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Shimshal (3100M) is the remotest area of the Hunza Valley, bordering with China in Gojal and access is by link jeep able road to Karakorum Highway at Passu Village. The people of Shimshal are Wakhi and speak Wakhi language, their culture and tradition is unique. Due to being remotest and difficult accessibility, much of their tradition and culture have been remained intact. In ancient time these people were passing very simple life dictated by the seasons and nature around them.
Every year in the month of May, the people of Shimshal use to take their livestock to high pastures of the Pamir for grazing from month of May to October. During these five months they take care of their yak, sheep and goats, collect the butter, cheese, and yeast for their families for the harsh winter season. The most of their income comes from the sale of yak, which is very expensive also sell the goats now in the market of central Hunza. They sell butter, dry cheese, wool and from the hair of yak make the local carpet. They have very vast pastures and providing grazing for thousands of sheep and goats and these pastures lie in the high altitudes where life is very simple in the nature and hard.
Normally livestock is cared by the women, the women and children are going to these pastures with yak, sheep and goats, this makes the high pastures a lively and colorful to visit. They are going to the pastures all to-gather with families and live for five months with animals. And in October they come down to-gather, on these occasions while going up to the pastures in the month of May and coming down in October make festivals called “KUCH” that means travel. In the month of May around 10 to 15 going up to pastures make the festival and while coming down in October around 10-15 October and make the festival “KUCH”.
ITINERARY:
Day-01: Arrival to Islamabad airport, sightseeing/hotel
Day-02: Fly to Gilgit or drive on Karakorum Highway to Chilas 12-14 hrs/hotel
Day-03: Drive to Karimabad Hunza, overnight at hotel
Day-04: Day free at Karimabad for local visits/ hotel
Day-05: Hike up to Ultar or walk around/hotel
Day-06: Continue to Shimshal/ local house
Day-07: Day free at Shimshal depending over the start of kuch from
Day-08: Trek to Wuch Furzeen (3365m) 7-8 hours and 15.1km distance with 685 ascents, 320 descents / camp and overnight at the tent
Day-09: Trek to Shuizherav (4350m) 6-7 hours 18
Day-10: Trek to Shimshal Pass 3-4 hour’s 8 km (4735m), 385 ascents,
Day-11: Day free for local exploration
Day-12: Day free
Day-13: Trek back to Purien – e- Ben 6-7 hrs, camp and overnight at ten
Day-14: Trek to Shimshal Village 7-8 hours/local house
Day-15: Continue to Karimabad /hotel
Day-16: Drive to Gilgit 2hrs then fly to Islamabad or drive to Besham or Naran/hotel
Day-17: Day free at Islamabad or continue from Besham or Naran to Islamabad/hotel
Day-18: Departure from Islamabad (drop to the airport)
