The Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek is a guided trip lasting 14 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,735 m. It is graded Demanding — remote, non-technical — 3–4 days on foot each way. 5 fixed departures are open from $1,850 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek — 2027 All-Inclusive 14 Days
Shimshal is the most isolated inhabited valley in Pakistan, and the finest walk out of it climbs to the Shimshal Pass at roughly 4,735 m — a vast rolling plateau of summer grazing the Shimshalis simply call the Pamir. This 14-day trek takes you the whole way: up the Karakoram Highway to Passu, down the famous cliff-cut jeep road built only in 2003, into Shimshal village at about 3,113 m — the highest permanent settlement in the old Hunza district — then three days on foot through Wuch Furzeen and Shujerav to the pass, the herders' stone-and-turf summer camps at Shuwert, and the yaks scattered across grass that runs out to a horizon of snow peaks.
nThis is not the hardest trek in the Karakoram, and there is no ropework on it. What it is, honestly, is remote: no phone signal, no clinic, and no quick way down once you start walking. That is exactly why it is worth doing, and exactly why it needs a real team. Shimshal has produced more of Pakistan's leading high-altitude climbers than anywhere else in the country — Rajab Shah, Samina Baig — and we run this trek with porters, a cook and guides from the valley itself, a satellite phone in camp, and a rescue plan that actually exists. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
n- Duration
- 14 Days - 13 Nights
- Max altitude
- 4,735 m
- Grade
- Demanding
- Days on foot
- 3–4
- Best season
- Summer ( June - September )
- Group size
- Max 10min age 18
Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek Price
Join a Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek fixed departure from $1,850 per person, all-inclusive — Hunza hotels, full camping and meals on the trek, guides and porters from Shimshal village itself, permits and all 4×4 transport. Fourteen days, maximum altitude around 4,735 m, into one of the last living high-altitude grazing cultures on earth.
nFixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 5 dates are currently open, each capped at 10 people. Every date is the same price, $1,850 per person. A $185 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
| Departure | Dates | Price | Availability | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 02 | 13 Jun – 26 Jun | $1,850/person | 10 of 10 places | $185 | Book now |
| Group 03 | 4 Jul – 17 Jul | $1,850/person | 10 of 10 places | $185 | Book now |
| Group 04 | 25 Jul – 7 Aug | $1,850/person | 8 of 10 places | $185 | Book now |
| Group 05 | 15 Aug – 28 Aug | $1,850/person | 10 of 10 places | $185 | Book now |
| Group 06 | 5 Sep – 18 Sep | $1,850/person | 10 of 10 places | $185 | Book now |
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 4 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $4,050 for Solo (1 Person) down to $1,850/pp for 7-10 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $4,050 | One trekker, private guide, porters and full camp. Your dates, your pace. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $2,850/pp | A private trip for a pair or a few friends, on dates you choose. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $2,250/pp | The sweet spot for private groups — shared camp costs, still entirely your own trip. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $1,850/pp | Our best per-person rate, matching the fixed-departure price. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes, with some training behind you. Plenty of first-timers do this one and finish strong.
Graded Demanding — remote, non-technical. No technical climbing and no ropework.
What to expect
The highest point is 4,735 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Experience
Itinerary — Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek
<p>Fourteen days from Islamabad to the Shimshal Pamir: up the Karakoram Highway to Hunza, the cliff road into Shimshal, then three walking days through Wuch Furzeen and Shujerav to the pass at about 4,735 m and the summer pastures at Shuwert.</p>
Day 1Arrive Islamabad
540 m
Land in Islamabad, meet your guide and run the kit and paperwork check over dinner. Shimshal is a long way from a shop, so nothing gets left to chance tonight.
Day 2Islamabad to Hunza
2,500 m
Fly to Gilgit if the weather allows, otherwise drive the Karakoram Highway, and on to Karimabad in Hunza. First sight of the Rakaposhi wall on the way in.
Day 3Hunza Acclimatisation Day
2,500 m
An easy day to let the body start adjusting — the 700-year-old Baltit and Altit forts, the terraced orchards, and Attabad Lake. Light walking only.
Day 4Passu to Shimshal by Jeep
3,113 m
North up the Karakoram Highway to Passu, then off it onto the Shimshal road — roughly fifty kilometres of narrow, exposed cliff-cut track down the gorge, built by the community itself in 2003. Before 2003 this was a three-day walk. It is an experience before the trek even starts.
Day 5Shimshal Village & Acclimatisation
3,113 m
A rest day that matters. Walk the village and its side valleys, meet the porters, and sit with a community that has produced more of Pakistan's top high-altitude climbers than anywhere else in the country.
Day 6Shimshal to Wuch Furzeen
3,800 m
On foot at last, climbing out of the valley on the old herding trail toward the Pamir. Steady height gain through gorge country to the shepherds' camp at Wuch Furzeen.
Day 7Wuch Furzeen to Shujerav
4,005 m
Higher again to the pasture camp at Shujerav, around 4,005 m. The valley walls fall back and the first of the big open grazing country opens ahead.
Day 8Shujerav to Shimshal Pass & the Pamir
4,735 m
The big day. Climb onto the Shimshal Pass at roughly 4,735 m and walk into the Pamir — the summer settlements at Shuwert, stone-and-turf huts, smoke from the fires, lakes catching the light and yaks grazing to the horizon.
Day 9Day in the Shimshal Pamir
4,735 m
A full day up here rather than a night and a rush. Walk out across the pastures, sit with the herders, and photograph the light. Strong, well-acclimatised parties can look at the approach toward Minglik Sar (6,050 m) — conditions and your guide decide, not the schedule.
