Haramosh Valley/ Kutwal Lake Trekking & Camping

Covid-19 Guidelines: As per the SOP's set by the Government of Pakistan, a negative Covid-19 PCR test is required for entry in Pakistan

Quick Facts:

Haramosh Valley is a natural wonder and Kutwal Lake is it’s most precious gem. We provide services to both Independent Groups and Combined Groups.

Trek duration: 09 days (8 Days & 9 Nights)
Route (by Road): ISB-CHILAS-SILLPI-ISKERE-HRMSH-CHILAS-ISB

Difficulty level: moderate to strenuous
                        (Asthma patients may encounter slight breathing problem at high altitudes)
Min Age limit: 12 years

Ideal Time: 20th June to 20th October

Max Altitude gain: 4200m ASL

Min. ambient temperatures: -5°C

We take you to the exquisitely breathtaking sparsely explored the beautiful Haramosh Valley and Kutwal Lake. The jeep track starts 53kms from Gilgit on Gilgit-Skardu road right from the shoulders of the raging Indus. Two day trek will lead us over tough hikes alongside gushing streams and dense coniferous forest crossing Mani glacier into the Kutwal Village. 
Kutwal Lake campsite offers beautiful sites of Kutwal Lake, one of the high altitude lakes of the world at 3260m ASL, Haramosh Peak 7409m ASL, and the legendary Laila Peak (south side) 6096m ASL and Haramosh pass 4800m ASL. 
Warm clothing is advised. Recommended down jackets or thick polyester jackets, warm trousers, woolen cap and trekking shoes/joggers.

Itinerary

Day- 1

  •  Arrival in Islamabad
  • Airport Transfer
  • Overnight stay at Pakistan Explorer BnB Islamabad
    • Lunch (2-course Continental/Desi)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 2:

  • Departure 2300hrs from Pakistan Explorer House ISB via Naran Babusar top
  • Lunch enroute
  • Arrival at Chilas
  • Hotel Check-in
  • Dinner
    • Lunch (2-course Continental/Desi)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 3:

Ascend from the jeep trail at Dassu for about 45 minutes till you come to level ground. This is a small Village known as Sillpi

  • Breakfast call 07.00
  • Hotel Check-out
  • Departure for Sassi on Gilgit-Skardu Road
  • Lunch at Sassi
  • Transfer to 4×4 Jeeps
  • Departure for Dassu (approx ride 1.5hrs)
  • Arrival at Dassu-Start of trek to Sillpi Village (approx trek 1.5hrs)
    Difficulty: Moderate
    Setting up camps/ preps for Dinner
    • Lunch (Snacks/tea)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 4:
The terrain is easy with a clear trail winding its way next to a clear stream for an hour. Descend gradually to another stream and climb for an hour or so over green hills to arrive at the green and picturesque village of Iskere. There is a good campsite 20 minutes or so away from Iskere with plenty of fire wood

  • Breakfast call 0700hrs
  • Departure for Iskere Village (approx trek 7-8hrs)
    Difficulty: Strenuous
  • Arrival in Iskere village
  • Setting camps/Collecting log wood
  • Bon fire/dinner
    • Lunch (Snacks/tea)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 5:
Trek on from Iskere for an hour or so over fairly level terrain. Climb for the next 2.5 hours or so over green hills and through pine forests till you come to the edge of the Mani glacier’s lateral moraine. The Mani and the Baska glacier will meet before you. You will see the Mani glacier going off towards the South-West and the gap in the mountains where the Baska glacier comes down from the North-East. Descend a short scree slope of about 50 feet into the rocky Mani glacier. Hop over the boulders and rocks for an hour, moving North-East.
You will come to another small scree slope. Climb this and enter pine forests again. Climb for another 45 minutes or so and you will see the gorgeous village/camp site of Kutwal. From Kutwal Village Trek over mostly flat grassy land for 1.5 hours approx to reach Kutwal Lake

  • Breakfast call 0700 hrs
  • Departure for Kutwal Lake via Kutwal Village (approx trek 6-7 hrs)
  • Arrival at Kutwal Lake Campsite
  • Collecting log wood
  • Dinner
    • Lunch (Snacks/Tea)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 6:

  • Trek-off
  • Spend the day relaxing in the beautiful setting of Kutwal Lake. Indulge in
  • Photography/short trek towards Haramosh La etc
  • Bon fire/bar-b-que
    • Lunch (2-course Continental/Desi)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 7:

  • Breakfast call 0700hrs
  • Pack up departure for Dassu at 0800hrs
  • Loading on jeeps/ departure for Sassi
  • Loading on Coaster departure for CHilas
  • Hotel check-in Chilas
    • Lunch (Snacks/Tea)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 8:

  • Breakfast at 0800
  • Departure for ISB at 0900hrs via Babusar Naran
  • Arrival in ISB Pakistan Explorer BnB at 2100hrs
  • Dinner
    • Lunch (2-course Continental/Desi)
    • Dinner (2-course Continental/Desi)

Day- 9

  • Fly Back Home

*********************End of Itinerary***************

Cost:

For 02 persons: 1200 USD per person (Independent Group)
For 02 persons: 1000 USD per person (Combined with local/other foreign Group)
For 04 persons: 1000 USD per person (Independent Group)
For 04 persons: 750 USD per person (Combined with local/other foreign Group)
For 06 persons: 800 USD per person (Independent Group)
For 08 persons: 650 USD per person (Independent Group)
For 10 persons: 600 USD per person (Independent Group)

Terms & Conditions

Cost Includes:

