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Baltoro
Glacier
The trek from Skardu to the Baltoro Glacier gives the best
close-up views of K2, and the trail along the Braldu and Biaho
rivers takes hikers right into the heart of the Karakoram
Mountains. The early part of the trek passes through green
orchards, and summer visitors will be able to sample apples,
apricots, peaches and cherries along the way. The terrain
soon becomes rugged, however, and trekkers should be prepared
to navigate trails covered with sharp stones and punctuated
by glacial streams and steep gullies. The dark stone of the
lower peaks provides a dramatic contrast to the glittering
snow-capped peaks in the distance. Concordia, the base camp
for K2 expeditions, offers spectacular views of some of the
highest mountains on Earth, including K2, Gasherbrum, Masherbrum,
and Chogolisa.
The
Hunza Valley
The valley of the Hunza River was supposedly the inspiration
for Shangri-la in James Hilton's famous novel Lost Horizon.
According to local legend, the river water contains traces
of gold and has life-prolonging powers, and the people of
Hunza are noted for their longevity. Many of the Hunzakut,
as they are known, have light-colored hair and eyes and claim
to be descended from Alexander the Great's soldiers. Their
dialect, Brushaski, has no apparent link to any existing language
family.
The town of Hunza is the starting point for treks to the Batura,
Hopar and Hispar glaciers. The trek to Ultar Canyon gives
especially dramatic views of the surrounding glaciers and
granite peaks. Trekkers can stay overnight in distinctive
shepherds' huts built of piled stones. The sound of ice crashing
down from the surrounding glaciers provides a unique lullaby.
The
Swat Valley
Visitors who want a taste of northern Pakistan's historical
variety should head for this lush valley. Located in the monsoon
belt, it receives more rain than most northern areas, so the
land is particularly fertile and green. The Swat River and
its tributaries gush through rocky gorges and are particularly
known for trout fishing. The houses of the small villages
in the area are stacked one on top of the other up the mountainsides,
with the roofs of one level of houses used as a front street
for houses on the next level.
The hillsides abound with forts, a testament to the region's
strategic importance. Alexander the Great and his army marched
through Chakdar, and subsequent invaders left their mark:
the town still has remains of Buddhist monasteries from the
1st to 7th centuries, while Hindu forts from the 8th to 10th
centuries loom on the hilltops. Worth visiting are the valley's
graveyards, which have been used for 3,500 years.
Mount Ilam (2,811m, 9,222 ft) has been considered sacred since
prehistoric times. A trek to the top brings visitors to a
group of massive square blocks of stone, which archaeologists
guess were used as an ancient altar.
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