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Both Fairy Meadows and Astore are regions of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan that are named after the famous mountain, Nanga Parbat, which stands at 8,126 meters and is the ninth tallest mountain in the world. The north side approach of the mountain, which includes the infamous Nanga Parbat Glacier, can be accessed via Fairy Meadows. The south face of the mountain can be accessed from the Rupal Valley which is in Astore. Taking a tour to both of these regions provides a more in depth look at this beautiful region of Pakistan.
Because of the closeness of Nanga Parbat and the fact that two of the most popular approaches to the mountain are from both of these regions, it provides a good reason for travelers to visit both regions during the same trip. The north face of Nanga Parbat is technically the easiest of the three major faces of the mountain, and the standard route to base camp is via Fairy Meadows. The south face of Nanga Parbat is in Astore and is noted for its extreme height, roughly 4,500 meters, and is the tallest face of a mountain in the world.
The combination of both regions, because of the proximity of Nanga Parbat, provides the ability for travelers to see the northern most regions of the mountain (Fairy Meadows) as well as some of the most remote southern regions of the mountain (Astore). Rama Meadows and Lake of Astore are added as additional stops on the tour for its alpine scenic beauty.
These can definitely be considered stand alone destinations. Many travelers choose to combine them as there is not a significant amount of additional driving once you have reached Fairy Meadows. All of the beautiful sights along the Karakoram Highway and the Astore Valley can be seen on this route.
A. Islamabad to Raikot Bridge
Raikot Bridge is the last major town before Fairy Meadows and is accessible via the Karakoram Highway. From Islamabad it is approximately 360 to 380 kilometers. Driving time is generally 8 to 10 hours, with many travelers spending the night in Chilas which is approximately 260 to 280 kilometers from Islamabad.
B. The Jeep Track to Tato
The only access road to Fairy Meadows terminates at Tato Village. From Raikot Bridge it is a steep and very winding one hour to one and a half hour drive. Many of the switchbacks on this road are very narrow and require that vehicles drivesstraddle the center line.
This track is quite challenging and not for the faint hearted. Many find the jeep ride more difficult than the following hike. For those with a serious fear of exposure and a lack of confidence on high mountains jeep tracks, this track may not be for you.
From Tato it takes around 3-4 hours (depending on your speed and how long you take on breaks) to hike to Fairy Meadows. The track follows through a forested area and then opens to the meadows. Many hikers and trekkers hire or utilize a horse to transport their equipment or hike the track to Fairy Meadows.
From Fairy Meadows you can hike to Nanga Parbat's base camp (Beyal camp) in around 4-5 hours. Again this is an out and back hike.
From Astore you can take the Karakoram Highway towards Gilgit for around 2-3 hours to reach the Astore district. The roads within the district are improving but the condition and quality of the mountain roads remains the same.
Another route from Deosai leads to Skardu district, and this route may be useful for people combining Deosai with Astore. However, this is not the case for people using the KKH.
A. The Meadow
At around 3,300 meters, Fairy Meadows is a grassy, level expanse in a forested, bowl-shaped valley, and is considered one of the most beautiful scenic spots in Pakistan. Like many alpine meadows, Fairy Meadows is bare and exposed, and gives the sensation of being on high, open grounds. The main attraction of Fairy Meadows is the close, unobstructed views of Nanga Parbat. The meadows are at their lushest and most beautiful from June to August. Fairy Meadows is a long and remote journey from any major city. It is a great camping and trekking destination, and a welcome alternative to the lakes and plains of Skardu, and the valleys of Hunza.
B. Nanga Parbat Base Camp
Most visitors to Fairy Meadows spend the night there and take day trips to Beyal Camp at around 3,500 meters. Beyal is the base camp for climbs to Nanga Parbat. A further day’s trek takes visitors to the foot of the Nanga Parbat Glacier. Most visitors, however, do not continue beyond Beyal camp.
You will need to be relatively fit and have good hiking boots to reach base camp. It is important that you hire a locally licensed guide to take you up Fairy Meadows as the condition of the path and the obstacles the path encounters will be different from the guide's last trip.
You will find very basic accommodation at Fairy Meadows in the form of small wooden chalets or huts. Expect very basic amenities. The meadows are dotted with small accommodation complexes during the peak season.
You will not find a major hotel during your trip, so expect your accommodation to be basic. Book your accommodation at Fairy Meadows before you leave on the hike as you may find it difficult to locate last minute accommodation during the peak season.
Basic camping equipment may be an option for larger groups and would probably be the most comfortable accommodation option during your stay at Fairy Meadows.
Rama Lake is situated at an elevation of around 3,200 meters and the meadows nearby are ablaze with a rainbow of colors from various wild flowers. The lake is serene and offers a pleasant reflection of the surrounding peaks. A Store town is approximately an hour away from the Rama region by road. The road offers scenic views as it climbs through the valley.
Astore is a good base to visit the Rama area. From Astore, it takes just a few hours to reach the Rama Lake by jeep. Many people take a day trip from Astore to camp by the lake. For those that don’t have the time or will to make the trek up to Fairy Meadows from Tato, the Rama area is more convenient and still offers a high altitude camping experience in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Rupal Valley also branches off Astore and leads to the base of the south face of Nanga Parbat. From Astore, it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to reach Tarshing. From here many people trek to the base of Nanga Parbat, which takes about 3 to 4 hours.
