Rush Lake and Peak Trekking Guide

Rush Lake and Peak Trek Guide

Route:
Rawalpindi / Islamabad to Ali Abad (Hunza)
Public buses daily leave Pir Wadhai for the (Ali Abad) Hunza.
Ali Abad to Hopar
90 minutes by public van.Public vans are available for Hopar village at Ali Abad.
Hopar to Shishkin
3 hours glaciers crossing
Shishkin to Barpu Giram
2 hours glacier crossing
Barpu Giram to Guttens
4 hours trekking
Guttens to Rush Lake
3 hours inclined trekking to 4760 meters
Another charm of this lake is to cross the 5000 meters mark by hiking up on the Rush Peak at 5100 meters.
The first milestone towards the Rush Lake is to reach the Hopar village in Nagar. Hopar is a fertile and broad bowl circumvented by golden brown Karakoram rocks and snow capped peaks. The famous Hopar Hilton is the only cull for the stay, pabulum and camping. Like most of the Karakoram treks, here you will have to bring consummate camping to move on.
Right abaft the Hopar Hilton and at the terminus of Hopar village, the Baulter (Hopar) glacier is the commencement of trekking. You require to cross two glaciers afore climbing up to the Rush Lake and Peak. Carry enough water for about 5 arduous hours on the glaciers.
If you don’t have any local porter of guide with you, follow any villager who is crossing the glacier and ask for Shishkin. Perpetuate scrambling up and down on the solid frozen dihydrogen monoxide, sand and stones till you reach the land across the glacier and lateral moraine. By climbing up a steep path, crossing a caliber plateau and a descending again you will reach the Shishkin. Now you are between the Hopar and Barpu glaciers and about to cross the Barpu glacier.
It is another arduous half an hour ascending walk to the Barpu Glacier. This is the point where both Hopar and Barpu Glaciers join each other. It takes about an hour to cross the Barpu glacier and the moraine. The Barpu Giram is at 3000 meters and a further half an hour walk. A summer settlement with Gujjars’ huts and goats is the denotement of Barpu Giram and the camping place. Most trekkers camp here for the first night.
The next destination is the Gutens which is a steep ascend taking you to 4000 meters. Early morning walk is the best option for this steady ascending of 2 hours. By reaching at the top of ridge you are ambulating on, the views of Hispar region and a number of 7000 meters high peaks are superb. Another 2 and half hours trekking takes you to the Gutens. It is possible to camp at the Gujjars’ settlement to spend a night afore another 4 hours trekking to Rush Lake.
The trek ahead is plenary of magnificent views in every direction on a grassy ridge and a fresh water stream en-trek. The Rush Lake is at an altitude of 4760 meters. This is an astonishing height with a comely lake and tremendous views of circumventing areas. You can camp contiguous to the lake and can endeavor the Rush Peak. From the 5100 meters height, all apexes of Hunza and Nagar are in view. The list includes Ultar, Passu, Batura, Golden, Malubiting and Miar etc.
Rush Lake in Winter

