The scenic beauty of this area, with its greenery and snow-capped mountains, makes it a true paradise. During the summer there is an abundance of apricots, peaches, pears, and grapes. Hunza lies on the ancient trade route to Kashgar in the Chinese province of Sinkiang. Today the Karakoram Highway runs along this route with Karimabad being the main town of Hunza. Hunza is probably most famous for the longevity of its people, due to their simplicity and natural diet, along with the unpolluted mountain air. Tibetan traders referred to the beauty of this humble paradise as “Shangri-La”.
In the early 1970s, National Geographic ran an extensive series of articles investigating claims of long-lived people around the world. The Hunza people, who lived in the Hunza Valley in Northern Pakistan, were one of those peoples. They became fascinating case studies of the unique region in which they live.
The Hunza Valley is a fertile valley that supports agriculture and provides isolation from the rest of the world, and it’s also located at a very high altitude. The region, with its breathtaking year-round scenery and second to none hospitality was a popular, off-the-grid destination for American and European backpackers in the 1990s, but the aftermath of September 11 pretty much eliminated tourism. Today, it’s an idyllic, utopian environment of sorts. In fact, some say that the Hunza Valley is the basis for Shangri La in the 1933 novel “Lost Horizon.”
No one really knows how long the Hunza people live. Physicians examined the Hunza and made their best guesses to how old the people were. Without focusing too much on documented maximum age, the truly extraordinary fact is that all reports of the Hunza mention that the elderly population is fit, full of vitality, and virtually free from disease, which still holds true to this day.
In short, exercise. The environment in which the Hunza live is mountainous and has extremely rough terrain. The villages are incredibly isolated and built into the Cliffside; some villages are more than 1,000 years old. Hunza people have no choice but to navigate the rough passages and steep ridges.
Farmable land also isn’t always located directly next to the home. Some pastures are a two-hour trek from the village. The Hunza are said to be heartier than the famously strong Sherpa people of the Himalayan region.
People of Hunza (Hunzukuts) consume a mostly plant-based diet, eaten raw. Because they are so isolated, the Hunza do not have access to a large amount of fuel for cooking food, nor are there many animals available for eating, so they plant what they can and gather the rest. Apricots, cherries, grapes, plums, and peaches are all cultivated by the Hunza. They also eat a lot of grains — wheat, barley and millet — and chapati, their daily bread and nuts apricot seeds, almond and walnuts.
In fact, some researchers have called the Hunza the happiest people on Earth. The Hunza have a certain passion and zest for life, perhaps brought on to some extent by their daily rigorous exercise and simple lifestyle.
| 1 | Departure/Return Location | International Airport, Islamabad |
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| 2 | Departure Time | Mountain Range: Hindokush |
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| 3 | Elevation: | March to August |
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| 4 | Duration: 13 Days | Zone: Open |
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Day 01IslamabadArrival at Islamabad international airport, transfer to centrally located hotel/guest house.
Day 02Islamabad – Taxila – BeshamThis morning, we will start our journey (5-6 hrs drive) toward the mountain kingdom of North Pakistan on the famous Karakorum Highway/ancient silk route. En route visit Taxila Museum (1 hour drive). The modern town of Taxila is 35 km from Islamabad. Most of the Archeological Sites at Taxila (600 B.C-500 A.D) are located around Taxila Museum. For over 1000years, Taxila remained famous of as a centre of learning in respect of Gandhara Art of Sculpture, education and Buddhism in the days of Buddhist glory. There are over 50 archeological sites scattered in a radius of 30 km around Taxila. Some of the most important sites include Dharmarajika, Stupa and Monastery (300 B.C – 200 A.D), Bhir Mound (600-200 B.C) Sirkap (200 B.C – 600 A.D, Jundial Temple (250 B.C), and Julian Monastery (200-600 A.D). After our visit we continue our drive, en route we will stop for a cup of Pakistani tea and toilet break. O/N stay at hotel.
