Fixed Departure for NANGA PARBAT Expedition June 2011

A one-member expedition for NANGA PARBAT needs climbing partners to reduce the expedition cost.

The team will embark on its mission between 1st - 15th of June this year from Islamabad.

Interested climbers may contact us at hunzaholidaysplus@gmail.com, info@hunzaholidaysplus.com

 

 

Pak-China border opening heralds a revival of tourism industry 2011-05-01

Gojal- The Pak-China border was opened for all types of tourists and logistic services between the two countries here on Sunday.

Both the khunjarab security force (KSF), the Pakistani security force responsible to look after the border and their Chinese counterparts were present at the border that opened the gates by formally cutting of the band.

Owing to the harsh terrain and the extreme weather conditions on both sides of the border, the khunjarab pass, a gateway connecting the two countries remains closed from December to April.

Reopening of the road this year has left the business community scratching their heads as the kkh still remains closed due to the Attaabad Lake, the artificial lake formed due to land slide last year that completely submerged 15 kms of the KKH cutting Gojal valley, the gateway to china from rest of the world. The valley still remains stranded although boat service had been provided for the area in the immediate aftermath of the Attaabad disaster.

The disaster brings a dual with it as the lake adds to the list of tourist hotspots that Gojal, known as the museum of glaciers in the world of tourism offers for visitors.

Though the lake remained largely unnoticed by tourists last year due to the floods that swept the country from the mountains of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to the plains of Indus basin in Sindh besides the militancy menace caused a huge loss to the local tourism industry.

The country is recovering from ruins of the flood that left hundreds homeless and depriving thousands from their valuables and the situation of law and order is improving with each passing day.

Giants of the local tourism industry are of the view that the year will witness a revival of the tourism industry as the seasons start serves a good omen with globe trotters turning to the high valleys and mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Nazir sabir, the renowned mountaineer said the tourism industry is witnessing a revival this year and expressed his optimism in the future of the tourism industry. “we are having a good start this year that has given hope and confidence to the thousands of people whose income in affiliated with the industry” he added.
He said due to the harsh weather conditions during the winters the tourism industry in Gilgit-Baltistan is a “‘Six-month phenomenon.’ “Tourists start mounting Pakistan during the summers usually besides its quite difficult for mountaineers to do the job in winters” he added.

Aziz, a hotel owner from Gojal while talking to this scribe said his hotel remained literally closed for over two years. “the start of the season has given me hope and I am quite happy to have guests from around the globe back to my hotel” he added. He said the tourist season had a good start and has brought back what he called ‘the fast wilting hope’ of the people whose future is associated with the industry. We are rising from ruins” observed.

The government has set up a special department realizing the potential of tourism in the region. An official of the gilgit-baltistan tourism department said the government was planning a number of initiatives for promotion of tourism in the region. “As we have a good start this year, the government is planning a number of initiatives for promotion of tourism” he added. He said the tourism department was in touch with the tour operators for the betterment and improvement of the tourism industry in the region.

Qaklasht Festival promotes the cultural and social heritage of Chitral Valley

Chitral, April 16: Chitral is very peaceful and a paradise-like place home to a peace loving and rich cultural  heritage. Chitral has great potential as an eco-tourism site.

These views were express by Mrs Robin Raphel ,Ccountry Director at United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She along with a former US ambassador was present at the Quarter Final polo match. She highly appreciated the hospitality and peace loving nature of the Chitralis.

Earlier she was briefed by Shamsuddin, Manager Chitral Association for Mountain Areas Tourism (CAMAT), about the role of his organization in promotion of Eco Tourism in the Hindukush region. R

The 4 days Qaqlasht festival is underway at a scenic plateau, 80 kilomter away from Chiltral town, close to Booni, Mastuj Tehsil. The festival, aimed at promotion of Chitrali culture, is celebrated every year from April 14 – 17.

Free style polo, football, Volley ball, Cricket, Hockhy, Marathon race, Tug of War, shooting , cultural variety programs and and poetical sessions are some of the festival’s highlights.

Final events of the Qaklasht festival would be held on April 17 if the weather remain favourable. A large number of local people as well as some national and foreign tourists are enjoying colorful events during the festival in a very peaceful environment.

For more information please visit Pamir Times

Khunjerab Pass

The ultimate climax of the trip on the KKH is the Khunjerab Pass, which is at an altitude of 4,733 meters (15,620 feet). It is one of the highest paved road connecting Pakistan Northern area to China western provinces. From Sust, the immigration post on Pakistan's side, you climb gradually till you reach close to the pass, where series of hair-pin turns takes you even higher, and then to the plateau of this remote pass.

If you are going into China you will require a visa/passport. If not, tell the immigration post on Pakistan side at Sust that you are just going to the pass and returning.

The KKH also traverse through the Khunjerab National Park reserve, and further down Susut there is a post that may ask you to pay entrance fee to this. In our car we had a Pak Army officer, so we were able to go for free ;)

Mountain views are awesome. You can observe the scenery changing, on distant mountains yaks grazing, and orange colored marmot running around. At one moment you are below the clouds and its cloudy, then the other on top, and its sunny with blue skies.

Usually Khunjerab is officially opened from 1st May to end of December. Crossing is weather dependent as during winter, the pass is closed due to snow

Patundass Meadows

This stunning trek goes along the Batura Glaciers. Patundas is a summer pasture with an altitude of above 4000 meters. The villagers of Ghulkin take there cattle to this green pasture from June to August. The fascinating view of Passu Peak 7284m, Batura Peak 7500m, Shishper 7619m, Dasteghil Sar 7885, Momhil Sar 7342 and Rakaposhi with the height of 7788m all around you. The trek starts at Borit Lake and goes through Passugar, Luzhdar and Patundas and along the glaciers. This is an easy and short trek recommended for all ages and does not require any good physical condition.

Rush Lake

Rush Lake is a high altitude lake located near Rush Pari Peak (5,098 m). At over 4,694 meters, Rush is one of the highest alpine lakes in the world. It is located about 15 km north of Miar Peak and Spantik (Golden Peak), which are in the Nagar valley. Rush Lake and Rush Peak can be reached via Nagar and Hopar and via the Hopar Glacier (Bualtar Glacier) and Miar Glacier, which rises from Miar and Phuparash peaks. The trek to Rush Lake provides spectacular views of Spantik, Malubiting, Miar Peak, Phuparash Peak and Ultar Sar.

Things to do in Hunza valley

• Baltit Fort
• Ultar Meadows Trek
• Rakaposhi base camp Trek
• Hoper Glacier Trek
• Rush Lake Trek
• Batura Trek
• Patundass Meadows Trek
• Shimshal Pass Trek
• Khunjerab Pass
• Sun Rising/Set at Duiker
• Altit Fort
• Ondra Fort