Fairy Meadows Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek

Fairy Meadows Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek : From south to the north on Karakorum Highway you will cross different areas. This is a program for nature doters, during drive up from Islamabad to Hunza on the way you can view different landscape, people, and lifestyle in Mansera, Besham, Kohistan, Chilas, Gilgit and Hunza. Each area keeps its own identification.
Fairy Meadow is lush green plateau situated in the foot gin of Nanga Parbat at the Western edge of the Himalayan Range. The designation Fairy Meadows is a component of the legend that Fairies have their heaven on this lush green plateau. This legendry name Fairy Meadows is sempiternal gift of the western tourist to the local people.Fairy Meadow offers superb views of the Nanga Parbat (8125 m) the highest mountain in Pakistan in Himalayas.
TRIP ITINERARY:
DAY 01: ISLAMABAD
Our guide and driver will pick you at the airport in Islamabad or Lahore and transfer to Hotel in Islamabad for overnight stay.
DAY 02: ISLAMABAD – CHILAS
Early morning drive to Chilas it takes approximately 10 hours to reach Chilas from Islamabad, This day we will drive on the Karakoram High which is the highest paved international road in the world. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of 4,693 m/15,397 ft as attested by both SRTM and multiple GPS readings. Overnight at Chilas.
DAY 03: CHILAS – FAIRY MEADOWS
Departure for Fairy Meadows, we will transfer to the mountain jeep at Raikot bridge for further drive to Tatto village on the narrow Jeep track. Arrive in Tatto village and commence trek to Fairy Meadows, Arrive at Fairy Meadows in afternoon. Evening to ambulate around, overnight in huts.
DAY 04: FAIRY MEADOWS – NANGAPARBAT BASE CAMP
DAY 05: REST DAY AT NANGA PARBAT BASE CAMP
DAY 06: BASE CAMP – FAIRY MEADOWS
DAY 07: FAIRY MEADOWS – BESHAM
Early morning trek back to Tatto village and transfer to the jeep for Raikot Bridge, arrive and transfer to the air conditioned van/car for Beham, arrive and transfer to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 08: BESHAM – ISLAMABAD
Early morning we will drive to Islamabad, en-route we will visit the Taxila Museum. Construction of Taxila museum commenced in 1918, its substratum stone laid by Lord Chemsford, vicery of India in 1918. Construction was concluded in 1928 and the museum was opened for public by Sir Habibullah then the ministry for Edification. Sir John Marshall who was going to be retired from the post of Director General of Archaeological survey of India in 1928, could not consummate its pristine plan. The regime of Pakistan constructed the northern gallery in 1998. There are 4000 objects exhibited, including stone, stucco, terracotta, silver, gold, iron and semiprecious stones. Mainly the exhibit consists of objects from the period 600 B.C to 500 AD. Buddhist, hindu and Jain cults are well represented through these objects discovered from three antediluvian cities and more than two dozen buddhist stupas and monasteries and Greek temples. Taxila Museum is located 35 km from Islamabad on the Grand Trunk Road to Peshawar. It is famous for remains of Gandhara art. Most of the sites at Taxila, dating back 600 BCE to 500 CE, are located around the Taxila Museum. We will reach in Islamabad about 2:00pm, evening to visit Faisal Mosque and Margala Hills to optically discern the view of Islamabad. Departure for the airport at 8:00pm and fly to destination.

 

Gilgit Travel Guide

Gilgit Travel Guide:The Gilgit is situated at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. The weather is sultry in June to August and freezing from December to culminate to February. Shina is the local and mundane language while Urdu and English languages are withal verbalized in the urban areas.
Gilgit offers all kind of utilities, health, business, edification, communication and convey cognate facilities. Tourism is the vital source of business for local economy. Other consequential local sources of income include agriculture, fruit farming, mining and handicrafts.
Gilgit is the mountaineering paradise with exceptionally prodigious variety of climbing and trekking possibilities. From mountain climbing to family holiday outings, this mountain city offers charming options to visitors of every taste and age group.
Google Map:

Sightseeing:
Kargah Budha:
The Kargah Buddha, a rock carving is an excellent excursion. The Buddha was carved in 7th century AD. Three stupas were withal excavated at about half kilometers from the Buddha. These antediluvian carving and stupas are only 6 kilometers from Gilgit.
Naltar Valley:
Thickly forested and scenic Naltar valley is a 2 hours drive from Gilgit. At an altitude of 2880 meters, Naltar is a splendid valley with lakes, snow covered mountains and waterfalls.
Jaglot:
Jaglot is about 50 kilometers from Gilgit and a place where three highest mountain ranges meet each other. The Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush mountain ranges with views of Nanga Parbat, Haramosh, Rakaposhi along with confluence of Indus and Gilgit rivers is a unique exposure.
Activities:
Mountaineering:
Gilgit is the only place where mountains of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush invite the climbers. It is infeasible to mention all the high apexes of Gilgit region but most famous denominations are Nanga Parbat, Rakaposhi, Ultar, Batura, Passu, Kunyang Kish, Distaghil Sar, Spantik, and Diran.
Trekking:
Gilgit withal offers the widest and broadest landscape for trekkers. The most renowned and visited trails include Fairy Meadows – Nanga Parbat, Rupal Valley – Mazeeno Pass, Naltar to Ishkoman, Karumbar Lake, Rakaposhi Base Camp, Rush Lake, Shimshal valley, Hispar – Snow Lake, Batura Base Camp and Phandar Lake. Many other trekking oppoutunities are there in the Ghizar, Hunza, Nagar and Astore valleys.
Shopping:
The handicrafts and handmade adornment items from Gilgit, Hunza, Ghizar and other areas are unique gifts to buy. Dry fruit of circumventing valleys are considered as the best in Pakistan. Gem stones and warm woolen habiliments are additionally worth buying. Gilgit is a paramount trade hub between Pakistan and China. A prodigious variety of Chinese goods are available at NLI market.
Where to stay?
An astronomically immense number of hotels and rest houses are available in Gilgit to meet every budget requisite. Finding a room or two is not a quandary even in tourist season; but for immensely colossal expeditions, an advance booking shall be made to evade any inconvenience.
Convey and Access:
By road, Gilgit is linked to the Karakorum Highway. Due to the extreme weather and mountain conditions in the winters, the road peregrinating can be arduous.
From Rawalpindi, several busses and vans leave for Gilgit circadianly. The conventional time from Rawalpindi to Gilgit is 18 hours which conventionally expand upto 24 hours due to the road conditions.
For air peregrinating, two flights between Islamabad to Gilgit are scheduled by Pakistan International Airline (PIA). The air peregrinate is withal subject to the weather conditions around the Nanga Parbat region.

