Foreign Office travel advice
Before booking, please familiarise yourself with the UK FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We constantly monitor advice and adjust itineraries to ensure we avoid any restricted areas or zones of concern.

An 18-day traverse of Pakistan's Karakoram Highway linking Baltistan's ancient forts, the Deosai Plateau, and Hunza Valley via Babusar Pass.
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This encompassing adventure of Pakistan’s spectacular northern regions takes travellers to a near mythical land, where traditions have changed little in centuries and the scenery is simply among the best on the planet. We begin by exploring the modern capital of Islamabad, before making our way towards Baltistan, travelling the fabled Karakoram Highway and the spectacular seasonal Babusar Pass. We explore the Hunza, an area of jaw-dropping magnificence blessed with idyllic villages and people of genuine warmth, a region that some purport to have inspired the legend of Shangri La. Along the way we will delve into the rich history – a chain of dramatic forts and watchtowers as well as other historical wonders such as ancient petroglyphs. We also join the locals in the heady blend of vivid, vibrant bazaars, feasting on sumptuous local dishes, marvelling at mighty glaciers and shimmering turquoise lakes carving through dramatic valleys, and of course pausing endlessly to drink in the inspiring panoramas of the snowclad summits of the Himalaya and Karakorum ranges.


Pakistan – Into the Mighty North
Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

The Shah Faisal Mosque, once the largest in the world and modelled on a vast Bedouin tent, anchors a full day of exploration in Islamabad. The itinerary also takes in the Pakistan Monument, Shakar Parian Park, and the Lok Virsa heritage museum. Crossing into Punjab, the Raja Bazaar area in Rawalpindi delivers a sensory explosion of colour and commerce before a final stop at the hillside viewpoint of Daman-e-Koh.
A stop near Manshera reveals intricately etched rock edicts dating to the 3rd century BC, written in the ancient Indic script of Gandhara culture. The site has been submitted for UNESCO World Heritage status and offers a tangible connection to the Maurya Empire. The day also passes through Hasan Abdal, renowned for its tradition of colourfully decorated truck-art painting.
As the Karakoram Highway hugs the steep walls of the Indus gorge, travellers stop to examine Buddhist petroglyphs left by invaders, traders, and pilgrims along the ancient trade route. The earliest carvings date back to between 5,000 and 1,000 BC, depicting animals, triangular human figures, and hunting scenes, engraved with primitive stone tools and covered in thick patina. Great egrets and potentially ultra-rare Siberian cranes can be spotted overhead along the same stretch.
A day trip climbs to the Deosai National Park, one of the highest plateaus in the world at 4,114m, protecting 3,000 square kilometres of Karakoram–West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe. En route, a stop at Satpara Lake provides opportunities to spot Himalayan marmots, and Sheosar Lake offers clear reflections of the dramatic surrounding peaks. In spring the plateau is blanketed in wildflowers and visited by a wide variety of butterflies.
A side excursion explores the Shigar Valley's small villages, all overlooked by the 16th-century Skardu Fort, which commands panoramic views of the valley and Karakoram Range. The nearby Katpana Desert — one of the world's highest cold deserts — presents silky grey dunes that appear incongruous within the surrounding mountain terrain. Shigar Fort, a 17th-century boulder-and-wood structure recently restored, offers lunch in its gardens alongside a rushing stream.
A three-hour drive along the braided Shyok River delivers travellers to the fortified settlement of Khaplu, sheltered in the crook of the Karakoram Mountains. Lunch is taken at the wonderfully restored Khaplu Palace, followed by a tour of the palace complex and the 700-year-old Chaqchan Mosque, described as a cream-washed and wooden-framed gem of architecture. A walk to a nearby viewpoint opens up rank after rank of high-altitude ranges, with the possibility of sighting Masherbrum (7,821m).
Key moments for Pakistan – Into the Mighty North
Full itinerary · 19 days
Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.
| Departs | Returns | Status | Price pp | Single supp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 2026 | 2 Sept 2026 | Sold out | £3,095 | +£515 | Closed |
| 3 Oct 2026 | 21 Oct 2026 | Sold out | £3,095 | +£515 | Closed |
| 12 Jun 2027 | 30 Jun 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,095 | +£515 | Book now |
| 14 Aug 2027 | 1 Sept 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,095 | +£515 | Book now |
| 2 Oct 2027 | 20 Oct 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,095 | +£515 | Book now |
Every one of our Pakistan journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before booking, please familiarise yourself with the UK FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We constantly monitor advice and adjust itineraries to ensure we avoid any restricted areas or zones of concern.
Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Pakistan – Into the Mighty North. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.
Make Pakistan – Into the Mighty North your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Pakistan specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
Common questions
Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.
Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.
Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.
The next available departures are 12 June 2027; 14 August 2027; 2 October 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.
Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
This tour visits Pakistan. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.
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