The Rupal Valley is located in the Astore District of Pakistan’s Northern Areas. It lies just south of 8,126 meter Nanga Parbat and is popular for treks to the mountain’s Rupal Face, one of highest mountain faces in the world. Rupal Village is located in the valley at 35°13′38.76″N 74°42′26.60″E / 35.2274333°N 74.7073889°E...

 Read More »

Bandala is a valley in Azad Kashmir located about 26 kilometres from Bhimber in Pakistan. The valley stretches from the river Tawi in the east to the Samahni valley in the west. The Reech Pahari (Bear Mountain) runs parallel on the northern side and the Baghsar mountain on the southern side. The valley is about 10 kilometres long and about 1.5 kilometres...

 Read More »

Shandur Top (el. 12,200 ft.) is a high mountain pass that connects Chitral to the Gilgit in Pakistan.

The top is flat, a plateau and can be crossed between late April and early November. The grade is very gradual, and the area is crossed by small streams of trout. Grazing in summer is plentiful.

Every year there is a polo match played...

 Read More »

The Mintaka Pass (also known as Minteke Pass) (el. 4709 m./15,450 ft.) is a mountain pass in the Karakorum Mountains, between Pakistan and Xinjiang in China. The Mintaka Pass and the nearby Kilik Pass (4,827 m or 15,837 ft (4,827 m) high; 37° 05′ N; 74° 41′ E), 30 km to the west, were, in ancient times, the two main access points into...

 Read More »

The ‘Kilik Pass’ (el. 4827 m./15,837 ft.), 30 km to the west of Mintaka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Karakorum Mountains between Pakistan and Xinjiang in China. The two passes were, in ancient times, the two main access points into the Upper Hunza Valley (also called Gojal Valley) from the north.

It should not be confused...

 Read More »

Khunjerab Pass (simplified Chinese: 红其拉甫山口; traditional Chinese: 紅其拉甫山口; pinyin: hóngqílāfǔ shānkŏu) (elevation 4,693 metres (15,400 ft)) is a high mountain pass in the Karakorum Mountains on the northern border of Pakistan and the Xinjiang Autonmous Region of China. The name is derived from Wakhi for Blood Valley.

The...

 Read More »

Dorah Pass, also spelled and pronounced Durah Pass, connects Badakshan in Afghanistan with Chitral in Pakistan. The Dorah Pass is more than 14,000 feet (4,300 m) high. It crosses the Hindu Kush. It became important during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan because the Soviets were unable to stop the flow of arms and men back and forth across the...

 Read More »

Darkot pass (el. 15,430 ft., open May thru October) is a high mountain pass that connects Yarkhun river valley in Chitral to the Ghizar valley (Gupis tehsil of Ghizer district) in Gilgit in Pakistan. It is also known under name Darkut.

The pass is about 10 miles to the east of Koyo Zom (Zum) peak (6872m), the highest peak in Ghizer district....

 Read More »

Chillinji pass (el. 17,503 ft., also marked as 17,360 ft.) is a high mountain pass that connects Karambar river valley (upper Gilgit valley) in Ishkoman tehsil of Ghizer district with Chapursan river valley (upper Hunza valley) in Gojal tehsil of Gilgit district in the Northern Areas in Pakistan. It is also spelled as Chilinji.

The pass is...

 Read More »

The Burzil Pass situated at a height of 13,500ft above sea level is an ancient pass and caravan route between Srinagar in Kashmir and Gilgit. This route was active up to Pakistan’s independence. The travellers used horses and ponies to cross the pass. The pass lies close to the Indo-Pak line of control that has since closed the Burzil.

The...

 Read More »