AUTUMN OR BLOSSOM TOURS

Suitable period: April ( Blossoms) October (Autumn Colours) May-October ( Green and Fruit)

We drive or Fly past the extreme western end of the Himalayas – Nanga Parbat – the Killer mountain. By plane we fly beside its peak OR on ground we look up at its masif. Gilgit and Hunza are located in the extreme north of Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas). Hunza is nestled in the  giant mountains of the Karakoram range while Gilgit is touched by both the Karakorum and Hindu Kush mountain ranges.

The Karakorum KKH, is considered to be the  8th wonder of the world ”, snaking into the people’s Republic of China through the Khunjerab Pass 4733M. We follow the KKH across a massive lake formed by landslide, through Passu Valley and up to Khunjerab Pass where Pakistan meets China. Marmots are visble on the pass, skinny in spring and fat in Autumn. Ibex ( large mountain goat) and Yak can also be seen if you look out carefully.

Hunza has vastly developed its agricultural resources and orchards of cherry, apple, apricot peach and almond dot the valley and the hillsides. In spring the hills are transformed with masses of pink and white blossoms. In summer (June- Oct) the fruit is abundant as the trees are fed with channeled snow and glacier melt waters. In Autumn oranges reds and browns startle you at every turn. Dried and fresh fruit are one of the famous products of the area and also influence the local cuisine.

The trip visits Hopper Glacier, where you can climb and walk on the ice and Passu Glacier which impressively ends near the KKH.

Returning on the KKH we vist the Taxila Museum and anciant Buddhist community ruins as well as taking a day trip to the popular hill stations of Murree and Nathiagali in the Himalayan foothills. In this area old forests still exist and the cooler climates attract visitors escaping the heat.This tour visits the cities of Islamabad Rawalpindi and Lahore with interesting bazaars and historic monuments as well as the unique closing of the border ceremony which puts a friendly almost comical face on the rivalry between Pakistan and India.