Ditch the tropical vacation; visit Ecuador and climb three volcanoes this winter!
Ditch the tropical vacation; visit Ecuador and climb three volcanoes this winter!
DIFFICULTY: Average
MAX ALTITUDE: 4100 meters (Nanga Parbat Base Camp)
TOUR DURATION: 10 days
TOTAL TREKKING: 4 days
LODGING: hotels, homestay, cabins
GROUP SIZE: 12 people maximum
Pakistan is the ultimate destination for adventurers and there is a reason it all began here for Epic Expeditions.
Pakistan is the ultimate destination for adventure-minded folks looking to connect to some of the most beautiful mountain valleys in the world.
Our hybrid trip combines mindful hiking, connection to nature, and yoga practice deep into the northern reaches of Pakistan for the trip of a lifetime.
This region, hidden away from Western eyes for most of its history, is full of wonderful experiences, soaring peaks, friendly locals, and comfortable accommodation.
Come with us on a real adventure to the Hunza Valley – drive down the legendary Karakoram Highway, hike under some of the highest mountains in the world, stay in a remote mountain village, feast on tasty local cuisine, and become a member of a fun-loving team of intrepid travelers.
Outside of touring the Hunza Valley, we will also visit one of Pakistan’s most exciting destinations: Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat Base Camp at the foot of the 9th highest mountain on earth.
We’ve been traveling in Pakistan for the last eight years and we have many great friendships in here. Our unique connections allow us to show you a side of the country few travelers get to see.
This trip is the culmination of years of research and exploration and we are stoked to show you all the things this region has to offer – all in conjunction with world-class yoga instructor and world traveler Peter Bartesch.
Dates | Places | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| October 26th - November 5th, 2024 | $600 |
Whether you’re just curious about this trip or are ready to make a deposit, we’re here for you.
To submit an inquiry or make a trip deposit, please fill out and submit the form below.
After our group has assembled on the morning of day 1, we will have our first team meeting and introductions.
The afternoon is spent sightseeing in Islamabad checking out markets, and mosques, and capped off with our first group dinner.
This morning we will head back to Islamabad International airport. The goal is to catch a flight from Islamabad to the mountain city of Gilgit.
We then have a few hours drive to our special accommodation in Aliabad where we will base for the next few days.
This area is known as lower Hunza and is the gateway to the mountains. Today there is a mix of free time and planned yoga activities in the evening.
We start the day with a slow morning yoga session followed by a team breakfast.
In the afternoon, we plan to visit one of the oldest settlements in Northern Pakistan and the first village settlement formed along the ancient Silk Road. There will be an optional hike and photography session along the Hunza River.
Very early morning start today (in the dark) and short drive to catch the sunrise and do light yoga at a stunning viewpoint. The team will then return to Mountain Story for breakfast before exploring the nearby village of Karimabad.
We will explore the village, and see one of the coolest old forts in Pakistan perched way up on a mountain top, before returning to the hotel for an afternoon yoga session and rest.
We start the day off with an optional morning yoga session.
After breakfast, we will shift our base to the upper Hunza Valley, checking in to yet another special hotel.
After lunch, we go for a moderate hike (3h) to visit the epic Passu Suspension bridge. The bridge itself is far less visited than the more famous Hussaini bridge found directly off of the Karakoram Highway.
We return to Gulmit for a chill time in the late afternoon and have dinner as a team.
Leaving Gulmit early (5 am start), we will travel to Raikot Bridge where we will transfer into 4×4 jeeps and traverse the legendary Fairy Meadows jeep track – think sheer drops and impossible hair-pin bends…
In the distance, if the weather is clear, you will catch your first glimpse of Nanga Parbat; the most beautiful mountain in Pakistan, and the ninth-highest mountain in the world. This is the stuff adventure dreams are made of.
Arriving at the end of the jeep track we will then hike for two to three hours (porters available for an additional fee). Arriving at Fairy Meadows, we will spend the next couple of nights in a comfortable mountain lodge.
Fairy Meadows is the perfect place to chill out and unwind; watch the clouds dance past Nanga Parbat, the glacier snaking through the valley below, and explore the forest surrounding our log cabins.
There are several optional treks available here but the real highlight is the hike to Nanga Parbat Basecamp at (6-8 hours return) at 13,000 feet.
