Baltistan Culture And Heritage Tour

You will be picked up from Islamabad Airport. After a quick check-in at Serena Hotel, the guests will rest in their luxurious Executive Suites. These artistically decorated rooms give you the option to choose between a comfortable king bed or twin beds, a working desk, a safety deposit box, and luxurious bath amenities. After freshening up you will leave for a leisurely snack at Monal a restaurant on Margalla Hills with a view of the thick forests embracing the city. You can choose from a wide variety of palate pleasers at Monal. We recommend their Cheese Naan and Seekh Kebab. The sunset at Monal is a tourist attraction in itself. Take a break and witness the sun disappear in the thick trees and twilight takes over. Some of the major attractions in the city include Faisal Mosque (the largest mosque in Pakistan), Daman-e-Koh (hilltop garden and viewing point), and Pakistan Monument (a symbol of the unity of Pakistani people. Ask your tour guide to take you for a quick tour of these must-visit places. You will come back to a premium dining experience at Dawat. Witness the chefs in action in Dawat s live spectacle kitchen as they prepare aromatic Pakistani specialties for you to feast on.

The guests will take a flight to Skardu from Islamabad Airport. This flight is about 40 minutes long and is an experience a nature lover should put on their bucket list. Witness the magnificence of 8,000m high snow-capped peaks like Nanga Parbat and K2 in this region in close range to your airplane window as we take this ascending flight. Once you have reached the Skardu Airport you will be transferred to the Shangrila Resort Hotel. The hotel (often referred to as Heaven on Earth ) is located in the mountains and is built to encircle the lower Kachura Lake. March to November is the ideal time to visit Shangrila because the flowers and fruits such as apples and apricots are in full bloom and give guests a chance to taste the purity of nature. After checking-in you will leave for a guided city tour around Skardu and visit the local craft bazaar. Crafts and agriculture are two of the main source of livelihood for the locals of Skardu. Baltistan is popular for its hand-woven woolen cloth that is known as Pattu. Pick up colorful Pattu and Chuga long gowns with intricate embroidery and detailing or buy from other jewelry, caps, at Skardu Bazaar. We have planned the sunset view at Kharpocho Fort a fort built in the 8th century and considered The King of Forts . The Fort, located approximately 1 hour away (by car) from your hotel, is a symbol of the engineering genius of the people at that time. Kharpocho stands at a grand height of 40m above the city level and offers a panoramic view of the entire city of Skardu. Enjoy a wholesome dinner bursting with the flavors and aromas of fresh goat meat and apricot oil at Lakeview Restaurant - an onsite eatery at the resort.

After breakfast, you can go for a boat and paddle experience over the resort s lake. The lake is a clear water body embraced by peaks and lush greenery. Trek around the area for half an hour to get to a vantage point overlooking the sprawling resort and get some scroll-stopping pictures for your Instagram feed. You will set out from the resort and drive for approximately 10 minutes to reach the Upper Kachura Lake. Take deep breaths here because it s as pure as it gets in the region. Enjoy the cool mountains breeze and the views before leaving for Shigar. Located approximately 2 hours away from the lake, Shigar is the central town in Baltistan. It has been specially added to the tour so that you can experience Skardu hospitality and be greeted traditionally by local hosts. Don Balti chughas, taste delectable homemade dishes such as Pharing e Chu (dried apricot soup) and the boiled dough with walnut paste, and have culturally rich conversations with the locals. Traditional dinner will be served at the hotel after which you can experience the clear skies and bright lights of the valley with a short walk or indulge in stargazing before you retire for the day.

Wake up early morning for a short trek to the valley and see how the region starts the day. We will visit the Amburiq Mosque known to be the oldest building in the region. The mosque features a small museum for the guests who are curious about the history of the area. Scour the local village in the valley and get up close and personal with the rural lifestyle of the locals here. Your guide will take you to different stopovers for Balti poetries in the mountains and live local music. Soak in the simplicity of this region and join the locals as they celebrate life, color, and food amidst the mountains. Guests will check-in at Serena Hotel, Skardu and enjoy snacking in the gardens with splendid views from the valley. The locals in the region love meat as much as they love their vegetables and dry fruits. We have arranged a special BBQ dinner for you so that you can experience the culinary essence of the valley with local music for your entertainment.

