Naltar and Pakora Trek

Take a morning flight to Gilgit, where your guide will meet you at the airport.

Enjoy an exciting road trip to Naltar Valley via the Karakoram Highway, with a stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint to admire the stunning scenery of the Naltar Valley Forest.

Afterward, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Naltar, where you'll have some free time to relax and explore the breathtaking views of Central Hunza.

Please note that the flight to Gilgit depends on weather conditions; if it gets canceled, we will arrange a road trip on the same day.

Ascend the true left (eastern) bank of Naltar Gah starting from Upper Naltar (2820m), also referred to as Dumian. At the beginning of Beshgiri, which is named after the unique red lichen-covered stones (besh) east of the path (giri), cross a side stream within 134 hours.

A two-day trek across the valley from Beshgiri will take you southwest through a glaciated pass located beneath Khaltar Peak (5591m) and down the Bichhar Gah to Sherqila in Punial.

After Beshgiri, you'll trek a beautiful forest of cedar, chir pine, and birch. In about 45 minutes, you'll cross another side stream to arrive at Bangla, named after a local 'bungalow.' From there, cross a footbridge to reach the actual right (western) bank of Naltar Gah.

Continue for another 45 minutes until you reach the end of the road and the first lake, Naltar Lake (3270m), which is home to the Lake View Hotel, featuring a food preparation hut and a large canvas tent with blankets for sleeping.

Walk around the lake and, after 15 minutes, cross a footbridge to reach the true left (east) side of Naltar Gah. As you gain some elevation, you'll encounter two additional lakes on the western side of the valley, while the river ahead meanders. You can trek the Shing area in about 45 minutes by following the riverbed and crossing a large side stream that flows from the east.

The Gujar village of Gupa is situated along the true right (west) bank of the river, where it narrows. The village can be reached via footbridges located both above and below Gupa, although the main path remains on the true left (east) side. After an hour, cross a significant side stream from the east to arrive at the glaciated Chaprot Pass, which links Snow Dome (5029m) and Mehrbani (5639m). Due to a hanging glacier on the west side and a larger glacier on the east side of the pass, crossing is not feasible.

The huts at Lath, found 15 minutes past the stream and elevated above the river, provide the first glimpse of the Shani Glacier's terminus. The trail becomes less defined as it skirts the northeast edge of the Shani Glacier, leading to Lower Shani in about one to one and a half hours as Pakora Pass comes into view. In Shina, "Shani" translates to "a pure place where fairies dwell," and the flowers in these meadows are said to attract them.

Lower Shani (3690m) features a stream and a grassy meadow, along with herders' cottages near the glacier. Be cautious of the herders' dogs. The imposing Shani summit (5887m), located southwest across the Shani Glacier, presents a challenging ascent that involves mixed snow and ice.

The hillside is adorned with rhubarb and junipers, and the trail takes you past cabins in about 45 minutes, marking the beginning of Upper Shani. Trek the slope above these cabins and quickly descend into the ablation valley. You'll need to cross a footbridge right where the river converges with the glacier.

Continue along the true left bank, as the river is too wide and deep to navigate further upstream. Walk for 15 minutes along the true right side of the riverbed, with the pink and orange granite of the Shani Glacier's lateral moraine on your left. Upper Shani (3797m), situated one to one and a half hours from Lower Shani, is well-protected by the lateral moraine. If you haven't acclimatized yet, it's advisable to camp here.

To reach Pakora High Camp, cross the small side brook and ascend the steep, grassy slope dotted with flowers where horses and yaks graze. Continue through more challenging terrain until the slope levels off. Follow the true right bank of the large clear stream for a short distance to Pakora High Camp (4230m), identifiable by a few ruined stone shelters, which can be reached in one to two hours from Upper Shani. In this beautiful area, you can also camp just before the stone shelters on either side of the stream.

A side stream flows from the west, located behind the high camp and south of a prominent rock formation. After an hour, an indistinct trail ascends this stream over steep, loose rocks, passing several cairns along the way. Numerous small snowfields can be found on the eastern side of the pass, along with a large snowfield free of crevasses directly below the peak.

In about 30 minutes, you will have crossed the snowfield and reached the clearly marked Pakora Pass (4710 meters). To the north of the pass lies Sentinel (5260m), which presents a moderately challenging alpine climb. The western side of Pakora Pass is glaciated, but crevasses are present lower down. Spend 15 to 30 minutes descending across the snowfield, heading north (to the right) towards the visible grey lateral moraine. Follow a narrow path down this moraine for 30 minutes until you arrive at the Pakora Glacier (gomukh in Shina).

