Charakusa Valley Trek – Paradise Discovered

Tour Package for the holiday of Charakusa Valley Trek includes:

• Airport transfers (on the first day and last day in Islamabad)
• The itinerary includes all overland transportation
• Internal flights and associated airport transfers
• All hotel accommodations (twin sharing)
• All meals throughout the holiday
• Licensed professional local guide
• Sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
• Implementation of all sustainable tourism protocols
• NOC/Trekking Permits/National Park permit fees
• All entry tickets (forts, parks)
• Up to 15 kgs of porter services per person
• Access to the group satellite communication

The package for the holiday Charakusa Tour does not include the following:

• Travel Insurance
• Pakistan Visa (supporting documents will be offered)
• International airfare
• Personal equipment (clothes, boots, etc.)
• Miscellaneous expenses (drinks, tips, souvenirs, etc.)

Yes, the trip leader will meet all clients arriving on day one at Islamabad airport and arrange transfers to the group hotel. Similarly, transfers will be arranged for clients back to Islamabad Airport on the last day of the Charakusa Valley holiday.

Yes, all meals are included in the holiday price from arrival on day one to departure on the last day, so you will not need to pay for any meals during the tour.

The food will be a mixture of local/traditional and Pakistani dishes available in the area. Depending on the itinerary and location, you may have some input into meal choices. While clean drinking water will be provided. We do not encourage the purchasing of single-use plastic bottles.

• The breakfast includes cereal, muesli or porridge, eggs, bread or chapati, tea, and coffee.
• Lunches are a picnic from a choice of meats, cheese, pickles, crackers, or chapattis, sometimes accompanied by hot soup and noodles and finished with tea or coffee.
• For dinner, you will be served a three-course meal.

We can cater to vegetarians, albeit sometimes with more limited choices, but we cannot always provide special diets. We customized our menus depending on the group’s preferences. We never use pre-packaged meals, you can expect hearty, delicious meals that will optimally fuel and inspire you during your trip! We also regularly accommodate vegetarian, vegan, non-glute, and other specialty diets.

If you have specific dietary requirements, please speak to our sales team.

During the Charakusa Valley Tour, the group will spend 3 nights in Islamabad at an excellent standard hotel. The group will also spend 2 nights in a tourist-class hotel in Skardu and 1 night in Hushe. Accommodation at each of these hotels is twin-sharing with en-suite facilities. Whilst on the trek, 5 nights will be spent camping in a comfy two-person alpine tent. Solo travelers will be paired with another single client of the same sex. It is possible to hire a single tent while on a trek for an additional cost. Additional hotel nights in Islamabad are also available. In case of flight cancellation, the group will be accommodated in a tourist-class hotel (the best available option) on the way. Rooms will be twin sharing basis, and the single room will be available at a supplementary cost.

Skardu Airport is weather-dependent. Since high mountains surround the valleys, the planes do fly more than not, but cancellations can occur, and in these circumstances, we will travel by road.

The group will be led by a certified professional local guide who will serve as the group leader. During the Charakusa trek, the group will be accompanied by an entire support crew, including a cook and kitchen crew, and porters to carry all equipment and personal trek bags. This crew is drawn from local villagers who depend on working for trekking groups to supplement their subsistence income. Traveling with these friendly and hardy people is a significant part of the experience of Karakoram trekking.

The holiday of Charakusa involves going to high altitudes. During your trip, you will spend at least one night above 4000 meters. You should not worry about this; the human body can adapt to a vast range of altitudes, but we follow some simple rules to acclimatize successfully.

Approximately USD100 should be enough for miscellaneous expenses, which you can exchange for the local currency (PKR) at the airport or with authorized money changers. Purchasing local currency (PKR) before your trip is unnecessary. Money can be changed reasonably at the Airport or with authorized money changers. Since you will be changing most of your spending money into local currency soon after your arrival, we recommend you take it in cash. US Dollars, Sterling, and Euros can readily be exchanged at the Airport. US Dollars give you more flexibility to exchange in smaller towns or in emergencies.