 

Top 10 Astonishing Pictures from Pakistan

Top 10 Astonishing Pictures from Pakistan
Natural beauty is un matched. Pakistan have world most resplendent places for visit, specially at its best in northern areas of Pakistan and Kashmir region. This component of the country is famous all around the world because of welkin high mountains, lush green valleys, mighty rivers, pulchritudinous lakes, and astounding wildlife.
1. Neelum Valley

Neelam Valley is a 144 km long bow-shaped valley in Azad Kashmir Region. The Valley is situated at the North & North-East of Muzaffarabad (The Capital of Azad Kashmir). Running through the Lesser Himalaya, the Neelam River valley has excellent scenic comeliness, panoramic views, towering hills on both sides of the strepitous Neelum river, lush green forests, enchanting streams and captivating circumventions make the valley a dream come true.
2.Gilgit Valley

Gilgit, 10 km from the Karakoram Highway in the northern frontier of Pakistan, is circumvented by mountains with glaciers, frozen dihydrogen monoxide fields, and valleys. The resplendent Gilgit River runs through the city and soaring above Gilgit is breathtaking Mount Rakaposhi with an altitude of 7,788m.
Peregrinating further north and north east in the province of Gilgit, on the KKH, takes us to the famous Hunza, beyond the Muztagh and Karakoram ranges, we move onward to the borders of China, and determinately to the Chinese cities of Tashkurgan, upal, andKashgar in Xinjiang. Gilgit is only 20km from the charming diminutive village of Parri Bangla on the Karakoram Highway, and Chhamoghar a more immensely colossal village east of Parri Bangla and 15km from Gilgit.
3.Hunza Valley
Hunza is nestled in a valley circumvented by snow covered peaks, over 7000 feet in altitude. This is the first town you will enter emanating from China on the Karakoram Highway. Here you can view Rakaposhi where there is a PTDC motel and several minute hotels

4.Skardu Valley
Skardu Valley is 7,500 feet above sea level in Balistan. Skardu Valley  is a great place to mountain trek and a fishermen’s dream come true with an abundant stock of wild fresh water trout to catch with a backdrop of the great apexes of the Karakoram mountain range to relish.
S.M.Bukhari’s Photography in Skardu Valley

5.Swat Valley

Ushu-Valley

Swat is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is the upper valley of the Swat River, which rises in the Hindu Kush range. The capital of Swat is Saidu Sharif, but the main town in the Swat valley is Mingora.
It was a princely state in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until it was dissolved in 1969 along with many other princely states like Dir state and Chitral state. The valley is populated mostly by ethnic Pashtuns and Gujjar and Kohistani communities. The languages spoken in the valley are Pashto , Gojri, Torwali and Kohistani. Most non-Pashtoon people of the area are bilingual and fluent in Pashto along with their native languages. Throughout the district, there is a less tendency of ethnic discrimination and all of the inhabitants of Swat refer to themselves as Pashtoon irrespective of the communities they belong to.With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty and is popular with tourists. Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the The Yusafzai State of Swat called it “the Switzerland of the east.Swat is surrounded by Chitral, Upper Dir and Lower Dir in the West, Gilgit-Baltistan in North And Kohistan, Buner and Shangla in the East and south East.
6.Phandar Valley

