Fairy Meadow Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek

FAIRY MEADOW NANGA PARBAT BASE CAMP TREK

This trek is located in the Himalayas of Pakistan in the Diamir district of Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), in the northern flank of the Nanga Parbat and a few kilometers south of Karakorum Highway and Indus River at Chilas. Fairy Meadows is a lush green plateau at 3300M, offering a breathtaking view of the Nanga Parbat Mountain at 8126M, also called “KILLER MOUNTAIN” because of its reputation that many climbers have lost their lives while conquering it. The Nanga Parbat is in the western part of the Himalayan Mountain Range, is the western anchor, and then starts the Karakorum Mountain Range. It is the 2nd highest Peak in Pakistan and 9th position in the world, has been climbed first time by Mr. Herman Buhl, the Austrian climber in 1953. The lush green meadow and forests lie at the base camp of Nanga Parbat at the western edge of the Himalayas. Fairy Meadow is a very peaceful and relaxing place to enjoy the mountain atmosphere and hospitality of the local people. Fairy Meadow offers easy access to the base camp of the above 8000M peak and one of the world’s finest mountain panoramas with several excellent day short side trips and climbs. This is one of the easiest treks in Pakistan and is also easily accessible from the Karakorum Highway, which suits all levels of trekkers. It is about 550km from Rawalpindi or Islamabad on Karakorum Highway to Raikot Bridge (1400M), from where you will have the local jeeps to Jhal 2700M and half hour’s drive on amazing jeep road. The road ends at Jhal, where there is a tea shop to have tea or lunch, from here the trek starts, can have porters or horses too. It is a 2-3 hrs easy walk on a simple route to the Fairy Meadows 3300M, there are various camping sites also built wood huts, where your night could be comfortable. You may take your sleeping tents but there are sleeping tents with mattresses and sleeping bags available at the camping sites. You do not need to bring from down, meals are available in the restaurants. Here is a nice place to relax just in the fort of Nanga Parbat. From here it is easy to walk 2-3 hrs through the forest to the edge of the plateau called BEYAL 3500M and there are also camping sites, huts, and restaurants. A little ahead there is a point of Nanga Parbat that offers a magnificent view of the North Face of Nanga Parbat and sounding mountains. You may have a full-day excursion to the Base Camp
of Nanga Parbat (4-5 hrs go and back to Beyal) which is about 3900M. Fairy Meadow is access from the Raikot Bridge which is on the Karakorum Highway, between Gilgit and Chilas. You may have the flight to Gilgit 1 hrs from Islamabad then by road to Raikot Bridge 50 Km. There is also an option from Naran via Babu Sar Pass to Chilas and on KKH to Raikot Bridge.