Around Nanga Parbat

Your guide meets you at the airport and takes you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to recover and sort gear before the long road north.

Night at Hotel, 540 m.

The motorway leads past Haripur and Abbottabad to Mansehra, then up the Kaghan valley through Balakot and Naran to the Babusar Pass. You cross into Gilgit-Baltistan at the top and descend to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway. It is one of the great drives in the north.

Night at Hotel, 1,250 m.

The highway follows the Indus past the Raikot bridge, where Nanga Parbat towers over every other peak. At the meeting point of the three great ranges you turn off near Jaglot, cross the bridge and climb through the pine valley to Astore, the green town beneath the mountain.

Night at Hotel, 2,400 m.

A three to four hour jeep ride on a mountain track brings you into the Rupal valley, with pine, meadow and the peaks all round. Tarashing is the first camp, in a green and gentle spot.

Night at Tarashing, 2,900 m.

The trail runs through green fields and meadows, crosses the snout of the Tarashing glacier and arrives at the base camp beside the Bazhin glacier. Raikot Peak and Nanga Parbat are close at hand.

6 hours on foot. Night at Herrligkoffer base camp, 3,600 m.

You cross the Bazhin glacier to the camp at Latobo, directly beneath the Rupal face. The wall rises some 4,600 m in one sweep, the highest mountain face on earth, and the camp sits right at its foot.

5 hours on foot. Night at Latobo, 3,650 m.

A longer day, crossing the snout of the Shaigiri glacier with the Rupal face in view for much of the way. The camp at Shaigiri looks straight up at it.

7 hours on foot. Night at Shaigiri, 3,700 m.

Streams, forest and pasture lead to the high meadows below the Mazeno ridge. The jagged line of the Mazeno peaks fills the horizon, and the day passes through a range of terrain.

6 hours on foot. Night at Mazeno base camp, 4,000 m.

A steeper climb takes you up the valley to the Mazeno glacier and the high camp. It is a hard-working day, rewarded by a camp in a dramatic position beneath the pass.

5 hours on foot. Night at Mazeno high camp, 4,700 m.

The big day of the circuit. You cross the Mazeno Pass at 5,399 m, with fixed ropes on the descent, and drop down to the Laibh meadows on the Diamir side. The view back over the Rupal side from the top is something you carry home.

10 hours on foot. Night at Laibh meadows, 4,200 m.

A long descent through pastures leads to Zangot, the first village after days in wild country. Stone huts, terraced fields and children running out to say hello make a warm change.

6 hours on foot. Night at Zangot, 2,700 m.

A day to rest, wash and explore the village. The people of the Diamir side welcome visitors, and the fields and the pasture above make for easy afternoon walks.

Night at Zangot, 2,700 m.

You follow the trail the shepherds use each summer up to Kutagali, a seasonal settlement high on the slope. The walking is steady and the pasture is full of flowers.

5 hours on foot. Night at Kutagali, 3,000 m.

The Karu Sagar Pass at 4,900 m is the gentlest of the three passes. From the top you drop to Shaichi, with the Diamir face of Nanga Parbat opening in front of you and getting better with every step.

8 hours on foot. Night at Shaichi, 2,900 m.

A lovely day through pine forest and highland pasture with several stream crossings. The Diamir face is never far from view.

6 hours on foot. Night at Gutum Sagar, 3,500 m.

The trail climbs to Jilipur high camp, with the Jilipur peaks above and the full spread of the western Himalaya around you.

6 hours on foot. Night at Jilipur high camp, 4,300 m.

The Khutsu Pass at 4,840 m is a steep climb followed by a long descent to Beyal camp beside the Raikot glacier. It is the last of the passes, and the camp is a fine place to feel the circuit closing.

8 hours on foot. Night at Beyal, 3,400 m.

You complete the circuit of Nanga Parbat at Fairy Meadows, with the Rakhiot face above the meadow and cabins and tents scattered under the pines. The evening here is a good time to look back on the walk.

3 hours on foot. Night at Fairy Meadows, 3,200 m.

You walk down to the village of Tato, then ride the jeeps along the famous cliff-side track to Raikot bridge. The drive to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway completes the day.

2 hours on foot. Night at Hotel, 1,250 m.

An early start for the long drive south, over the Babusar Pass when it is open or via Besham. By evening you are back in Islamabad.

Night at Hotel, 540 m.

A free day to explore Rawalpindi and Islamabad, from the old bazaars to the Faisal Mosque and the Margalla hills, and to rest before the flight home.

Night at Hotel, 540 m.

Your guide transfers you to Islamabad airport for your flight home.

540 m.