Arrival

Islamabad - Upon arrival at Islamabad International Airport, a representative from Pak Tours & Travels will warmly greet you and accompany you to your hotel. Take some time to relax and refresh yourself in preparation for a welcome meal and an overview of your upcoming journey. Overnight stay in Islamabad.

Islamabad - Taxila - Besham

Taxila - This guided day trip will introduce you to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the Gandhara Civilization, an ancient Buddhist community dating back 2,500 years. Known for its strategic location, many empires have vied for control over time. In 1980, Taxila was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2006, it was ranked as Pakistan’s top tourist destination by The Guardian newspaper. You will visit the Taxila Museum, Taxila Ruins, Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, Dharmarajika Stupa and Monastery, among other attractions. An English-speaking guide will accompany you throughout the tour. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Islamabad are included.

Read more about the Full Day Private Guided Tour of Taxila Gandhara Civilization -

Taxila Museum - Located in Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan, the museum houses a significant collection of Gandharan art from the 1st to the 7th centuries CE. Most items were excavated from the ancient ruins of Taxila. Numerous historical sites are nearby.

Besham - Gilgit

Karakoram Highway - The Karakoram Highway (KKH), also known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, is a 1,300 km (800 mile) road connecting Kashgar, China, and Hasan Abdal, Pakistan, through the Karakoram mountain range. It’s a remarkable engineering achievement, renowned for its scenic beauty and challenging terrain, often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Construction began in 1959 and concluded in 1979, with the highway opening to the public in 1986, thanks to the collaboration between Pakistan and China.

Significance:
The KKH is a vital trade and transportation route between China and Pakistan and a popular tourist destination. It offers breathtaking views, including glaciers, high peaks, ancient rock carvings, and historic forts.

Attractions:
Popular destinations along the KKH include Fairy Meadows, Hunza Valley, and Gilgit.

Chilas - Chilas is a city in the Pakistani-administered Gilgit–Baltistan region of the disputed Kashmir area. It serves as the divisional capital of Diamer Division and is situated on the Indus River. Part of the Silk Road, it is connected by the Karakoram Highway and N-90 National Highway to Islamabad and Peshawar in the southwest, via the Hazara and Malakand divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. To the north, Chilas connects to Tashkurgan and Kashgar in Xinjiang, China, via Gilgit, Aliabad, Sust, and the Khunjerab Pass.

Chilas is the headquarters of the Diamer district. The climate is hot and dry in summer and cold and dry in winter. It can be accessed via the Karakoram Highway and through the Kaghan Valley via the Babusar Pass. Chilas is located on the left bank of the Indus River. The beautiful Fairy Meadows National Park and Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest peak in the world, are also located in Chilas.

Karakoram International University has a sub-campus in Chilas.

Nanga Parbat - Nanga Parbat (‘naked mountain’), locally known as Diamer (Shina: ‘King of the Mountains’), is the ninth-highest mountain on Earth, with a summit at 8,126 m (26,660 ft) above sea level. Situated southeast of the northernmost bend of the Indus River in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Nanga Parbat is the westernmost major peak of the Himalayas. In the traditional view of the Himalayas, bounded by the Indus and Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra rivers, it serves as the western anchor of the entire mountain range.

Nanga Parbat is one of the 14 eight-thousanders. An immense, dramatic peak rising far above its surrounding terrain, it has the second-highest prominence among the 100 tallest mountains on Earth, only behind Mount Everest. Nanga Parbat is notorious for being an extremely challenging climb, earning the nickname Killer Mountain due to its high number of climber fatalities and the extreme challenges it poses to climbers.

Gilgit - Hunza - Karimabad

Rakaposhi View Point - Rakaposhi (Burushaski: ‘Shining Wall’), also known as Dumani (Burushaski: ‘Mother of Mist’), is a mountain within the Karakoram range in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is located between the Nagar and Bagrote valleys. The mountain is exceptionally broad, spanning nearly 20 kilometers (12 mi) from east to west. It is the only peak on Earth that descends directly and uninterrupted for almost 6,000 meters from its summit to its base.

Hunza - Hunza was a Burusho princely state in the present-day Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan. It functioned as a principality and later became a princely state under a subsidiary alliance with British India starting in 1892 and continuing until August 1947. For a brief period of three months, it remained unaligned after gaining independence, and then from November 1947 until 1974, it retained its status as a princely state within Pakistan. The territory of Hunza now constitutes the northernmost part of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

The princely state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, Xinjiang, China, to the northeast, and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state’s capital was Baltit (also known as Karimabad). The princely state of Hunza is now the Hunza District in the Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan.

