Hunza valley: Gulmit and Karimabad
Skardu - Gilgit: possibilities
- NATCO: 0600 Hr (125 PKR)
- Mashabrum: 0500, 0600, 0800, 1000 Hr (140 PKR)
- K2 Travels (140 PKR)
- it takes 6,5 hours
Gilgit - Karimabad : by jeep of the trekking company (2,5 Hr)
Karimabad : + hotel Hill Top
- 600 Rs for double room;
- nice view;
- hot water when electricity available;
- buffet for dinner possible (250 PKR);
DAY 2: BATURA TREK : KARIMABAD - PASSU - YUNZ – MULUNGEER
Trekking company:
+ Concordia Expeditions Pakistan, P.O. Box 1800, GPO, RAWALPINDI, Tel : 5510308, e-mail : concordi@isb.comsats.net.pk.
+ the guide ( Fazal Karim ) is very experienced on this trek, is very familiar with the porters available in the region, he speaks very good English and is used to guide foreign groups in the N.A.
+ the trek costs 75 U$ per day per person, based on two persons;
+ the guide lives in Karimabad and the organization also has an office over there;
+ there was some small luxury: mess tent, hot water to wash , morning bed thee.
Karimabad - Passu: 2 hours (without stops) by jeep and 1 hour to arrange the porters in Hussaini.
Passu - Yunz: + 2 hours
+ first a sandy path along a irrigation channel;
+ one hour rather steep over a rocky path;
+ Yunz is a possible campsite.
Yunz - Mulungeer : + 1 hour
+ a little steep over rocky path;
+ Mulungeer was the campsite;
+ in Mulungeer are (empty) houses of shepherds.
DAY 3: MULUNGEER - PATUNDAS - MULUNGEER
Mulungeer - Patundas: + 4 hours;
+ some parts are very steep;
+ difference in height 1200m;
+ take enough water with you;
+ very good sight over the glacier;
+ on the top you see 13 peaks higher than 7000m;
+ strongly recommended;
+ could be a campsite if water is available.
Patundas - Mulungeer : + 1,5 hours down.
DAY 4: MULUNGEER - MADION
Mulungeer - Madion : + 6 hours, including lunchtime;
+ gently sloping;
+ rocky and sandy paths;
+ passage in Kirgus Waskh : an typical shepherd village;
+ Madion is a wonderful campsite;
+ nearby there is a lake.
DAY 5: MADION - FATMA'LL – KUKHILL
Madion - Fatma'll: + 3 hours for crossing of the glacier;
+ 1/2 hours for reaching Fatma'll afterwards;
+ some parts are very steep;
+ loose stones ( some parts are a little dangerous ).
Fatma'll - Kukhill : + 2 hours;
+ one easy river crossing;
+ gently sloping path along the river.
DAY 6: KUKHILL - GUCHACHIM - LUPDOR - GUCHACHIM
Kukhill - Guchachim : + 2,5 hours;
+ gently sloping good path along the river.
Guchachim - Lupdor : + 1/2 hour rather steep;
+ 1/2 hour plane and than you have a good viewpoint onto the second ice flow;
+ then we took, probably wrong, down took to the moraine and walked there on a very dangerous 'path' for one hour but did not reach Lupdor.
DAY 7: GUCHACHIM - MADION
Guchachim - Kukhill: + 1,5 hours.
Kukhill - Fatma'll : + 1,5 hours.
Fatma'll - Madion: + 2,5 hours.
DAY 8: MADION – MULUNGEE
Madion - Mulungeer: + 3,5 hours.
DAY 9: MULUNGEER - KKH AND TO KHUNJERAB PASS - GULMIT
Mulungeer - KKH : + 1,5 hours.
Passu - Khunjerab : + jeep arranged through trekking company;
+ 3,5 hours;
+ Sost is the last place where you can have food;
+ Entrance fee to pay to Khunjerab national park : 4 U$ ( you can also pay in PKR);
+ There is passport control.
Gulmit: + Gulmit Tourist Inn
- 700 Rs after discussion;
- hot water if electricity is available;
- pretty comfortable;
- expensive laundry service;
- service not good.
DAY 10: GULMIT
In the center of Gulmit we visited:
- Cultural museum (25 PKR, ask in Marco Polo Inn to open the museum);
- Old Gulmit;
- Weaver project, situated in the 'old' house.
In Kamaris we visited the fort, but only the sight is interesting.
From Kamaris we went to Ghulkin and further on to the Borith Lake. A guide is really necessary to cross the glacier. We paid 150 PKR, probably too much.
DAY 11: GULMIT -KARIMABAD
Gulmit - Karimabad : + local transport (35 PKR, passed around 0700 Hr).
In Karimabad we visited the Baltit fort. The entrance fee is 300 PKR. You receive a guided tour. Taking pictures is now allowed, but you have to pay 150 PKR.
In Altit we visited the Altit fort. This is situated at 1/2 Hr walk from Karimabad Bazaar. The entrance fee is 50 PKR.
DAY 12: KARIMABAD - GILGIT
Karimabad - Gilgit :
+ local transport, arranged through the hotel (70 PKR, they pass between 0630 and 0700 Hr).
Gilgit : + Taj hotel
- 300 Rs;
- poor quality.
+ we visited the Bazaar, the British cemetery, Upraising Memorial and the Gohar Aman's Tower ( very badly visible ).
DAY 13: GILGIT - SKARDU
Gilgit - Skardu :
+ Hi-Ace of K2-travel;
+ reservation possible;
+ 140 PKR;
+ 6,5 hours;
+ leaves at 0900, 1100 and 1300 Hr.