Join our October 2023 Discover the Hunza Valley Tour – only a few spots left.

Trekking Amongst Giants

The absolute best of Baltistan

DIFFICULTY: Strenuous

TOTAL DISTANCE: 1500 kms of driving

MAX ALTITUDE: 5350 meters

TOUR DURATION: 15 days

LODGING: Mix of local, camp, hotels

GROUP SIZE: 12 people

map of skardu pakistan
Map of the tour route

Overview

Join Epic Backpacker Tours as we embark on an exciting new itinerary to some of the most stunning destinations in Northern Pakistan: the Baltistan Region, Nanga Parbat, and Deosai National Park. 

Pakistan is the ultimate destination for serious adventurers.

Our Skardu adventure tour takes you deep into the very heart of one of Pakistan’s most impressive and dramatic regions. This part of Pakistan is home to some of the biggest mountains in the world and is the perfect playground for adventurous souls.

Come with us on a multi-day trek in the legendary Karakoram mountain range, experience the raw beauty of Deosai National Park, hang out in the Fairy Meadows, feast on tasty local cuisine, and become a member of a tight-knit team of world travelers.

This is the perfect Pakistan adventure for people who love epic trips in the mountains and want to gain some experience trekking at altitude.

The Baltistan region of Pakistan is the land of mountaineering legend, fascinating local culture, tasty local cuisine, and home to some of the wildest and remote landscapes on earth.

The stage is set for you to comfortably explore one of the most compelling countries in the world with the Pakistan experts.

Who This Trip is For

  • BALANCE BETWEEN TREKKING AND ROAD TRIPPING: For those who are looking for a more active-style tour but don’t want to speed 2 weeks on a glacier, this trip is perfect. It features epic hikes and is rated as moderate-intensive but still visits just as many awesome places as our standard Karakoram Highway tour.  
  • VARIED LANDSCAPES: This tour is an homage to Pakistan’s scenic beauty. Over the course of 14 days, we’ll visit dizzying alpine plateaus, brilliant deserts, and incredible views of the Central Karakoram Range and K2.
  • A UNIQUE ITINERARY: In the final days of this tour, our group will go on a 4-day overnight hike in a relatively unknown valley in the Baltistan region. This area, mostly frequented by shepherds, is untouched by tourists and features un-spoilt beauty. Seriously, nobody else goes trekking here which is why it is so special. 
  • A REWARDING CLIMB: The final leg, a scramble up to a 5300 meter peak, features unmatched views of the Karakoram and is the highlight of the trip. It offers arguably one of the most expansive views in all of Pakistan. We are the only Western company that features a trek to this peak. 

Gallery

Upcoming Dates

Dates

Status

Deposit

Full

Contact us for availabilityContact Us$650$3200

REFUNDS RELATED TO COVID-19 :  
Clients are entitled to have FULL TRIP BALANCE moved to a future trip (credit) OR request a FULL REFUND if we cancel the tour due to complications related to Covid-19

  • GENERAL REFUND POLICY :
    Cancellation Less than 90 days until the start of the tour: NO REFUND. Trip deposit can be used as credit towards a future trip.
  • Cancellation with more than 90 days before the start of the tour: 50% of the trip balance payment (less the deposit amount). Trip deposit can be used as credit towards a future trip.
  • Cancellation with more than 160 days before the start of the tour: Full refund minus the trip deposit. Trip deposit can be used as credit towards a future trip. 

 Read our full refund policy here 

Have a question or ready to book?

Whether you’re just curious about this trip or are ready to make a deposit, we’re here for you.

To submit an inquiry or make a trip deposit, please fill out and submit the form below.

Your Trip Leaders

hiking in pakistan

Ralph Cope

A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer, and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations. Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new areas, in search of everything from hidden valleys in the Karakoram to secret surf breaks along the Makran Coast.

Together with Epic Backpacker Tours, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.

zahid

Zahid Hussein

Local legend Zahid Hussein has been on board with Epic Backpacker Tours for a few years now and his positive impact was felt immediately. His laugh is contagious and his outdoor skills, local knowledge, and guiding experience in Baltistan are second to none.

Zahid is a truly fantastic human being who has made an enormous positive impact on his community as well as on the general trekking scene in Pakistan for the last 3 decades. Zahid guides multiple trips with Epic Backpacker Tours including Trekking Amongst Giants and the K2 Base Camp Trek. 