After morning breakfast, you can rest till we check-out and depart for Khaplu a small town that is home to the famous Khaplu Fort. The travel time between Skardu and Khaplu is approximately 3 hours but we have added several photo-stops on the way to keep you on your toes. Upon arrival, you will check-in at Serena Hotel, Khaplu. Freshen up and rest for a while in your Royal Suites featuring a king bed, an anteroom, and an adjoining baithak (sitting area) with antiques and cultural pieces from the region. We will take a guided walk in Khaplu Valley and then head to Chaqchan Mosque to experience the spirituality dominant in the valley. One of the oldest in the region, the mosque dates back to 1370 when the area s population converted from Buddhism to Islam. The architecture boasts a blend of Tibetan, Persian and Mughal styles. We will walk for approximately 11 minutes to experience sunset and devour local snacks at Khaplu Fort. After enjoying the food and views at the fort we will leave for the hotel to freshen up for the dinner we have arranged for you. Traditional Pakistani BBQ dinner will be served at the Khatamband Loggia a theme restaurant at Serena Khaplu with a view of the Karakorum. Enjoy local music, dance, and poetries from the region with the local butter tea, and you wrap up your day with a delicious meal.

After breakfast, visit local villages, meet local people, and explore the agriculture and traditional food preservation methods used by locals here. You will then leave for a short trek in Thalle La Valley - a mountain pass between Khaplu and Shigar Valley with an elevation of 4,572m. This is an easy trek in the Karakoram Mountains that provides unbelievable vistas of snow-capped peaks and the rural settlements in the region. After a truly soul-stirring experience, you will check-in to a local homestay where you will get the chance to experience Balti cooking and traditional cuisine. The Balti food is said to have been inspired by the extravagant taste of Mughal emperors. The food is prepared with aromatic Kashmiri spices and homemade ghee, which gives it a warm and earthy flavor. Enjoy a delicious homemade Karahi. It s a popular stew with chicken chopped in small sizes and cooked in green chilies, ginger, walnut and spices in a Balti steel wok with local music and poetries for the ultimate Balti experience.

After breakfast, you will depart for your adventure ride to the Deosai national park. The name translates to giant shadows and for centuries people in the region have believed that giants lived and ruled in the area. The Deosai plains are the second highest plateau in the world. The national park spreads out over 3000 sq km. Upon arrival in Deosai, we explore the national parks and meadows in the area with a scenic stopover at river points. Deosai National Park is a famous wildlife sanctuary and park located at the converging point of two biogeographic provinces in the Himalayan and Karakoram-Pamir highlands. Depending on the season you re visiting in, you may spot Tibetan wolf, Tibetan red fox, Himalayan ibex, and Golden marmots here. The park is however know for its rare brown bear. The distance between Khaplu and Deosai is 81km which will take approximately 4 hours. We will reach Deosai just in time for the sunset. After witnessing the sun hide behind the mountains, we check-in at a premium campsite featuring all the necessities and amenities for your comfort. An extravagant fireplace dinner will be served at the campsite along with hot tea and warm sleeping bags.

You will leave for early morning trekking around the areas of our campsite. We will visit the magnificent Sheosar lake After the short trek we head out to Skardu where we catch our flight back to Islamabad. Upon arrival in Islamabad, rest at leisure in your suite rooms in Serena Hotel. The rooms feature a king bed, working desk, attached bathroom with premium toiletries, a safety deposit box, and complimentary access to Nazara Executive Lounge. After the power nap, you will leave for a quick tour of Islamabad. The scenic tour around the tranquil neighborhoods of this urban center, the drive into the thick forests, and the cool breeze from the mountains make for a therapeutic combination. We head back to the hotel where the guests will be treated with an impressive spread of Pakistan culinary masterpieces at Dawat. Serena Hotel, Islamabad hosts a luxurious spa, a salon, a fitness center and a pool bar to give guests a memorable experience. We have procured special passes to the Maisha Spa at Serena Hotel for our guests. Treat your body and soul with a Himalaya Rock Salt Detoxifying Journey or calm your muscles in the sauna steam room and end the journey on a meditative note.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Islamabad Airport to catch your flight back home. The simplistic and rural charm of the valley, the delicious food, the unbelievable alpine scenery and the extreme hospitality of the people will charm you heart. You can live these moments in pictures for now and can always book the tour again for the next season. Chalo Pakistan!