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About this trip
We’re traveling to Northern Pakistan to explore some of the most enchanting landscapes that are hidden gems to the majority of the world, most unaware of how extraordinary and beautiful this region really is. But you’re going to see. On our group trip, we’ll explore mountainous Skardu, the lakes of Naltar Valley, the iconic Hunza Valley, famous Fairy Meadows and the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad.
This trip has been carefully crafted by Caroline @carolinerosetravel, an adventurous solo traveler, partnered with Aatir, an experienced local guide in Pakistan. It’s the perfect blend of cultural exploration and natural wonders, showcasing the best of Northern Pakistan's beauty and charm.
Read more details below, and feel free to email Caroline with any questions carolinerosetravel@gmail.com
Trip Highlights:
Islamabad - Pakistan's Capital: We’ll begin and end our journey in the modern yet culturally rich city of Islamabad exploring Faisal Mosque and gaining insights into the nation's history and heritage.
Skardu - Land of Mighty Mountains: Your visit to Skardu will not be short of jaw dropping views. We'll explore some of the highest cold deserts and plains in the world and hike to an iconic panoramic view of the valley before glamping under the stars.
Gilgit - Gateway to Adventure: We’re going to venture to Gilgit, the gateway to Northern Pakistan's unparalleled beauty and take in stunning mountain vistas as we drive through the legendary Karakoram Highway.
Hunza Valley - A Scenic Paradise: Together we’ll discover the jewel of Pakistan's Northern areas, the Hunza Valley. Here we’ll explore the famous Attabad Lake and cross the famous Hussaini Bridge with soaring mountains behind us.
Fairy Meadows - Nature's Wonderland: Experience the surreal beauty of Fairy Meadows, nestled at the base of Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest mountain. We’ll enjoy hikes, bonfires, and stargazing in this magical setting.
Are you ready to embark on a breath-taking adventure through one of the most stunning regions in the world with people from around the globe who will quickly turn into close friends? Join our group trip and we’ll make memories that will last a lifetime!
About Caroline, your trip leader
Hi there, my name is Caroline! I’m a solo traveler from the USA who’s been exploring the globe for several years chasing adventure and cherishing authentic moments with people around the world. Many of my travels are fueled by curiosity and a love for new experiences. So a few years ago when I was exposed to media showing how incredibly stunning Northern Pakistan is, I was amazed and mentally committed to going someday. Now here we are and I’m so excited to be hosting a group trip with you to experience one of the most underrated regions of the world!
As your trip leader, I’m committed to your safety, well-being, and making sure you have the best time! I’ve done extensive research on travel in Pakistan and have years of experience with the type of travel we’ll be doing. During this trip I’ll be your paparazzi who takes a thousand photos of you, I’ll be your trip-Mom always making sure you have everything and feel okay, and of course, I’ll be your friend to share in the breathtaking beauty of Pakistan.
To get to know me more, you can find me on Instagram and Tik Tok at @carolinerosetravel
About Aatir, your local host
Hello, I am Aatir Virani, a passionate food and travel enthusiast with a deep-rooted connection to my homeland, Pakistan. Armed with a background in Food and Beverages Management, I embarked on a journey that allowed me to traverse East and Central Africa while simultaneously working and exploring. Over the years, I've cultivated a profound appreciation for the diverse cultures, cuisines, and landscapes of the regions I've encountered. Now, together with my dedicated team, we've harnessed our collective knowledge and affection for Pakistan to create a platform that showcases the hidden gems and unique experiences that our country has to offer.
As a local host for our group trip, I'm not just a guide but a bridge between our guests and the vibrant tapestry of Pakistan's culture, heritage, and landscapes. My extensive experience in the realms of food and travel, coupled with my deep-seated love for my country, allows me to curate an unforgettable experience for our travelers. With an innate understanding of the hidden treasures and local secrets that make Pakistan so enchanting, I take pride in ensuring that every aspect of our journey is authentic and immersive. Whether it's savoring the delectable flavors of our local cuisine, uncovering historical landmarks, or immersing ourselves in the warmth of Pakistani hospitality, I'm committed to creating a meaningful and enriching adventure for our group. I look forward to sharing the beauty and wonder of Pakistan with our travelers, and together, we'll create memories that will last a lifetime.
