Hunza Valley

Hunza Valley Tour: March 26 - April 3 (8nts)

Created & Hosted By Apricot Tours

Hotels:

Rawalpindi - Pearl Continental - March 26
Gilgit - Serena Hotel - March 27, 28, 29
Hunza - Serena Hotel - March 30, 31, April 1, 2

Depending on your departure flight from Pakistan, you may need an extra night in Islamabad for April 3 and possibly April 4 to allow for any required Covid 19 Testing. Additional nights are not included in the following prices

Per Person:

Due to late confirmation of the Australian Cricket Tour to Pakistan, pricing for Hunza Valley has increased markedly. This tour and price is based on a min. of 6 persons (twin sharing), and must be booked by next Friday Feb 11 to guarantee availability of flights and hotels, and so everyone can correctly book flights to/from Pakistan.

Twin: US$3100 | GBP£2350 | A$4500
Single: US$3800 | GBP£2980 | A$5500
Apricot Tours Quote In US$
You Will Pay In GBP£ or AUD$

Change Currency At The Very Bottom of The Page

One Person Only: US$6100 | GBP£4600 | A$8800

Payment: Once Confirmed Full Payment Is Required At Time Of Booking And No Refund Can Be Made Whatsoever If You Cancel Thereafter For Any Reason

NON-REFUNDABLE

Included In Your Hunza Valley Tour:

8 Nights At Hotels Above
Travel From Lahore to Islamabad
Return Flight Gilgit To Islamabad

Passport Details Will Be Requested

All Applicable Entrance Fees
All Meals Including Soft Drinks/Water
Bottomless Bottled Water
Qualified Guides & Drivers

Hunza Valley Tour

No visit to Pakistan is complete without a Hunza Valley Tour and Karakoram Highway (KKH) Tour through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Hunza Valley to Khunjerab Pass at the China border, some 4714m above the beach!

People travel for different reasons and just because you join our Australian Cricket Tour of Pakistan, doesn’t mean you want to see the spectacular North, but do consider it. The region is Pakistan’s primary tourist destination, and it is easy to know why, by imagery alone. Thus, plan your cricket tour so you can also join our incredible road trip!

Home to the world’s 2^nd highest peak (K2), the world's highest border crossing, paved road, ATM, and what locals call the world’s bluest lake, is a fraction of the geographic and engineering wonders of the region. The famous KKH, connecting Gilgit–Baltistan to the ancient Silk Road, stretches 1300km from Kashgar, China to Abbottabad, Pakistan, some 120km north of Pindi Cricket Ground.

Following the 3rd Test in Lahore, we’ll drive to Islamabad for one night and then fly to and Gilgit for 7 nights in this incredible region. Experiencing Pakistan’s stretch of one the world’s most spectacular highways is a life box to tick. And it's not just driving the Karakoram Highway, but experiencing the Hunza District and culture. Hunza Valley Tourism is the lifeline of the Hunza People who embrace visitors year-round.

Late-March is not the best time to visit but the Hunza Valley is just starting to spring bloom. And not being long into spring, late ‘winter surges’ can still disrupt flights. We will trust the weather gods will allow us to fly from and back to Islamabad on April 3.

We’d love to drive to China and on our return to Gilgit go west over Shandur Pass (annual polo festival July 7 - 9) to Chitral, Peshawar, and Khyber Pass however Shandur Pass is closed until May, thus we must go from & to Islamabad!

Historically, Hunza Valley Weather in March is 12-14c. Forecast for March 27, 2022 are 6c

Day 1 we leave Lahore and drive the famous grand trunk Road to Islamabad, stopping for lunch and a visit to Rohtas Fort. Check in at Rawalpindi Hotel, for a casual night.

Day 2 we fly to Gilgit. We would love to drive through Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Abbottabad however your travel insurance is invalid in the province, so we won't go there, albeit briefly! Arriving in Gilgit late morning, we check in and then hit the road to Nanga Parbat, the world’s 9th highest mountain (8126m). From Nanga Parbat viewpoint you can drive and trek (2-3hrs) to delightful Fairy Meadows, but sadly the meadow is closed until May. Having waited 24 years for a Pakistan Cricket Tour, we can’t moan it being the wrong time of year!

With 3 nights in Gilgit, Day 3 is a casual day exploring the Naltar Valley and Satrangi Lake, the lake of 7 colours. The late afternoon can be invested in Gilgit's Bazaars filled with Chinese crafts, spices, foods, and fabrics if not hiking the easy local trails to Kargah Buddha and Victory Monument of Taj Mughal.

