Thui Pass Trekking
We offer another picturesque and moderate trekking option for trekking enthusiasts. The route leads you into seldom traveled areas of beautiful Yasin valley and over the Thui Ann Pass (5000m) to Yarkhun valley in the Hindukush mountain range of Pakistan. You will get to see some of the ancient routes on this trek.
Nialthi village of Yasin valley is the starting point of this fabulous trip. A daily trek of 5-6 hours through fields, bushes, wild flowers and glaciers takes you gradually over the Thui Pass, providing marvelous views of countless peaks. From the 1st century BC to the 8th century AD, the Buddhist pilgrim route started from the city of Kashgar and went across the western Karakoram, through Yasin valley to Chitral and finally ending in Swat; the main Buddhist center at that time. While the monasteries and monuments have not survived, the path from Ghizer to Chitral remains. The Thui Ann trek crosses the Shandur range, a branch of the Hindu Raj mountains and connects Ghizer to Chitral.
There are numerous peaks from 5000 meters to 6600 meters suitable for low altitude climbers. There are many peaks waiting for climbers to scale and give a name that are unnamed yet. By end of the trek, we will be able to spare some time to visit pagan villages of famous Kalash valley, where living the decadents of Alexandra’s army in the shadow of the mountains.
| Trip Duration: | 14 Days |
| Altitude: | Max: 5000m |
| Range: | Hindukush |
| Zone: | Open |
| Best Time: | July – September End |
| Camping Nights: | 05 |
| Hotel Nights: | 08 |
| Cost: | Depends on number of participants. |
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Trip Plan
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival-Islamabad Sightseeing
Arrival at Islamabad, transfer to hotel for a rest. If arrival is during the day, you will be taken for a short sightseeing trip around Islamabad. The new Capital City of Pakistan is lush green at the footsteps of Potohar hills. We will visit Faisal Mosque, Pakistan monument and Lok versa, institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Islamabad.
Day 2
Islamabad – Gilgit
Take an early morning flight to Gilgit – the capital town of Gilgit Baltistan. There will be ample time to explore bazaars of Gilgit and a visit to a Rock Carving Buddha from 5th century AD.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Gilgit
Day 3
Gilgit – Nialthi / Yasin valley (5 hours)
Today is going to be an interesting drive from Gilgit to Yasin Valley. The starting point of this spectacular trek will be at Nialthi village at altitude of 2600 meters. We will make photography stops along the Ghizer River en-route to Nialthi village.
Overnight stay at a Camp
Day 4
Nialthi to Lasht (3 – 4 hours)
The trek starts on an uneven road jeep road for up to one hour and then gradually leads to a clear path along the Thui River with pleasing scenery along the way. After a few hours walk we will reach a summer village called Lasht with a clear spring water and soft grassy campsite. The porters celebrate their evening with camp fire and singing songs.
Overnight stay in a Camp
Day 5
Lasht to Sholtalling (3 – 4 hours)
This day offers immense joy when walking along the river called Mushibar, which flows down from Keronbar to the east and Qalandargum and Gashuchi glacier. The path is smooth along the juniper, birch trees and with pleasing views of snow-capped peaks ahead of the valley.
We will reach the campsite; Sholtalling, a place with stone shelter and grassy campsite with superb views of the valley.
Overnight stay in a Camp
Overnight stay in a Camp
Day 6
Sholtalling to Gashuchi (4-5 hours)
Today is last day in Thui valley. The path is as the previous day; easy and smooth for the first two hours, and then we will walk on the Gashuchi Glacier for few more hours. Some parts of the Glacier is white ice and then some parts is rocky moraines. The guide will lead while crossing some of the wide crevasses on the glacier, soon after crossing the glacier you will be in a beautiful campsite called Gashuchi, which means mountain onion in the local language of the people living in Yasin valley. The campsite is at the altitude of 4100 meters and you may feel a bit cold after the sun set and before the sun rise in the morning.
Overnight stay in a Camp
Day 7
Gashuchi to Golpigal (6-7 hours)
This will be the most interesting day of the trek where you will cross the Thui Pass at 4999 meters and descend down to Yarkhun Valley of Chitral in the KPK province.
This day will be little harder until you reach the pass while climbing about 500 meters from the campsite on a steep way along a grassy path. The first two hours are rewarding with superb views of the white peaks on both sides of the pass leading on to a rocky path which will close the view. If we are lucky with weather, the views from the pass will be breathtaking.
From the pass you will descend to the campsite called Golpigal, a fine campsite with clear spring water to drink and to wash yourself after a long day of trek.
Overnight stay in a Camp
Day 8
Golpigal to Gazine- Mastuj (7-8 hour)
This is the last day of your wonderful trek as an easy and smooth walk for approx 3 hours brings you down to Gazine village.
No more trekking onward as we have a Jeep to ride down to Mastuj; a town and Tehsil of Chitral District in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan located at an altitude of 2359 meters. There are ruins of old fort built originally in 18th century and re constructed later couple of times.
Overnight stay at a hotel
Day 9
Mastuj –Chitral (4-5 hour)
Continue drive further down to historical city of Chitral, which is beautiful town nestled in the mountains of Hindukush and dominating by Tirich Mir (7,708 m); the highest peak of Hindukush mountain range.
Chitral was an isolated valley and in winter used to be cut-off from the rest of the country until the creation of a tunnel in 2009. This isolation has created a diverse set of cultures, most interesting of which is the non-muslim Kalash people spread across three valleys.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Chitral
Day 10-11
Chitral -Kalasha Valleys (2 hours)
From Chitral a few hours’ drive takes you into deep valleys of Kalasha people, who are said to be the descendants of ancient Macedonians. You have two days to explore the valleys of Rumbour and Bumboret, staying with locally owned guesthouses; eating locally grown food and get a chance to immerse yourself in the unique culture.
Overnight stay at hotel in Hunza valley.
Day 12
Kalasha Valleys – Peshawar
Early morning drive down to Chitral – Islamabad road and head down to Peshawar through the Lowari Tunnel, this is going to be a long drive of approx 10-12 hours to reach the destination.
Overnight stay at hotel in Hunza valley.
Day 13
Peshawar
Peshawar is among one of the most ancient living cities on earth and was the gateway between the subcontinent and Central Asia. It has all kinds of professionals and manufacturers, from goldsmiths to silversmiths, traditional carpets, pottery, clothing and artwork on wood and stones.
In Peshawar, you will be able to stroll around the old side of the city’s narrow streets. Pashtuns, Hazara, Tajik, Chitrali and Uzbek faces all mingle and business is conducted over endless cups of Qawa (cardamon flavoured green tea).
You will have the chance to visit famous food street of Peshawar to taste the local recipes of the city.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Peshawar
Day 14
Peshawar– Takht e Bhai –Islamabad
We head out to Islamabad today while visiting another UNESCO world heritage site en route. Takht e Bhai, an archaeological wonder, considered to be significant because of its unique design and well-structured Buddhist monasteries from the Ghandaran period when this region was a Greco-Buddhist kingdom. Resume drive back to Islamabad and transfer to airport 3 hours prior to your homebound flight’s departure.