Pakora Pass Trek

After breakfast, leave for Besham. We'll make a stop at Chatar for photos and lunch. Stay at a hotel for the night.

After breakfast, travel 9-10 hours to Gilgit, stopping along the way at the "Junction Point of World Great Mountain Ranges" Himalaya, Karakorum, and Hindukush, as well as the Killer Mountain "Nanga Parbat" viewpoint. O/N Stay in the hotel.

Skirt the lake and, in 15 minutes, cross a footbridge to the actual left (east) side of the Naltar Gah. Two more lakes arise up the western side Valley after a little elevation, and the river ahead coils out. Cross the Shing region in 45 minutes by going down the river bed and fording a big side stream flowing from the east. The Gujar village of Gupa is located along the river's true right (west) side, where it narrows. The settlement is accessible via footbridges above and below Gupa, but the main trail keeps to the true left (east) side. After an hour, cross a large side stream from the east to reach the glaciated Chaprot Pass that connects Snow Dome (5029m) and Mehrbani (5639m). The hanging glacier on the west side of the pass, as well as a larger one on the east side, make crossing impossible. The huts at Lath, located 15 minutes beyond the stream and high above the river, offer the first view of the Shani Glacier's terminus.

The route becomes faint as it skirts the Shani Glacier's northeast rim, reaching Lower Shani in one to one and a half hours as Pakora Pass comes into view. Shani means 'a pristine location where fairies reside' in Shina, and flowers in meadows like these attract them. Lower Shani (3690m) has a stream and a grassy meadow, as well as herders' cottages near the glacier. Be mindful of the herders' dogs. The formidable Shani summit (5887m), located southwest across the Shani Glacier, is a challenging mixed snow and ice ascent.

Jughor

Jughor hamlet is located near the mouth of the Jughor Gol, south and across the river from Chitral town. Plan to go to Jughor the day before you begin organising any trips. There are four challenging passes near the valley's head: two south to Shishi Gol and two east, one to Koghozi Gol and the other to Roghili Gol.

Walk up the valley from Jughor to a cabin at Chhato Shal (3048m), where the trail intersects with the true left bank. Continue for another 750 metres until a trail intersection (3161 metres). One road ascends the Kapashung Gol to the passes leading to Shishi Gol, while the other ascends the Bungolbahan Gol to the remaining two.

The Kapashung Gol path divides Father Valley. The trail to the southeast passes through Domukh An (4380m) and leads to Kalas in Shishi Gol. The road to the south follows the true right bank of the Kapashung Gol for three km, via the highest branch, to Kapashung Gree (4318m), which also flows into Shishi Gol.

The east route up Bungolbahan Gol takes the true left (south) bank and offers two options. To begin, travel 3 kilometres down the valley from the 3161m trail intersection and bridge the river. A difficult 500m ascent north leads to Koghozi An (4480m), followed by a steep drop into the Koghozi Valley and Koghozi hamlet on the Chitral-Gilgit route. This is a tough Class 3 cross-country route.

Second, continue half a kilometre northeast along the true left bank of the Bungolbahan Gol to Roghili Gree (4638m). Then it's an 850-meter scree descent into the upper Roghili Gol basin. The basin is labelled Angarbah on the Chitral (I-42 F) sheet, but the people are unfamiliar with the term. Follow the south bank of a creek for 8 kilometres northeast to the lake Lut Chhat (3764 metres). You can descend Roghili Gol from a trail junction 500m above the lake by crossing the stream that feeds the lake and contouring along its north side (see the Roghili Gol climb). You could also cross Roghili An.

A Roghili

From Lut Chhat in the upper Roghili Gol, a route leads to Madaglasht in Shishi Gol via the Roghili An (4496m). Continue along Lut Chhat's north and west shores. Continue 500 metres beyond the lake and cross the stream on its south side. Two pathways separate here, one to the Roghili An and the other to the more difficult Roghili Gree (see Jughor above). The steep route to Roghili An (4496m) follows a southeast turn and ascends a stony ridge to Madaglasht in Shishi Gol.

As we say goodbye to Gilgit, we take a picturesque trip to Besham via the famed Karakoram Highway. With stops and lunch breaks, it may take 9-10 hours. Allow the splendour of the sceneries to enchant you throughout this magnificent adventure.

Our journey comes to an end as we return to Islamabad. Because the travel from Besham to Islamabad takes only 3-4 hours, there is plenty of time to visit the Taxila museum and other places along the way. Alternatively, one could go touring Islamabad after lunch. Reflect on the fantastic experiences of the previous few days, and treasure the memories of this extraordinary adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast

Our staff will transfer all our guests to the airport on their respective departure timings. The checkout time of all our partner hotels is 12pm.