The valley
past the last road.
A 13-day trek beyond Sost into Chapursan, one of Pakistan's most isolated inhabited valleys, then onto the trail and into the high country past Baba Ghundi.
Most treks in Hunza start where the road ends. Chapursan starts much earlier than that, on the long drive past Sost into one of the region's most remote inhabited valleys.
The approach itself sets the tone. By the time you reach Chapursan, the main Karakoram corridor feels distant. Wakhi villages sit in a wider, quieter valley that holds a different cultural rhythm than central Hunza. Baba Ghundi, the shrine and the area around it, marks where the road effectively ends and the trek begins.
From there, the route climbs through several days of camp-based trekking into the upper valley. There is no village to walk through. There is no road to fall back on. There are camps, weather, the trail, and the slow shift in scale that comes with sustained time at altitude. A high day from the upper camp, a careful descent, then the return to Chapursan and the comfort reset of central Hunza.
Three shifts
in the route.
The road into Chapursan
Most treks here start when you leave the vehicle. This one starts on the long drive past Sost, where the corridor narrows, the air shifts, and the scale of the valley you're entering becomes clear before a single step on the trail.
Wakhi villages and Baba Ghundi
Chapursan's settlements have a different cultural texture from central Hunza. The Wakhi communities, the shrine at Baba Ghundi, the slower rhythm of valley life. Time here grounds the trek before the road runs out.
The upper valley
Past Baba Ghundi, the trip becomes a real camp-based trek. Multiple nights, longer trail days, and a high day from upper camp. The remoteness here is the point. The route is designed to give you sustained time in mountain country far from the main corridor.
What the
route feels
like.
The terrain in Chapursan does not announce itself the way Passu’s cathedral spires do. The valley is wider, the peaks step back from the road, and the sense of scale comes from distance rather than from drama directly overhead.
The remoteness starts before the trekking does. By the time you leave the road, you've already been in the valley for two days, and your sense of how far you are from anywhere has shifted.
Once the trek begins, the rhythm becomes simple. Walk, camp, walk. The upper valley is bare, mineral, and broad. You will not see other trekking groups. The trail is rough rather than maintained. Camps are basic but well-supported. Weather can change quickly at altitude.
This is a route for people who want a trek that feels remote in a real, physical way, not just remote in marketing language. It suits experienced trekkers, strong hikers comfortable with multi-day camping, and travelers who would rather have a quieter mountain than a more famous one.
How the journey
moves.
The trip begins with the long approach through Hunza into Chapursan, settles briefly into valley life around Baba Ghundi, then leaves the road for several days of camp-based trekking before returning south through Hunza.
The full route,
day by day.
Arrive in Islamabad
Arrive in Islamabad, meet your driver, and transfer to your hotel for a light first day before the long internal travel and trekking days begin.
Travel into Hunza
Continue north toward Hunza, usually by flight to Gilgit when conditions allow, or by road if required, then drive into Karimabad.
Travel to Chapursan Valley
Leave central Hunza behind and continue through Upper Hunza toward Sost before turning into Chapursan Valley, where the trip immediately feels farther removed from the main corridor.
Trek preparation in the valley
Spend the day grounding more fully in Chapursan before the trek starts, with time around Baba Ghundi and final route preparation before leaving the road behind.
The trek begins
Begin trekking and leave the vehicle-supported part of the trip behind, climbing steadily into the upper valley on the first full trail day.
Deeper into the upper valley
Continue deeper into the upper valley on a fuller trail day, where the terrain opens and the sense of remoteness becomes more complete.
Climb to the high camp
Climb to the trek's highest camp, where the valley feels broader, barer, and more fully defined by mountain terrain and altitude.
A full day in the high country
Spend a full day in the high country, exploring farther from camp as conditions allow and returning for a second night at altitude.
Begin the descent
Begin descending, retracing the upper valley route with a different perspective now that the higher section has been fully experienced.
Return to Chapursan
Complete the trekking section and return to Chapursan Valley, where the shift from camp life back into inhabited space gives the route a satisfying sense of completion.
Drive back to Hunza
Drive back out of Chapursan and return to Karimabad, where the lower-altitude setting and greater comfort create a useful contrast with the camp-based days just completed.
Travel south to Islamabad
Continue south to Islamabad, traveling by flight from Gilgit when conditions allow or by road if needed, with a final overnight in the capital.
Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight, closing a journey through Chapursan and the high country beyond Baba Ghundi.
What to know,
practically.
Pacing
Remote-valley trekking with a meaningful transition built in. The first section moves steadily from arrival into Upper Hunza and Chapursan. The middle becomes a proper camp-based trek. The return softens through the valley.
Activity Level
A trek-active route for experienced trekkers comfortable with altitude, multiple consecutive walking days, basic camp conditions, and limited comforts. A clear step up from lighter Hunza journeys.
Flight and road flexibility
Flight operations between Islamabad and Gilgit depend on weather, and remote roads can also influence timing. Chapursan adds another layer of remoteness, so the best versions of this trip are handled with flexibility.
Who this suits
Trekkers who want a less-traveled side of Hunza and who value remoteness, camp life, and deeper mountain movement over comfort and convenience.
What the journey costs.
Every trip is private to your party. If it's ever a scheduled group departure, we'll say so up front.
- All meals from arrival dinner to departure breakfast
- Domestic flights to and from northern Pakistan
- All ground transport throughout
- Mid-range hotels and quality boutique guesthouses, twin share
- English-speaking lead guide for the full trip
- All permits, NOCs, national park fees, and fort entries
- Tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bag, and all camping equipment
- Trek cook and porters throughout the trek
Ready for the
quieter route?
We can adapt the pace, support level, Upper Hunza lead-in, camping support, and onward extensions to suit how you want to experience Chapursan.
Plan this journey