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We head to the highest mountain region on the planet, where three of the greatest mountain systems meet: the Karakoram, the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush! Here are five legendary and most dangerous eight-thousanders in the world – Chogori (K2, 8611 m), Nanga Parbat (8126 m), Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak, 8080 m) and Gasherbrum II (K4, 8035 m), as well as Broad Peak (8051 m). In total, about 40 peaks in Pakistan rise above 7000 meters above sea level. An incredible concentration of the planet's highest mountains!
On this tour we will walk three steep and incredibly beautiful treks – to the Base Camp of the eight-thousander Nanga Parbat, to Rush Lake at an altitude of about 5000 m, and to the base camp of Rakaposhi (7788 m). A wonderful addition to this will be an unforgettable journey along the Karakoram Highway, getting acquainted with the culture and history of the ancient people, and visiting architectural masterpieces in Islamabad, Lahore and Gilgit.
Seeing the Karakoram with your own eyes is a cherished and great dream of many travelers, and exploring Pakistan together with Kuluar is a great chance to get the most enjoyment from it and only vivid impressions! Join us!
We have more than 10 years of experience organizing treks and climbs of all difficulty levels around the world. In the best traditions, we will organize a trek in Pakistan for you as well.
The program has been carefully thought out and polished down to the smallest detail by our Pakistani partners, and designed so that in just two weeks you can fully enjoy both the mountain scenery and the culture of this unique country
We take care of all the organizational work – permits, hotel bookings, vehicle support throughout the entire trip (bus and jeeps), while the host side is one of the best organizing companies in Pakistan!
On the four-day autonomous trek to Rush Lake, we provide you with everything you need, including support staff – local porters, cooks and their assistants! All you have to do is enjoy the majestic views without carrying heavy backpacks with food and gear. And this is already included in the tour price!
We complete all three treks without heavy backpacks, staying at quite comfortable lodges and guesthouses. We've made sure to choose the best places for your rest and make it as easy as possible! And on the trek to Rush Lake, we stay in expedition tents carried by porters.
If needed, we will help you gather gear and advise you on purchasing plane tickets.
Experienced and reliable guides will show you the most beautiful places in Pakistan and tell you their history, dating back thousands of years; they will lead you along the best and safest mountain trails.
We do not cancel or postpone groups. If the consultant gives the go-ahead to buy a ticket, you can safely purchase it. The program will not be canceled through our fault.
The consultant has participated in many climbs and treks and will advise you with expert knowledge.
"He who has not been to Lahore has not been born" – a Punjabi saying.
Lahore is the capital of art in Pakistan. It is the second most populous city after twenty-million Karachi. The history of Lahore holds many legends and myths. The city was the capital of numerous empires, conquerors, dynasties, kingdoms: from the Medieval era with its Persian influence of the Ghaznavids, the Mughal period (15–17th centuries), the Afghan Durrani Empire (17–18th centuries), the Sikh period (18–19th centuries), the British colony (19th century) to modern times. Over the centuries, the city's development was influenced by many different cultures. As a result, today we see Lahore as incredibly multifaceted, colorful, loud, majestic, full of fragrant scents of flowers and food, with centuries-old gardens and once full-flowing canals.
As part of our program we will walk one of the "golden" routes through the Old City (Walled City of Lahore). We will start from one of the thirteen gates – Delhi Gate, following in the footsteps of the great Mughals. This will give us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the everyday street life of Punjab, encountering along the way such architectural landmarks as:
Breakfast and transfer to Islamabad. On the way we will definitely stop at the historical architectural complex of Katas Raj. Katas Raj is a complex consisting of several Hindu temples. Nowadays the Shiva temple is active, and every year in mid-April pilgrims from India visit this place to bathe in the sacred spring. By the way, the name of the temple from Sanskrit means "full of tears": once the God Shiva mourned the death of his beloved, and as a result a spring of water was formed – now a pond, which is artificially replenished with water. Pilgrims from India perform ablutions in it.