Day 03Besham – Chilas – GilgitIt is long day 12 hrs drive but the scenery en route more then makes up for it. Before reached to Gilgit en route we will face some interesting photogenic stops at the pre-historic rock carving inscription at Shatial, rocks with ancient graffiti’s at Chilas, view point of Nanga Parbat (9th highest peak of the world) offers breathtaking panorama on behind, the unique point where three mountain rages, Karakorum, Himalayas and Hindukush meet and our next stop will be at confluence of River Indus & Gilgit.
Day 04GilgitFull day sightseeing of Gilgit town. Tour include, visit of famous Gilgit mountain bazaar, suspension bridges, Kargha Buddha and walk along the Gilgit River. After lunch we will take some rest and in the evening, we will watch the “The Wild Polo” at Shahi Polo Ground Gilgit. O/N stay in hotel.
Day 05Gilgit – Karimabad, HunzaFor half a day, we will drive along the beautiful Hunza river, one of the most special parts of Pakistan, en route visit Chinise graveyard, monuments, Rakaposhi view points. As we approach Karimabad the peak Rakaposhi (7788m) dominates the sky line to the east. Above Hunza stands the prominent rock spire Bublimating 6000m and the Impressive Ultar peaks. The former Mir of Hunza now lives in Modern Palace in Karimabad. We will have time to Explore the shops and city of Karimabad. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06Karimabad, HunzaThe tour will include meeting with local folks, understanding the secrets of their longevity and also visit some of the important historical sites including the recently renovated, simple yet overpowering, Baltit Fort and the Altit Fort.
Day 07Karimabad – Hopar – Karimabad, HunzaThis morning we will drive by 4×4 jeeps to Hopar village (Nagar Valley) on opposite site of River Hunza for a walk on the Hopar Glacier. After lunch at at Hopar, we will drive back to Duikar (The top village of Central Hunza) for sun set and sunrise photography.
Day 08Karimabad – PassuShort an hour of driving on KKH along the river with the high peaks all around will bring us to Passu. But before reach to Passu we will stop en-route at Ganesh, (old village): The general belief however, is that the original inhabitants are descendant of soldiers of Alexander the Great, further drive to Gulkin village and walk on glacier from Gulkin to Borit Lake and trek down to KKH , cross Passu suspension bridges. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 09Passu – Khunjerab Pass – SostFull day excursion to Khunjerab Pass (The border between Pakistan & China). In the olden days there were few highs passes leading from China those were suitable for travel. Today the Khunjerab Pass, which at an altitude of 4733 m is the highest point in the world on the Karakoram Highway, provides an easy all-weather entry from Pakistan to the famous Sinkiang Province of the Peoples Republic of China. This route is a beautiful drive, with views of the high mountains of the Karakorams and the distant Pamir Mountain Ranges. At Khunjerab, now declared a national park, one can see Marco Polo Sheep (ovis ammon poli).
Day 10Sost – GilgitWe will drive back to Gilgit. Reminder the evening is free you to witness once again the polo match and visit of Bazaar. O/N stay at hotel.
Day 11Gilgit – Beshamfollowing the breakfast, we will drive back to Besham (midway).
Day 12Besham – IslamabadDrive back to Islamabad. Rest of the day reserved for shopping.
Day 13ISLAMABADFrom peace and serenity of Hunza to the hustle and bustles of “modern” trends, you say Khuda Hafiz, the typical farewell, as you depart after a tour into Shangri-La. End of the tour.
Services Include:| Hotel Accommodation on twin sharing basis |
| Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
| Air-conditioned luxury transport |
| English speaking tour guide |
| Entry fees |
| toll taxes |
| Domestic flights tickets |
| Tips for baggage handling at airport & at hotels |
| Member international flight tickets |
| Member personal insurance and all personal expenses such as telephone calls, fax, email charges, liquor or soft drinks, |
| Helicopter emergency rescue fees |
| Room service, personal services, items of a purely personal nature any unforeseen expenses (just like road block extra hotel stay) then members will be pay according to the numbers of days basses |
Hunza Valley Tour With Magnificent Karakorum Highway on Google Maps:
