Town or village
Minapin
Nagar district · 2,000 m
The roadhead for Rakaposhi: the trek begins at the end of the village lane, and the mountain is above the roofs.
Minapin is a village of orchards and terraced fields on the south side of the Hunza river, in Nagar. It is where the road ends and the climb to Rakaposhi Base Camp begins. The trail starts behind the Diran Guest House at the top of the village, and the guest house has long been the traditional place to start and finish the trek. Its comment book holds maps and route notes left by trekkers in a number of languages, so sit down with a cup of tea and read a few.
Kind Town or villageDistrict NagarElevation 2,000 mPosition 36.252° N, 74.536° E
About Minapin
The village sits below the Minapin glacier, which comes down from the Rakaposhi and Diran ridge. From the guest house lawn you can see Rakaposhi, Diran and the ice wall that joins them. A few small hotels and guesthouses welcome walkers and short-stay visitors.
Minapin is in the part of Nagar the book calls Nagar 1, on the south bank, between Minapin and the Hisper river. Today it is a quiet, friendly village, and a lovely place to slow down for a night among the orchards before heading up to the meadows.
Elsewhere in Nagar
Swipe along the district, from the valley floor to the summits.
Summit · 7,788 m
Rakaposhi
At 7,788 m, Rakaposhi rises nearly six vertical kilometres straight off the highway, one of the steepest rises from valley floor to summit in the Karakoram, and you can enjoy it from your window.
Base camp · 3,500 m
Rakaposhi BC
A green meadow at Tagaphari, 3,500 m above Minapin, two walking days from the road and directly under Rakaposhi and Diran.
Town or village · 2,700 m
Nagar Khas
The old Nagar capital, facing Karimabad across the Hunza gorge, with a proud history shared with its neighbour.
Glacier · 2,800 m
Hopper Glacier
A black ice tongue below the village bowl at Hopper, and the start of the walk to Rush Lake.
Lake or water · 4,694 m
Rush Lake
At 4,694 m, Rush Lake is one of the highest alpine lakes on earth, set under the Spantik massif.
Town or village · 2,300 m
Bagrote
Seven villages under the Diran icefall, an hour off the highway and a quiet side trip away from the usual circuit.
- 3,200 m
Town or village
Hispar
The last village on the Hispar side: the fields stop and the glacier begins.
Pass · 5,151 m
Hispar La
At 5,151 m, the pass that links the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, the high point of one of the great glacier journeys in the Karakoram.