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We organize tours to Nagar Valley from Pakistan and other countries. If you send us your travel dates and other specifications via WhatsApp on +92 341 111 3777, we will provide you with a tailor-made itinerary.
Nagar Valley runs south of the Hunza River and is across the river from the village of Karimabad and the Hunza Valley. Many travelers, including those on the KKH, overlook this valley as it is not as developed as the Hunza Valley. However, for those travelers who do visit Nagar Valley, it is a relaxing change from the more popular tourist destinations.
Nagar district is further divided into Nagar-I and Nagar-II. There are several side valleys that branch off from Nagar district. Hopar Valley has an easy to access glacier and Hispar valley has tougher terrain and leads to one of the higher and more challenging passes in the Karakoram. Minapin Valley is the starting point for several treks to Rakaposhi and other peaks.
The lower areas of Nagar District are fairly green and have fruit orchards and farmland. As you ascend in elevation, the vegetation disappears and the land becomes barren and rocky. This is especially true in the higher reaches of the district which are sparsely populated and inhabitating. The settlements along the Karakoram Highway are at a more reasonable elevation and offer cooler temperatures.
At 7,788 meters, Rakaposhi is the 27th highest peak in the world and is located near the Minapin village along the famous and scenic Karakoram Highway. A viewpoint along the highway provides a beautiful view of the peak. From Minapin, the view changes, providing a beautiful sight of lower glaciers and moraines. These views are not captured in photographs, and provide a picturesque scene for visitors.
The Hopar and Bualtar glaciers converge to form the Hopar valley. The Hopar glacier flows between the two peaks separating the Hopar and Hispar valleys. Glacier walks on Hopar offer scenic views but require a local guide, as changes in the glacier make some previously used routes impassable.
Nagar provides beautiful sites year round, but the time to visit depends on the main attraction of the visit. During spring, the lower parts of the valley get covered in beautiful apricot blossoms. Higher parts of the valley, including the approaches to the Hopar and Hispar valleys, remain covered in snow during this time. During the summer and fall, the lateral roads to the glaciers are open and the approaches are inviting for treks and tours.
October has many charms, not the least of which is calm and clear weather in the valleys. The harvest is completed and the roads are largely empty. The upper lateral valley roads begin closing for the season in October. Bapein and the Hispar Valley roads close before the end of the month. Use caution when trekking in the Minapin Valley in October.
The Nagar region of Pakistan remains accessible via the Karakoram Highway. Beyond Hopar village, however, roads become impassable due to winter conditions.
From Islamabad, most travelers head north on the Karakoram Highway to Chilas and Gilgit before turning south again to Nagar. The drive takes between 16 and 18 hours, with many breaking up the trip with an overnight stay in Gilgit or Chilas. From Gilgit, Nagar is roughly an additional 2 hour drive.
When weather conditions permit, some travelers fly between Islamabad and Gilgit. Clouds or wind can suddenly make the short runway in Gilgit unsuitable for landings and take offs. Travelers wishing to visit Nagar should be prepared for an unexpectedly long and uncontroltered trip if they fly between Islamabad and Gilgit.
Tour operators usually include jeep travel within valleys when calculating transport costs for clients. From Nagar, jeeps take about an hour to reach Hopar (1st class metaled and 2nd class unmetaled roads). The roads to Hispar are longer and roads to the Hispar valleys are in much worse condition. Generally, operators account for jeep travel within valleys while fixing transport costs for clients.
packages organized by HospitalityTours.com.pk are personalized, flexible and allow travelers to make their own decisions instead of being restricted by rigid, inflexible schedules of fixed departure tours. Travel packages to Nagar Valley offer air/road (Islamabad/Gilgit) transportation, overnight stays in Valley/Karimabad, meals, a local valley guide and porters for trekking and return air/road transport.
Some travelers enjoy short, customized packages (3-4 days) that cover a drive through the main Valley, and a walk to the Hopar Glacier as well as offer an opportunity to visit neighboring orchards and villages. Other, longer packages (7-14 days) allow travelers to cover walks to the base of Rakaposhi from Minapin, and other areas, as well as cover the Hispar and Bar Valleys.
Full-service packages are also available for business travelers. The same service providers transport guests, assist them in logistics and organize daily itineraries.
The service providers assist international travelers by organizing the entire travel itinerary from the travelers' arrival in Islamabad.
Ask operator/guide before disclosing info to 3rd party
Check if the guide holding a permit/license issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Dept. for Glacier and trekking adventures. You can ask for the permit/license number. As per the laws of Gilgit-Baltistan, a permitted guide is must while trekking on a Glacier/restricted route. An unpermitted guide on a restricted route can create problems for other members of the group.
What is the cancellation/refund policy in case a flight/road is cancelled? Due to unexpected landslides and bad weather, a given route may be blocked and unpredictable for the tour operator. A good tour operator will not charge cancellation fee in such cases.
Will the accommodation be in Nagar or Karimabad? Accommodations near Nagar will be convenient for catching up with the early starts for treks to the glaciers. Accommodations in "Hunza" may mean accommodations on the other side of Hunza (which takes longer to reach).
What is the current status of the Hispar Road? How long ago did the tour operator use that road? Often an operator may not have clear information about the road condition for this year.
Tracks in lateral valleys (Hispar, Minapin) if traveling in off season (June, Sep).
Your group has foreign nationals and wants to trek non-standard routes. For the latest information on permits and other restrictions for high-altitude and restricted routes, contact the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department directly. Old travel blogs and forums may not contain the latest information.
Include Nagar in your Hunza itinerary. The distance from Nagar to Hopar Glacier is 12 km each way and takes about 5-6 hours to complete. To complete the hike in a day from Karimabad requires an early start and leaves little leeway.
Trust travel bloggers for information about conditions on the Hispar-Biafo crossing. Conditions on glaciers and roads change.
Go without a guide from Minapin to Rakaposhi base camp. The trail is not clearly marked.
Is Nagar Valley the same as Hunza Valley?
They are separate valleys on different sides of the Hunza River. The town of Nagar is on the side of the river opposite of Hunza. The town of Nagar is on the southern side, with several side valleys on the north. Accommodation on the northern side is more developed. Many of the activities and sights on the southern side of the river are less developed and less visited.
When is the best time to go to Nagar Valley?
The best time to go is from June to September. The lower elevations have fruit blossoms in early to mid-May. The upper elevations of the valley remain closed in October, but the lower elevations have clear skies and less visitors.
Are there permits to trek in Nagar?
There are no permits needed to trek in Hopar Valley or to trek to Rakaposhi base camp from Minapin. The Hispar-Biafo trek which is done in Nagar Valley and connects to the Biafo Glacier and Skardu requires a guide and permits. Permits are based on your nationality and the trek. Contact your tour guide to check the most recent information.
Can non-Pakistani citizens go to Nagar Valley?
Of course. The same Pakistan tourist visa allows foreign visitors to go to Nagar Valley.
What are the accommodation options in Nagar?
There are guest houses in Nagar town and Hopar with a better choice of hotels on the Hunza side in Karimabad. Some tourists use Karimabad as a base for excursions to Nagar. Lodges and villas are available for larger groups and privacy.
The team at www.HospitalityTours.com.pk require your arrival and departure dates, and the number of people in your party to create an initial itinerary. They will give you time to evaluate and make changes as necessary before confirming and charging you for the service.
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