Patundas Meadows Trek, Upper Hunza

7 days trekking (10-day option)

Duration

4,575 m

Max altitude

$1450

From USD

Up to 12

Group size

Explore departures View full itinerary

THE JOURNEY

The journey

Patundas Meadows sits at 4,575 metres on the ridge between the Passu and Batura Glaciers in Upper Hunza. From this single vantage point, you look out across more than a dozen peaks above 7,000 metres — an ocean of snow and rock that stretches from Rakaposhi in the south to the Batura Wall in the north. There is no other accessible viewpoint in Pakistan that concentrates this number of giants into one unbroken panorama.

The Patundas Trek is one of the finest short mountain walks in the Karakoram. Unlike the longer, logistically complex expeditions of the Baltoro or Shimshal corridors, this route is achievable in 7 days of trekking from Borith Lake, crossing one glacier section on the Passu White Glacier before climbing through summer pastures and wildflower meadows to the ridge top. The Wakhi communities at Passugar and Luzdhar have tended these high pastures for centuries, and encounters with herders offering fresh yogurt and buttermilk are part of what makes this route feel genuinely local rather than touristic.

The View from Patundas

No description of Patundas Meadows is complete without accounting for what you actually see from the top. The ridge sits at the confluence of two of the Karakoram’s most heavily glaciated corridors. The Passu Glacier system drains from the east; the Batura Glacier, at 57 kilometres one of the longest valley glaciers outside the polar regions, fills the western skyline. Between them, the following peaks are visible with the naked eye on a clear day.

Dastagil Sar, 7,885m (Highest peak visible)
Batura I, 7,795m (Batura massif)
Rakaposhi, 7,788m (27th highest on earth)
Shisper Peak, 7,611m (Surging glacier below)
Ultar Sar, 7,388m (Above Karimabad)
Passu Peak, 7,284m (Cathedral spires)
Momhil Sar, 7,343m (Hispar range)
Bojohagur Duanasir, 7,329m (North face visible)
Karoon Koh, 7,458m (Hispar wall)

Best Season for Patundas Trek

Patundas is accessible from late May through early October. The wildflower season peaks in late June and early July. For the clearest glacier views and most stable weather, July and August are ideal. September brings cooler temperatures and brilliant light but requires warm sleeping gear at altitude.

Month	Conditions	Wildflowers	Crowds	Rating
May	Cool, some snow on ridge	Early	Very low	Good
June	Warm, clear	Peak bloom	Low	Best
July	Hot valley, clear summit	Good	Moderate	Best
August	Warm, stable, occasional cloud	Late season	High	Best
September	Crisp, excellent visibility	None	Low	Best
October	Cold nights, clear days	None	Very low	Good

Programme options

The core trek is 7 days from Borith Lake to Patundas and back. A 10-day programme adding Islamabad transit days and cultural visits to Hunza is our recommended option for first-time visitors to Pakistan.

Trip highlights

✦Ocean of Peaks: More than a dozen peaks above 7,000m visible from the Patundas ridge — an unmatched panorama in the accessible trekking zone of Pakistan.

✦Passu White Glacier: The one technical element of the route: a roped glacier crossing with a guide. Spectacular ice formations and views of the cathedral spires of Passu Cones above.

✦Wildflower Meadows: Patundas in June and July is carpeted with alpine flowers. The high summer pastures at Luzdhar and Passugar fill with colour for a short window each season.

✦Wakhi Culture: The Wakhi herders of Upper Hunza bring their cattle to these pastures each summer. Encounters at the shepherd huts — with fresh yogurt and buttermilk on offer — are a defining part of the experience.

✦Borith Lake: The trek begins at Borith Lake, a glacial pool at 2,700m reflecting the Passu Cones. An extraordinary campsite even before the main event begins.

✦Hunza Heritage: The extended 10-day version includes Baltit Fort (700 years) and Altit Fort (11th century) in Karimabad, the best-preserved historical monuments in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Trip specifications

Duration

7 days trekking (10-day option)

Max altitude

4,575 m

Difficulty

Easy to Moderate

Best season

May to October (best June to September)

Start

Islamabad

Finish

Islamabad

Group size

Up to 12

Full programme

10 to 11 days

Glacier crossing

Yes (roped, guided)

Permit required

None

IN PICTURES

Trip photo gallery

Hunza Valley green fields with glacier peaks Pakistan trekking

DAY BY DAY

Itinerary

Day 1Islamabad — Arrival and Briefing

Airport transfer and welcome. Afternoon city orientation: Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument and the old bazaar lanes of Rawalpindi. Full route briefing with your lead guide over dinner.

