Fairy Meadow and Nanga Parbat Base Camp | Pakistan

Distance: 18 miles (29 km) (including side trip to Nanga Parbat Base Camp)

Average Time:  2 days

Difficulty:  Easy to moderate

Start / Finish:

• Fairy Point / Jhel

• For transport to and from Raikot Bridge on the Karakorum Highway, see the following link: http://www.fairymeadowscottage.com/

• From the bridge, you will need to either walk (15km) or hire a private jeep to take you up the winding road to the trailhead at Jhel.

Season:  May – October

Maps / Info:

• Sketch map and trekking notes in Lonely Planet’s Trekking in the Karakoram & Hindukush are sufficient for navigation purposes.

• For more information on Fairy Meadow and Pakistan in general, see the Lonely Planet Guide Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway.

Route / Conditions:

• A short, easy to follow out-and-back route, which acts as a great introductory walk to the Karakoram Range.

• An extra thirty-minute climb from Beyal brings you to the appropriately named “View Point”. Incredible 360° panorama.

• If you are feeling energetic, continue on for another 1.5 hours or so from the View Point to Nanga Parbat Base Camp (8km round trip). Highly recommended.

• No problems finding water. All water below the village of Beyal should be treated.

• There is a small, but expensive shop at Fairy Meadow. I recommend bringing supplies from Gilgit or Karimabad.

Sleeping:

• Organised camping and huts at Fairy Meadow and Beyal.

• If you choose to “wild” camp, there are lots of good options in the section between Fairy Meadow and Beyal.

Overview:

• Short trek with fantastic views of Nanga Parbat (at 8125mt the world’s ninth highest mountain) and the dramatic Raikot glacier.