Shimshal Hunza Trek is a best trek located in Gojal Tehsil of Hunza District, in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan formerly known as Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Shimshal Pass (4,735 m) rises above the village. It lies on the watershed between the Indus River and Tarim River basins, and leads to the valley of the Shimshal Braldu River, a tributary of the Shaksgam River on the border with China. Francis Younghusband was probably the first Englishman to reach the pass (1889). At the time it was used by raiders from Hunza to attack caravans traveling between Leh and Yarkand. There was a fort manned by Hunza soldiers, or raiders, or both. The pass is not part of Khunjerab National Park, but the Shimshal community has set an organization called SNT (Shimshal Nature Trust) which oversees the entire region and takes care of its own land. It is a community-based organization and is registered with the Government of Pakistan.
Shimshal is made up of four major hamlets; Farmanabad, Aminabad, center Shimshal and Khizarabad. Farmanabad is a new settlement that comes first on reaching Shimshal. Aminabad is announced by vast fields of stones hemmed in by dry stone walls, and fortress-like houses of stone and mud..
Detailed Trip Itinerary Shimshal Hunza Trek
Day 01: Arrival Islamabad Upon Arrival transfer to the Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02: Islamabad – Chilas 10 – 12 hrs drive to Chilas on KKH from Islamabad. Overnight in hotel at Chilas.
Day 03: CHILAS-GULMIT Drive to Gilgit and later proceed to Gulmit, superb views of Nanga Parbat and Rakaposhi en route.
Day 04: GULMIT-KHUNJERAB PASS-GULMIT Excursion to Khunjerab, the highest point on Karakoram Highway
Day 05: ZIARAT-MALUNGUTI Drive to Dutt or tupto the end of jeep road to start trekking
Day 06: ZIARAT-MALUNGUTI Depart Ziarat for a three to five hour trek to Malunguti. Overnight in tents
Day 07: MALUNGUTI-SHIMASHAL Depart Malunguti for three to four hour trek to Shimshal. Overnight in tents
Day 08: Day free at Shimshal-Full day excursion to Shimshal Valley
Day 09: SHIMSHAL-ZIARAT Depart Shimshal for four to five hour trek to Ziarat. Overnight in tents.
Day 10: ZIARAT/DUTT-HUNZA Ziarat for three to four hour trek to Dutt. From Dutt we drive to Hunza.
Day 11: HUNZA-GILGIT AM visit Baltit and Altit Forts. PM drive to Gilgit
Day 12: GILGIT AM visit Kargah, a rock carved Buddha on a high cliff. PM free.
Day 13: GILGIT-BESHAM Early departure for Besham driving on Karakoram Highway
Day 14: BESHAM-ISLAMABAD Departure for Rawalpindi/Islamabad, visiting Taxila, en route.
Day 15: Islamabad Many Hand Shakes and God bye