Day 10Pamir down to Shujerav
4,005 m
Back off the pass and down to Shujerav, losing height quickly with the whole plateau at your back.
Day 11Shujerav to Shimshal Village
3,113 m
The last walking day, down through the gorges to the village. A hot meal, a roof, and the end of the trail.
Day 12Shimshal to Passu and Hunza
2,500 m
Back up the cliff road to the Karakoram Highway at Passu — the Passu Cones straight ahead — and down to Hunza for a proper bed.
Day 13Weather & Travel Buffer in Hunza
2,500 m
Held for the road and the Gilgit flight, both of which can move. If all is clear, a free day in Hunza — Eagle's Nest at sunrise, or the Hopper Glacier.
Day 14Return to Islamabad & Departure
540 m
Fly from Gilgit or drive the Karakoram Highway south, and onward connections. Assalam-o-Alaikum.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $1,850 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- All ground transport including the Gilgit flight or Karakoram Highway leg
- The 4×4 on the Shimshal cliff road
- Hotels in Hunza on a twin-share basis and full camping on the trek — tents
- Mats
- Dining and toilet tents
- Kitchen crew
- All meals on the trek plus hotel breakfasts
- Guides
- Cook and porters from Shimshal village itself
- All trekking and area permit fees
- A satellite phone in camp
Not included
- International flights
- Pakistan visa fee
- Lunches and dinners in town
- Personal trekking gear
- Tips for guides and porters
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed under Services Included
- Any attempt on Minglik Sar (6,050 m). We can add it as a separate objective with its own permit and extra days — ask us directly
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $1,850 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About the Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your place. The balance is due 45 days before departure.
Book through our website, an authorised agent, or directly on WhatsApp.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 45+ days before departure: deposit held as credit, balance refunded.
Cancel 21-44 days before: 50% of the trip cost is refundable.
Cancel under 21 days before: non-refundable. If snow closes the pass or the Shimshal road, we help you rebook.
Permits & Documentation
Shimshal sits in the far north of Gilgit-Baltistan near the frontier, and trekking here can require an NOC as well as local permits. Rules in this zone change, so we confirm the current requirements with you before you book rather than guess at them here.
International trekkers travel on Pakistan's Trekking & Mountaineering visa, which is different from a plain tourist visa. Bring your passport and copies.
Health & Fitness
Demanding but non-technical. No ropework, no glacier crossings on the standard route — but long days, a camp at about 4,735 m, cold nights, and genuine remoteness. Sound acclimatisation is not optional and the Hunza and Shimshal rest days are there for a reason.
Minimum age 18. You should be comfortable walking six to seven hours on rough ground on consecutive days. Travel insurance with helicopter-evacuation cover is required — there is no phone signal and no clinic once you leave the village.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Shimshal Pass & Pamir Trek cost?
Our fixed departures start from $1,850 per person, all-inclusive — permits, Hunza hotels, full camping and meals on the trek, guides, cook and porters from Shimshal village, and all ground transport including the jeep on the Shimshal cliff road. Private and small-group rates are higher per person; see the pricing table above.
How long is the trek, and how much of it is walking?
Fourteen days, thirteen nights start to finish, of which six are walking days. The rest covers Islamabad to Hunza, an acclimatisation day, the jeep day into Shimshal, a village rest day, and a weather buffer for the road and the Gilgit flight. On the trail alone it is roughly a week.
How hard is it? Do I need technical skills?
No technical skills and no ropework on the standard route. It is graded demanding for a different reason: long days, a high camp at about 4,735 m, cold nights and real isolation. If something goes wrong there is no phone signal, no clinic and no quick way down. You need genuine fitness and sound acclimatisation, not climbing experience.
What is the maximum altitude?
Shimshal Pass, at roughly 4,735 m. Shimshal village sits at about 3,113 m — the highest permanent settlement in the old Hunza district — and the pasture camp at Shujerav is around 4,005 m. Minglik Sar above the pastures reaches about 6,050 m and is a separate objective.
When is the best time to go?
June to September, with July and August the prime window. The pass and the Pamir are only open once the snow has gone, which is also when the herders bring the yaks up. Outside that window the valley is locked in by winter.
How do we get to Shimshal?
Islamabad to Hunza first, then north to Passu on the Karakoram Highway and off it onto the Shimshal road — around fifty kilometres of narrow, exposed cliff-cut jeep track down the gorge. That road was only built by the community in 2003; before it, Shimshal was a three-day walk from the highway.
Do I need a permit or a special visa?
Probably both. This is the far north of Gilgit-Baltistan near the frontier, and trekking here can require an NOC alongside local permits, while international trekkers need Pakistan's Trekking & Mountaineering visa rather than a plain tourist visa. The rules in this zone move, so we confirm what is current with you before you book instead of guessing.
Can we climb Minglik Sar as well?
Sometimes, and only with the right party. Minglik Sar (about 6,050 m) is a straightforward, non-technical trekking peak above the pastures, but it is still a real 6,000 m summit and needs extra days, its own permit and a genuinely acclimatised team. Ask us and we will tell you honestly whether it fits your group.
What is the Pamir actually like?
A vast rolling plateau of summer grazing with lakes, yaks, and the stone-and-turf summer settlements at Shuwert. It is one of the few places in the Karakoram where you walk into a living high-altitude culture rather than an empty wilderness — the Shimshalis have taken their animals up here for generations.
How do you handle safety out there?
A satellite phone on every trip, guides and porters from Shimshal itself who know this ground, established helicopter-rescue contacts, and honest altitude briefing. We also build in the Hunza and village rest days rather than pushing straight up. Given the remoteness we are strict about turning parties around when conditions say so. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
