12 DAY KARAKORUM EXPLORER
PAKISTAN
Explore the three highest mountain ranges on earth, The Himalayas, The Hindu Kush, & the Karakoram
This tour is for you if you are into Adventure riding and want to experience a country that is sorely misunderstood, less traveled, and stunningly beautiful, all this with some of the best Adventure riding you could have.
Get up close and personal to some of the highest mountains on earth, explore remote valleys that see very few travelers, and cross unique landscapes found nowhere else on earth.
Forget what you think you know, or have read about Pakistan, this is a country that always surprises with the friendliness of its people and the great riding opportunities it provides. Of the 14 mountains in the world that are over 8000m, five of them are in Northern Pakistan no wonder, this area of the country is called "The Land of Giants"
NANGA PARBAT FROM FAIRY MEADOWS
HIGHLIGHTS
When you land at Skardu Airport, we will be waiting for you, we will transport you and your luggage to the hotel where your bike will be waiting for you full of fuel. After your flight, it's time to get settled, chill out a little, or jump on your bike and take it for a spin around Skardu to get used to your bike. In the evening we will have a welcome feast to allow everyone to get to know each other, and the local team, we will go through a few logistics and answer any questions you may have.
The first few days of riding will take you, through multiple fascinating and unique landscapes, including the beautiful Hushe Valley with views of K1 (Masherbrun), we cross Sarfaranga, the world's highest cold desert, and the Deosai Plains National Park, the second highest plateau in the world before heading to Fairy Meadows for an optional trek to Nanga Parbat Basecamp.
Hunza Valley, described as one of the most exotic places in Pakistan, surrounded by majestic mountains, many over 7000m will be our stopover before we visit the wonderful Sminshal and Chapusan Valleys,
Shimshal and Chapusan are populated by the Wakhi people, an ethnic group who speak Wakhi originating from across the Pamir Mountains with a completely different culture to the rest of Pakistan. There are two very different valleys, one with spectacular scenery and a challenging road, the other more populated with lots of little villages along the shore of the river.
Khunjerab (translates to Blood Creek, or Blood Valley), is the border with China, the highest international border crossing in the world with the world's Highest ATM also.
ROUTE
ITINERARY
Day 1
Our team will meet you at the Airport and transfer you to our Hotel where you can get acquainted with the bikes you will be calling home for the next couple of weeks. After a welcome dinner, it's time to get a good night's sleep. Dinner and overnight stay in Skardu
Day 2
The first day is a nice easy day to ease you into the trip, the roads are good, and there is generally very little traffic, We set off from Skardu and head East following the mighty Indus River you will get great views of Sarfaranga, the world's highest Cold Desert on the far side of the river. Dinner and overnight stay in Khaplu.
Day 3
Today we explore the Hushe Valley to its very end where we have lunch in sight of the 7821m Mountain K1 (Masherbrun), we return via the village of Haldi in the shadow of the Granite Haldi Cones. Dinner and overnight stay in Khaplu.
Day 4
We cross the Sarfaranga Cold Desert, and visit the oldest Mosque in Northern Pakistan and the old Shigar Fort before we return to Skardu. Want to get better at riding on the most fun surface of all, sand, today is the day if you want, or don't, it's up to you. Dinner and overnight stay in Skardu.
Day 5
Today we enter and cross the Deosai Nation Park, it is the second-highest plateau in the world averaging 4114m, also known as Little Mongolia. Keep an eye out and you may spot a Himalayan Brown Bear, Siberian Ibex, Himalayan Wolf, or even a Snow Leopard if you are lucky. Dinner and overnight stay in Astore.
Day 6
Today we travel the second most deadly road in the world (according to the WHO) to Fairy Meadows, The last 5km we have to walk or ride on horses, Fairy Meadows is a high-altitude grassland valley next to the Raikot Glacier with views of 8126m Nanga Parbat, the Killer Mountain. Dinner and overnight stay in Fairy Meadows.
Day 7
Take the 17km round trip walk to Nanga Parbat basecamp. This walk has been described as one of the most spectacular in the world, with Raikot Glacier on your left and Nanga Parbat in front of you. Or just take a short walk to one of the many viewpoints of Nanga Parbat. Dinner and overnight stay in Fairy Meadows.
Day 8
We ride to the Hunza Valley today along the glorious Karakorum Highway, described as one of the most exotic places in Pakistan, Hunza valley is surrounded by a multitude of high peaks over 7000m. Dinner and overnight stay in Hunza Valley.
Day 9
Shimshal, the road has been described as a man-made ledge with drops of hundreds of feet to a raging torrent of water below, with no barriers and mostly a single car width wide, this is Adventure riding at its purest. Dinner and overnight stay in Passu
Day 10 (Option 1 - Dirt)
Today we ride one of our favorite valleys, Chapursan, one of the less traveled, least unexplored, and beautiful valleys in Northern Pakistan, less than 15km from the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan. Dinner and overnight stay in Passu
Day 10 (Option 2 -Road)
We visit the highest border crossing in the world today, the border with China at 4693m, The road is a dream, full of great sweeping bends, tight curves, and switchbacks, smooth and sealed. Dinner and overnight stay in Passu.
Day 11
We head down the sealed Karakoram Highway South to the capital of Baltistan with a detour to either the Hoper or Naltar valley. Gilgit has a bazaar that opens in the afternoon/evening if you want to pick some souvenirs to take home. Dinner and overnight stay in Gilgit
Day 12
The final day of riding is back to Skardu where we will have a celebratory feast before you catch your return flight back to islamabd the following day. Dinner and overnight stay in Skardu
What's Included |
|---|
4x4 Support vehicle to carry your luggage |
Breakfasts |
Dinners |
Hotel Accommodation |
Local Tour Guide |
Mechanic |
Motorcycle Hire |
National Park entry fees |
Skardu airport transfers |
What's Not |
|---|
Alcohol |
Entrance fees other than mentioned above |
Flights |
Petrol |
Snacks |
Travel Insurance |