Live the life of a shepherd at the roof of the world

After an early breakfast, we embark on a picturesque drive northward into the Himalayan foothills, making our way to the lush alpine town of Naran, nestled in the scenic Kaghan Valley. The journey covers approximately 270 km and takes about 7–8 hours, weaving through a mix of bustling towns and tranquil mountain landscapes.

Along the way, you’ll pass through Abbottabad, the historic town of Mansehra, and charming roadside bazaars. The drive becomes especially stunning as we ascend into the Kaghan Valley, with the Kunhar River running alongside and snow-capped peaks towering above. We’ll stop for lunch in Balakot, with opportunities for photos at river bends, waterfalls, and pine-covered ridges.

By afternoon, we arrive in Naran, a popular summer town surrounded by dramatic mountains and alpine meadows. You’ll have time to unwind, stroll around the local market, or enjoy a walk along the riverbank. Weather permitting, we’ll take a short evening excursion to Lake Saif-ul-Muluk (optional), a glacial lake known for its beauty and local folklore.

Tonight, enjoy a hearty dinner and prepare for the next leg of your journey deeper into the north.

Accommodation: Hotel in Naran
Travel Distance: 270 km
Travel Time: 7–8 hours
Altitude: 2,409 meters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast in Naran, we set off on a dramatic and scenic drive to Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. The journey covers approximately 270 km and takes around 8–9 hours, traversing some of the most stunning mountain landscapes in Pakistan.

Our route takes us up and over the majestic Babusar Pass (4,173 m) — a high-mountain gateway offering panoramic views of the western Himalayas. We’ll stop for photos and tea at the top before descending into Chilas, where the terrain shifts from alpine green to stark, dramatic rock faces.

From Chilas, we merge onto the legendary Karakoram Highway (KKH) and continue along the Indus River, passing through deep gorges and towering cliffs. This stretch of road is considered one of the most scenic and engineering-marvel routes in the world.

We’ll arrive in Gilgit by late afternoon or early evening. After check-in at the hotel, you’ll have time to rest or take a short walk to explore the Gilgit Bazaar, known for its dry fruits, gemstones, and local handicrafts.

Accommodation: Comfortable hotel in Gilgit
Travel Distance: 270 km
Travel Time: 8–9 hours
Altitude: 1,500 meters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast in Gilgit, we begin our off-the-beaten-path journey toward Shimshal Valley, one of the most remote and culturally rich settlements in the Upper Hunza region. This adventurous day involves a drive of around 190 km, taking 7–8 hours, with the final stretch on a narrow jeep track that winds through sheer cliffs and deep gorges.

We first follow the Karakoram Highway north, passing Passu Cones, Attabad Lake, and the turquoise waters of Hunza River — offering countless photo opportunities. At the village of Khyber, we leave the KKH and begin the ascent into Shimshal Gorge, a thrilling and unforgettable ride only accessible by 4×4 vehicles.

This jeep track to Shimshal is considered one of the most adventurous roads in the world, with stunning views of vertical rock walls, hanging glaciers, and the wild Shimshal River below. The slow climb is part of the adventure, and your local driver is highly experienced.

Upon reaching Shimshal, you’ll receive a warm Wakhi welcome by your host family. Dinner will be served at your homestay, and your guide will brief you on the upcoming trek into the high-altitude Pamir pastures.

Accommodation: Family-run homestay in Shimshal
Travel Distance: 190 km
Travel Time: 7–8 hours
Altitude: 3,100 meters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today marks the true beginning of your shepherd’s journey. After an early local breakfast, we start our trek toward the Pamir pastures — either Chaporso or Shuijerab, depending on seasonal movement of herders and accessibility. The trek is 14–18 km, gaining over 1,000 meters in altitude, and takes approximately 6–8 hours, depending on group pace and route conditions.

The trail winds through steep mountain paths, suspension bridges, and narrow gorges. Along the way, you’ll cross glacial streams, pass herds of yaks and goats, and spot alpine wildlife such as Himalayan ibex and marmots. Your experienced local guide and porters will ensure safety, and pack animals will carry supplies.

As you climb higher, the air thins and the landscape transforms into vast alpine meadows — known locally as Pamirs — where the Wakhi shepherds live during summer months. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by the shepherd community and introduced to the stone shepherd huts (chhupaan) or eco-camp where you’ll stay.

Spend the evening around the hearth, sipping buttered tea, sharing stories with locals, and preparing for your immersive days ahead.

