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Explore Fairy Meadows and Hunza Valley 2026-2027
Islamabad, Fairy Meadows - Nanga Parbat, Hunza
This 10-day trip covers the two things northern Pakistan is most known for: Nanga Parbat and Hunza Valley. You do not need mountaineering experience for either. What you need is reasonable fitness, a willingness to sit in a vehicle for long stretches, and some appetite for altitude.
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Tour snapshot
Duration:
10 days
10 days
Group size:
20
20
Category:
Trekking & Hiking Trip
Trekking & Hiking Trip
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Overview
This 10-day trip covers the two things northern Pakistan is most known for: Nanga Parbat and Hunza Valley. You do not need mountaineering experience for either. What you need is reasonable fitness, a willingness to sit in a vehicle for long stretches, and some appetite for altitude. The route goes north from Islamabad to Chilas, then into Fairy Meadows at 3,300 m for two nights at the direct foot of Nanga Parbat, the world's 9th highest peak. The trek to Nanga Parbat Base Camp at around 3,900 m is done on day four. From there the drive continues to Hunza Valley, where the itinerary covers Baltit Fort, Eagle's Nest viewpoint, Attabad Lake, Passu Cones, the Hussaini Bridge, and a steep morning hike up Baskochi Top for the aerial view of the lake that most visitors never see. Destination Pakistan (License No. 11167) runs this route with small groups, experienced guides, and accommodation ranging from mountain huts at Fairy Meadows to proper hotels in Hunza.
Available languages
English
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
Learn more about our policy
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Highlights
- Fairy Meadows (3,300 m) at the foot of Nanga Parbat
- Trek to Nanga Parbat Base Camp (approx. 3,900 m)
- The jeep track from Raikot Bridge to Tattu village
- Hunza Valley: Baltit Fort, Karimabad and Eagle's Nest
- Attabad Lake, Passu Cones and Hussaini Bridge
- Baskochi Top: aerial view of Attabad Lake
- Karakoram Highway: one of the world's great mountain roads
- Bonfire and stargazing at Bayal Camp (3,500 m)
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+92 349 409 6697Itinerary
1Land, Rest, Begin (IslamabadDistance: 5 KMSee details & photo
1
Land, Rest, Begin (Islamabad
Distance: 5 KM
See details & photoMost international flights into Islamabad land in the early hours of the morning. The airport is new, the immigration is manageable, and your guide is waiting at arrivals. The drive to the hotel takes about thirty to forty minutes depending on traffic. Today is a recovery day by design: the drive north to Chilas starts early tomorrow and runs for ten to twelve hours.
The priority today is sleep, a proper meal, and getting the body adjusted to the timezone before the real journey begins. Islamabad is a pleasant city to arrive in: green, relatively quiet, and organized. If you land with energy in the afternoon there is enough to explore on foot near the hotel, but nothing is required of you today.
Key Activities:
Airport pickup and hotel transfer - your guide meets you at arrivals regardless of what time the flight lands; the transfer to the hotel takes 30 to 45 minutes
Rest and acclimatize - early morning arrivals should sleep before doing anything else; tomorrow is a full 10 to 12 hour drive north and rest today matters
Welcome dinner in Islamabad - first group meal of the trip; your guide introduces the itinerary, answers questions, and runs through what to expect from the days ahead
Optional afternoon walk (energy permitting) - Islamabad is walkable near the hotel areas; F-7 Markaz and the streets around Jinnah Avenue are easy to explore without a plan
🚗 Distance:5 KM
⛰️ Elevation:508 m elevation
🌤️ Weather:Mar to May: 18 to 32°C
2Islamabad to Chilas: Where the Mountains BeginDistance: 461 km via KKHSee details & photo
2
Islamabad to Chilas: Where the Mountains Begin
Distance: 461 km via KKH
See details & photoThe departure is at 6 AM. That is not a suggestion. The KKH north of Islamabad covers a lot of ground and the section through Kohistan, where the road is carved into cliff faces above the Indus River, needs to be done in full daylight. The first two hours through Abbottabad and Mansehra are straightforward. After Thakot bridge the Indus appears and the road changes: narrower, more exposed, the gorge walls rising steeply on both sides and the river loud below.