Once we return from base camp, we will have an epic bonfire beneath the stars!
Note: the optional hike to Nanga Parbat basecamp requires a moderate level of fitness and takes around 6 – 8 hours round trip (with time to chill out at base camp, eat lunch, etc).
Today is a day to reflect, ground yourself, and nourish your body after many days of travel and activity.
Peter will lead a morning yoga session and the afternoon is intentional group free time to wander, rest, or just drink tea with a good book in hand.
This is our last day beneath the big mountains so the goal is to soak the vibe in as we recharge the mind.
Leaving The Fairy Meadows behind, we will travel back to Raikot Bridge where we will join our minibus to start the journey back to Gilgit via the Karakoram Highway.
Note: 3 / 4 hours to reach Raikot Bridge (combination of hiking and the jeep ride down), 2 hours to reach Gilgit with meal/bathroom stops on the way.
The team will check into our hotel in Gilgit and then chill out in the afternoon.
The goal today is to catch a morning flight back to Islamabad, weather pending.
Depending on our arrival time, in the late afternoon will go to check out a bustling market in the nearby city of Rawalpindi.
We will then spend our final evening taking in the vibe of the city before our final team dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants.
We arrange for transfers to Islamabad International Airport for those who are flying out this morning. Check out of the hotel is around 11 am today.
You can choose to stay on at the same hotel if you are not flying home right away, though any additional nights at the hotel are not covered by Epic.
Peter is a Bay Area yoga teacher and fitness instructor. He has made a life of exploring the body in movement, mind and health. For over a decade he has worked as a personal trainer, a Pilates instructor, and a yoga teacher. With a background in extensive international travel, various schools of yoga, a MA in and a philosophy, Peter brings his same unique touch and experience to this Epic adventure as he does his classes and teachings. Epic is stoked to team up with Peter to bring you this one of a kind trip that combines yoga and body work with the raw beauty of the Karakoram in Pakistan.
Since 2018, Chris has been traveling to remote corners of the world leading Epic expeditions. Every year he leads group trips to K2 Base Camp, the Everest region in Nepal, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, and other destinations in Central and East Asia. He is the director and founder of Epic Expeditions. 2024 will mark his 20th trip to Pakistan.
Chris wanted to take the concept of an adventure holiday a step further by combining his passion for photography, trekking, and alpine environments into one-of-a-kind curated adventures for people who are as stoked on challenging adventures and discovering new cultures as he is – thus this trip was born!
Chat with us now!
Chat with us now!
Adventure Guide
Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.
In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to.
When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer.
Meet him during : K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.
She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos.
Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team!
Meet her during : Discover the Celestial Mountains | Island Peak Climbing Expedition
Adventure Guide
As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…
for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry.
He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world!
“
He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)
– Coastal
Head of canine operations
Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight.
She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.
These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen.
Adventure Guide
An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.
Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.
A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.
“
We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!
– Monika Steinlechner
Meet him during : Trekking in the Fann Mountains
Adventure Guide
Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.
His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.
Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens.
His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.
“
We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations!
– Alexandra Ruth
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Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour. Road trip with some hiking and cultural immersion.
A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.
Adventure Guide
João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare.
With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.
João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions.
After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.
João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none
When not in Pakistan, João is guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails – discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.
“
João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!
– Jeffery
Meet him during : Lost World of Europe | Discover the Hunza Valley | K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains.
Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles
in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.
“
Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!
– Borgan
Meet him during : Discover the Hunza Valley
Adventure Guide
Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.
Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.
Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro lead his 11th tour in Iran with Epic in spring 2020
When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Expeditions, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.
“
I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!
– Coastal
Adventure Admin / Marketing
After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe
She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Expeditions and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements.
Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.
Head of Operations | Guide
A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations.
Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.
Together with Epic Expeditions, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.
“
Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge.
– Calvin
“
Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.
– Katrina
Meet him during : Trekking Amongst Giants | Discover the Celestial Mountains | K2 Base Camp Trek
Founder | Adventure Guide | Director
Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way.
Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.
A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Expeditions at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.
Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe.
For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.
He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands.
Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.
Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!
“
Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”
– Will De Villers
“
Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]
Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.
– Clark Tyler
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