Highlights of the Tour

  • Get EPIC views of K2, Gasherbrum, and Nanga Parbat
  • Visit Deosai National park
  • Chill out in Fairy Meadows
  • Travel on the epic Karakoram Highway
  • Trek to Nanga Parbat Basecamp @ 4000 meters
  • Hike to the top of Moses Peak @ 5650 meters
  • Experience legendary Pakistani hospitality
  • Camp near alpine lakes
  • Sleep in comfortable accommodation
  • Travel with a group of fun adventurers from around the world

Itinerary

Arrive into Islamabad airport where you will be met by the EBT team. (If you are arriving within 24 hours of the start of the tour); we’ll ferry you to HQ where you can chill out and freshen up.

Note: We recommend arriving into Islamabad one day early so that you can settle in and be ready to go on the morning of day one. Accommodation pre-tour is not included.

Once you arrive at the hotel, you will have the chance to freshen up and get ready for a team briefing. We’ll discuss highlights and logistics of the tour, and will follow-up with lunch at the hotel.

Upon finishing breakfast, we leave immediately for the mountains. We will be driving ¾ of the way to Raikot Bridge – gateway to the exalted Nanga Parbat – and plan on spending the night in Naran (8-12 hours).

Today we start early, bound for Raicot Bridge. From there we take a 90 minute jeep ride up one of the craziest roads in the world before starting our 3 hour trek to the beautiful Fairy Meadows. 

We will be spending two days at Fairy Meadows and will have lots of opportunities to explore the area. 

For those who want to go on an adventure, we will be organizing a hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp* (weather permitting). This 4000 m base camp will provide some of the most epic vistas on this trip and should be seriously considered (usually all trip members join). 

At the end of every night, there will be a bonfire and plenty of open skies (hopefully). On a clear night, the Milky Way will be visible.

*Note: the optional hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp requires a moderate level of fitness and take around 8 hours round trip (with plenty of time to chill out at base camp, eat lunch, etc).

We have two days in the Fairy Meadows and will have lots of opportunities to explore the area. You can hang out in the Meadows, read a book under a tree, or socialize with the locals.

For those who want to go on an adventure, we will be organizing a hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp* (weather permitting). This 4000 m base camp will provide some of the most epic vistas on this trip and should be seriously considered.

At the end of every night, there will be a bonfire and plenty of open skies (hopefully). On a clear night, the Milky Way will be visible.

*Note: the optional hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp requires a moderate level of fitness and take around 7 – 10 hours round trip (with plenty of time to chill out at base camp, eat lunch, etc).

Today, we pack our bags and head back down to the Raikot Bridge. Pending an early departure from the Meadows, we will arrive at the bridge around midday.

From the bridge, we head deeper into the mountains and make for Astore. Astore is often called the “Switzerland of Pakistan” and is adored for its pastoral, languid beauty. We anticipate being in Astore before sunset.

Upon checking into our hotel, we say a brief goodbye to Mr. Khan, our driver, as we will be using jeeps for the next few days. Mr. Khan will meet us later on in Skardu.

We pile into our fleet of jeeps and head to Deosai National Park – the second highest alpine plateau in the world (4200m) behind the Tibetan Plateau. We will be in Deosai during peak wildflower season, the likes of which are out of this world!

We will spend the day exploring Deosai and there will plenty of photo ops along the way.

After wrapping our road trip, we will then make camp in Deosai at Barah Pani (Place of Big Water). Eager hikers will have the chance to walk some more and to gain an additional 200 m to a spectacular viewpoint.

We leave Deosai at a reasonable time and drive to the largest city in Baltistan, Skardu (2-3 hours). Upon arriving at our hotel, guests will have the opportunity to take a shower and a nap.

In the early afternoon, we will leave the hotel to visit the local attractions, including the Buddha Rock (time permitting).

From Skardu, we will take a short drive through the gorgeous Shigar Valley before spending the evening in the Safa Ranga Desert. You will get to climb the bleach-white sand dunes for sunset and will be totally engulfed by the Karakorum Mountains.

On day 8, we begin the most adventurous and demanding portion of our tour – the Barah Broq trek. This is one of the most beautiful short treks in Pakistan and features high-alpine lakes, exposure to local shepherd communities, and the chance to climb Moses Peak, which offers one of the best views of the Karakorum.

We’ll make camp 4 times over the course of 4 nights: at 3300 m, 4200m, 4700m, and then back to 4200m. You will have the chance to visit several beautiful alpine lakes along the way and the view from High Camp at 4700m is particularly stunning.

Near the end of the trek, guests will also be able to attempt Moses Peak – a 5350 m viewpoint that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. From the Moses Peak, you will see almost every notable peak in the Baltistan including Masherbrum, Gasherbrum, Nanga Parbat, and, of course, K2.