Besham is the natural lunch stop, roughly halfway, where the Kohistan section ends and the driving becomes easier. Dasu and Shatial follow, then the brown barren landscape of Chilas, which is the complete opposite of everything Islamabad looked like this morning. Nanga Parbat is out there somewhere to the northwest but the haze usually keeps it hidden on arrival. Tomorrow you will stand at its foot. Tonight, check in and sleep.
Key Activities:
Early departure from Islamabad at 6 AM - the KKH requires a full day; leaving later means driving the Kohistan gorge section after dark, which is not advisable
Abbottabad and Mansehra (first 2 hours) - the Hazara motorway M-15 makes this section fast and smooth; Mansehra is the junction for the Naran valley road and the last proper city before the gorge
Thakot Bridge and Indus River gorge - the KKH meets the Indus at Thakot and follows it north for hundreds of kilometres; the gorge section through Kohistan has near-vertical walls and narrow two-lane road; dramatic and slow going
Besham lunch stop - roughly halfway at approx. 230 km from Islamabad; a proper KKH town with dhabas, fuel, and an Indus bridge; good place to stretch and eat before the second half
Arrive Chilas, Shangri-La hotel - elevation approx. 900 m; hot, dry, and barren after the green of the Hazara hills; over 30,000 Neolithic petroglyphs on boulders near the town dating from 5,000 BC; Nanga Parbat to the northwest
🚗 Distance:461 km via KKH
⛰️ Elevation:900 m elevation
🌤️ Weather:25 to 42°C
3Three Legs to Fairy Meadows: Drive, Jeep, WalkDistance: 80 kmSee details & photo
3
Three Legs to Fairy Meadows: Drive, Jeep, Walk
Distance: 80 km
See details & photoToday has three completely different sections and each one is more interesting than the last. The drive from Chilas to Raikot Bridge follows the Karakoram Highway along the Indus, two hours of increasingly dramatic canyon scenery. At Raikot Bridge the KKH is left behind and the local jeeps take over. The track from Raikot to Tattu is 15 km of cliff-hugging gravel road that community members built themselves decades ago and have barely maintained since. It is single-lane, has no guardrails, and the drop is constant and significant. The jeep drivers know it well.
At Tattu the jeep stops and the walking begins: 5 km through dense Himalayan pine forest, crossing cold streams, the altitude climbing steadily. When the trees open up and Fairy Meadows appears, Nanga Parbat is already there, filling the northern sky at 8,126 m. German climbers in the early 20th century called it Fairy Meadows. The name has stuck because nothing else fits. Settle into the huts, watch the first sunset on the mountain, and sleep early at 3,300 m.
Key Activities:
Chilas to Raikot Bridge (by road)
Approx. 80 km, 2 hours on KKH. Foreign travelers must register at the police checkpoint in Chilas before departure. Registration is handled by your guide. Bring photocopies of your passport.
Jeep track: Raikot Bridge to Tattu Village
15 km, 1.5 to 2 hours. Community-built gravel road, single lane, no guardrails, constant drop on one side. Only local drivers navigate this track; no private vehicles allowed. Considered one of the most dangerous roads in Pakistan. The ride is the adventure before the adventure.
Trek: Tattu Village to Fairy Meadows
5 km, 2 to 3 hours. Moderate grade through Himalayan pine forest (Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana). Cold stream crossings. Steady altitude gain from approx. 2,100 m at Tattu to 3,300 m at Fairy Meadows. Horses available at Tattu for those who prefer not to hike. Porters available for luggage.
Arrive Fairy Meadows (3,300 m)
Check in at Fairy View Point huts. Short walk to the viewpoint for first sunset on Nanga Parbat's Rakhiot face. Bonfire or hut dinner in the evening. Sleep early: altitude acclimatization is important before tomorrow's long hike to base camp.
🚗 Distance:80 km
⛰️ Elevation:3,300 m
🌤️ Weather:5 to 15°C
4The Longest Day: Fairy Meadows to Nanga Parbat Base Camp and BackDistance: 30KMSee details & photo
4
The Longest Day: Fairy Meadows to Nanga Parbat Base Camp and Back
Distance: 30KM
See details & photoThis is the longest day of the trip and the reason most people come. After breakfast at Fairy Meadows, the trail climbs through alpine forest along the Rakhiot Valley with the glacier coming into view through gaps in the trees. Two to three hours brings you to Bayal Camp, quieter than Fairy Meadows and considerably rawer, with Nanga Parbat now close enough that the detail on its north face is visible without binoculars.
