Pakistan: Women's Expedition

12 Days | Get to know a beautiful country and its trailblazing women

5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews submitted.
Women's Expeditions
From
NZD $5,780
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Learn what life looks like for women living in Pakistan’s vibrant capital city and ancient mountain villages. Join a local female leader as she takes you on a unique journey to the Hunza Valley. See the communities and landscapes associated with the hallowed Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains and meet pioneering women working on female empowerment projects throughout the region. Trek to alpine lakes, ancient glaciers and the remnants of ruined empires, then witness the evolution of modern Pakistan in the country’s capital of Islamabad. From cooking classes to village visits, this women’s only expedition will have you sharing more than just photographs.

Trip overview

Map of Pakistan: Women's Expedition including Pakistan
Start
Islamabad, Pakistan
Finish
Islamabad, Pakistan
Theme
Women's Expeditions
Destinations
Pakistan
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
HQSW
This trip generates 66 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • This is a rare opportunity to travel through Pakistan with a local female leader. Her knowledge and insights will make this an eye-opening and unforgettable expedition.
  • Experience a unique female-only salon, owned by a local woman and run out her home in Gulmit, a town that has existed for hundreds of years and is surrounded by mountains and glaciers.
  • Spend time with the inspiring women working to empower their communities through local projects including carpet-weaving, cooking classes and cafes.
  • Immerse yourself in remote mountain villages while sharing food and stories with a local family.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip visits places as high as 2,900m above sea level, which can cause altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Health’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details on travelling at altitude and ensure you are familiar with signs of AMS.
  • The weather can be unpredictable in the mountains and a significant number of flights to/from Islamabad and Gilgit are delayed or cancelled due to weather conditions. If your flight is cancelled we will endeavour to get your group on the next available flight. Failing that, we will follow a contingency plan by private vehicle.
  • This trip involves some long travel days, which can be tiresome but offer a quintessential experience of the beautiful landscape and hospitable people of Pakistan.
  • While we would love to open up these unique experiences to all our travellers regardless of gender, it’s simply not yet possible to do so while operating in a socially responsible and culturally sensitive manner. If you're interested in travelling to Pakistan on a similar itinerary, check out our Pakistan Expedition (code HQSP) or consider booking a private group tour.

Itinerary

Map of Pakistan: Women's Expedition including Pakistan

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle, Plane

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights), Traditional Guesthouse (4 nights)

Activities
  • Islamabad - Faisal Mosque (women's only section)
  • Islamabad - Taxila Museum & archeological sites
  • Islamabad - Local clothes shopping
  • Ghulmet - Rakaposhi View Point
  • Gulmit - Village walk & family visit
  • Gulmit - Women-run carpet weaving center visit
  • Hunza Valley - Ondra Polygah hike
  • Gulmit - Local beauty salon visit
  • Hunza Valley - Passu Glacier hike
  • Hunza Valley - Borith Lake hike
  • Hunza Valley - Passu Village visit
  • Hunza Valley - Pakistani Home Cooking Class
  • Hunza Valley - Traditional music performance
  • Hunza Valley - Attabad Lake
  • Karimabad - Baltit & Altit Forts
  • Hunza Valley - Ciqam Women's Social Enterprise visit
  • Hunza Valley - Women-run cafe lunch
  • Hopar - Family cooking class
  • Hopar - Hopar Glacier walk
  • Gilgit - Local market
  • Islamabad - Golra Railway Station
  • Islamabad - Pakistan Monument
  • Islamabad - Rawalpindi Markets
  • Islamabad - Jamia Mosque Rawalpindi
  • Islamabad - Local salon visit
  • Islamabad - Saidpur village

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. An optional single supplement is available on this trip and includes all hotel stay nights. The nights in the traditional guesthouse in Gulmit are excluded. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Passport scans are required at the time of booking to secure domestic flights and arrange a Letter of Invitation which is required for visa applications. Please see the Essential Trip Information for more information.
3. We use Pakistan Airlines for the included internal flights.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Sara · Traveled May 2024
Just an unforgettable tour with a lot of nice people, stunning views , delicious local food and the greatest hospitality of the Pakistani people ☺️
Review submitted 24 May 2024

Jean · Traveled May 2024
A perfect blend of cultural emersión and activities such as hiking to Passu Glacier. A safe way to get out of your comfort zone and explore a new country with great people.
Review submitted 24 May 2024

Julia · Traveled October 2023
If you are considering this trip, GO! It changed the way I think about Pakistan. The north is heaven on earth beautiful 😍 the people are so unbelievably welcoming. Aneeqa Ali runs the tours on the ground and she is just amazing.
Review submitted 27 Oct 2023

Laura · Traveled October 2023
An absolutely overwhelming and inspirational trip in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Absolutely loved it.
Review submitted 28 Oct 2023

Mary · Traveled October 2023
Stunning trip, one of the best part was the transportation via the Karakoram and Babusar highways . Given the difficulty of getting to the area I would opt for more exploration in one of the other valleys and expand the itinerary to include.
Review submitted 30 Oct 2023
Pakistan: Women's Expedition
From
NZD $5,780