People not on climbing expeditions can visit these areas. The first part of the base camp trail is easy to follow. Above base camp, a trek to the high camp requires climbing and other gear and is typically only used by people on a climbing expedition.
C) The Deosai Approach from Astore
The Deosai plateau can also be accessed from the Astore side via the Ali Malik Mar pass, which connects the Astore valley with the plateau. This is used by travelers to cross over the plateau from Astore to Skardu.
For travelers doing a tour of Astore-Deosai-Skardu, this route is more convenient as it avoids retracing the KKH via Gilgit. The pass is closed for most of the year due to snow, and its status has to be confirmed near the travel date.
A) Fairy Meadows
The meadows are generally open from around late June to late October. Early to mid-season (June-July) is the best time as the meadows are green and there is less heat in the lower sectors of the Nant district.
July and August are the peak months and the meadows are extremely crowded. September is less crowded and the mountains are still easily viewable.
Astore Valley can be visited at any time of the year. However, the upper parts of the Rupal Valley and Rama can be closed because of the snow in winter. Most visitors to Rupal and Rama Valleys come between May and October.
The Deosai Plateau can be visited from June to October, if the crossing via Ali Malik Mar is clear of snow. Confirm the status before finalizing your travel plans.
Whether a tour operator or trekking agency has the required license from the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department for the tour or trek that you are planning.
Whether your trekking operator has made prior bookings for your stay at Fairy Meadows. It is important to do this, especially if you are going during July or August.
Whether the jeep that will take you from Raikot to Tato has low range and a driver with experience on this route.
What kind of meals you will be getting during your stay at Fairy Meadows.
Report on Tato jeep track conditions and Fairy Meadows trail conditions. Report on status of trail conditions and jeep track conditions due to rock fall, rain and snow. Ask your tour operator for latest report not more than a week before your travel date.
Road conditions on Astore-Tarshing road for the Rupal valley.
Conditions of Ali Malik Mar pass for Astore-Deosai crossing.
Permits for Nanga Parbat base camp from Fairy Meadows and Rupal sides. Permit conditions have recently been changed and your tour operator should brief you on latest status based on your nationality and the itinerary.
Do not take chance by going to Raikot bridge without a confirmed jeep for Tato track. Jeep availability at Raikot is generally very less during peak season. Your tour operator will have previously arranged for jeeps from Islamabad.
Do not expect the jeep track between Raikot and Tato to be normal. This track is very narrow and exposure is very high for people suffering from reater heights sickness.
Do not expect to cover Fairy Meadows from Islamabad in a single day. Reaching Raikot from Islamabad takes a whole day. Covering Fairy Meadows on the same day will make you very very very very tired and you will regret it. Taking a night halt at Chilas will help break the long journey.
The trek from Tato to Fairy Meadows and the Astore valley take up most of the available time for either location. Considering the distance and difficulty of travel, five days is the most time that can reasonably be allotted to visit each area.
A) What is Fairy Meadows?
Fairy Meadows is located in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer District at an altitude of about 3,300 meters. It is located near the base of Nanga Parbat. From Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway, it is about a three to four hour drive on a jeep trail to Tato village from where Fairy Meadows is an additional three to four hour hike.
B) Is Fairy Meadows only for Trekkers?
The hike from Tato to Fairy Meadows can be made by any reasonably fit person and is considered a moderately difficult mountain hike. While some level of physical conditioning and the use of proper hiking boots is recommended, it is not a difficult climb. Horses are available for hiking transportation from Tato for an additional cost.
Astore Valley has Nanga Parbat’s Rupal Face, Rama Lake and Meadows, and is the only one of the four main valleys in Northern Areas that provides access to Deosai Plains. Rupal Face is on the South side of Nanga Parbat and the view from Tarshing is a unique and beautiful view of a mountain face in Pakistan.
Yes. From Astore you can view Nanga Parbat’s Rupal Face from the South. Fairy Meadows is to the North of Nanga Parbat and gives a view of the glaciers that are on the North Face of the mountain. A view from Tarshing of the Rupal Face gives an impressive close-up view of the mountain face and is considered one of the longest uninterrupted faces in the world.
Requirements for permits for approaches to Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows and the Rupal side have recently been changing. The best and most up to date information is with your tour operator.
How many days does a Fairy Meadows and Astore tour take?
Ideally, this tour should take at least five days. It allows for one full day to reach Fairy Meadows, one full day to return, and one or two nights to stay on Fairy Meadows. The tour also allows for two to three days to cover the Rama and Rupal Valley area. A seven to eight day tour is better since it allows for a Rupal Valley hike and a day hike from Fairy Meadows to the base camp.
Is this tour family friendly?
The jeep track for Fairy Meadows has parts that are challenging for very young children and people with limited mobility. The track becomes barely passable for the older members of the group. The hike from Tato is better and more manageable for children older than 10.
Less strenuous hikes for families include: The Astore Valley and Rama Meadows, as well as the lower part of the Rupal Valley. Discuss with your operators which regions they consider appropriate for your family and for whom they recommend prior to making final bookings.
Let HospitalityTours.com.pk know the dates you are travelling, the number of people in your party and the level of physical fitness of the members in your party. Their personnel will prepare a tentative itinerary, arrange licensed guides and transportation from Islamabad to your destination. They will also book your lodging at Fairy Meadows and in Astore. You will not be charged and no services will be booked until you approve their arrangements.
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