Lunch is here. Rest is here. Then, for those with the legs for it, the trail continues: rocky moraine, then the glacier itself, then the base camp at around 3,900 m where the mountain simply fills the entire sky. The scale at base camp is the kind that makes experienced hikers go quiet. After photographs and rest, the group returns to Bayal Camp for dinner and an overnight in the huts. No phone signal. No noise. Nanga Parbat in the dark above. The bonfire goes up and the evening takes care of itself.
Key Activities:
Fairy Meadows to Bayal Camp (3,500 m)
2 to 3 hours through alpine forest along the Rakhiot Valley. The Rakhiot Glacier becomes visible throughout the climb. Bayal Camp has basic tea houses and huts; lunch and tea served on site. Quieter and less visited than Fairy Meadows.
Bayal Camp to Nanga Parbat Base Camp (approx. 3,900 m)
Approximately 3 hours from Bayal Camp. Trail crosses rocky glacier moraine and reaches the base of the north face. One of the most accessible 8,000 m base camps in the world. Rakhiot Peak (7,070 m) and Chongra Peak visible alongside Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) from base camp. This section is for fit trekkers only; those feeling unwell stay at Bayal Camp.
Return to Bayal Camp: dinner and overnight
Dinner cooked at camp. Bonfire in the evening. No phone signal, no light pollution. Sleeping bag rated to minus 10°C or colder is essential; temperatures at 3,500 m drop well below zero even in July and August.
🚗 Distance:30KM
⛰️ Elevation:3,500 m
🌤️ Weather:Jun to Sep: 0 to 12°C, below zero at night
5Bayal Camp to Karimabad: The Day Everything Changes AgainDistance: 150 KMSee details & photo
5
Bayal Camp to Karimabad: The Day Everything Changes Again
Distance: 150 KM
See details & photoThe morning begins at Bayal Camp with tea and Nanga Parbat in the early light. After two nights at altitude the descent feels different: the air gets richer with every hundred metres, the trees come back, and the pine forest that was a gentle climb on day three is noticeably easier going down. The jeep from Tattu back to Raikot Bridge is the same ride in reverse, just as gripping. At Raikot Bridge the KKH resumes and the direction changes to north.
Hunza is about 100 km up the highway from here. The Rakaposhi viewpoint appears roughly midway, where the mountain rises almost vertically from the valley floor for 5,900 m. The locals call it Dumani, Mother of Mist. The name makes sense at closer range. Karimabad arrives by late afternoon: cobblestone streets, apricot orchards, and Baltit Fort above on the hill. After three days in huts and mountain camps, a hotel with a proper bed and a hot shower is a reasonable thing to look forward to. The walnut cake at Cafe de Hunza is the correct way to spend the first hour in town.
Key Activities:
Sunrise at Bayal Camp, morning descent
Nanga Parbat catches the first light from Bayal Camp; worth waking early for. Hike down to Tattu takes 2 to 3 hours; the descent is easier than the ascent but hard on knees. Trekking poles recommended. Jeep back to Raikot Bridge: 1.5 hours on the same cliff-edge track.
Rakaposhi Zero Point viewpoint (en route)
On the KKH between Raikot and Gilgit, the Zero Point at Ghulmet is the closest road view of Rakaposhi on earth. The mountain stands at 7,788 m and rises 5,900 m from the Hunza River in just 11.2 km horizontal distance: the steepest unbroken slope on earth. Worth stopping for 20 minutes.
Arrive Karimabad, Hunza Valley (2,450 m)
Hotel check-in; hot shower; first proper bed since Islamabad. Short walk in Karimabad bazaar for local handicrafts, dried apricots, and semi-precious stones. Cafe de Hunza: the walnut cake and the terrace view of Rakaposhi are both worth the visit.
Evening in Karimabad
The town is small and walkable. The cobblestone lanes above the KKH are quiet in the evening. Baltit Fort is lit at dusk and visible from most of the town. Dinner at the hotel or one of the local restaurants; sleep at a more comfortable altitude than the past two nights.
