Skardu Blossom Tour
Request a quoteExplore
Pakistan Highlights Grand Circuit
A fifteen-day summer circuit of northern Pakistan taking in the Karakoram Highway, Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows, Hunza, Khunjerab, Skardu and the Deosai Plains.
- 15 Days
- Moderate
- 4,693 m (Khunjerab Pass)
- June – September
At a glance
Duration15 Days
GradeModerate
Max altitude4,693 m (Khunjerab Pass)
Group size2–14
Best seasonJune – September
Start / endIslamabad
TypeTour
RegionSkardu, Hunza
Group pricing
Per person in USD, full-board — the larger your group, the lower the per-person cost. We confirm your exact all-in figure in writing before any deposit.
| Group size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 7–10 people | $1,950 |
| 4–6 people | $2,300 |
| 1–3 people | $2,850 |
Excludes international flights, Pakistan visa, insurance, personal equipment and tips.
Fixed 2027 departures
Guaranteed small-group dates for the 2027 season. Prefer your own dates? Every trip can also run privately inside its season window.
| 15 Jun 2027 → 29 Jun 2027 | Book this date |
|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2027 → 15 Jul 2027 | Book this date |
| 15 Jul 2027 → 29 Jul 2027 | Book this date |
| 1 Aug 2027 → 15 Aug 2027 | Book this date |
| 15 Aug 2027 → 29 Aug 2027 | Book this date |
| 5 Sept 2027 → 19 Sept 2027 | Book this date |
Trip highlights
- Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) from the Fairy Meadows viewpoint
- The Karakoram Highway from the plains to the China border
- Baltit and Altit forts at Karimabad
- Attabad Lake and the Passu Cones
- Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m) on the Pakistan-China border
- Shangrila, the Kachura lakes and Shigar Fort around Skardu
- A full day on the Deosai Plains and Sheosar Lake
Overview
The Grand Circuit is a fifteen-day summer loop through northern Pakistan that fits the headline sights into two weeks: Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows, the forts and lakes of Hunza, the Khunjerab Pass, and Skardu with Shigar Fort and the Deosai Plains. It suits active travellers who want the whole region in one trip, without days of trekking.
The route follows the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad into the Indus gorge of Kohistan and on to Chilas, then to Raikot Bridge, where a jeep track and a walk lead to Fairy Meadows and a close view of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), the ninth-highest mountain in the world. From Gilgit the highway runs north through Hunza to the Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m) on the Chinese border.
We then return to Gilgit and take the Skardu Road to Baltistan, where the Kachura lakes, Shigar Fort and the Deosai Plains complete the loop. Deosai is a plateau at around 4,000 m that is open to vehicles only in summer, which is why the circuit runs between June and September.
Most days are easy: a private vehicle, comfortable hotels and a local guide throughout. The one real effort is the walk up to Fairy Meadows, where we spend a night in simple cabins; with the altitude at Khunjerab and Deosai and several long days on the road, that puts the trip at moderate overall.
When to come
Deosai is snowbound for most of the year and only opens to vehicles in summer, which fixes this circuit between June and September, when Khunjerab and the Fairy Meadows trail are also reliably clear.
- June: the high ground has usually only just opened, with snow patches left on Deosai and cooler nights.
- July and August: the warmest months and Deosai's wildflower season, but also the busiest, and monsoon rain can bring landslides to the Karakoram Highway south of Gilgit.
- September: settled weather and quieter roads, with cold nights at altitude; Deosai and the high roads begin to close from October.
Itinerary
15 stages over 15 days, starting and finishing in Islamabad. Routes can be shortened, extended or privately dated.
Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. We spend the evening going through the plan, a kit check for Fairy Meadows and Khunjerab, and the weather outlook.
A long day up the Karakoram Highway through Abbottabad, Mansehra and Besham, then along the Indus gorge in Kohistan to Chilas, with a short stop at the ancient rock carvings beside the road. The highway is the main route north, so expect trucks and slow stretches. In season, a longer variation goes via Naran in the Kaghan Valley and the Babusar Pass (over 4,000 m) and adds a night in Naran.
From the Karakoram Highway at Raikot Bridge, local jeeps take us up a narrow, rough track to the village of Tato, and from there we walk for a few hours through pine forest to Fairy Meadows, a high meadow above 3,000 m. Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) fills the skyline at the head of the valley, though cloud often builds by midday. We spend the night in simple wooden cabins.