Hotel · All meals

Day 2Drive Islamabad to Chilas via Babusar Pass (4,173m)

Drive north through Mansehra and Naran to the Babusar Pass, then descend to Chilas on the Indus. First Nanga Parbat views appear as you approach the valley in the late afternoon.

392km drive · Hotel · All meals

Day 3Chilas to Borith Lake (2,700m)

Drive north along the Karakoram Highway with a stop at Thalichi — the confluence of the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush — and a tea break at the Rakaposhi viewpoint. Arrive at Borith Lake in the late afternoon. Camp beside the glacial pool with first views of the Passu Cones.

Drive via KKH · 2,700m · Camp · All meals

Day 4Borith Lake to Passugar (3,210m)

The first trekking day crosses a hot, dry ridge above the lake before descending into the ablation valley on the south side of the Passu Glacier. Passugar is a summer pasture with shepherd huts where the Wakhi herders make their seasonal camp. Views of Passu Peak, Shisper and Ultar Sar open progressively through the day.

3,210m · 3–4 hrs · Camp · All meals

Day 5Passugar to Luzdhar (3,660m) — Glacier Crossing

The standout day on the lower route. You cross the Passu White Glacier with a short roped section at the start and end where crevasses are present — the middle of the glacier is straightforward. Beyond the glacier, the trail climbs to Luzdhar, the last camp before Patundas. The full Rakaposhi-Diran ridge comes into view for the first time from this height.

3,660m · 3–4 hrs · Glacier crossing · Camp · All meals

Day 6Luzdhar to Patundas Meadows (4,575m)

The long, steep climb of the trek — 915 metres of altitude gain through increasingly dramatic terrain. The ridge broadens as you approach Patundas, and the full panorama of 7,000-metre peaks appears over the lip. Dastagil Sar, Batura, Rakaposhi, Shisper, Passu Peak and Momhil Sar all visible simultaneously. Afternoon free to explore the meadow and photograph the peaks from every angle.

4,575m · 4–5 hrs · 915m ascent · Camp · All meals

Day 7Rest Day at Patundas — Optional Excursion

A full free day at Patundas Meadows. Optional excursion towards the Shisper or Passu peak base camps for those wanting to push further. Astrophotography session after dark — at this altitude and distance from any settlement, the Karakoram night sky is extraordinary.

4,575m · Camp · All meals

Day 8Patundas to Passu — Descent

Trek directly from Patundas down to Passu village via an alternative descent route. Transfer to hotel in Passu, with afternoon free for rest or a short walk along the Karakoram Highway to photograph the Passu Cones from the valley floor.

2,400m · Descent · Hotel Passu · All meals

Day 9Drive Passu to Karimabad — Hunza Cultural Day

Drive to Karimabad with stops at Attabad Lake — the turquoise reservoir formed in 2010 — and the Rakaposhi viewpoint. Afternoon visit to Baltit Fort (700 years, former seat of the Hunza Mir) and the 11th-century Altit Fort, the oldest monument in Gilgit-Baltistan. Evening water-channel walk along the irrigation pathway above the valley.

Drive south · Hotel Karimabad · All meals

Day 10Drive Karimabad to Islamabad via Naran

The long return drive south via the Babusar Pass with a stop at Taxila Museum, one of the finest Gandharan Buddhist heritage sites in South Asia. Arrive Islamabad for final evening, farewell dinner with the team.

Long drive · Hotel Islamabad · All meals

Day 11Departure from Islamabad

Transfer to Islamabad International Airport. Morning free depending on your onward flight. This day can be used for last shopping in the city's craft markets and cultural areas.

Departure day

THE DESTINATION

Map & location

Destination overview. The final route is confirmed with your trip itinerary.

Open map in a new tab ↗

Travel dates

Departures & pricing

Choose your dates

Customised trip

Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm the next departure or arrange a private one.

