Your adventure begins with your arrival at Skardu Airport, one of the world’s most dramatically situated commercial airports. Ringed by mountains of 4,000 metres and above, the airport sits at 2,226 metres on a high plateau above the Indus River, and the views on approach alone are worth the journey. Skardu is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and serves as the primary gateway to K2, the Baltoro Glacier, and the entire Karakoram range.

Today is kept free for rest and acclimatization. Even a single night at altitude before ascending higher makes a meaningful difference to how your body performs on the trail. Take an easy walk around the Skardu bazaar, visit the historic Skardu Fort overlooking the Indus, sample Baltistani cuisine — chapshuro flatbreads, apricot juice, and butter tea — and let your guide brief you on the days ahead. Early to bed tonight.

After breakfast, you head north by road toward Minapin, a small village set beneath the dramatic south face of Rakaposhi (7,788 m) — one of the most beautiful and technically challenging peaks in the Karakoram. The drive follows the Karakoram Highway through the Gilgit Valley, passing through towns and villages that have sat along Silk Road trade routes for thousands of years.

Minapin itself is a quiet, traditional Gilgiti village with terraced fields, apricot orchards, and commanding views of Rakaposhi towering above. Settle into your guesthouse, enjoy a meal with your host family, and prepare your kit for tomorrow’s hike to Rakaposhi Base Camp. The trail starts early

Today’s hike is one of the classic short treks of northern Pakistan — a steady ascent through pine and juniper forest, then alpine meadows, to the Rakaposhi Base Camp at approximately 3,500 metres. The trail climbs steeply through Hapakund and Tagafari villages before breaking above the treeline into open terrain with increasingly dramatic views of Rakaposhi’s colossal south face and the Minapin Glacier spilling down from it.

Rakaposhi Base Camp offers one of the most awe-inspiring overnight camping spots in the country. The mountain looms directly above you, its south face rising over 5,000 metres from the valley floor in one of the greatest vertical rises on Earth. Watch the alpenglow paint the peak golden at dusk. Sleep well at altitude — the stars here are extraordinary.

After a morning at base camp — perhaps watching sunrise paint Rakaposhi’s summit in shades of orange and pink — you descend back to Minapin and continue by vehicle to Karimabad in the Hunza Valley. The Hunza Valley is one of the most celebrated landscapes in all of Pakistan: fertile terraces, ancient stone forts, towering peaks, and a famously warm and welcoming population.

Karimabad, the main town of Hunza, is perched above the valley with extraordinary views across to Ultar Sar (7,388 m), Rakaposhi, and the peaks of the Nagar range. After the physical demands of the base camp hike, this afternoon is a chance to settle in, enjoy a good meal, and take a relaxed walk through the town’s lanes and apricot orchards.

The morning is devoted to Baltit Fort, the crown jewel of Hunza Valley’s cultural heritage. Perched on a cliff above Karimabad and dating back over 700 years, Baltit served as the royal palace of the Mirs of Hunza for centuries and has been magnificently restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. From its upper terraces, the views across the valley to Rakaposhi and the surrounding peaks are unforgettable. Take time to explore the fort’s intricately carved wooden rooms, exhibitions, and the surrounding old village of Karimabad.

After lunch in Karimabad, you drive across the valley to Hopper Village in the Nagar District. Hopper is a small, traditional village that serves as the trailhead for the Rush Lake trek. The drive crosses the Hunza River and climbs into the dramatic Hopper Valley, with the snout of the Hopper Glacier visible from the road. Settle in for the night — the real trekking begins tomorrow

The Rush Lake trek begins in earnest today. From Hopper village, the trail climbs steeply through terraced fields and then into rocky terrain above the valley floor, following the true left bank of the Hopper Glacier. The going is demanding but the scenery more than compensates — the Hopper Glacier is one of the most impressive in the Nagar District, its grey-white surface rumbling quietly below as you gain height.

