Islamabad is the international gateway for those arriving by air. Emirates also fly to Lahore and Peshawar however Islamabad is in close proximity to the start of the KKH and also has onward flights to Gilgit. Karachi in the south of Pakistan is sometimes cheaper to fly to with connecting Karachi to Islamabad flights costing Rs50,000.
From the south
PIA opperate daily flights between Islamabad and Gilgit the largest town in the Northern Areas. Seats sell quickly and it is advisable to book as far ahead as possible. Tickets can be booked on line or at international or national offices.
Daily buses travel between Pir Wadhai bus station in Rawalpindi and Gilgit along the KKH. Buses pass through Mansehra (change here for Muzzafarabad and the Kaghan valley), Besham (change here if heading to/from Swat or Chitral) and the Indus Kohistan region and eventually Gilgit. The Northern Areas Transport Company (NATCO) is the largest company and has several services a day. Masherbrum Tours and the Silk Road Transport Company also run several buses. Book seats early else you will have the joys of experiencing a night with no sleep on the back seat. The 573km trip takes atleast 14 hours. When I travelled this way last summer the journey took 20 hours. Due to tribal tensions in the Indus Kohistan region buses were travelling through this area under armed convey leading to long delays prior while all buses that had departed from Pindi arrived to form the convoy.
For Muzzafarabad the bus ride from Pir Wadhai bus station in Rawalpindi, via Murree, takes about 4 hours. Regular buses also link Muzaffarabad with Mansehra on the KKH.
From China & the north
Buses cross the border from China daily. The journey from Tashkurgan to Sost takes the best part of a day with a further half day required to continue to Gilgit. For those short of time the journey could be done in one day by hiring a vehicle from Sost to Gilgit however this would meen travelling down the KKH in the dark which would be a shame.
From India
A fortnightly bus service started on April 7th 2005 between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad however, it is not available to foreigners. Only Indians and Pakistanis can take the bus. For those crossing from India the border crossing of Wagah, east of Lahore, is still the main point of entry.
West wall of Mazeno, subsidiary peak on Nanga Parbat
A valid visa is required. Visas are NOT issued at the airport and must be obtained prior to arrival. Some embassies such as those in Central Asia are reluctant to issue visas and advise you to obtain them from your home country. A single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months from the date of arrival in pakistan and for 6 months from the date of issue. Some visas are only valid for 3 months from the date of issue so check if necessary when applying. Visa prices vary. Americans pay the most for their visa whilst Japanese get theirs free! Visa extensions and reentry stamps used to almost impossible to obtain however the process has become remarkably easier in the last few years. Gilgit DC is a good place to try.
The Nanga Parbat region is not in a restricted zone and no trekking permit is required. The 16km security zone along the Pakistani-Indian border is totally off-limits to foreigners. For permits in the Azad Jammu & Kashmir province see the above section dedicated to this subject.
The Ministry of Tourism has decided to maintain the 50% reduction in mountaineering royalty fees for peaks above 6500m during 2009. Royalties per expedition are based on a party of 7. Persons additional to this number will be subject to an additional royalty fee. Current royalties are listed below.
For peaks below 6500m no royal fee is currently payable for 2009. Prior to the discounted royalty fees all peaks between 6000 and 7000m were subject to a $1500 royal fee with additonal royalties of $200 per additonal member.
From the south
PIA opperate daily flights between Islamabad and Gilgit the largest town in the Northern Areas. Seats sell quickly and it is advisable to book as far ahead as possible. Tickets can be booked on line or at international or national offices.
Daily buses travel between Pir Wadhai bus station in Rawalpindi and Gilgit along the KKH. Buses pass through Mansehra (change here for Muzzafarabad and the Kaghan valley), Besham (change here if heading to/from Swat or Chitral) and the Indus Kohistan region and eventually Gilgit. The Northern Areas Transport Company (NATCO) is the largest company and has several services a day. Masherbrum Tours and the Silk Road Transport Company also run several buses. Book seats early else you will have the joys of experiencing a night with no sleep on the back seat. The 573km trip takes atleast 14 hours. When I travelled this way last summer the journey took 20 hours. Due to tribal tensions in the Indus Kohistan region buses were travelling through this area under armed convey leading to long delays prior while all buses that had departed from Pindi arrived to form the convoy.
For Muzzafarabad the bus ride from Pir Wadhai bus station in Rawalpindi, via Murree, takes about 4 hours. Regular buses also link Muzaffarabad with Mansehra on the KKH.
From China & the north
Buses cross the border from China daily. The journey from Tashkurgan to Sost takes the best part of a day with a further half day required to continue to Gilgit. For those short of time the journey could be done in one day by hiring a vehicle from Sost to Gilgit however this would meen travelling down the KKH in the dark which would be a shame.
From India
A fortnightly bus service started on April 7th 2005 between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad however, it is not available to foreigners. Only Indians and Pakistanis can take the bus. For those crossing from India the border crossing of Wagah, east of Lahore, is still the main point of entry.
Red Tape
Visas
A valid visa is required. Visas are NOT issued at the airport and must be obtained prior to arrival. Some embassies such as those in Central Asia are reluctant to issue visas and advise you to obtain them from your home country. A single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months from the date of arrival in pakistan and for 6 months from the date of issue. Some visas are only valid for 3 months from the date of issue so check if necessary when applying. Visa prices vary. Americans pay the most for their visa whilst Japanese get theirs free! Visa extensions and reentry stamps used to almost impossible to obtain however the process has become remarkably easier in the last few years. Gilgit DC is a good place to try.
Permits
The Nanga Parbat region is not in a restricted zone and no trekking permit is required. The 16km security zone along the Pakistani-Indian border is totally off-limits to foreigners. For permits in the Azad Jammu & Kashmir province see the above section dedicated to this subject.
Climbing Royalties
The Ministry of Tourism has decided to maintain the 50% reduction in mountaineering royalty fees for peaks above 6500m during 2009. Royalties per expedition are based on a party of 7. Persons additional to this number will be subject to an additional royalty fee. Current royalties are listed below.
| Peak | Normal Fee | Fee for 2009 | ||
| Royalty per expedition | Additional royalty per person | Royalty per expedition | Additional royalty per person | |
| Nanga Parbat | $9000 | $1500 | $4500 | $750 |
| Silberzacken, Nanga Parbat N, Nanga Parbat NE, Peak 7745 | $4000 | $500 | $2000 | $250 |
| Rakhiot Peak, Mazeno Peak A | $2500 | $400 | $1250 | $200 |
| Chongra Main, Ganilo | $1400 | $200 | $700 | $100 |
| Peaks up to and including 6500m | $1400 | $200 | No fee | No fee |
For peaks below 6500m no royal fee is currently payable for 2009. Prior to the discounted royalty fees all peaks between 6000 and 7000m were subject to a $1500 royal fee with additonal royalties of $200 per additonal member.
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