Karimabad - Altit Fort - Baltit Fort - Doekar Eagle Nest

Altit Fort - Altit Fort is an ancient fort in the Altit town in the Hunza Valley in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It was originally home to the hereditary rulers of the Hunza state, who held the title of ‘Mir’, although they moved to the somewhat younger Baltit Fort nearby three centuries later. Altit Fort, particularly the Shikari Tower, is around 1,100 years old, making it the oldest monument in Gilgit–Baltistan. The fort received the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2011.

Baltit Fort - Baltit Fort is a fort in the Hunza Valley, near the town of Karimabad, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. Founded in the 8th century CE, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list since 2004.

The Mirs of Hunza abandoned the fort in 1945 and moved to a new palace down the hill. The fort began to decay, raising concerns that it might fall into ruin. Following a survey by the Royal Geographical Society of London, a restoration program was initiated and supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Programme. The program was completed in 1996, and the fort is now a museum run by the Baltit Heritage Trust.

Hunza - Gulmit - Passu - Hussaini Suspension Bridge

Passu Glacier - Passu Glacier is located on the south side of Passu village, in the Karakoram Range in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Passu Peak is situated behind the glacier. This glacier is linked with Batura Glacier and many other glaciers in the Batura Muztagh mountain range.

During the British colonial era, several explorers and surveyors documented their journeys through the Karakoram region, including observations of the Passu Glacier. These accounts provide valuable historical insights into the glacier’s condition and the surrounding area’s geography during that period.

Sost - Khunjerab Pass - Pak China Border

Khunjerab Pass - Khunjerab Pass is a mountain pass in northern Pakistan, situated at an elevation of 4,693 meters (15,397 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Karakoram and holds a significant strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan, specifically in the Gilgit-Baltistan’s Hunza and Nagar Districts. Additionally, it is positioned on the southwestern border of China, within the Xinjiang region.

Near Khunjerab Pass, there is another pass known as Mutsjliga Pass, which stands at an elevation of 5,314 meters (17,434 ft) and is located at approximately 36.97374°N 75.2973°E.

Passu Glacier Tracking and Hussaini Suspension Bridge

Passu Glacier - Passu Glacier is located on the south side of Passu village, in the Karakoram Range in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Passu Peak is situated behind the glacier. This glacier is linked with Batura Glacier and many other glaciers in the Batura Muztagh mountain range.

Passu to Chilas or Naran

Kaghan Valley - The Kaghan Valley is an alpine valley in the Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The valley stretches 155 kilometers (96 mi) across northern Pakistan, rising from its lowest elevation of 650 m (2,134 ft) to its highest point at the Babusar Pass around 4,170 m (13,690 ft). Furthermore, the highest mountain peak in the valley, known as Malika Parbat (lit. ‘Queen of Mountains’), stands with a height of around 5,290 meters (17,360 ft). Landslides triggered by the devastating 2005 Kashmir earthquake destroyed many passes leading into the valley, though roads have since been rebuilt. Kaghan is a popular tourist attraction in Pakistan.

Naran To Islamabad

Naran - Naran is the most beautiful place in Kaghan Valley, featuring snow-covered peaks, stunning lakes, and a very scenic and cool atmosphere in the surroundings.

Departure

Islamabad - Departure for Islamabad International Airport as per the scheduled flight for onward destination.

• 09 Nights Accommodation on twin sharing basis
• Private transportation
• Entrance fees
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Parking fees

• Gratuities

The Silk Route is akin to a vibrant, dynamic museum stretching across mountains and deserts. Embarking on a 10-day journey through it is like stepping into the chronicles of ancient trade, culture, and empires.

️ Places You Might Visit

• Hunza Valley: A secluded kingdom featuring enchanting forts such as Baltit and Altit.
• Passu & Gojal: Known for its striking Passu Cones and glacial rivers.
• Khunjerab Pass: The highest paved international border, standing at 15,397 feet.
• Gilgit & Nagar: Formerly significant centers during the Buddhist era.
• Taxila: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of the Gandhara civilization.

Silk Route Vibes for the History Enthusiast

• The route was once alive with merchants, mystics, and explorers transporting silk, spices, and secrets across China, Central Asia, and beyond.
• Discover remnants of Buddhist, Islamic, and Central Asian cultures intricately woven like threads in a magnificent rug.
• Envision walking the same paths as Marco Polo or Xuanzang—it’s essentially a journey through time.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.