit. We begin at the serene Chinar Bagh, where trees as much as 300 years old haughtily over look the Gilgit River. We will then drive through the bazaar in order to familiarise ourselves with the customs of the Gilgitis, with a stop at the co-operative store, where Chinese goods are bought on the barter system - an opportunity to glance at Chinese treasures. We will then take a hair raising drive across Asia's longest suspension bridge - 600 feet long and wide enough only for one jeep at a time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Fairy Meadows - After breakfast drive by jeep to Tato and hike to Fairy Meadows. At Tato, the steep and difficult ascent on a rocky trail will lead the group to a small hamlet of Tato which is comprised of a few clay lofts scattered about. This Village is inhabited by the upright and fierce, yet they are very hospitable. Chilas, whose origin is Kohistan (altitude 3300 metres - Time 3-4 hours). Fairy Meadows is the traditional base camp of Nanga Parbat. The local people believe that this beautiful place is an abode of fairies and ghosts. The lush green plateau presents some of the most spectacular sights one can ever witness. One forgets the trying walk up to this magnificent site when you behold a landscape of rushing torrents with a panoramic backdrop of the mighty Nanga Parbat. Overnight in tents.

Day 7: Nanga Parbat Base Camp - After breakfast trek to Nanga Parbat Base Camp. This huge mountain is not a single peak but a series of ridges culminating in an ice crest 8,125 metres high - ranked 9th highest in the world and second in Pakistan after K-2. Early disasters on Nanga Parbat gave it the nickname Killer Mountain or Mangeur D'Homme. 12 climbers and 18 sherpas had died there by 1937. The monster was finally conquered in 1953 by a German expedition. Overnight in tents.

Day 8: Nanga Parbat Base Camp Excursion - After breakfast, take a day excursion to Camp 1. Overnight in tents.

Day 9: Nanga Parbat Base Camp - Day at leisure to explore the local area. Overnight in tents.

Day 10: Fairy Meadows - After breakfast trek back to Fairy Meadows. Overnights in tents.

Day 11: Tato to Besham - After breakfast descend to Tato and drive to Besham. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel. Besham is a little transit village now beginning to assume the features of a modern town and has the trappings of modern civilization - petrol stations, cafes, restaurants, hotels, barber shops and bazaars. It is the junction for the Swat Valley via the scenic Shangla Pass into Khawzakhela; and Kaghan Valley via Manshera and Gilgit. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: Swat - After breakfast drive to Swat. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel. Afternoon city tour of Butkara - home to the remains of one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the valley. This site consists of a main stupa around which 215 votive stupas are on display in apparent glorious disarray. The main stupa was believed to contain some ashes of Lord Buddha and to have been built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. It is difficult to imagine, but it must have been once painted, gilded, and topped by stone umbrellas. You can still see the statue of lions crouching on their haunches. They probably fell off the tops of the tall columns which once stood near the stupa. Mingora Bazaar is the commercial centre, and is well worth visiting, for there you will find emeralds for which Swat is famous. Then continue to Murghazar where you will behold the old white palace constructed from white marble and adorned with ornate carvings. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Peshawar - After breakfast drive to Peshawar. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Islamabad - Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning visit Khyber Pass and take a brief city tour. This famous pass has been a silent witness to the countless number of invaders, pleasure seekers, adventurers and soothsayers that have filtered through its narrow gateway over the centuries. The historic Khyber Pass begins at a distance 15 miles west of Peshawar at the Babi - Khyber watchtower, which acts as a gateway to the Pass. You then begin a winding journey through a tribal area, passing the Jamrud Fort, and for 36 miles are another 'invader', witnessing the stark and severe beauty of this passage hewn through great rocks. The pass ends at the Torkham Border at Landikotal, which at the height of 3518 feet straddles the top of this historical passageway. At Torkham the Durand line separates Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Then we will visit the rich museum of Peshawar, which houses treasures of the Gandhara period. Proceed to old Peshawar through the Kabuli Gate - one of the sixteen - to the Qissa Khawani bazaar, "the street of story tellers", and witness unusual and unforgettable sights. We will also visit the coppersmith's bazaar, which flourished from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD. Continue to Mahabat Khan's mosque, built in 1670 by the Governor of Peshawar under Moghal Emperor Shah Jahan. Our tour will pass by Balar Hisar Fort, built by Babar in 1526-30, and rebuilt by Hari Singh Nalva, under the guidance of French engineers in 1830. In the afternoon drive to Islamabad. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. You will enjoy a farewell dinner after all the adventure and excitement. Then It is time to say good bye to each other with a wish to meet again at another Walji's adventure program in future! Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15: Islamabad - After breakfast transfer to the airport.