🚗 Distance:150 KM
⛰️ Elevation:2,450 m
🌤️ Weather:May to Oct: 15 to 28°C
6Karimabad: The Day Hunza Reveals Its HistoryDistance: 5 KMSee details & photo
6
Karimabad: The Day Hunza Reveals Its History
Distance: 5 KM
See details & photoAfter the physical demands of the past three days this one is deliberately slower. Karimabad is a town worth spending time in rather than passing through, and today is the day for it. Baltit Fort sits above the town and has been the seat of the Mirs of Hunza for around 700 years. The Tibetan-influenced architecture, the carved wooden interiors, and the view from the ramparts over the valley are all worth the hour it takes to walk around properly. Altit Fort, a short distance away and older still at approximately 1,100 years, is the oldest standing structure in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture spent years restoring both. Lunch back in Karimabad, then the afternoon belongs to the bazaar: dried apricots, hand-woven textiles, semi-precious stones from the surrounding valleys. In the late afternoon the jeep goes up to Eagle's Nest in Duikar village, 2,850 m above the town, where Rakaposhi, Ultar Sar, Golden Peak, Diran, and Lady Finger are all visible at once. The evening light on those peaks from that height is the kind of view that explains why people come back to Hunza.
Key Activities:
Baltit Fort
Approximately 700 years old. Tibetan-influenced architecture built by Balti craftsmen brought by the wife of Mir Ayesho II in the 16th century. Served as the seat of the Mirs of Hunza until 1945. Restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture between 1990 and 1996. Entry fee: PKR 1,600 for foreign visitors, guided tour included. Best panoramic viewpoint over Karimabad and the valley.
Altit Fort and Royal Gardens
Approximately 1,100 years old; the oldest monument in Gilgit-Baltistan. UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Conservation, 2011. Restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Government of Norway. Perched on a cliff 300 m above the Hunza River, 3 km from Karimabad. The Kha Basi Cafe in the fort gardens serves local food. Entry fee: PKR 1,600 for foreign visitors.
Karimabad bazaar and Cafe de Hunza
The cobblestone market above the KKH sells local handicrafts, hand-embroidered caps, semi-precious stones (rubies, tourmaline, emeralds from surrounding valleys), and dried Hunza apricots. Cafe de Hunza: terrace with full Rakaposhi view, walnut cake, local fruit preserves. Best visited in the morning before afternoon crowds.
Eagle's Nest viewpoint, Duikar (2,850 m)
6 km from Karimabad, 20 to 25 minute drive, 15-minute hike to the summit point. 360-degree panorama of the entire Hunza Valley. Peaks visible on a clear afternoon or evening: Rakaposhi (7,788 m), Ultar Sar (7,388 m), Golden Peak (7,027 m), Diran (7,266 m), Lady Finger/Bubulimating (6,000 m). Best visited in the late afternoon for evening light on the peaks.
🚗 Distance:5 KM
⛰️ Elevation:2,450 m
🌤️ Weather:May to Oct: 15 to 28°C
7Upper Hunza: The Day That Packs Everything InDistance: 50 KMSee details & photo
7
Upper Hunza: The Day That Packs Everything In
Distance: 50 KM
See details & photoCheckout after breakfast and the KKH heads north into Upper Hunza. Attabad Lake appears first: 21 km of turquoise water formed by a single landslide on 4 January 2010 that killed twenty people and blocked the Hunza River for five months. Boat rides run from the shore. Gulmit village is a short walk through Wakhi daily life. Then Passu, where the Cones rise to 6,106 m directly beside the highway. Lunch at Yak Grill with those shapes in full view. Hussaini Bridge in the afternoon: 195 m of wooden planks over the Hunza River, some gaps, the structure moving with every step. Crossing is optional. Most people cross. Shilmin Resort in Passu for the night: limited internet, no city noise, more stars than most people have seen.
Key Activities:
Attabad Lake boat ride - 21 km long, 109 m deep, formed by 2010 landslide; turquoise colour from suspended glacial sediment; boat rides available from the shore
Gulmit village walk - short stop in the administrative centre of Gojal; Wakhi community, traditional stone houses, small local museum
Passu Cones viewpoint and Yak Grill lunch - Tupopdan (6,106 m) visible from the KKH without hiking; lunch at Yak Grill with the Cones as a direct backdrop
Hussaini Suspension Bridge - approx. 195 m long, 50 feet above the Hunza River; wooden planks tied with rope; Passu Cones visible from the middle; crossing optional
🚗 Distance:50 KM
⛰️ Elevation:6,106 m
🌤️ Weather:May to Oct: 15 to 26°C
8Baskochi Top: Attabad Lake From Where It Should Be SeenDistance: 30 KMSee details & photo
8
Baskochi Top: Attabad Lake From Where It Should Be Seen
Distance: 30 KM
See details & photoMost people see Attabad Lake from the shore. Baskochi gives you the view from above: the full 21 km of it, turquoise against brown cliff walls, with the Passu Cones to the north. The hike starts near Tunnel No. 2 on the KKH, goes straight up for 1 to 2 hours, and very few tourists bother with it. That is precisely why it is worth doing. After the descent, the drive continues to Nagar Valley for a short stop among the villages and rivers, then on to Gilgit for dinner at Cherry Tree Cafe and an evening walk through the bazaar.
