Drive to Kaghan Valley. 34 km from Islamabad is Taxila, the archaeological site of the former capital of Gandhara Buddhist civilization dating from 500 BC to 500 AD. We visit the splendid site museum, a former monastery and the city of Sirkup. Later we head north into the Himalayan foothills and pass through Abbottabad, a garrison town, and at Balakot enter the Kaghan Valley. The 92-mile long Kaghan valley is one of the loveliest Green-Himalayan areas in Pakistan. (180 km, 7/8 hours)

As we travel through Kaghan, we pass hamlets with stone and wood homes surrounded by rice fields. We follow the Kunhar River and may encounter the caravan of handsome Gujjar nomads with their loaded horses until we reach the village of Naran (2,427 m), backed by the river. We visit Saiful-Maluk Lake, where the peak of Malka Parbat (5390 m) is mirrored in the deep blue waters. This lake was named after Prince Saiful-Maluk who fell in love with a fairy whom he saw bathing in the lake!  overnight at Hotel/GH. (70 km, 5/6 hours)

We follow the Kunhar River and head north, like the Gujjars, and see their temporary summer settlements as we proceed to Basel (3,266 m), a highland pasture with a cluster of stone houses that blend into the rocky hillside. At lake Lulusar, just beyond Basel, jeep tracks lead to the Babusar Pass (4150 m) with the source of the Kunhar River and also the boundary of the Kaghan valley with northern areas. The ride across the pass offers extensive views of flowers like a pink bistro, blue delphiniums, edelweiss and other flowers reaching white summits. We descend to the town of Chilas /Rama Lake on the bank of mighty Indus River, meals and overnight at the hotel. (6/7 hours)

From Chilas we follow Karakoram Highway reputed as the eighth wonders of the world. We follow Indus River towards the north and arrive at the place where the three highest mountain ranges of the world meet - Karakoram, Himalayas & Hindukush. Indus and Gilgit River also meet here at this unique place. We turn east from here for Skardu. This exciting mountain road that cuts through the deep & narrow gorge of Indus River, offers many challenging views. The landscape is mostly very dry and wild, villages and settlements along the way are fewer and perched high on the steep mountain slopes. Just before Skardu, the valley suddenly opens up and becomes wide. The roaring & charging river becomes peaceful and clam. Arrive and explore the capital of Baltistan, Skardu town. Formerly Buddhist, Skardu, was called’ Tibet Khurd (little Tibet) and was an important stop on the old route to Tibet and the district of Ladakh. Here the Indus River joins the Shigar River to become an enormous oval basin at 2,300 meters enclosed in purple, red, gray, and ochre mountains. Stroll down the narrow bazaar, climb up the cliff to visit the historic "Kharpocho" fort. Overnight camp at Satpara Lake, a deep blue shimmer just fifteen minutes drive from Skardu.

The gentle, irrigated slopes with terraces of wheat, maize and barley, and the orchards of apricot, mulberry, peach, plum, pear, apples and nuts - all add to the charm of Shigar valley surrounded by snow-topped mountains. The town displays impressive carved wooden houses and mosques. After lunch at the town, we drive to adjoining Khaplu valley. Khaplu, the largest kingdom in old Baltistan, stretches in a wide fan from the base of a semicircular wall of the mountain, dropping some 300 meters to the river level. Paths and irrigation channels connect the scattered houses set amid terraced fields and the friendly villager's welcome visitors. We shall visit the historic wood-carved mosque, dominating the valley from the top end of an alluvial fan.GH/Hotel overnight at 2,600 meters. 

Board soft-top 4x4 jeeps for an exciting ride to the trek head for K2 base camp. En route short stay in Machlu village for view of Mashabrum Peak (7821 meters). Arrive Hushe, a small green village with many beautiful camping sites. It is the starting and ending point of many trekking and mountaineering parties coming or going to Concordia. Overnight camp at 3200 m.

Drive back to Skardu. Short stay in Skardu town and continue the drive for another 30km for heart shape lower Kachura Lake. Visit Shangri-La resorts around lower Kachura Lake one of the most beautiful resorts in northern Pakistan. Proceed further four kilometers to upper Kachura Lake. Overnight camping at upper Kachura Lake.

Enjoy your last breakfast at the Safari Hotel, and say Khuda Hafiz to your camping staff who had been pitching tents for you and preparing meals for you during the safari. Drive on Skardu road through the deep gorge of Indus River to Gilgit. Visit rock-carved Kargah Buddha from 7th century AD. In ancient times the Kargah valley used to be the traveling route of the Buddhist monks, to go to Taxila. Stroll down the colorful Bazaars of Gilgit. (180 km, 5/6 hours drive).