Beding Chakor, also known locally as Dukani, is a flat pasture area that sits above the glacier at around 3,200 metres, offering a natural camping spot with open views of the valley walls and the peaks rising around you. This is your base for the push to Rush Lake. Set up camp, rest well, and drink plenty of water — tomorrow is the big day.

Today is the centrepiece of the entire tour. The trail from Dukani to Rush Lake climbs continuously for several hours over moraines, rocky ridges, and steep grassy slopes. It is a demanding ascent that requires a good level of fitness and a steady pace — but every step brings more extraordinary views, and the final moments as Rush Lake comes into sight are among the most dramatic in Pakistani trekking.

Rush Lake sits in a glacial bowl at 4,694 metres, its surface ranging from deep turquoise to intense blue depending on the light. On a clear day, the reflections of Diran Peak (7,257 m), Rakaposhi (7,788 m), and a dozen unnamed summits in the still waters of the lake create one of the most breathtaking natural panoramas anywhere in the world. Camp at the lake’s shore and spend the afternoon simply absorbing the silence and the scale. Watch the light change on the surrounding peaks as the sun sets — it is a sight you will not forget.

After a morning at Rush Lake to catch the dawn light on the peaks and the lake, you begin the descent back to Dukani. The return journey reveals the landscape from a completely different perspective — the valley floor far below, the glacier’s full width visible from above, and the patchwork of moraines and meadows that make up the approach route spread out in sharp clarity.

The descent is considerably quicker than the ascent but still demands care on the steep and sometimes loose sections. Arriving back at Dukani camp in the early afternoon, you have time to rest, dry equipment in the sun, and share the day’s experience around the camp kitchen. One final night under the stars in the high mountains.

This is the most physically demanding day of the entire tour. From Dukani, the route crosses the Hopper Glacier — a broad expanse of ice and moraine that requires careful navigation and the guidance of your experienced local guide. The glacier surface is uneven, and the crossing typically takes two to three hours of focused effort, but it is a genuinely thrilling and memorable experience.

Once across the glacier, the trail descends back to Hopper Village through the lower valley. After so many days in high wilderness, the sight of village orchards and the sound of irrigation channels feels like a warm embrace. A vehicle is waiting in Hopper to drive you back across the valley to Karimabad, Hunza, where a comfortable hotel, a hot shower, and a celebratory dinner await.

Option A — If flights are available from Skardu: You will drive from Hunza to Skardu (approximately five to seven hours along the Karakoram Highway) and take your scheduled PIA or Serene Air flight back to Islamabad. Skardu flights are frequently delayed or cancelled due to mountain weather, so always keep Day 11 as your buffer day. The drive itself is spectacular, retracing the KKH gorges you travelled on Day 2.

Option B — If no flight is available: Rather than waiting indefinitely in Skardu, this itinerary offers an equally spectacular overland alternative. You drive south via the Babusar Pass (seasonal, weather permitting) or the alternative Karakoram Highway route into the Kaghan Valley, overnighting in the popular mountain resort town of Naran. Naran sits at 2,409 metres on the banks of the Kunhar River and is famous for its own dramatic scenery, Saif ul Malook Lake, and its position at the heart of the Kaghan Valley.

Option A — Skardu flight passengers: Transfer to Skardu Airport for your morning flight to Islamabad. Onward connections to international destinations depart from Islamabad’s New Islamabad International Airport (ISB). Allow plenty of time and always have a flexible return flight — mountain flights operate at the mercy of the weather.

Option B — Overland passengers from Naran: Today’s drive from Naran to Islamabad passes close to one of Pakistan’s most important historical sites: Taxila. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taxila contains the ruins of one of the ancient world’s greatest cities — a centre of Buddhist learning and Silk Road trade between the 6th century BC and the 7th century AD. The Taxila Museum houses a superb collection of Gandharan Buddhist art, and a walk through the ruins of Sirkap and the Dharmarajika Stupa is genuinely awe-inspiring. After the visit, continue to Islamabad for airport drop-off.