Key Activities:
Baskochi Top hike - trailhead near Attabad Lake Tunnel No. 2; 1 to 2 hours up, steep but manageable for any basic fitness level; full aerial view of all 21 km of Attabad Lake; Passu Cones (6,106 m) and Ultar Sar (7,388 m) visible from the top; one of the least-known viewpoints in Upper Hunza
Nagar Valley stop - scenic drive through one of Hunza's neighbouring valleys; terraced villages, rivers, and views of Rakaposhi from a different angle; short stop for photos and tea
Cherry Tree Cafe, Gilgit - well-known stop on the KKH for burgers, shakes, and a proper sit-down meal after a long day; good place to decompress before the bazaar
Gilgit Bazaar - the main market town of Gilgit-Baltistan; local handicrafts, dried fruits, Karakoram gems, and everyday mountain town atmosphere; worth an hour in the evening before hotel check-in at The Mandarin Inn
🚗 Distance:30 KM
⛰️ Elevation:1,500 m elevation
🌤️ Weather:May to Oct: 20 to 35°C in Gilgit
9Gilgit to Naran: Trading Peaks for Green ValleysDistance: 330 KMSee details & photo
9
Gilgit to Naran: Trading Peaks for Green Valleys
Distance: 330 KM
See details & photoToday is a driving day and an honest one. The north is behind you and Islamabad is one more sleep away. The route south from Gilgit follows the KKH along the Indus, the same canyon road as the drive up but with a different feeling: the mountains you spent the last week inside are now receding in the rear window. The Kohistan gorge between Chilas and Besham is as dramatic going south as it was coming north. If the season allows, the Babusar Pass detour via Naran trades gorge driving for high alpine scenery and is worth the extra time. Either way, the overnight stop at Naran or Besham is a staging point, not a destination. Dinner, rest, and tomorrow Islamabad.
Key Activities:
Chilas overnight area (en route) - the KKH passes through Chilas where this journey began; Nanga Parbat may be visible to the northwest if the sky is clear
Babusar Pass (Route A, Jul to Sep only) - 4,173 m; highest point in Kaghan Valley; green meadows and glacial lakes on the descent to Naran; road closes late September and does not reopen until June
Naran or Besham overnight - Naran at 2,409 m is a proper mountain town with good hotels; Besham is lower, warmer, and a straightforward KKH stop; your guide confirms the overnight location based on season and conditions
Tea and lunch stops along the KKH - dhabas at Shatial, Pattan, and Besham all serve fresh food on the river; the Indus gorge section has good roadside stops with views
🚗 Distance:330 KM
⛰️ Elevation:2,409 m
🌤️ Weather:May to Oct: 15 to 28°C
10Naran to Islamabad: The Last DriveDistance: 30 KMSee details & photo
10
Naran to Islamabad: The Last Drive
Distance: 30 KM
See details & photoThe shortest drive of the trip and the last one. Naran or Besham to Islamabad is five to six hours with reasonable stops, and the road is good for most of it. The Hazara Motorway from Mansehra to Haripur speeds up the final stretch. Islamabad appears at the end of it: wide roads, trees, the Margalla Hills on the north side of the city. For those with evening or overnight flights, the hotel is the right place to rest and repack. For those going directly to the airport, the drive takes about thirty to forty minutes from the city. Either way, the trip ends here. Nine nights, ten days, one base camp, two ancient forts, one landslide lake, one rope bridge, and a mountain road that took a decade to build.