To get to know me more, you can find me on Instagram
Things to Know & FAQ's
Safety
While Pakistan often has a stigma concerning safety, we can assure you the areas we are traveling to are very safe from crime and much of this stigma comes from conflicts that happened over a decade ago. In fact many of the areas we’ll be visiting never saw issues even in the worst times. As a group, we’ll also be sticking tightly together and be led by experienced locals guides who know the areas and communities very well. But to assure you even more, in the extremely unlikely scenario of a threat to security, the group would be escorted by security personnel.
Caroline is a solo female traveler so she understands any concerns having to do with safety. Please feel free to email her at carolinerosetravel@gmail.com with any questions.
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Health & Well-Being
Your health and well-being are important to us during this trip.
Sometimes while traveling, foreigners can experience sickness due to unfamiliar foods and other factors. We’ll also be traveling to as high as 4,000m and so those who are not used to higher altitudes could feel negative effects.
Because of this we’ve planned the trip in a way to give your body time to adjust to the altitude and we’ll strive to have the highest standards of food quality possible. Of course, things can still happen. Therefore, before the trip, Caroline (who has a ton of personal experience with both extremely high altitude and its effects, as well as food poisoning while traveling) will be advising the group on how best to prepare and what to bring to minimize these scenarios.
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What to Expect with Weather
August is generally regarded as the best time to visit Northern Pakistan when the air is dry and there is no snow in lower regions. While the south of Pakistan is very hot during August, in the mountains we’ll have pleasant temperatures.
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Accommodation Standards
During the trip we’ll be staying in hotels and glamping style accommodation. All rooms will be for two people and have access to a bathroom - usually private except for at the cottages at Fairy Meadows where we’ll have a shared bathroom. Most stays will have wifi and laundry however there are a few without these facilities. For that reason, we’ve staggered types of accommodation so you’re not going without either for too much time. For more details on stays, please see the itinerary.
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Fitness Level Needed
To join this trip, you by no means need to be an olympic athlete, but some level of fitness will be helpful. We will not be doing any multi-day trekking, only day hikes. And while most of them are not extremely long, some are steep and at higher altitude than most people living at sea level are used to. As a group though, we’ll support and encourage each other. See the itinerary for more details on these hikes and feel free to reach out to Caroline if you have concerns about the difficulty; she’s happy to give her insights.
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Dietary Restrictions
Vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian options will be available. Please specify any restrictions when you sign-up.
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Packing
The majority of this trip is in nature, meaning you’ll mostly pack clothing for the outdoors, except for 2 days in the capital of Islamabad. Once you sign up for the trip, Caroline will provide you with a suggested list of items to pack. You can also ask her and the rest of the group questions closer to the trip (we’ll have a group chat).
Trip Policies
Change of itinerary:
We try to stick to the itinerary as much as possible but this is an adventure trip and it may change based on conditions on-ground (weather/ political changes). If changes are required, travelers will be informed accordingly. We may choose to discuss with the group but the final decision will be of the host & trip leader. We ensure that all decisions made by the host or trip leader will be in the common interest of the group.
If flight gets cancelled due to weather, we may have to travel by road. We'll try our best to cover as much as possible but some experiences and destinations might get skipped.
Claims & Complaints:
If you have a complaint about your trip experience, please inform your Trip Leader identified at the time in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter or arrange an appropriate alternative.
Trip Behaviour:
The host & trip leader may cancel a booking at any time prior to the departure date or remove a traveler at any time while on the trip due to any traveler actions, inactions, communications, or any other behavior that the company deems to be a security concern, or that may impact the dynamic and safety of the trip, as determined by the company in its sole discretion. In the event of such cancellation, you may not be entitled to any refund or compensation. The company may also elect to not provide you services in the future.
Inclusion & Discrimination:
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and discrimination-free environment. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, irrespective of their gender, religion, race, or other personal characteristics. Discrimination, harassment, or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. We expect all participants to treat each other with respect, kindness, and empathy. Any violations of this policy will result in appropriate actions, up to and including removal from the trip. If you encounter or witness discrimination, please report it to Trip Leader.
