Camps up to 3500 m, easy way back. Less than 10 km/day, no river crossing, no dangerous parts.
Probably the most popular trek across Pakistan. At the foot of Nanga Parbat, the last Himalayan pillar, Fairy Meadows Valley is covered with cedar forests, giants glaciers. It is an easy walk.
Easy, if you take the jeep up to Jel. The route is well marked up to Beyal, after you must be accustomed to walk following cairns.
If you do not take the jeep is a little harder, it is 14 endless and little pleasant kilometres … if you can, sleep in "Raikot Bridge" and go from dawn taking a lot of water There is none along the way! You can count 7 to 10 hours walking and over 1200 metres altitude.
Guides and porters :
From Gilgit to Beyal, there will always be someone, the best thing, of course, is to hire a guide or porter before leaving. When the jeep stops in Jel they are many of them, negotiate, they tend to get excited with prices!
To get there :
If you organize a "special" from Gilgit, be aware it will not go further than the Raikot Bridge. The road that climbs up Fairy Meadows is private and reserved. Lots of jeeps are waiting for you with a fixed price of 3000 rps in 2007! This is right, they could raise prices up to 100 € they would always have success. They do not bargain, even in Urdu… it is it or you walk. It is possible to go by three.
If you take this option, give the date and time of your return, the payment will be made at the "Raikot Bridge"
To sleep :
There are some hotels and guesthouses all along the way; this is not what is lacking. Count 100 to 150 rps for a tent and up to 1500 rps for a luxury bungalow. The average is between 300 rps in Beyal and 800 rps in Fairy Meadows, following the seasons. Food cost around 200 - 300 rps / person.
From March to November.
Gilgit is the best option; there is less choice in Jaglot or Chilas.
Day 1
Departure: 2650 m Arrival: 3300 m -10 m + 660 m Distance: 6 km Length: 2 to 3 hours
When you arrive in Jel, cross the little stream that comes from the right and pass in front of the chop-bars where you will be inevitably offered teas, porters, and horses.
The path is obvious and after a hundred metres it shifts to the right back climbing above the river left bank. The ascent is steep, after a good half an hour you can see below on the left a beautiful narrowing of the main river followed by a canyon on the right bank. 4 km after come the first trees, which are quickly replaced by a beautiful cedar forest. The slope softens a little. This portion is very pleasant, half an hour after walking this way the path gets steep, turns in a sharp bend and goes up during 1 km up to Fairy meadows
Water : At the departure, in the woods and in Fairy Meadows
Day 2
Departure: 3300 m Arrival: 3500 m -15 m + 275 m Distance: 5 km Length: 2 to 3 hours
Don’t go down, cross Fairy Meadows until you find the path along the cliff again, be careful edges are unstable. 200 m after there is a junction; turn left, the view is incredible, and the drop quiet. An hour later the path gets away from the cliff and enters the woods, gradually a small valley emerges, continue to climb. Along the way, there are many springs; go through a hamlet of shepherds, Beyal is 500 m further; there are many guesthouses once again.
Water : At the departure, in the woods and in Fairy Meadows
Day 3
Departure: 3500 m Arrival: 2650 m -935 m + 25 m Distance: 5 km Length: 2 to 3 hours
Go back the same way
WARNING Treks described in this rubric have all been walked by the author, itineraries are detailed daily, maps and pictures illustrate them. On no account these sheets will replace the experience of a local guide; they are complementary and should be taken as such! Never go alone, without warning anybody! The course of some trails might change from one year to another, landslides, mud slides are numerous enough.
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