9 Days Fairy Meadows and Hunza Valley Winter New Year Trek

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9 days (approximately)
Offered in: English

Fairy Meadows in winter is a completely different world. While summer brings crowds, December and January transform this alpine plateau into a private snow-covered wilderness with Nanga Parbat towering above. Your group will likely be the only people there. No other tourists, no noise, just silence and one of the most dramatic mountain views on Earth.
This is not a standard sightseeing tour. The trip is operated directly with the own local guides, porters, and cooks from northern Pakistan. No subcontracting. Our team knows these mountains in every season because they live here.
The trip pairs the raw winter wilderness of Fairy Meadows with the Hunza Valley, including Baltit Fort, Attabad Lake, and the Karakoram Highway. Fly into Gilgit to maximise your time in the mountains.
Fair warning: no electricity, no running water, no private bathrooms. Cabins are heated by wood stoves and temperatures drop well below freezing. This trip is for adventurers who see that as the entire point.

What's Included

Porters for luggage and supplies on the Fairy Meadows trek
Lunch (Optional[9])
Lunch
First aid kit and basic emergency supplies
Dinner (Optional[9])
Dinner
bonfire celebration and special dinner
Breakfast (Optional[9])
Breakfast
All entrance fees (Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, listed sites)
Experienced expedition leader and local mountain guide
Pre-trek briefing and gear check
Return domestic flights Islamabad to Gilgit
Airport transfers in Islamabad
All ground transport by private minibus and 4x4 jeep
International flights to and from Islamabad
Travel insurance (mandatory, must cover trekking to 3,500m and emergency evacuation)
Pakistan visa fees - Letter of invitation provided
Personal trekking gear and winter clothing
Snacks and drinks beyond included meals
Tips and gratuities for guides, porters, and drivers
Additional accommodation/meals due to flight delays or weather changes, Personal expenses,souvenirs

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

we will meet you at arrivals with a welcome sign. Transfer by private vehicle to your Guesthouse in central Islamabad. Check in and rest after your journey before the evening programme begins.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 9 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arrival in Islamabad Reference

    2 stops
  • 1

    Attraction Name: Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan Description: Arrive at Islamabad International Airport where a North Nomads representative meets you for a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in and rest after your journey.

  • 2
    Faisal Mosque

    Check in to your accomodation in Islamabad. In the evening, join the group for a traditional Pakistani welcome dinner. Meet your fellow adventurers and expedition leader for a detailed pre-trek briefing covering winter conditions at Fairy Meadows, gear checks, and safety protocols.

    • Day 2

    Fly to Gilgit, Drive to Raikot Bridge

    3 stops
  • 3

    Early morning transfer to Islamabad Airport for the 55-minute PIA mountain flight to Gilgit. The flight crosses the western Himalayas with aerial views of Nanga Parbat (8,126m), Rakaposhi (7,788m), and the Karakoram Range. Window seat strongly recommended. Note: flights are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rerouted by road if cancelled.

  • 4
    Gilgit-Baltistan

    Arrive in Gilgit and meet your full ground team. Stop in Gilgit town for a hot lunch before continuing the journey south along the Karakoram Highway.

  • 5

    Drive south along the Karakoram Highway to Raikot Bridge, the gateway to Nanga Parbat and Fairy Meadows. Check in to a guesthouse near the bridge. Enjoy dinner and prepare your daypack for the next morning's trek to Fairy Meadows.

    12 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 3

    Jeep to Tato Village, Snow Trek to Fairy Meadows

    2 stops
  • 6

    Board a 4x4 jeep for the exhilarating drive from Raikot Bridge up to Tato Village (2,600m). The narrow mountain track climbs through steep switchbacks with dramatic drops. The jeep ride itself is an adventure. The trek to Fairy Meadows begins on foot from Tato Village.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 7
    Fairy Meadows

    Trek through snow-covered pine and birch forest from Tato Village to Fairy Meadows (3,300m). In winter, the team may need to break trail through deep powder. The trek gains approximately 700 metres over 5 kilometres and takes 4 to 6 hours depending on snow conditions. Porters carry the main luggage. Arrive at Fairy Meadows to find the entire alpine plateau deserted and blanketed in snow, with the massive south face of Nanga Parbat towering directly above. Settle into your wooden cabin, warm up by the wood-burning stove, and enjoy a hot dinner.