Day 4 will be spent driving (casually) the Shandur-Gilgit Road along the Gilgit River. We will have lunch in Gupis before returning to Gilgit for dinner.

From Gilgit, it's just two-hours to Hunza from where we will absorb the full whack of the Karakoram Ranges. The drive includes a break at Rakaposhi Peak (7708m) viewpoint, the collision point of Indian & Eurasian continental plates, and the viewpoint of the old Silk Road, before reaching Hunza for 4 nights of delicious Hunza food!

On Days 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the Hunza Valley, we'll see (conditions dictating the order) Baltit & Altit Forts, Hoper Glacier, and Duiker viewpoint for sunset over the 7000+ m peaks of Rakaposhi, Diran, Spantik, and Ultar. We will see Haldeikish Sacred Rocks, Borith Lake, Hussaini Galcier, and take a perilous walk across the famous Hussaini Suspension Bridge; listed as one of the world’s most dangerous.

Surviving the bridge, we will see the spectacular Attabad Lake, formed in 2010 by the damming of the Hunza River after a landslide. 25km of the KKH was lost to what is now (one of) the world’s bluest lake. The realigned KKH was re-opened in 2016 to include the Pak-China friendship tunnels through which we travel to see Passu Glacier, Passu Cones, Passu Peak (7478m) and Shispar Peak (7611m) along with Batura Glacier and the villages of Gulmit, Khyber, Markhoon, Gircha, and Sost.

From Sost we venture to Khunjerab Pass and the Pakistan/China Arch. At 4693m this is not for the hard of breathing, but we will not spend enough time here to be deeply afflicted by the thin air. Lots of water will be required and provided. The weather should be OK in April to drive up and back but like regional airports, the road is subject to conditions that will be determined suitable and safe at the time by our experienced drivers and guides.

After 4 nights in spectacular Hunza Valley, we roll downhill to Gilgit after breakfast for our flight to Islamabad, allowing time to stop for photos you may have missed on the out-lap.

And though earlier than we'd have wanted, and thus much cooler, we are still prepared to do this amazing trip, created & hosted by Apricot Tours, specialists in Northern Pakistan.

Our good friend ‘Lala’, whom we met in 2007 when preparing for our 2008 cricket tour, is the founding operator of Apricot Tours, based in Islamabad. Starting in 2005 with a trip to Fairy Meadows, Lala now creates and hosts set-itinerary and bespoke tours to Pakistan's highest peaks, passes, pastures, and paths by foot, bike, bus, 4x4, motorbike, and car.

Lala has passionate and experienced teams of guides, drivers, riders, and climbers that host fun, safe, unique, and informative trips throughout the Swat Valley, Chitral, Skardu, Gilgit, and of course the spectacular Hunza Valley and Hunza District.

In such a geographically challenging region, we would not consider ‘doing this ourselves’ unlike South Africa where hiring and driving are as easy as 'waving the flag' at the cricket. Thus, we asked Lala to create something special, and which makes the Hunza Valley very safe for you.

Though we list many remarkable Hunza Valley sights, Lala will introduce many aspects of Hunza people that you won't find in a ‘brochure’. Whether musicians, weavers, cooks, tailors, communities, or galleries, Lala will ensure we feel every heart-beat of the Hunza people in which he was born & raised.

Working on this since mid-2020, Lala has created a flexible itinerary to include all we can do considering the time of year, travel time, hotels, & flights. Flexible means adjusting plans to the weather such as going to Khunjerab as soon as we have a clear day, instead of 'Day 7 to Khunjerab' only to be snowed out!

Usually 1 guide per 12 persons, we will have 1 guide per 8-10 persons pending the vehicle. We want all to hear the guide's every word, have a window seat, and be comfortable.

Our Hunza Valley Tour includes all meals, travel, hotels, bottled-water, side-trips, entry fees, and experienced drivers & guides

With the lateness of the tour confirmation, we must say this tour will only operate with a minimum number of 6 persons. We’d love everyone on our Cricket Tour in Pakistan to experience this special region but Hunza hotels and flights from Gilgit won't have availability!

We hope many will enjoy this amazing trip because Apricot Tours plant 5 trees for every visitor.

"Huzzah!"

Any questions? We'd be happy to answer them.

Thank You!

Australian Cricket Tours:

Pakistan 2022 - Home
Pakistan 2022 - Itinerary
Cracking Karachi - 1st Test
Pumping Peshawar - Side Tour
Ripping Rawalpindi - 2nd Test
Lively Lahore - 3rd Test
Hunza Valley - Side Tour
Test Ticket Tour - 3 Tests