Pakistan: Karakoram Highway, Local Eats & Village Life - 13 Days

Welcome to Pakistan and get ready for an epic adventure off the beaten path. Arrive at any time and join your group for a welcome meeting in the evening. Choose to join your CEO for an incredible meal. Lahore is a food lover's paradise, chock full of incredibly innovative and high quality dishes to devour.

Your adventure in Lahore, a hip and culture rich destination perfect for curious travelers. Take a tour of the city, visiting iconic landmarks like Badshahi Mosque and the ancient Walled City of Lahore. Wander through the narrow streets, engage all your senses in colorful bazaars and learn about Pakistan's rich history. In the evening, visit the Wagah Border, between India and Pakistan, and watch the famous flag-lowering ceremony. Dinner will be at the popular Lahore Food Street, with historic buildings, beautiful views and incredible Pakistani food.

We'll hit the road this morning and drive from Lahore to Nathia Gali. Watch as the landscape transforms from the Punjab plains to the Lesser Himalayas, which contrary to its name is still quite an impressive part of the mountain range. After a long drive, stretch your legs on the 4 km Pipeline Trail hike through Ayubia National Park through beautiful flora and fauna. Later on, choose to join your CEO for a local meal and choose the Patakha chicken, a must try in this area!

Fill up on breakfast today before we head out to hike up Miranjani Peak, resting at 3,000 m above sea level, the tallest mountain in the region. This moderate hike will take bout 5 hours round trip with ample opportunity to admire Pakistan's impressive geological wonders. In the afternoon, after returning to Nathia Gali, opt to visit the local market or maybe St. Matthew's Church, a church cared for by a Muslim family for three generations.

Follow along the Kunhar River as we drive from Nathia Gali to picturesque, lakeside town of Naran. We'll pass thorugh cute towns and beautiful natural landscapes, like Mansehra, Balakot and Kaghan. After arriving, opt to have lunch at the popular Naran Bazaar before hopping into a local jeep that brings us on an off-roading adventure. Drive to the gorgeous Lake Saif-ul-Muluk, the glacial Kunhar River and the Kaghan Valley. This scenery marvels more well known mountainous regions, like Patagonia, but its relative lack of tourism means your visit feels more like discovering a hidden gem. Finish off the adventure with an amazing sunset over the River Kunhar.

Follow the snow-capped Karakoram Mountains as we leave Naran and drive to Hunza this morning. We'll be greeted with a warm welcome from our local host families when we arrive in Hunza. With our host families as our guides, we'll experience local life in the lower Hunza with village activities and a special traditional lunch. After the visit, we'll drive to Passu for the night.

A day trip to Khunjerab National Park today will have you in awe of Pakistan's natural beauty. Drive to the stunning Khunjerab Pass, which at an altitude of 4,693 meters, is the final stretch of the Karakoram Highway, stopping just before the border with China. This pass, whose name comes fro the Wakhi words meaning "blood creek", remains an important trade route and wildlife haven. We'll stop at Khyber Village at upper Hunza, renowned for its delicious fruits and organic farming. Enjoy the special opportunity to pick fruit alongside the local farmers and learn about their way of life. Later on, choose to join your CEO for a delicious bite to eat at the Yak Grill. Trust us and try the yak burger.

Grab your jacket because we're headed to the Passu Glacier today. Drive from Passu to Borith Lake and start the hike up to the glacier. We'll even have a chance to walk on the pristine ice of the glacier. After the hike, we'll sit down for a much deserved lunch at the cozy Old House, a restaurant ran by local women supporting their families. This afternoon, we'll visit Gulmit Old House, renowned for its intricately carved doors and windows, and the Korgah Carpet Center, a local initiative created by five local women looking to improve the quality of their own lives and those of their community. The center aims to empower women in Hunza through traditional carpet weaving. In the evening, head to Karimabad, stopping at Attabad Lake for an incredible view and Duikar for a magical sunset. After working up a massive appetite, join your CEO at the Food Pavilion, a local restaurant led by Lal Shehzadi, a local female entrepreneur who has served as a local inspiration to fellow women to embark on opening their own restaurants and local establishments.

Enjoy a free morning in Karimabad. Opt to relax, visit some of the cultural gems in the area like Altit Fort or go on an epic jeep safari adventure to Kho Meadows. In the afternoon, gather together again with your CEO and fellow travelers to hike from Karimabad Bazaar to Baltit Fort, passing small handicraft shops and local settlements. On arrival to the fort, choose to purchase a ticket for a guided tour, or do your own thing and take some artistic photography of the stunning views. In the evening, choose to join your CEO for dinner at the Karimabad bazaar.

Travel back in time with a guided tour of the Ganish Settlement, the very first settlement on the Silk Road. On a guided tour, explore Ganish's 400-year-old mosques and ancient watchtowers. After the tour, visit a local host family for the day in Khanabad. Connect with the locals and learn about their daily way of life while cooking a traditional meal. Explore the village with your local hosts, the highlight being the Youth Garden, a local tree plantation project with over 50,000 trees planted by local youth.

Say goodbye to local village life as we drive to the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad. We'll stop at Kaiwai Abshar and enjoy a lunch beside a waterfall and sit on a charpai like the locals. Then enjoy a free evening in Islamabad.

Enjoy a free morning in Islamabad. Around lunchtime, join your CEO and fellow travelers and head over to Melody Food Street to grab a lunch of your choice. Fill up on a kebab or flavorful biryani as you then hit the road to drive to Taxila, home to the famous truck art. These fun, decorated trucks represent different ethnic groups, advocate for change or express historical experiences. Discover how Pakistani truck art has become so much more than just making an old vehicle look nicer. Then drive Saidpur village and visit the art and craft shops, walk through the village streets. At sunset, visit Shah Faisal Mosque during prayer hour and witness Islamic practices firsthand in this stunningly large mosque. Conclude the adventure with one last meal together to reflect on a life changing experience in Pakistan.

Depart at any time.