Saturday, January 15, 2011

Helicopter Safaris Highlights




Heli Safaris to the roof of the World – A great opportunity for those who have limited time but still like to have a bird’s eye view of Pakistan’s Northern paradise. All these safaris begin from Islamabad. We use Mi-17 (24 passengers) and ALT-III (5 passengers) helicopters for these heli-safaris.

Fairy Meadows – The last mountain wilderness of the Himalayas, lying under the shadow of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), waiting for you to explore by helicopter.

Trango Towers – It is a freestanding shaft culminating in the Trango Group, located on the left of Baltoro Glacier. It is the highest granite tower and considered to be the finest rock pinnacle in the world.

Concordia –This chaotic jumble of ice and rocks looks like an amphitheater rimmed by ice streams descending from four highest mountains of the Karakorams (K-2, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II and Gasherbrum-IV). The point rests on the junction of two great glaciers – Baltoro and Godwin Austin. Being at Concordia means to be face to face with K-2 (8,611 m), a real soul stirring experience.

K-2 – “It was one of those sights which impress a man for ever, and produce a permanent effect upon the mind” (Francis Youghusband (1896) – First view of K-2). “The sight was beyond my comprehension and I sat gazing at it with a kind of timid fascination” (Eric Shipton).

Kalash Tribes & Chitral Valley – Chitral, an area which was focus of the “Great Games”, at the turn of the 19th Century, is a land of ancient forts, rivers, springs and unique culture. The valleys of Brir, Rambur and Bamburet are the home of the only pagan tribe – Kalash, ‘the wearers of black robes’.

Best time to visit: March to November
 
 
Route -1
1 Islamabad - Babusar Pass - Fairy Meadows – Skardu
2 Skardu – Baltoro – Trango Towers – Concordia, K-2 – Skardu – Gilgit
3 Gilgit – Karakoram Highway – Islamabad
 
Route -2
1 Islamabad-Babusar Pass – Fairy Meadows - Skardu
2 Skardu – Baltoro – Trango Towers – Concordia, K-2 – Skardu – Gilgit
3 Gilgit – Phandar Lake – Shandur Pass – Chitral
4 Chitral – Kalash Valleys – Lowari Pass – Islamabad
 
Route -3
1 Islamabad – Babusar Pass – Fairy Meadows – Skardu
2 Skardu – Baltoro – Biafo Hispar – Hunza – Khunjerab Pass – Gilgit
3 Gilgit – Phandar Lake – Shandur Pass – Chitral – Kalash Valleys – Lowari Pass – Islamabad