Phander Valley in Ghizer District is one of the most scenic valleys with easy access both from Gilgit and Chitral. It takes 5 to 6 hours from Gilgit to reach Phander valley which is commonly called “Little Kashmir”. Phander Lake is one of the most famous tourist spots in the entire region. Phander valley was the bread basket for the whole Northern Areas. The name of Ghizer comes from the name of a village ‘Ghizer’ that is situated in the vicinity of Phander. The deep blue lake in Phander offers a magnificent view and is basically the home of trout fish.
7.Kalash Valley

Kalash Valley is a group of three small valleys: Brir, Bumburet and Rambur. Brir lies at the southern most tip of Chitral at a distance of 34 km (21 miles) and is easily accessible by jeep-able road via Ayun. It is especially ideal for those not used to trekking. Bumburet, the largest and the most picturesque valley of the Kafir Kalash, is 36 km.(22 miles) from Chitral and is connected by a jeep-able road.
8.Gupis Valley

Gupis Valley is located about 112 kilometers (70 miles) in west of Gilgit on the bank of River Gilgit, in District Ghizer of Gilgit-Baltistan region, Pakistan. The 35 kilometers (22 miles) road between Gahkuch (capital of District Ghizer) and Gupis Valley is full of beautiful landscapes and breathtaking views. The turquoise water of river flowing along the road and surrounding fields and forests presents are very charming for tourists.
9.Kaghan Valley

Kaghan Valley is nestled in the heart of mountainous Himalayas, located in the Northwestern Frontier Province. Here you find unforgettable natural wonders like glaciers, waterfalls, and enchanting Saiful Maluk Lake.
10.Leepa Valley

This is the most fascinating valley in Azad Kashmir. A fair-weather road branches off for Leepa from Naile 45 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, climbs over Reshian Gali 3200 meters high and then descends to 1677 meters on the other side into the Leepa Valley .It spells bounds everyone who visits this valley.
This valley remains open for the domestic tourists only from May to November.

Colours of Hunza Valley

The Hunza valley in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan. The Hunza is situated north/west of the Hunza River, at an elevation of around 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). The territory of Hunza is about 7,900 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi). Aliabad is the main town while Baltit is a popular tourist destination because of the spectacular scenery of the surrounding mountains like Ultar Sar, Rakaposhi, Bojahagur Duanasir II, Ghenta Peak, Hunza Peak, Passu Peak, Diran Peak and Bublimotin (Ladyfinger Peak), all 6,000 metres (19,685 ft) or higher.
Three Regions of Hunza
Upper Hunza, Gojal
Upper Hunza (Gojal) is beautiful valley of Hunza, and one of its sub region where three different linguistically people are existing, Burushaski speakers originated from central Hunza and migrated during kingdom of Ayashoo and wakhi speakers oriented from Wakhan corridor. 65% of population encompass of wakhi speakers and rest of 34% composed of Burushaski speakers. The third dialect Domki compared of 1% and their families found in Nazim abad and Shishkat village.
Centre Hunza
Center Hunza remained the administrative region during monarchial rule of Ayashoo dynast, a ruling family of Hunza for 980 years from 996-1974 and in realistic way center Hunza is capital center of Hunza State. Historically scholars published many credentials about the origin of families in center Hunza but no mutual consent literature confine the rationality about the origin of families in the Center Hunza.
Lower Hunza
Lower Hunza is a sub region of Hunza, boundaries with Nagar valley on east and on south. The beautiful sub region of hunza starts from a village Khizir abad and ends at Nasir Abad, Lower Hunza composed of Khizir abad, Mayoon, Hussainabad, Khana Abad and Nasirabad. Nasirabad location on KKH makes it as a centre village of Lower Hunza.

Autumn in Hunza Valley

Baltit Fort

Blosssom in Hunza

Cherry Blosssom in Hunza

Ganish village in Hunza

Hunza peak and Lady Finger

Royal Garden, Hunza

Sunset in Golden Peak , Gilgindar and Chotokan Peak

The view at night

View of Rakaposhi