Pakistan: Peaks and Cities

Name: Pakistan: Peaks and Cities
Brand: ishkar-explore
SKU: HU1765
Price: 500.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Travel beneath Northern Pakistan's soaring peaks, and delve into the fascinating history of the Hunza Valley.

This journey is undertaken with a small group of curious travellers (maximum 8 people) curated by ISHKAR, and led by a local Pakistani guiding team for in-depth perspectives and discussions on the region.

The total price per person for group trips starts at $3,990. Please note that bespoke trips are priced separately.

For travellers wanting to stay on, an optional extension to Lahore can be added to your trip, if possible, for an additional payment. A minimum of two travellers are required for this extension to run.

We interview all those that apply to join the trip. Once selected, participants will be required to pay a 30% non-refundable deposit of $1200 to secure their place on the trip. If booking within 60 days of departure, full payment is due on confirmation. International flights not included, see below for details.

To express your interest and for further information, please contact us at: explore@ishkar.com, or book a consultation with us by clicking on the button above.

What?

Explore the high altitude landscapes and ancient villages of northern Pakistan with local guides.

Where?

The province of Gilgit-Baltistan where we will explore the remote, rarely visited and high altitude mountain valleys which climb away from the Hunza river in the extreme north of Pakistan.

Who?

You do not need to be an experienced mountaineer or an expert photographer to join the trip. We seek those that are adventurous with a curious mind. A base level of fitness is also required for the trip.

We will be a small team of between 4 to 8 people. Throughout the trip, you will be accompanied by a competent local guide who speaks fluent English.

Due to high demand we interview everyone who applies to ISHKAR trips. Your group travel experience is as important to us as the destination experience.

Pakistan: Peaks and Cities

£500.00

Trip Highlights

01 / A Local Perspective

Learn first-hand about the region and its cultural complexities, led by Amin as he introduces you to the changing landscapes of Northern Pakistan, both cultural and literal.

02 / Climb in the Karakoram Mountains

Take a deep breath and feel the expanse of the Karakoram mountains that we will walk around and sleep below during the trip.

03 / Swap Stories

Pass time swapping stories with people from some of the world’s most remote and high altitude communities.

04 / Music of the Valleys

Share a meal with local musicians in the Chapursan valley while listening to their music and poetry.

Our Destination

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world’s most jaw-dropping landscapes, with more than fifty mountains over 7,000 metres, and 5 over 8,000. For millennia ancient trade routes have snaked their way through the verdant valleys which lie between these high peaks, carrying goods, ideas and influences between south Asia, Afghanistan and nearby China.

Even with recent upgrades to the Karakoram highway, this region remains stunningly remote. This is reflected in Hunza being home to some of the world’s rarest languages, a few of which are only spoken by a few hundred people. By securing special permissions, we will be visiting parts of the region few tourists ever get to see.

Your Guide

Amin Noor will be your guide to Northern Pakistan's Hunza Valley. Amin, with over 20 years of guiding experience in the region has many connections. He will be introducing you to many of them throughout the trip.

Amin has introduced many famous climbers to the mountain ranges of Northern Pakistan, and has climbed several of the peaks around 6000 metres in the Karakoram Range. Amin has also worked in earthquake disaster response in Pakistani Kashmir (AJK) and the Balakot areas.

Beyond his experience in working with famous mountaineers in Northern Pakistan's iconic mountain ranges, Amin will introduce ISHKAR travellers to the music, food and beauty of Northern Pakistan - introducing those he guides to the soul of the region.

Our Price

The price for this once in a lifetime trip is $3,990. It will include all food, transport and single room accommodation whilst in country. You will be assisted by guides who know the region inside out, providing access to areas rarely seen by tourists.

For those wishing to stay longer, an optional extension to Lahore is possible, for an additional payment. A minimum of two travellers are required for this extension to run.

* Single supplement applied where requested.

** Where international payments are due, we request that you ensure the
full amount is received, after all bank charges have been levied as per
the price and currency stated on the invoice stated.

Group Travel

One of the best things about going on an ISHKAR trip is the group of people with whom you travel. Our trips attract informed, critically minded and adventurous people from all around the world.

Some of you will be drawn by the prospect of spending time in the remote wilderness, others will be drawn by the chance to learn about a fascinating and often misunderstood part of the world.

We get to know everyone who applies to our trips over the phone. In this way we can curate groups guaranteed to enjoy sharing this extraordinary experience together. What unites everyone is the same curious spirit and desire to get far away from the typical tourist trails.

Travel Security

We are uncompromising when it comes to the safety and security of our travellers and will not hesitate to alter plans or cancel trips due to changing security dynamics. In recent years, the security situation in Pakistan has improved considerably. We will be travelling to Hunza which is a safe region, out of the reach of any turbulence in other regions of Pakistan.

ISHKAR Team Members

Your ISHKAR point of contact for the trip is Kate Bloomer. If you have any queries about the trip:

Email: explore@ishkar.com
Book a consultation: Click here.

Kate Bloomer ~ Head of Travel

Kate brings a decade of experience designing tailormade tours for curious and discerning travellers. While she's explored corners of almost every continent, and lived on three, she's particularly drawn to the Middle East and Central Asia, and to parts of the world are a challenge to understand and navigate.

Kate has long admired ISHKAR's ethos and their dedication to exposing open-minded individuals to lesser known and misunderstood destinations through crafts, storytelling and travel. She first worked with ISHKAR on a trip to Socotra in 2021 and is proud to now be contributing her expertise to the team.

Contact:
kate@ishkar.com
+44 7500 963326

Neha, ISHKAR traveller to Hunza 2021

"This was one of my most memorable trips. Thank you Ishkar for really taking us beyond the headlines. I feel in love with Pakistan – the people we met were so receptive to us and each place you selected was perfect. Thank you for beinThis was one of my most memorable trips. Thank you Ishkar for really taking us beyond the headlines. I feel in love with Pakistan – the people we met were so receptive to us and each place you selected was perfect. Thank you for being super considerate about how we engaged with the people and the environment. And I made some great friends."

Molly, ISHKAR traveller to Hunza 2021

"Seeing ISHKAR’s philosophy and values up close and in person made me love this company."

Shahin, ISHKAR traveller to Hunza 2021

"The balance of the rugged mountains against the warmth of the people and their hospitality make this a unique trip and the efforts that Ishkar put into get this whole trip organised were apparent as it ran so smoothly and was a incredible experience from start to finish. I would love to go again and reconnect with the people we met this time round."

Join us on the trip of a lifetime