Rakaposhi DiranTrek (Including Rakaposhi Base Camp, Diran Base Camp and Katcheli lake)
Altitude: 4000M
Duration: 12-14 -days
Standard: easy trek
Season: June-October
Getting to Gilgit we have a spectaular flight past Nanga Parbat – the killer mountain. After breakfast we take in the sights of the provincial capital including a giant Buddha carved into a cliff face, bazaar and suspension bridges. It may be possible to catch a practice polo match in the afternoon. We travel to Karimabad to gain some altitude acclimatisation and take in the local culture, sights and hospitality including Altit and Baltit fort, Karimabad bazaar, Ganesh living historical village, and Eagles Nest. We travel back down the Karakorum Highway (KKH) just 1 hour and organize porters for the trek.
This trek is located in Nagar Valley . Rakaposhi Base Camp is one of the shortest and easiest (though steep in places) treks leading to an above 7000M Karakoram peak base camp with sweeping views from Rakaposhi to Diran.
The Minapin Glacier sweeps down from the 16km long snowy ridge that connects Rakaposhi and Diran Mountains. Rakaposhi Base Camp trek is also known as Taghaphari.
From Tagaphari we cross the Rakaposhi glacier in 3 hours and reach the Diran Base Camp. From here we leave most of the gear and take a 4 hour return daytrip to Katcheli lake above the moraine beside the glacier. Both base camps and Katcheli lake offer expansive panoramic views across Hunza/Nagar Valley to mountains in the Karakorum range across the Hunza river.
The trek returns along the same route though the decent from Rakaposhi camp can be managed in a single day. We spend the night in Gilgit and return down the KKH only to leave it again for the old silk route way over Babasur pass ( 4663 m) and into the Kaghan and Naran Valleys filled with wildflowers lakes and Pakistani holiday makers enjoying the cooler temperatures.
Re-entering the KKH at Mansehra we drive onto Taxila to explore ancient Buddhist community ruins and museum before arriving in Rawalpindi. The last day is spent enjoying shoping and site seeing in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including Shah Faisal Mosque.
