10 Days Northern areas spring festival tour

Day 01 13th March 2009 Arrive Islamabad Meet on arrival and transfer to hotel Overnight at hotel
Day 02 14th March 2009 Early Morning 6AM Drive to Chilas en-route visit Taxila Site of Julian & Sirkap later continue to Masehra stopping for lunch at Abbottabad. You will see the lush green area of the foothills of Himalya Mountains as you drive along the first part of Karakorum highway. At Thakot you will have a stop to witness the first glimpse of the river Indus It was here where Alexander the great, looking at he high mountains ordered his forces to descend south words and stated sailing in the Indus. You will cross the Indus and drive in between the Lower Himalyan Hills and Hindu Raj Mountains (Hundukush) tour will witness that the greenery will vanish as you drive further due o Nanaga Parbat Mountain (8125 meters) Which becomes a wall for monsoon winds and does not let any precipitation to come on this side of the mountains. People have invented irrigation system along the shoulders of the mountains and they built terraces to cultivate maize and wheat. You will arrive Chilas late in the evening around 7:30 PM Dinner & Overnight Panorama Hotel. (Dinner)

Day 03 15th March 2009 This morning again you will have an early start to catch the breathtaking views of Nanga Parbat you will also stop at Buddhist rock drawing which were made by the pilgrims who passed this area to go to Swat valley. The mountains are rugged and dry in this region but offer very unique views. At Nanaga Parbat viwpoint you will see a huge mass of this beautiful mountain all snowcapped 8125 meters 9th highest in the world you will also see Rakaposhi 7788 meters and Haramosh mountains as you drive along. We will bypass Gilgit town as there are some riots in the town in the end of March however if it is safe we will visit the bazaar else we will head towards the fairy land of Hunza Valley Where you can see snow capped peaks on all corners and you will be staying at the famous Seren’s Baltit Inn hotel which give the best view of Ultar 7350 meters and Rakaposhi Dinner & overnight at hotel. (Lunch & Dinner)

Day 04 16th March 2009 This morning we will drive to Sost enroute we will se pectographs of ancient times along the road you will have a chance to see some of the most spectacular scenaries in the world everywhere remarkable heights of mountains are seen dry and snowcapped both. We will also visit the town of Gulmit and visit the local museum and polo ground. Dinner & overnight at Baltit inn (Dinner)

Day 05 17th March 2009 Morning you will see the Baltit fort renovated by The Aga Khan foundation You may continue for a beautiful uphill walk to the Ultar or have walks in this beatiful town of the Hunza valley. The place is so beautiful you will feel relaxed in the garden of the hotel too. Local Dinner in Karimabad Overnight at Hotel

Day 06 18th March 2009 Day at leisure in Hunza vally walks and option Sunrise Safari and Excursion to Duikar. (Dinner)

Day 07 19th March 2009 You will drive to Hunza for another chance to see the Karakorum highway and overnight at PTDC Besham . (Dinner)

Day 08 20th March 2009 You will drive 100 Kilometers very rough road to Swat valley Arriving Swat in about 4 hours You will be staying at the Serena Hotel which used to be guest house of the ex ruler of Swat. Swat vally was once the center of Buddhist culture and thre are numerous archeological sites from 6BC to 6th Ad.
During the siteseeing of Swat we will visit Butkara where there were 215 Votive Stupas and one very large round shaped stupa which held the ashes of Buddha and was build in 275 BC 200 years after the death of Buddha. You will also visit interesting bazaar of Swat and have dinner & Overnight Swat Serena Hotel. (Dinner)

Day 09 21st March 2009 You will star off from Swat at 9Am and drive towards Malakand pass en-route you can see Churchil’s picket it is said the Winton Churchill was stationed here and apparently was injured by the locals. You will also see many other pickets from the British times Malakand was a hostile Agency during british times and it still is considered as an Agency as you descent down the Malakand pass into Kabul or Peshawar valley you will say good bye to the mountains and come into rather plains area You will see Takht Bhai a monastery at a 300 meters high hill from 2nd to 6th century it is known as the best preserved Buddhist monastery in India. Overnight Pearl Continental

Day 10 22nd March 2009 Morning 8:30 Am your Guide will take your passports to the office of the political agent of Khyber agency for necessary Guards and permission for hopp into the legendry Khyber pass you will witness a dramatic scenery and rugged hills and fort like homes along the road you will drive upto the machni post 4 kilometers from Afghanistan you can actually see Afghan land from this point. After noon we will drive you to the Khyber bazaar and walk you into the Kissakhawani bazaar where the shops and streets tell the legends of centuries passed by them. You will also visit the mohabat Khan mosque and Peshawar museum. Overnight Pearl Continental
Day 11 23rd March 2009 Flight to Karachi. PK351 Lv: 1150 AM Arrival Karachi 1:40 PM connect Flight home