Early morning is the clearest time for Nanga Parbat, and there is an optional walk towards Beyal Camp for a closer view before we descend to Tato and the jeeps. We then drive north along the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit, passing near Jaglot, where the Gilgit river meets the Indus and the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush are said to meet. Overnight in Gilgit.
A short day: the highway north to Hunza, with a stop for Rakaposhi (7,788 m) from the road, and arrival in Karimabad by early afternoon. After lunch we walk up to Baltit Fort, which looks over the village and the Hunza valley, with Ultar Sar and Rakaposhi on the skyline.
A morning at Altit Fort, the older of the two forts, and in the lanes and orchards below it. The afternoon is free for the bazaar, laundry and rest before the days further north.
North into Gojal: a boat on Attabad Lake, formed by a landslide in January 2010, the Hussaini suspension bridge, and the Passu Cones above the highway. We spend the night in Passu so that the Khunjerab day starts early.
An early start for the Pakistan-China border at 4,693 m, through the checkpoint at Sost and Khunjerab National Park, where marmots are common on the high pastures. The top is cold and the air thin, so we stay briefly before dropping back to Passu for the night. The road can close after snow, and we keep the day flexible.
The long drive back down the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit, with a lunch stop in Karimabad and a last look at Rakaposhi from the road. The evening is free in Gilgit before the Skardu Road.
The Skardu Road follows the Indus upstream through the Rondu gorge before opening into the broad Skardu basin, about 2,230 m above sea level. It is a long day on a narrow road and rockfall can add time, so we start early and arrive by evening.
What’s included
Included
- All ground transport in Pakistan as per itinerary
- Experienced native English-speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation on the road sections
- Full camping equipment and kitchen crew on trek
- All meals during the trekking / climbing period
- Porters for group and personal equipment (within weight limit)
- Trekking / climbing permits and national park fees
- Government liaison officer where required
Not included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- Pakistan visa fee
- Personal travel and high-altitude rescue insurance
- Personal climbing and trekking equipment
- Tips for guides, cooks and porters
- Any expenses of a personal nature
These are the standard inclusions for our tour programmes and are confirmed in writing on your final itinerary before any payment is taken.
Questions about this trip
Deosai is snowbound for most of the year and only opens to vehicles in summer, and the Babusar Pass, Khunjerab and the Fairy Meadows trail are also at their most reliable in these months. For spring blossom or October colour we suggest one of our Hunza trips instead.
After the jeep ride from Raikot Bridge to Tato, the walk is a steady climb of a few hours through forest, ending above 3,000 m. It is the one real physical effort of the trip; porters or horses for bags can usually be arranged locally, and the cabins at the meadow are simple, so expect basic facilities for one night.
The high points are the Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m) and the Deosai Plains (around 4,000 m), both reached by vehicle, and Fairy Meadows (above 3,000 m) on foot. Hunza at around 2,500 m comes before Khunjerab, and Skardu at about 2,230 m before Deosai, so you gain height gradually; mild headaches are common, so tell your guide early if you feel unwell.
By the flight to Islamabad, which takes about an hour but depends on the weather and is cancelled fairly often. The fallback is the road via Gilgit and the Karakoram Highway, which is two long days with a night at Chilas, so Day 13 has slack built in and we advise leaving a margin before your onward flight.
This is graded moderate. You should be comfortable walking for several hours a day, on rough ground, across 15 Days. Porters carry the main loads; you carry a light daypack. If you tell us your recent hill days we will give you an honest answer.
The reliable window is June – September. Outside that, conditions on the route make it either unsafe or not worth the money. We can run private departures on any dates inside that window.
2–14. Smaller and private groups are available and often cost less per head than you would expect — ask us for a quote on your own dates.
The headline is the per-person rate for a standard group of 7–10; smaller groups pay a little more per head because fixed costs — guide, permits, liaison officer and transport — are shared across fewer people. Prices are full-board, and we confirm your exact all-in total in writing before any deposit.
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to review the pakistan highlights grand circuit.
Plan this trip
Practical guides to help you prepare for the pakistan highlights grand circuit:
You may like
All trips Similar adventures
Hunza Apricot & Cherry Blossom Tour
Request a quoteExplore
Hunza Valley Classic Tour
Request a quoteExplore
Hunza & Skardu Highlights
Request a quoteExplore