Cancellation by Traveler:
If you cancel some or all portions of your Booking, cancellation fees will apply. A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation. Payments shall be refundable pursuant to the following:
- If you cancel any Booking that is confirmed, on or after the date that is 90 days prior to the Departure Date, the Down Payment and Additional Payments will be retained by the Company and is non-refundable to you.
- For Departure Dates more than 90 days in advance, if your Booking has not yet been confirmed, and you cancel the Booking, you shall either be granted a full refund of your Down Payment, or be granted a credit for the amount of the Down Payment.
- For Departure Dates more than 90 days in advance, if your Booking has been confirmed, and you cancel the Booking, outside of 72 hours from notification being sent, you shall be granted a refund of your payment except for the Down Payment. Note that different cancellation conditions including higher charges apply to some styles of booking and additional services, as provided in your confirmation email. If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced, we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused Services. If you fail to join a Trip, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund will be made. The above cancellation fees are in addition to fees which may be levied by accommodation providers, travel agents or third party tour and transport operator fees. We are not responsible for any unfavourable exchange rate fluctuations that may lead to a smaller refund in your local currency.
Cancellation by Operator:
We may cancel a Booking for any reason up to 60 days before the Departure Date. Except as provided below, if we cancel your Booking, you can transfer the Down Payment and Additional Payments to an alternate Departure Date or receive a full refund. In case of any cancellation for any reason, we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your Booking, including but not limited to, visas, vaccinations, unfavourable exchange rate fluctuations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.
Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not be liable or responsible to you, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement (including without limitation any terms of a Booking), when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the Company’s reasonable control, including, without limitation, the following force majeure events (“Force Majeure Event(s)”): (a) acts of God; (b) flood, fire, earthquake, pandemics, epidemics, drought, bushfire, storm or other natural disaster, explosion, or public health and safety emergency characterised by an applicable government authority; (c) war, invasion, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot or other civil unrest; (d) government order, law, or actions; (e) embargoes or blockades in effect on or after the date of this Agreement; (f) national or regional emergency; (g) strikes, labour stoppages or slowdowns, or other industrial disturbances; (h) shortage of adequate power or transportation facilities; (i) other events beyond the reasonable control of the Company. In case of a Force Majeure Event, the Company shall reschedule your Booking for a future date and provide you written notice of the same. Within 30 days of notice of the Force Majeure Event, you may cancel the rescheduled Booking, and will be granted a refund for the Down Payment and the Additional Payments.
What’s included
- AccommodationExperience different types of accommodations including: Guest houses, Glamps & 2-3* hotels.
- Domestic FlightFlight from ISB to GIL and KDU to ISB
- Food14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, & 13 Dinners will be provided. We're able to accommodate vegetarians and vegan. If you've other dietary restrictions, please reach out and we'll try our best.
- Entry TicketsVisit to Altit Fort, Baltit Fort, Hussaini Bridge, Fairy Meadows National Park, Deosai National Park & Khewra Salt Mine
- ExperienceMusical night and Boating at Attabad Lake.
- Jeep RidesJeep ride to and back for Pissan to Kho View Point, Nomal to Naltar Lakes and Raikot to Fairy Point.
- TransportA well maintained van for day to day travel including tolls and taxes.
- Airport PickupAirport pickup will be available between 15th and 16th of August 2024
- Airport Drop offAirport drop off will be available between 29th and 30th of August 2024
What’s not included
- International FlightTo and from your home country to Pakistan
- Alcohol
- Extra FoodAll food and snacks apart from designated meals are not included.
- Travel InsuranceYou're requested to buy travel insurance that fits you best.
- Pakistan Visa FeesAlthough assistance with the visa process can be provided.
- Tips & Gratuities
Itinerary
Depending on your own personal plans, you can decide to fly and arrive in Islamabad on August 15 or the morning of the 16th. We suggest the 15th as our domestic flight with be the morning of the 16th, so you would need to arrive very early.
We'll provide a shuttle service to the hotel and I (Caroline 👋🏻) will be waiting at the airport to greet you.