To learn more about this trek, check out our compete guide on Barah Broq.

After spending a few days in the mountains, we begin our return journey back to civilization. We will hike all the way down to the road in one day, so an early start will be required. The hike down is not nearly as demanding as the way up and a delicious lunch will be waiting you at the bottom.

Upon meeting up with our transport at the valley floor, we will return to Skardu and have a relaxing night after our trek. Tasty food and celebrations will abound.

It’s time to depart from the Karakorum today. We have an early wake-up call and a long drive ahead of us (10-12 hours). We arrive back in Naran and have a calm evening before making another long drive the next day.

This is the last big day of driving on the tour; hurray! We leave early and make a beeline for Islamabad. Drive time is 8-10 hours and we will stop for lunch along the way.

Upon arriving in Islamabad, we will freshen up and get ready for a very special dinner at one of the most famous restaurants in Pakistan. We close the tour with one last meal together and roundtable.

We arrange for transfers to Islamabad International Airport for those who are flying out on day 15. Check out of the hotel is around 11 am on Day 15. You can choose to stay on at the same hotel if you are not flying home right away, though any additional nights at the hotel are not covered by EBT.

What People Have to Say

FAQ

Despite what you hear on the mainstream news, Pakistan is one of the safest countries we have ever traveled to. Part of the ethos of Epic Backpacker Tours is to smash negative stereotypes associated with these countries by showing you what the media never does.

Late spring is typically the warmer season, though there can still be residual snowfall in the high mountains. Fall trips tend to be cooler, and the cities are not as hot.

​​Part of what makes our trips so awesome is the kind of people attracted to our adventures. On average, our trips are made up of 5-8 different nationalities. Over the years, we have had a nearly equal amount of men and women travel with us. The average age of a trip participant is 35. The oldest person to join us was 70 and the youngest was 19.

Mix of guesthouses/hotels and homestays that offer comfortable, but simple, facilities. Sometimes rooms might be without air-conditioning (although the rooms in Lahore and Islamabad, the two hottest places, will definitely have AC). We offer comfy, quality tents for camping.

Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Try reading our trip FAQ Page first where we break down questions about the tour in more detail or feel free to get in touch with us using the contact page!

Additional Resources

epic backpacker tours team

Adventure Guide

Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.

His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.

Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens. 

His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.

We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations! 

– Alexandra Ruth

Fairy Meadows

Add Your Heading Text Here

“Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?”

Our Favorite Experiences

#1 Sunrise from Reflection Lake

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

#2 Hiking to Nanga Parbat Base Camp

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

#3 Playing cricket with the locals

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Trips Where We Visit Fairy Meadows

Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour.  Road trip with some  hiking and cultural immersion.

A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.

Adventure Guide

João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare. 

With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.

João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions. 

After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.

João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none

When not in Pakistan, João is  guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails –  discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.

João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!

– Jeffery 

travel hunza valley

Adventure Guide

Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic Backpacker Tours team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains. 

Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles 

in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.

Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!

– Borgan

iran travel tour

Adventure Guide

Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.

Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.

Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro will be leading his 11th tour in Iran with EBT this coming spring 2020

When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Backpacker Tours, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.

 I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!

– Saisun

Touring Iran with EBT in May 2022 was way above our expectation: itineraries well planned and carefully executed, perfect mix of sights and trekking, delicious food, nice accommodation, great guides and wonderful fellow travellers. Trekking can be handled by anyone physically fit. Highly recommended for those who want to experience the real Iran.

– Sumera

Diane Bouvet

Adventure Admin / Marketing

After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe

She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Backpacker Tours and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements. 

Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.

k2 gondogoro la trek

Head of Operations | Guide

A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations. 

Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.

Together with Epic Backpacker Tours, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.

Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge. 

– Calvin


Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.

– Katrina 

adventure tours pakistan

Founder | Adventure Guide | Director

For the last eleven years, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 65 countries along the way. 

Since 2011, Chris has logged more than 6300 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.

In 2017, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and people of Pakistan led Chris to found Epic Backpacker Tours at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 15 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.

Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe. 

Long-distance hiking, learning languages, meaningful conversations, all things Turkish food, mountaineering, and making tasty coffee above 6,000 meters rank among his favorite things in life. 

For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.

When he is not leading or planning tours, Chris works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan. 

Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!

Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”

– Will De Villers

Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]

Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.

– Clark Tyler

Win a FREE trip !

How? Sign up to our Newsletter! For every 500 people, we draw a name and issue trip credits to the lucky winner!

Be the first to know when we launch new trips, share Epic news, and offer special discounts.