Gurikot, about ten kilometers south of Astor, a jeep road follows the fertile, wooded Khirirn Valley for 40 kilometers to the army post at Chilim and continues across the Deosai Plateau to Skardu. The best-known treks from Astor lead west and southwest, to the east and south sides of Nanga Parbat. This huge mountain is not a single peak but a series of ridges culminating in an ice crest 8,125 meters high-ranked ninth highest in the world and second in Pakistan after K2. The name Nanga Parbat means 'naked mountain', so called because some of its slopes are so steep that they are bare of snow or vegetation.

Early disasters on Nanga Parbat gave it the nick-name Killer Mountain or mangeur d'homme. Twelve climbers and 18 Sherpas had died there since 1937. The monster was finally conquered in 1953 (one month after the ascent of Everest) by a joint Austrian-German expedition; Hermann BuhI made the final ascent in a strenuous forty one hour solo ordeal without oxygen. Today's death score is 47-far fewer than have lost their lives on Everest. You can trek all the way round Nanga Parbat at about 3,500 meters, with passes rising to 5,377 meters. You last camping day is at Fairy Meadow, which defines its meaning.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrive in Rawalpindi. Overnight in hotel
Day 02: Rawalpindi - Chilas
Day 03: Chilas- Karimabad.
Day 04: Karimabad - Khunjerab Pass Gulmit
Day 05: Gulmit - Gilgit
Day 06: Gilgit - Trashing
Day 07: Trashing – Nanga Parbat Base Camp
Day 08: Free day for explorations
Day 09: Nanga Parbat Base Camp – Shiagiri
Day 10: Shiagiri - Mazeno Base Camp.
Day 11: Mazeno B.C - Mazeno High Camp
Day 12: Mazeno High Camp - Mazeno Pass - Upper Loiba
Day 13: Upper Loiba - Loiba Meadows
Day 14: Loiba Meadows – Kachal Pass
Day 15: Kachal Pass – Zangle
Day 16: Zangle – Lower Khusto
Day 17: ZLower Khusto – Jillipur
Day 18: Jillipur – Jillipur Pass-Bial Camp
Day 19: Bial Nanga Parbat Base Camp
Day 20: Nanga Parbat Base Camp – Fairy Meadow
Day 21: Fairy Meadow – Chilas
Day 22: Chilas – Rawalpindi/Islamabad
Day 23: Transfer to airport for your return journey