    • Day 4

    Fairy Meadows Exploration and Evening Celebration

    1 stop
  • 8
    Fairy Meadows

    Wake to views of the 4,600m Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat lit by the winter sun. Spend the day exploring the frozen meadow at your own pace. If weather and snow conditions permit, trek to Beyal Camp (approximately 2 to 3 hours round trip) for dramatically closer views of Nanga Parbat's massive south face. Other options include snowshoeing across the meadow or relaxing by the stove. In the evening, the team lights a bonfire in the snow and prepares a special feast of traditional Pakistani mountain cuisine with hot chai and kahwa (Kashmiri green tea with saffron and almonds). Stargaze under skies with zero light pollution at 3,300 metres.

    • Day 5

    Fairy Meadows Sunrise and Free Day

    1 stop
  • 9
    Fairy Meadows

    Wake to views of the 4,600m Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat lit by the winter sun. Spend the day exploring the frozen meadow at your own pace. If weather and snow conditions permit, trek to Beyal Camp (approximately 2 to 3 hours round trip) for dramatically closer views of Nanga Parbat's massive south face. Other options include snowshoeing across the meadow or relaxing by the stove. In the evening, the team lights a bonfire in the snow and prepares a special feast of traditional Pakistani mountain cuisine with hot chai and kahwa (Kashmiri green tea with saffron and almonds). Stargaze under skies with zero light pollution at 3,300 metres.

    • Day 6

    Trek Down, Drive to Gilgit

    3 stops
  • 10
    Fairy Meadows

    Attraction Name: Fairy Meadows, Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan Description: Final morning views of Nanga Parbat before trekking back down through the snow to Tato Village. The descent takes 3 to 4 hours and requires care on icy sections. Trekking poles essential. Porters carry the main luggage.

  • 11

    ato Village, Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan Description: Arrive at Tato Village and board the 4x4 jeep back down to Raikot Bridge.

  • 12
    Gilgit-Baltistan

    Drive north along the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit city. Check into a comfortable hotel with hot showers and enjoy a well-earned dinner in town.

    • Day 7

    Drive to Hunza Valley, Explore Karimabad

    4 stops
  • 13
    Karakoram Highway

    Drive north from Gilgit along the Karakoram Highway towards the Hunza Valley. The road follows the Hunza River through dramatic gorge scenery with snow-dusted peaks on both sides.

  • 14
    Baltit Fort

    Visit the 700-year-old Baltit Fort, a beautifully restored monument perched on the clifftop above Karimabad. The fort offers panoramic views of Rakaposhi (7,788m), Ultar Sar (7,388m), and Lady Finger Peak. Explore the museum rooms and learn about the history of the Hunza Mirs.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 15
    Altit Fort

    Visit Altit Fort, one of the oldest structures in the Hunza region, with its traditional watchtower and terraced gardens overlooking the valley.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
  • 16
    Eagles Nest

    Make the short climb to Eagle's Nest viewpoint above Karimabad for a sweeping sunset panorama of the entire Hunza Valley, with peaks glowing in the last light of the day.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
    • Day 8

    Attabad Lake, Passu, and Upper Hunza

    4 stops
  • 17
    Attabad lake

    Drive north along the KKH to Attabad Lake, a stunning turquoise lake formed by a massive landslide in 2010. In winter, the lake is surrounded by snow-covered mountains and often partially frozen at the edges, creating a dramatic winter landscape.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 18
    Passu Cones

    Continue to Passu to see the iconic Passu Cones, a row of jagged spires also known as the Cathedral Peaks. If conditions allow, walk across the famous Passu Suspension Bridge over the Hunza River.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 19
    Ganish

    On the return journey, visit the ancient Ganish Village, a UNESCO-listed settlement with centuries-old carved wooden mosques, watchtowers, and traditional architecture. One of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the Hunza Valley.

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 20
    Karimabad

    Free time to browse the traditional bazaar in Karimabad for local handicrafts, dried fruits, and gemstones. Final evening in Hunza with dinner at the hotel.

    • Day 9

    Drive to Gilgit, Fly to Islamabad, Departure

    2 stops
  • 21

    After breakfast, drive back to Gilgit Airport for the return flight to Islamabad. The flight offers a final aerial tour of the Karakoram peaks.

  • 22

    Arrive in Islamabad and transfer to the airport for your onward journey or to your hotel if extending your stay. Optional extra night in Islamabad available with a complimentary half-day city tour covering Faisal Mosque, Daman-e-Koh, and the Pakistan Monument.

Additional info

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Supplied by North Nomads

Tags

Multi-day Tours
Extreme Sports
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Air Tours
4WD Tours
Seasonal
Adventure Tours

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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