  • Invitation letters for Visa facilitation/All paperwork in Pakistan/NOC’s/permits/Briefings/De-Briefings at Alpine Club etc
  • All meals Breakfast/lunch/dinner (Desi/Continental) throughout the tour and Trek (Annexure-C Food Articles)
  • Air-conditioned luxury Coaster (22-seater)
  • 4×4 Jeeps (willeys, Toyota FJ40 etc)
  • All hotel accommodation (double/triple sharing)
  • All camping (double/triple sharing)
  • All Camping charges/environment fee etc
  • On-board snacks and drinks (ice box) during long travels
  • Licensed Tour Guide
  • Portage of up to 5.5kgs (extra weight will be carried on extra charges)
  • Mattress
  • Kitchen utensils
  • Kerosene stove with kerosene
  • Mess Tent
  • Toilet Tents and toiletries
  • Mess Table and chairs
  • Generator with fuel
  • Supplies groceries as per Annexure-C
  • Rations for porters
  • Porters/cooks/guides
  • Basic First aid
  • Toll taxes/ NOC/ Permits other taxes
  • All transportation from and to Islamabad Airport
  • Satellite phone for incoming & outgoing on payment

Cost does not include:

  • Air tickets (national or International)
  • Visa fee
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal clothing
  • Laundry
  • Rescue/evacuation

Essentials to bring along:

  • Warm clothing, fleece, jackets, headgear. Gloves
  • Personnel sleeping bags
  • Raincoats
  • Sunglasses UV protective
  • Sunblock SPF 80+
  • Rucksack of up to ~30L (trolley bags/handbags/loose bags will not be allowed to be carried while trekking)
  • Good quality water resistant trekking shoes (preferably ankle-length)

Pakistan Explorer disciplinary policy:

  • In wake of unexpected and incidental scenarios e.g. heavy rains/landslide/road blockage/security concerns, PE management will take appropriate measures to continue or disengage the tour (cancellation/refund rules applicable)
  • Hotel rooms on double sharing
  • Camps on double sharing 
  • While Guests are encouraged to photograph and record places during their visit, they must respect the local community/houses and their privacy
  • Guests are strictly advised to use life jackets while swimming or engaging in water sports. PE will not be responsible for any accident encountered in such a scenario 
  • Guests are bound to follow the instructions of the team leader/guide/HAP while crossing dangerous routes or else he/she will not be allowed to proceed further 

Cancellations: 

All cancellations must be notified in writing to Pakistan Explorer.  Cancellation charges will be levied as follows:-

If canceled by the client;

  • Whenever canceled by the client, the bank charges for both sides from the advance will be paid by the client
  • If canceled by the client any time after the commencement of the trip, or after deposit of advance due to any reason whatsoever, No refund will be given on any unutilized services other than hotels, meals which are subject to cancellation charges accordingly
  • If the trekking/expedition is cancelled by the client, government rules will be applied for the refund of Trekking Fee/climbing permits etc.

If canceled by Pakistan Explorer;

  • If the tour is canceled by Pakistan Explorer citing unfavorable conditions e.g. accident, landslide, flooding, incident of terrorism, wide spread epidemic and other such happenings which are truly incidental and has no participation of either client or Pakistan Explorer, and no alternate destination/arrangement/tour has not been mutually agreed upon by both client and Pakistan Explorer, client will be refunded for whatever unutilized service like hotel accommodation, meals, transportation etc. however, charges for trekking fee/climbing permits and other nonrefundable government charges will not be refunded

Liabilities and Responsibilities of Pakistan Explorer:

Pakistan Explorer, its agents, employees or any of the affiliates or subsidiary companies shall neither be responsible nor liable for any loss, damage, injury, sickness or death caused to any member or the property of the group directly or indirectly due to any delay, accident, acts of God, dangers, fire, landslide, avalanche, machinery failure, declared or undeclared hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, theft, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays, cancellations or changes in itinerary or schedules, Govt. restrictions or due to any causes beyond the control of Pakistan Explorer.

Reservations and Advance Payment:

  • All provisional reservation must reach us in writing well in advance before your arrival in Pakistan. No deposits are necessary for making any provisional reservations.
  • All provisional reservations are subject to confirmation on deposit of USD 400/= per pax advance payment into our account before arrival of the group/client in Pakistan. The balance amount must be paid on arrival in Pakistan.
  • Scan/copy of passport along with two passport size photographs will be required to issue invitation letter for Pakistan Visa application
  • Signed/scanned copy of the tour itinerary along with terms and conditions mentioned above, separately by each member of the group shall be sent via e-mail to Pakistan Explorer in order to dispatch Visa Invitation Letters
  • Pakistan Explorer is a registered Travel company bearing National Taxation Number (NTN: 7187922-0) and is registered with Ministry of Tourism, Department of Tourist Services (DTS-2117)providing complete assistance to tourist and climbing expeditions from across the world.

Note: one or more than one tour itineraries can be combined for an extended sight-seeing visit to Pakistan. Please send us your query so we can quote accordingly

Confirmation and Payment Mode:

  • For Online Deposits:
    Account Title: Pakistan Explorer
    A/c #: 001005077804
    Branch Code: 0131
    IBAN: PK75ALFH0131001005077804
    Bank Alfalah F-10 Markaz, Islamabad

    For more queries and info Contact:
    Pakistan Explorer House
    287, Main Sumbal Road F-10/4 Islamabad, 44000
    Cell: 0092-315-5368223
    E-mail: info@pakistan-explorer.com
    Note: Pakistan Explorer is a registered Travel & Media Company based in Islamabad, Pakistan (NTN: 7187922-0 DTS: 2117)
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