Accommodation: Shared shepherd hut or eco-camp tent
Trek Distance: 14–18 km
Trek Duration: 6–8 hours
Starting Altitude: 3,100 m
Ending Altitude: 4,200 m
Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Wake up to the sounds of bleating goats and the golden light of sunrise over the Pamir peaks. Today, you step into the role of a Wakhi shepherd. After breakfast — usually fresh bread, tea, and yogurt — your host will guide you through the morning milking routine, teaching you how to milk yaks and goats by hand.

Once the animals are ready, you’ll accompany local herders into the high alpine grazing fields, walking 3–5 km through flower-dotted pastures. You’ll learn how shepherds manage herds, read weather signs, and use traditional whistles to communicate across valleys.

Lunch is often simple and rustic — fresh curd, bread, and tea under the open sky. Return to the huts in the late afternoon for a session on cheese-making using age-old methods. Help create qurut (dried yogurt balls) and Yak cheese, which are central to the local diet and trade.

In the evening, gather around a fire for storytelling, songs, and shepherd folklore under a blanket of stars. With no light pollution and clear skies, the Milky Way is often vividly visible.

Accommodation: Shepherd hut or tent
Altitude Range: 4,200–4,300 m
Daily Activity: 3–5 km walking with herders
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today offers deeper immersion into daily life on the roof of the world. The morning begins with routine herding tasks, but the focus shifts to the cultural and domestic roles within the shepherd community — especially those maintained by women in the Pamirs.

You’ll learn how to spin yak or goat wool, using traditional tools, and may even try your hand at weaving simple items. These hand-spun materials are used to create socks, ropes, rugs, and even parts of their clothing. Participate in cooking local dishes like chapshuro (meat-filled bread) or diltar, a seasonal pancake-style bread made on open fire.

Take part in firewood gathering, and help prepare the stone stoves used for heating and cooking. The shepherds will teach you how they manage their limited resources at such high altitude and how they preserve food for the long winter months.

In the afternoon, there’s time for personal exploration, photography, or a short hike to a nearby glacier or viewpoint with panoramic views of the surrounding 6000-meter peaks.

This slower-paced day allows for rest, reflection, and deeper cultural exchange with your hosts — a chance to live not just like a traveler, but as part of a family.

Accommodation: Shepherd hut or eco-camp
Altitude: 4,200 m
Daily Activity: Cultural immersion, short hikes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is flexible and tailored to your interest and energy level. For those seeking more adventure, an optional guided hike to a nearby glacier or high ridge viewpoint is available. These moderate treks (6–10 km round-trip) offer stunning views of surrounding peaks like Minglik Sar (6,050 m) and access to untouched alpine landscapes. Along the way, you may spot wild ibex, alpine birds, and unique highland flora.

If you prefer a slower day, stay at the shepherd camp and continue engaging in daily activities: tending livestock, repairing stone corrals, or helping prepare winter food stores. You might also learn traditional Pamiri songs or dances, or assist with preserving dairy in the form of sun-dried cheese balls (qurut) — a local staple.

This is also a good day to rest and acclimatize, especially as you’re staying at an altitude above 4,000 meters. Your hosts will likely include you in seasonal rituals, storytelling, or traditional crafts, depending on the timing of your visit.

As the sun sets behind the mountains, enjoy your final evening in the Pamir pastures, gathered around a fire, listening to the night sounds of the high Himalayas — an experience few ever witness.

Accommodation: Shepherd hut or eco-camp
Altitude: 4,200–4,400 m
Activity Options: 6–10 km glacier hike or cultural/rest day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your final full day in the pastures is a time for gratitude, celebration, and reflection. You’ll help with morning duties — milking, grazing, and cooking — now likely more confidently than when you arrived. By now, you’re no longer just a visitor; you’ve become part of this high-mountain family.

Today is about honoring the connection built with your hosts. You may help bake traditional bread in the stone ovens, assist in crafting souvenirs from local materials, or sit down for a long conversation with elders, translated by your guide. This is the perfect opportunity to document stories, take portraits, or record songs (with permission), preserving memories for a lifetime.

In the evening, a farewell gathering will be held in your honor. Expect a simple yet deeply meaningful shepherd’s feast with handmade dishes, chai, and possibly even live Wakhi music and dance under the stars. You’ll receive a symbolic gift — perhaps a woven thread or a small keepsake — as a gesture of your shared journey.

Before turning in, your guide will brief you on the next day’s descent back to Shimshal Village.

Accommodation: Shepherd hut or eco-camp
Altitude: 4,200 m
Activity: Cultural engagement, farewell celebration
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a heartfelt goodbye to your hosts and the sweeping alpine pastures, we begin our descent back to Shimshal Village. The return trek covers the same 14–18 km route and takes 6–7 hours, mostly downhill. With lighter packs and familiar paths, the journey is smoother and offers more opportunities to appreciate the dramatic Shimshal Gorge, glacial rivers, and unique geological formations.

