It was a hurriedly planned adventure trip to Kumrat, a popular tourist resort in Upper Dir or Dir Kohistan. We were on the road from Islamabad on 9 July. Following the Swat motorway, we left the Chitral road in Upper Dir towards Sheringal and onwards to Thall. The metaled road
The trek is set in the picturesque Astore Valley of Gilgit Batistan. Astore can be approached round the year by road along the Karakoram Highway. It takes about 10 hours to reach Astore from Islamabad via Babusar Pass during the summers. Its 40 odd kilometres approach road runs through a
A chronological narration of our Baroghil Valley and the Karomber Lake trek is scripted with recommendations for its environmental sustenance. Visiting the remote Baroghil Valley was on my bucket list since long and a chance encounter with a young man who had trekked up to the Koramber Lake earlier this
We have done number of treks in the Siran Valley in the Mansehra district of KP. These include to Musa ka Musalla and Khunda peaks, and to the Paleja plateau. We also did the Munro Trail trek earlier this year that partly goes through the Siran Valley. Sohni ka Sar
The Rush Lake trek was on our bucket list for a long time. In the summer of 2022 we had planned to do it as a group but the law and order situation in Gilgit at that time prevented us from doing so. In late September 2024, we planned a
Mountains rising east of Kahuta in Rawalpindi District enclose lush green valleys dissected by water channels. These are sub-Himalayan varieties that receive above sixty percent of rain during the summer monsoons. Kahuta and Kotli Sattian are located at heights ranging between 3000 to 6000 feet above sea level and the
These hikes occurred in the lush green landscape of AJK with water courses flowing from close to their sources. They define the valleys and bound the mountain ranges which generally rise towards north and east. A much-improved road network connects the popular touristic attractions: mountain tops and terraces with flowing
Village Narar is located on an extended plateau around 6000 feet above the sea level with a sharp escarpment with prominent rocks and steep drops. Located in Tehsil Kahuta, about 70 kilometers from Islamabad, it is a tourist attraction with a waterfall and a vintage Rest House. It overlooks River
Miranjani is the highest mountain of Galyaat region at 9816 feet or 2992 meters. It is easily approachable from Nathiagali, and from Thandiani, Abbotabad by an overnight trek. The ridgeline leading to the Miranjani Top appears on the Nathiagali skyline like an extended hump. Its hike figures out among the
Some US based friends had shown a desire to trek in the picturesque Mansehra district and I shared the treks that we had done. Most entailed climbing mountains and reaching lakes. However, they indicated their desire to trek Munro trail that straddles Siran and Kaghan valleys with one end resting
Khunda Top (conical) pictured enroute to Musa Ka Musalla Khunda Top stands at about 3900 meters or 12,800 feet above the sea level and is located at the northern end of the Siran Valley adjoining Allai. A road is being extended from Jabbar and Mundi to Khunda Gali which is
Musa ka Musalla (grave like mountain) seen from Shaheed Pani Musa ka Musalla stands at 4086 metersor 13,400 feetand is locatedbetween the Kaghan and Siran valleys. It can be viewed from numerous locations across the region. Local folklore talks of a saint who is buried in the Choti Ziarat about
Maheen Lake came up in a conversation with friends as a recommended venue for a trek. We got a window towards end of September 2022 and Maheen Lake figured out as a possible trekking venue. I contacted Nadeem (03490631609) who went with us a guide to Dudipatsar Lake in upper