In another 30 minutes, you’ll trek the glacier and move west toward reddish rocks. There are two paths to navigate the glacier: the primary route descends into the valley toward Pakora, while the alternative route to Chatorkhand crosses the seldom-used, glaciated Hayal Pass. From the western side of the Pakora Glacier, head west (left) for 3 kilometers and 450 meters below Pakora Pass at 4230 meters, then climb along the rock on the north shore of Hayal Glacier. The Swiss map inaccurately depicts this route as branching off at Pakora Pass.

To reach Pakora, walk down the high lateral moraine along the southwest edge of the Pakora Glacier that occupies the upper valley. Continue for two hours on a narrow path to Lal Patthar (3690m), named in Urdu for the large scarlet boulder among junipers. In Khowar, it’s referred to as Krui Bokht. This rock provides shelter for porters and has a few potential tent sites nearby; however, the sloping terrain and distance from water make it less than ideal. Cross a side stream in a steep ravine past Lal Patthar. Proceed down the valley for an hour along a pine-needle-covered trail through a beautiful, dense forest of birch, pine, and juniper until you reach a footbridge (3750m) that leads to the true right bank of Pakora Gol. The footbridge can be hard to spot from the trail.

Continue along the riverbed for a few minutes until you find the footbridge where the route crosses the river (avoid following the obvious 50-meter-high trail). Following the river, the narrow path ascends over a forested plateau to the Gujar huts known as Jut/Uts (3390m), where horses, cows, lambs, and goats graze—about 1.5 hours from Lal Patthar. "Jut" means 'grassy place' in Burushaski, while "uts" translates to 'spring' in Khowar.

As the canyon narrows, the descent from Jut to Pakora becomes more abrupt. On sunny days, Pakora Gol can be extremely hot and dry, so it's best to arrive early and bring plenty of water.

Start your descent from the far end of the meadow and cross the river using a charming footbridge. The trail is in poor condition and runs for about an hour along the true left (south) bank of the river, winding deep within the riverbed and passing beneath the Gujar villages of Gujarshal and Roghshal high above. Across the river, you can see Kuru, a village situated at the confluence of Kuru An Gol and Pakora Gol. A path leading up this side stream takes you to Kuru An.

The trail continues down the valley along the true left side of Pakora Gol, following a wide donkey path that skirts a hillside covered in artemisia. It often runs along exposed ledges high above the rushing river. The river eventually enters a deep gorge, with waterfalls on both sides. After about 1.5 hours, you'll come across a side stream and a large, solitary willow.

In about 30 minutes, you can cross a plank footbridge to reach the true right bank and arrive at the first cultivated Pakora farms. The jeep road and the center of Pakora (2220m) are just a 15-minute walk away.

As we leave the campsites behind and make our way back to Gilgit, take a moment to unwind at your lodging.

Reflect on the incredible trekking experience you just had. Let the memories of the breathtaking landscapes and camaraderie linger in your mind, and perhaps start planning your next adventure. Embrace the tranquility of your surroundings as you savor the journey you've completed.

Dive into the vibrant history and culture of Hunza by exploring the 900-year-old Altit Fort and the 800-year-old Baltit Fort.

For those who love to shop, the lively bazaar in Karimabad offers a variety of items, including jewelry, dried fruits, oils, herbs, wooden crafts, shawls, and more. These ancient forts provide insights into the area's remarkable heritage.

In the afternoon, we'll return to Gilgit, reminiscing about the day's experiences.

As we bid farewell to Gilgit, we go on a scenic journey to Besham along the renowned Karakoram Highway.

With breaks and lunch included, the trip could take 9-10 hours.

Let the beauty of the landscapes captivate you during this remarkable experience.

Our trip concludes as we head back to Islamabad. The journey from Besham to Islamabad takes just 3-4 hours, allowing ample time to stop by the Taxila museum and other attractions en route.

Alternatively, one could explore Islamabad after lunch. Take a moment to reflect on the wonderful experiences of the past few days and cherish the memories of this remarkable adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast

Our staff will transfer all our guests to the airport on their respective departure timings.

The checkout time of all our partner hotels is 12pm.