You’ll retrace the yak trails, pass wildflower meadows, and cross suspension bridges once again — but this time with a deeper sense of connection and achievement. As you lower in altitude, the air becomes warmer and richer with oxygen, easing your pace.

On arrival in Shimshal, your host family will welcome you back with smiles, warm tea, and a hearty meal. The comfort of a home-cooked dinner and a cozy bed will feel well-earned after days in the wilderness.

The evening is free for rest, journaling, or strolling around the village to see local life — schoolchildren, farmers, and elders in traditional dress — and reflect on your transformative week in the Pamirs.

Accommodation: Homestay in Shimshal Village
Trek Distance: 14–18 km
Trek Duration: 6–7 hours
Altitude Loss: From 4,200 m to 3,100 m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast with your host family in Shimshal, it’s time to say farewell to the valley that hosted your unforgettable shepherd experience. Today, we begin the return journey, starting with the rugged 4×4 jeep ride out of Shimshal Gorge — a thrilling and dramatic 4–5 hour drive back to Passu on the Karakoram Highway.

As you descend, the landscape gradually shifts from the stark, high-altitude terrain of the Pamirs to the more fertile and forested slopes of Upper Hunza. Along the way, you’ll once again see the striking Passu Cones, the shimmering surface of Attabad Lake, and the iconic suspension bridges for which Hunza is known.

We’ll stop for lunch at a scenic point along the highway, perhaps with views of the Hunza River or a short visit to a viewpoint overlooking Passu Glacier.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Karimabad, the cultural heart of Hunza. After checking into a charming guesthouse, there’s time to relax or explore the old village lanes. Enjoy a warm local dinner with apricot soup, walnut cake, or other Hunza delicacies.

Accommodation: Heritage guesthouse in Karimabad
Travel Distance: ~110 km
Travel Time: 6–7 hours total (jeep + paved road)
Altitude: 2,500 meters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today offers a wonderful balance of cultural exploration and comfortable travel. After breakfast, begin a guided walking tour of Karimabad, the historic capital of the Hunza Kingdom. You’ll visit Baltit Fort, a 700-year-old stone structure perched on a natural promontory, once home to the Mirs (rulers) of Hunza. The fort offers panoramic views of the Hunza Valley, Ultar Peak, and Ladyfinger.

Continue to Altit Fort, recently restored and recognized as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, and explore the charming Altit village, where stone alleyways and apricot orchards reveal centuries of sustainable mountain living. You’ll also have time to shop for local handicrafts, organic dried fruits, and gemstones in the local market.

After lunch in Karimabad, we depart for Gilgit, driving along the Karakoram Highway once more. The journey is short and scenic — approximately 100 km, taking 3–4 hours. Arrive in Gilgit by evening and check into a comfortable hotel.

Dinner tonight is a celebration of the journey — a chance to share photos, stories, and reflections on your shepherding experience and your time in the Karakoram.

Accommodation: Hotel in Gilgit
Travel Distance: 100 km
Travel Time: 3–4 hours
Altitude: 1,500 meters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depending on weather and your travel preferences, today you’ll either fly to Islamabad or begin the overland return journey by road toward Naran.

If you fly, you’ll enjoy one of the most scenic flights in the world, passing over Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) and the western Himalayas, arriving in Islamabad within an hour. The rest of the day is free to relax at your hotel, explore the city, or do some souvenir shopping.

If flying is not possible due to weather (which is common in the mountains), we will begin the 8–9 hour drive to Naran via Babusar Pass, stopping along the way for meals and short walks. While longer, this road journey is full of dramatic landscapes, rivers, and changing ecosystems as you descend from high mountains to alpine forests and eventually back into the warmer lowlands.

Whether by air or road, this transitional day brings you closer to the comforts of city life, offering time to reflect on your extraordinary experiences in Pakistan’s far north.

Accommodation: Hotel in Islamabad or Naran
Flight: 1 hour
Road: ~270 km (8–9 hours)
Altitude: From 1,500 m to 540 m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depending on your route back from Gilgit, today is either a well-deserved rest day in Islamabad or the final travel day from Naran to Islamabad.

If you arrived by flight on Day 13, enjoy a relaxed day to explore the peaceful, green capital of Pakistan at your own pace. Optional activities include a guided tour of key landmarks such as the striking Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, or Lok Virsa Museum, which offers fascinating insights into Pakistan’s diverse cultural heritage. You may also choose to visit the Saidpur Village or shop for artisanal souvenirs at Jinnah Super Market or F-6 craft bazaar.