Key Activities:
Mansehra and Abbottabad (en route) - the road passes through both Hazara hill towns; Abbottabad at 1,255 m is noticeably cooler and greener than Islamabad; good stop for tea and fuel before the motorway
Taxila optional stop - UNESCO World Heritage Site just outside Islamabad on this exact route; ancient Gandhara Buddhist city dating from the 6th century BC; Taxila Museum holds some of the finest Gandhara sculpture in Pakistan; 45 minutes from the city centre; worth a brief stop if the group has appetite for it
Islamabad hotel or airport transfer - airport is approximately 30 km from the city centre, 30 to 40 minutes; hotel check-in for those with late or next-day flights; your guide handles the final drop-off
🚗 Distance:30 KM
⛰️ Elevation:508 m
🌤️ Weather:Mar to May: 18 to 32°C
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Explore Fairy Meadows and Hunza Valley 2026-2027
July and October are the two departures we run for this itinerary, and both are well chosen. July gives you lush green meadows at Fairy Meadows, warm days, clear skies on most mornings, and the Babusar Pass open for the return journey. October brings cooler temperatures, dramatically fewer crowds, the autumn colours in Hunza's orchards, and sharper visibility of the peaks. Both are excellent. Avoid June (Babusar Pass still closed, unpredictable snow) and August (heavy monsoon rain in parts of the KKH route).
The hike from Tattu village to Fairy Meadows (5 km, 2 to 3 hours) is moderate and suitable for anyone with basic fitness. The trail gains altitude steadily through pine forest but has no technical sections. The trek from Fairy Meadows to Nanga Parbat Base Camp via Bayal Camp (8 to 9 hours round trip) is moderate to challenging. Good fitness is required: you are walking at altitude between 3,300 m and 3,900 m. Anyone who can walk for several hours consistently will manage it. Horses are available at Tattu for the Fairy Meadows hike, and anyone feeling unwell at Bayal Camp can stay there rather than push to base camp.
Most nationalities can obtain a Pakistan tourist visa online through the official government portal (visa.nadra.gov.pk). As a licensed tour operator (License No. 11167), Destination Pakistan can provide a Letter of Invitation (LOI) which is required to support your visa application. Processing typically takes a few working days. Citizens of some countries including the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and most Asian nations are eligible for the online e-visa. We recommend applying at least three to four weeks before your departure date. Contact us directly and we will guide you through the process.
You do not need to be an experienced trekker. You do need to be comfortable walking for 3 to 9 hours on a single day, managing mountain roads, and handling altitude up to 3,900 m at Nanga Parbat Base Camp. Most of the driving days are long (8 to 12 hours) and require patience rather than physical exertion. We recommend building some walking fitness before you travel: 30 to 60 minutes of brisk walking daily for 4 to 6 weeks before departure is enough preparation for most people. If you have any heart or respiratory conditions, consult your doctor before booking.
SCOM is the only network with signal at Fairy Meadows, and it works from approximately 8 AM to 7 PM. No other Pakistani or international network functions there. At Bayal Camp there is no signal at all. In Hunza Valley (Karimabad) mobile signal and hotel WiFi are generally reliable. Passu and Upper Hunza have limited and intermittent internet. If you need to stay connected, purchase a SCOM SIM card in Gilgit or Islamabad before heading to Fairy Meadows. For most travelers the disconnection at Fairy Meadows is one of the better parts of the trip.
The key items: proper hiking boots with ankle support, a sleeping bag rated to minus 10°C or colder (for Fairy Meadows and Bayal Camp nights), warm layers including a down or fleece jacket, waterproof outer shell, sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (the UV at altitude is intense). Bring trekking poles for the Nanga Parbat Base Camp hike; they make a significant difference on the descent. Cash in Pakistani rupees is essential: there are no ATMs at Fairy Meadows, Passu, or between Chilas and Gilgit. Withdraw cash in Islamabad or Rawalpindi before departure. Medication: pack altitude sickness tablets (Diamox/acetazolamide; consult your doctor), motion sickness tablets for the winding mountain roads, and a basic first aid kit.
Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is the currency. Card payments are rarely accepted outside Islamabad and a few larger Hunza hotels. ATMs are available in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Gilgit but become unreliable or nonexistent north of Gilgit. There are no ATMs at Fairy Meadows, Chilas, or Passu. Withdraw enough cash in Islamabad to cover personal expenses for the full trip: tips for porters and guides, optional activities, snacks, and any shopping in Karimabad bazaar. USD is sometimes accepted in Hunza at a rough exchange rate but Pakistani Rupees are always preferred and will get you better value.
Planning your trip? Explore our complete Islamabad travel guide for the best time to visit, things to do, and travel tips.
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