Through the eyes of our travellers
Shimshal Pass Trek is one of the most amazing adventures in Pakistan. Situated in one of the most remote valleys of northern Pakistan is Shimshal pass. Shimshal pass is about 3-4 days away from Shimshal village. Located at an elevation of 4700m, Shimshal valley is about 800kms away from Islamabad via Karakoram Highway (KKH). Shimshal pass is also known as Pamir pastures by the local population who use this pass for 6 months for grazing their herd of sheep, yaks and other domestic animals. One can find high altitute peaks including Minglik Sar (6000m plus) at Shimshal pass. The peaks are a good training ground for aspring mountaineers and climbers.
Shimshal pass trek offers amazing natural beauty. One can find lakes and wetlands in the area including the lake just below the Minglik Sar Peak. This is reasonably large lake known as Shimshal pass lake. The lake is surrounded with thin grass on one side and comparatively thicker grass on the other side. Snowlake is separated from Shimshal pass by Braldo pass. One of the major attractions of this trekking expedition is view of the mighty K2 and many other 7000m peaks on a lucky day when the skies are clear.
Trekking and Yak safaris to shimshal pass attract hundreds of foreign tourists from around the globe every year. During camping at the pass, one gets a chance to interact with the mountain communities and shepherds living there and taste natural and organic dairy products. This is served by the shepherds to all the guests as a sign of hospitality. Our itinerary for Shimshal pass trek is given below.
Upon arrival meet and assist at the airport and then transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Islamabad.
Early morning flight to Gilgit (flights are subject to weather) and then onward drive for Hunza, if unable to fly we will depart for Gilgit by road with overnight stay at Chilas. Overnight stay in hotel at Karimabad.
Extra day for driving incase of bad weather
After breakfast we will visit Baltit Fort, afterwards we will drive for half day excursion to Nagar valley. Overnight stay in hotel at Karimabad.
In the morning, we will depart for Shimshal village, on arrival transfer to a local guest house if available otherwise will camp there. (Tent)
Go for a short walk/hike, meet the locals, explore the village.
Walk: 3-4 hours, Climb: 500m (Tent)
Walk: 6-7 hours, descend 200m – climb 300m (Tent)
Walk: 4-5 hours, climb: 450m (Tent)
Walk: 3-4 hours, Climb: 400m (Tent)
You have 2 days to climb up minglik sar peak
Its a easy/fun 6000ner.
Walk: 7-8 hours, descend (tent)
Walk: 4-5 Hours, descend (guest house)
Explore Karimabad Hunza
Hunza has a lot to offer, one of the most vibrant bazaars in GB has to be the Karimabad Bazaar. From old ancient jewels, to hand made handicrafts, silk carpets and clothes.. Karimabad is also home to the famous Walnut cake at Cafe de Hunza. A lot of history too so you’ll be visiting some 1000 year old forts too. My favorite is the all women furniture factory, Hunza has a 95% literacy rate, one of the highest in the country.
Gilgit’s Buddah sacred rocks are world famous and if you arnt too tired, we would like to show you some of the history of this beautiful land.
We hope and pray we get on the flights so we dont have to drive all the way down to islamabad.
Stay for one day in Islamabad or Rawalpindi hotel
Good bye!!
Please visit https://visa.nadra.gov.pk for complete information.
General riding gear, which includes a helmet, jackets, pants, shoes and gloves, jeans, long and short-sleeved T-shirts, riding shoes or boots, and gloves. For summer, long-sleeved T-shirts are a great idea. You will have the opportunity to keep a small pack in our chase vehicle, so you’ll have some margin for error if you end up packing too much. Mornings and evenings can be chilly. Some windbreaker gear is great and easy to carry. Bring cash for any personal expenses like shopping, laundry or snacks. We can change currencies for you, please make sure to let us know beforehand.
Common items to include in your packing list:
– Motorcycle Gear (Head to Toe)
– Sunglasses
– Camera
– Base layers are MUST-HAVES for winter tours
– Windbreaker/ gear as needed per tour/ season
– SPF 50 Sun Block
– Hand Sanitizer
The visa process can sometimes take up to two months for Pakistan so we suggest getting your visa as soon as possible. If you already have a visa, you will need to book a tour with us at least a month in advance so we can prepare properly for you.
We recommend you arrive two days before the tour begins, so you can wear off your jet lag, and be fresh for the adventure ahead!
Absolutely! We give a 15% discount for pillion riders or they can always hop into one of our vehicles and follow the riders.
We can also arrange for passenger minivans that can be driven to trail the group if they want. That way, non-riders can either be on the back of the bike, or can all ride together in their party van depending on the weather, and how much they want to be on the bike.
Riding days can vary from as little as 150 km to 350 km per day, depending on the tour you choose. In the twisty Himalayas or the Karakoram range, a 300 km day can easily take up to 7 hours due to ferry crossings, side excursions etc., depending on the trip you choose. Keep in mind that we design itineraries that make full use of your vacation time, and it will be difficult to get bored at any point.
The simple rule is: Anything is possible, so prepare accordingly. Riding season in Pakistan starts in May and ends around mid-October. It’s generally great weather to be in the Himalayas but the winds can suddenly change and short storms can hit us out of nowhere. So bring your rain gear, bring a summer mesh jacket for hot days plus a warm layer or two.
There could be a wide range of weather possibilities on some particular tours depending on location and season. If you want to make sure you’re choosing a trip that suits your hopes for the weather, please be sure to contact us and we’ll help you make a better suited choice.
Yes, a valid operator’s license from your home country, specifically with the motorcycle endorsement is necessary, and will be confirmed at the starting point of your tour. This is not only for legal & insurance reasons, but also for the safety of yourself and the people on the road with you.
This answer actually does not vary from tour to tour, as we at ADA hope you are in excellent physical and mental condition anytime you plan on riding a motorcycle. As with other topics, contact us and let’s discuss what shape you’re in and the type of tour you’re planning on to make sure it’s a match. However, our approval of your condition does not take the place of a trusted doctor’s evaluation, which is something we strongly encourage you to seek before any tour or rental.
No. Your tour begins in Islamabad on the day of the tour and ends when we get back. We have found that this is really the best option for you. Arrangements can be made for extra hotel accommodations upon request. The hotels we use on the first and last day of the tour are usually close to the airport. In most situations and tours, there will be a shuttle to take you to or from the airport. We suggest arriving a couple of days early, and leaving a couple of days after the tour so you have time to rest before and after the tour. We can help book these hotels and figure out the transport for these days.
If you have any other questions then please Contact Us
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