Pakora Pass Trek (2025-26)

Fly to Gilgit in the morning. The guide will receive you at Gilgit airport. An adventurous road trip to Naltar Valley through the Karakoram Highway. Stopover at the Rakaposhi viewpoint to get the views of Naltar valley Forest . Transfer to the hotel in Naltar. Free time to rest and explore the heavenly views around Central Hunza. Note: Flight to Gilgit is subject to the weather, so in the case of cancellation, we will take a road trip on the same day.

Walk up the true left (east) side of Naltar Gah from Upper Naltar (2820m), also known as Dumian. Ford a side brook at the start of Beshgiri, the Shina word for the distinctive red lichen-covered (besh) stones (giri) east of the trail, in 134 hours. A two-day journey across the valley from Beshgiri takes you southwest through a glaciated pass beneath Khaltar Peak (5591m) and down the Bichhar Gah to Sherqila in Punial. Beyond Beshgiri, you'll pass through a lovely cedar, chir pine, and birch forest. In 45 minutes, cross another side stream to reach Bangla, which is called for a local 'bungalow'. Cross a footbridge to the actual right (west) bank of the Naltar Gah. Continue for 45 minutes to the road's end and the first lake, Naltar Lake (3270m), as well as the Lake View Hotel, which consists of a food preparation hut and a huge canvas tent with blankets for sleeping.

Skirt the lake and, in 15 minutes, cross a footbridge to the actual left (east) side of the Naltar Gah. Two more lakes arise up the western side Valley after a little elevation, and the river ahead coils out. Cross the Shing region in 45 minutes by going down the river bed and fording a big side stream flowing from the east. The Gujar village of Gupa is located along the river's true right (west) side, where it narrows. The settlement is accessible via footbridges above and below Gupa, but the main trail keeps to the true left (east) side. After an hour, cross a large side stream from the east to reach the glaciated Chaprot Pass that connects Snow Dome (5029m) and Mehrbani (5639m). The hanging glacier on the west side of the pass, as well as a larger one on the east side, make crossing impossible. The huts at Lath, located 15 minutes beyond the stream and high above the river, offer the first view of the Shani Glacier's terminus. The route becomes faint as it skirts the Shani Glacier's northeast rim, reaching Lower Shani in one to one and a half hours as Pakora Pass comes into view. Shani means 'a pristine location where fairies reside' in Shina, and flowers in meadows like these attract them. Lower Shani (3690m) has a stream and a grassy meadow, as well as herders' cottages near the glacier. Be mindful of the herders' dogs. The formidable Shani summit (5887m), located southwest across the Shani Glacier, is a challenging mixed snow and ice ascent.

The hillside is covered in rhubarb and junipers, and the trail leads past cabins in 45 minutes, signaling the start of Upper Shani. Cross the slope above these cabins and descend fast into the ablation valley. Cross a footbridge right above where the river meets the glacier. Continue your journey above the true left bank because the river is too wide and deep to drive much further up. Walk for 15 minutes along the true right side of the river bed, with the pink and orange granite of the Shani Glacier's lateral moraine on your left. Upper Shani (3797m), located one to one and a half hours from Lower Shani, is well-sheltered by the lateral moraine. If you haven't acclimatized yet, camp here. To get to Pakora High Camp, cross the little side brook and climb the steep, grassy, flower-covered slope where horses and yaks graze. Continue through more challenging terrain until the slope levelled out. Follow the true right bank of the large clear stream for a little way to Pakora High camp (4230m), which is marked by a few destroyed stone shelters and may be reached in one to eleven hours from Upper Shan. In this stunning area, you can also camp just before the stone shelters on either side of the stream.

As the canyon narrows, the drop from Jut to Pakora becomes steeper. On bright days, the Pakora Gol can be scorching and dry, so arrive early and with water. Descend from the far end of the meadow and cross the river over a lovely footbridge. The trail is in bad shape and runs about an hour along the true left (south) bank of the river, deep down the river bed and passes beneath the Gujar settlements of Gujarshal and Roghshal high above. Across the river, Kuru, a hamlet located above the intersection of the Kuru An Gol and the Pakora Gol, may be seen. A trail up this side stream leads to the Kuru An. The trail descends the valley along the actual left side of the Pakora Gol, skirting an artemisia-covered hillside on a broad donkey trail. It is frequently seen on exposed galleries high above the rushing river. The river reaches a deep gorge, with waterfalls cascading on both sides. After 112 hours, you will encounter a side stream and a large, solitary willow. Cross a plank footbridge to the real right bank in 30 minutes to arrive to the first farmed Pakora farms. The jeep road and the centre of Pakora (2220m) may be reached in 15 minutes.