The territory is also notable for the fact that in one place you can see the meeting of several cultures from different times, from the 3rd century BC – the Buddhist stupa (there is an opinion that this is the Kanishka stupa) – to the 18th century AD (Indian temples, fort, palaces as Mughal architecture). According to Hindu belief, the temples arose on this territory back in the times of the Mahabharata (approximately the 4th century BC). The atmosphere of this place is amazing, and the color of the buildings harmonizes wonderfully with sunlight, giving photographers the opportunity to take unique shots!
Next, upon arrival in Islamabad – a tour of the capital of Pakistan:
Dinner at a restaurant with a night view of Islamabad, transfer to a guest house for rest and overnight stay.
Early breakfast and flight from Islamabad to Gilgit (about 1–1.5 hours). We travel to Raikot Bridge (2 hours), where we will rest, drink tea, change clothes for a light trek, switch to a jeep and reach middle Fairy Meadows (about 2 hours by jeep). Next we have a short trek to Fairy Meadows, which takes about 2–3 hours (the overnight stay will be in cabins, 2 nights, so part of the luggage can be left in the bus on the Raikot highway). If desired, you can hire a porter or a horse. In Fairy Meadows we will settle in a wooden cabin with stove heating. A walk around the meadow with a view of Nanga Parbat (8125 m); rest and overnight stay.
Today we have a one-day trek to the Nanga Parbat base camp or to the viewpoint (takes about 7–8 hours round trip) through a coniferous forest. Elevation gain from 3500 m to 4100 m, distance up to 18 km. The trek is without heavy backpacks – with water and dried fruits, we can make tea: many mountain streams flow from the glacier. Overnight in the same cabin.
We descend on foot to the road for jeeps (about 2 hours), and travel by jeeps to Raikot Bridge (2 hours); Then we continue along the Karakoram Highway to Minapin village (Nagar district) with stops for photos. We will definitely stop at the point where you can see the meeting of three mountain systems: the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas and the Karakoram. We will stop at the collision of two continents: Eurasia and India.
After this we will have rest at a guest house in Minapin village. The village is quite young, about 200 years old, formed on the site of the melting of the Minapin glacier. What makes the guest house special? The owner Izrar honors the traditions of long-living ancestors, and this can be observed in his guest house: food, utensils, hospitality, history – all in one cozy place.
We have breakfast and set out on the trek at about 8 am. Ascent from 2000 m to 3500 m, distance up to 18 km, takes about 8 hours round trip. The route to the base camp itself is picturesque: we will see the huge Minapin glacier, rivers and a waterfall with melted water (you can take a dip); a gorgeous snowy peak Diran Peak (7100m) and Rakaposhi (7788m) – the entire ridge range!
The trek is without heavy backpacks, with dried fruits. On the way back we will stop to drink tea with local shepherds and fetch water. Overnight in the same guest house in Minapin village.
Breakfast, travel along the Karakoram Highway to Hunza (takes about 1–2 hours), with stops for photos.
Karimabad – the capital of Hunza, and the Great Principality of Hunza itself is famous for its long-lived residents. Here we will visit:
After this, according to the plan, transfer to a guest house in Aliabad.
We continue to rest before the big trek. As part of the program we will reach the Chinese border.
On the trip along the Karakoram Highway to Upper Hunza to the Khunjerab Pass we will see:
We return along the highway and stop at a village in Hopper Valley.
We have breakfast and set out on the route at approximately 9 am. The trek will take up to 5–6 hours on the first day, elevation gain from 2800 to 3200 m, distance up to 11 km; we will have to cross two easy glaciers (Bualtar and Barpu). We will pitch tents at Beri Cho Ko. Dinner.
Early breakfast, we leave camp in Bery Cho Ko and go without heavy backpacks (just water, dried fruits). The start of the trek is a steep ascent (from 3600 m to 4700 m), taking about 5 hours, sometimes longer. If you wish, you can climb Rush Peak hill – 5100m – to see K2 in the distance on a clear day; the climb is easy and doesn't require special equipment. The descent back to the tent camp takes about 3–4 hours. We spend the night at the same place.
Early breakfast and camp pack-up. Trek to Hamdar (or Hapakun), to an altitude of 3000 m, crossing two white glaciers – Barpu and Miar. It takes about 5–6 hours. We set up a tent camp on a summer pasture and rest.
Here in Hamdar or Hapakun, you'll have the chance to talk with locals and try milk, butter, and goat meat.