For those who overnighted in Naran due to road travel, you’ll begin your final leg of the journey today. The drive from Naran to Islamabad takes approximately 6–7 hours, passing again through the scenic Kaghan Valley and eventually descending into the plains of Punjab.

Once in Islamabad, check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening. A farewell dinner will be hosted at a local restaurant, allowing you to share final reflections, exchange contacts with fellow travelers, and celebrate the completion of a rare and meaningful journey.

Accommodation: Hotel in Islamabad
From Naran: 6–7 hours by road
In Islamabad: Free day or guided tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Islamabad International Airport for your return flight home. Depending on your schedule, there may be time for a last stroll or coffee with new friends before your journey ends.

As you board your flight, you carry with you not just photos and souvenirs, but the memories of remote mountain pastures, the warmth of the Wakhi shepherds, and the rare experience of living, even briefly, at the roof of the world.

Thank you for choosing to be part of this sustainable, community-based adventure. Your participation helps support local families, traditional practices, and cultural preservation in one of the most isolated corners of the world.

We hope this is not goodbye, but “khuda hafiz” — until we meet again.

Meals: Breakfast
Included: Airport transfer

Yes, altitude sickness can be a concern as we spend multiple days above 4,000 meters. However, the itinerary is designed with gradual acclimatization and rest days. We recommend arriving well-rested, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol. Your guide is trained in altitude awareness and will monitor participants closely. Medication like Diamox may also be discussed with your doctor in advance.

Accommodations vary throughout the journey. In cities like Islamabad and Gilgit, you’ll stay in comfortable hotels or guesthouses. In Shimshal, local family-run homestays offer basic yet cozy hospitality. During the Pamir stay, you’ll live in traditional shepherd huts or eco-camps, with shared facilities. Expect minimal electricity, no Wi-Fi, and compost toilets — it’s all part of the immersive, off-grid experience.

All meals are included, offering a mix of local Wakhi dishes and standard Pakistani cuisine. In mountain areas, food is simple but nutritious, featuring chapati, rice, lentils, vegetables, yak yogurt, and meat (when available). We use locally sourced, organic ingredients and filtered or boiled water for cooking. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice. Bottled or filtered drinking water is provided throughout.

Essential items include: layered clothing for cold nights and warm days, a durable backpack, waterproof hiking boots, sunblock, trekking poles, a down jacket, and a headlamp. A complete packing list will be shared upon booking. Keep in mind that weather in the Pamirs can change rapidly, so gear for wind, rain, and sun is a must. Minimalism is key — pack smart, not heavy.

This trip is ideal for solo travelers, small groups, or adventurous couples. While we welcome families, the remote terrain and basic facilities make it best suited for children over 14 who are physically active. Solo travelers are grouped with others and often find the experience incredibly bonding. Shared accommodations are standard, with options to request private space (if available).

The best time to join this experience is between mid-June and early September. During this window, the Pamir pastures are inhabited by shepherds, and weather conditions are stable for trekking. The high passes are snow-free, the valleys bloom with wildflowers, and local communities are fully active. Outside these months, access roads and trails may be closed due to snow or landslides.

Shimshal is accessed via a 4×4 jeep track from Passu, taking 4–5 hours along a dramatic mountain gorge. The road is remote but maintained, and your driver will be a local expert accustomed to these conditions. Safety is our top priority — we travel during daylight, avoid risky weather windows, and always have backup support and satellite communication in remote areas.

Shimshal is home to the Wakhi people, a culturally rich, hospitable, and traditional Muslim community. Modest dress is appreciated — especially in villages. You’ll be briefed on cultural do’s and don’ts, such as how to greet elders, mealtime etiquette, and when to ask for photos. Respect, curiosity, and an open heart go a long way in building meaningful connections here.

Yes, most travelers need a tourist visa to enter Pakistan. The process has become much easier with the online e-visa system (https://visa.nadra.gov.pk). We’ll provide supporting documents such as a letter of invitation, itinerary, and hotel details to assist your application. It’s advisable to apply at least 3–4 weeks before your travel date to avoid delays.

Absolutely. This experience is built on community-based tourism principles. Your stay directly supports local shepherd families, promotes cultural preservation, and provides income in remote areas where economic opportunities are scarce. We practice low-impact trekking, use biodegradable products, avoid plastic waste, and aim to leave a positive footprint on both the environment and the community.

Safety is paramount. Our guides carry first-aid kits, satellite phones, and are trained in wilderness first response and high-altitude illness protocols. The trek route is within evacuation range to Shimshal Village, from where we can access the nearest hospital in Gilgit. While this is a remote expedition, contingency plans are in place for timely assistance in emergencies.