From $1,450

Plan with us

What's covered

What's included

Included

All accommodation: hotels in Islamabad, Chilas, Passu and Karimabad; camping at Borith Lake, Passugar, Luzdhar and Patundas Meadows

All meals: full board throughout from Day 1 dinner to final breakfast

English-speaking lead guide with Karakoram glacier crossing certification and mountain first-aid training

Experienced cook and porter team for all camping sections

All camping fees and local permissions for the Patundas route

Group camping equipment: tents rated for high-altitude use, kitchen shelter, dining equipment

Rope equipment for the Passu White Glacier crossing

All ground transport on the Karakoram Highway throughout the programme

Not included

International flights to and from Islamabad

Personal travel insurance (mandatory: must cover trekking at 4,600m)

Personal sleeping bag (rated to -15°C recommended; hire available on request)

Personal trekking poles, boots and clothing layers

Tips for guides, cook and porters (customary; approximately $5–8 per day)

Personal drinks and snacks beyond provided meals

Prepare for the journey

Packing list

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How difficult is the Patundas Trek?

The Patundas Trek is rated easy to moderate. The majority of the route follows established pasture paths with a steady gradient. The one technically demanding section is the Passu White Glacier crossing, which involves a short roped section at each end where crevasses are present. No prior glacier experience is needed — your guide leads the rope team through. The steepest day is the climb from Luzdhar to Patundas, gaining 915 metres in altitude.

What altitude does the Patundas Trek reach?

The highest point is Patundas Meadows at 4,575 metres (15,010 feet), on the ridge between the Passu and Batura Glaciers. This is a significant altitude, but the gradual ascent over three days gives the body adequate time to acclimatise without a dedicated acclimatisation day being required for most trekkers.

Is this trek suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Patundas Trek is one of the most beginner-friendly high-altitude routes in Pakistan. You do not need prior trekking experience or altitude exposure. A reasonable base fitness level — comfortable walking 4–6 hours on a day with a loaded daypack — is sufficient preparation. We recommend 6–8 weeks of regular hill walking beforehand.

Which peaks can you see from Patundas Meadows?

On a clear day from Patundas you can see Dastagil Sar (7,885m), Batura I (7,795m), Rakaposhi (7,788m), Shisper (7,611m), Karoon Koh (7,458m), Ultar Sar (7,388m), Passu Peak (7,284m), Momhil Sar (7,343m), Bojohagur Duanasir II (7,329m), and numerous additional 6,000-metre peaks in every direction. It is one of the highest-density panoramas in accessible trekking anywhere on earth.

Do I need a trekking permit for Patundas?

No permit is currently required for the Patundas route. The route does not enter any restricted zone or national park that levies a trekking fee. Broad Peak Adventures handles all camping fees and permissions as part of the package price.

What is the best way to get to Hunza from Islamabad?

We drive all guests on the Karakoram Highway via the Babusar Pass (4,173m), a two-day journey from Islamabad that is itself one of the great road trips in Asia. Domestic flights from Islamabad to Gilgit exist but are weather-dependent and frequently cancelled. The overland route is the reliable option and we include it in all our Hunza programmes.

Planning your trip

Before you book

Share your preferred dates, group size, travel experience and any accessibility or dietary requirements. Ask our team for a written itinerary and a clear breakdown of included services, optional activities and additional costs before confirming.

Arrival and onward travel

Check the start and finish locations shown in the trip specifications. Confirm airport transfers, meeting times and any domestic flights with our team before booking independent travel. Allow flexibility for weather and transport changes.

Accommodation and meals

Ask for the accommodation plan for each night, room or tent arrangements and meal inclusions for your chosen departure. Tell us about food allergies and dietary needs in advance so we can confirm what is possible along the route.

Preparation and equipment

Review the itinerary, difficulty and maximum altitude before choosing this journey. Request the trip-specific packing list and confirm any rental equipment, sizes and availability before arrival. Discuss any health concerns with a qualified clinician before travel.

Travel documents and insurance

Check current entry requirements for your nationality and confirm whether your route needs additional permits. Review insurance coverage for your planned activities, maximum altitude, medical care and evacuation. Ask our team which documents are needed for this itinerary.

Changes and private arrangements

Weather, road conditions and local circumstances can affect the programme. Ask about alternative routes, spare days and how additional costs are handled. Contact us to discuss a private departure or changes to the published itinerary.

From our travellers

Traveller reviews

You spend two days working your way up through the pastures. Then the ridge opens. Every direction is a different 7,000-metre peak. Rakaposhi to the south, Batura filling the north. I have been to many mountain viewpoints. Patundas is the one I would return to.

Trek guest, August 2024