We wake up earlier, pack up the tents and head back to Hoper Valley. The trek takes about 4 hours. After that, we rest at a hotel in the valley; if you wish, you can take a walk around the village on your own.
Breakfast and an early transfer to the airport in Gilgit (the drive takes about 3 hours). Flight to Islamabad and a free day in the capital: shopping, buying souvenirs, resting at the guesthouse.
Night transfer to Lahore airport (takes up to 6 hours by road).
Our journey through Pakistan and the trek to Nanga Parbat and Rush Lake has come to an end. It's best to book return tickets for evening flights. We head home full of impressions from getting to know a new country! Don't forget to share them on social media and use the hashtag #kuluarpohod. See you soon, friends!
To book a spot in the group, you need to make a deposit of 500 USD. You can do this by contacting us or through the payment form on the website>>
Full payment is made upon meeting the guide.
Important! Terms for deposit refund in case of withdrawal from the program:
In case of dropping out of the route, the money is not refunded.
Friends! We kindly ask you to bring dollar bills issued in 2003 or later. Bills from the 90s are not accepted in many countries, and we sometimes have problems when settling payments with local partners. Thank you for your understanding, and may you always have fresh dollars :)
Large temperature swings: during the day it can be +30, at night below zero.
Even at +30 in the mountains – no t-shirts or shorts. The sun is so intense that you'll get sunburned in an instant. Light pants and a long-sleeve shirt are mandatory.
Depending on weather conditions, the group's condition and overall wishes, the team leader has the right to make changes to the route.
A visa is required to visit Pakistan. We help with the paperwork, but you will need to submit the documents to the embassy yourself.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date – please check this before buying flights.
Due to the pandemic, you will also need a negative PCR test certificate for covid at the border, taken within 96 hours before entering the country, a medical mask, and the PassTrack mobile app installed on your phone.
To participate in the trip, you must have no illnesses incompatible with active tourism: list here.
After completing the trek in Pakistan, we recommend the following routes:
Tickets should be purchased in advance, as soon as we confirm your participation in the expedition.
Our recommendations on flight booking services can be found in this article
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this point. For some participants, it has saved thousands of dollars. You will find our recommendations on getting insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar trek participants"
In cities we stay in hotels. In Lahore – this is the Tourist Inn Hotel ***, in Islamabad – Atlas Hotel ***, in Aliabad – Mountain Story Hotel. On the trekking part of the route, accommodation is in guesthouses and lodges (Fairy Meadows, Minapin, Hopper Valley). On the trek to Rush Lake, we will spend three nights in expedition tents.
On the trek to Rush Lake, food is included in the program cost and fully provided by the cook and his assistant. Carrying food and all necessary supplies is done by a porter. Meals on this part of the program include a full breakfast (omelet, bread, tea-coffee), lunch and dinner (with meat and vegetables), as well as compote, fruits, chocolate. Participants do not need to cook. When staying in lodges and hotels – meals at cafes to your taste, not included in the program cost.
On the trek to Rush Lake, expect no connection and trekking conditions. There will be a shower at guesthouses, electricity in mountain lodges is not guaranteed, bring power banks. There is Wi-Fi in city hotels.
In August, it is quite hot in Islamabad and Lahore, with temperatures rising to 37–38. In the mountains, this time is comfortable – around +20...26. In the evening the temperature drops a bit, a sweater will come in handy. The Fairy Meadows region may be cooler and windier.
But we spend most of the trip in summer in light trekking clothing: t-shirt, pants, trekking boots. A raincoat and sunglasses are a must.
In October it is a bit colder. In the evenings in the mountains the temperature drops to 10-15°C. A hat, warm socks, a jacket or a light down jacket are mandatory. Overall, not very cold, but it may snow and freeze at night.
The total amount of mandatory expenses not included in the price will be approximately $420–500 + flight to Pakistan ($400–700). These expenses will include meals in cafes and restaurants, domestic flight, and visa processing. It is advisable to have around $500 in reserve.
*Please note: selecting an individual flight for each participant is not part of the consultant's task. The consultant gives general recommendations based on their experience and shares other participants' flights so you can fly together. Choosing and purchasing a convenient flight ticket is the responsibility of the participant themselves.