Credit cards can be used to purchase many goods in Islamabad, Skardu, or Hunza and are particularly useful for more expensive items such as carpets. It is possible to withdraw cash (PKR only) from cash machines in Islamabad, Skardu, or Hunza using credit and debit cards.

It is usual to tip the supporting staff (guide/drivers) if you are happy with the services provided. We estimate that USD 80 –100 (in local currency equivalent) will cover this tipping aspect. Towards the end of the trek, the trip leader will help the group to determine an appropriate level of tipping for each crew member. Usually, this is done as a group’ thank-you’ ceremony on the final day of trekking.

Yes, it is possible to leave the items that are not required on the Charakusa trek at the group hotel in Islamabad and Skardu. We recommend taking only one piece of luggage, a soft and sturdy duffel bag, and a daypack while trekking. Porters will carry your bag on the trek, and the packed weight of your bag, including your sleeping bag and camping mattress, should be no more than 15kg (32 pounds). By leaving extra luggage at the hotel, you can travel light and comfortably during your trek.

The following checklist should help you with your packing. You do not have to bring everything on the list and should use your experience and judgment, but we ask you to ensure you have the items on the mandatory list. When selecting clothing for the holiday of Charakusa Valley, please be culturally sensitive. Tight-fitting or revealing clothing is not appropriate.

As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your bag while trekking in Charakusa, including your sleeping bag and mattress, should be no more than 15 kg. The limits the porters set is strictly enforced and bags will be weighed before setting off on the trek. Anything not required on the trek can be left at the group hotel in Islamabad and Skardu.

 You must bring the following items;

1. 1 x backpack (50l+)
2. Sturdy Hiking boots
3. Waterproof over trousers
4. Fleece jacket or warm jumper
5. Waterproof jacket
6. Warm jacket (e.g. down)
7. Scarf or buff
8. Sunhat
9. Warm hat
10. Sunglasses
11. Gloves or mittens
12. Headtorch and spare batteries
13. Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose, etc.)
14. Water bottle (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single-use plastic)
15. Sleeping bag (comfort rated -5°C)
16. Thermarest or similar sleeping mat
17. Waterproof backpack cover
18. Sun protection & lip balm
19. Toothbrush and toothpaste
20. Antibacterial wipes (biodegradable)

Packing checklist:

1. Socks
2. Trainers for camp use
3. Trekking trousers
4. Underwear
5. Base layer shirts
6. Shirts or T-shirts
7. Thermal underwear
8. long-sleeve mid-layers
9. light down jacket
10. Waterproof jacket/shell
11. One pair of gloves
12. Small towel
13. Trekking poles (recommended)
14. Insect repellant
15. Wash bags and toiletries
16. Travel clothes
17. Repair kit – (e.g. needle, thread, or duct tape)
18. Camera

Travel documents:

1. Passport with a valid visa
2. Travel insurance (if available)

Yes, it is recommended that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment during the charakusa valley trip. When taking out insurance, please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary. IMG Signature travel insurance is the perfect add-on to a Global Rescue membership, providing coverage against a variety of unforeseen expenses while you’re traveling.

It is important to check with your doctor or visit the clinic regarding any necessary vaccinations or medical preparation before your trip to Pakistan. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters, including diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, as well as hepatitis A and typhoid. While malaria prophylaxis is optional for this trip, it is recommended to take precautions if you plan to spend time in the area around Islamabad.

Additionally, if you have a severe allergy, please inform our tour operator before traveling and bring your treatment with you, as we cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment on the trip

Yes, for the Charakusa Valley Trek holiday, you will need a passport with at least six months of remaining validity after the trip. If you don’t have a passport, apply for one well in advance. You will also need to apply for a Pakistani online visa through the official NADRA website. It’s important to note that there is a special section for trekking and mountaineering visas, which will appear after you click on the tourist/visit visa category link.

We provide visa invitation letters and required supporting documents to all clients who book a tour with us.

NADRA website: https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/

Our most challenging holidays, such as the Charakusa Valley Trek and K7 Basecamp Trek, require a high level of fitness and previous wilderness experience. These treks involve many long days, often in isolated areas, and are some of the most demanding and spectacular mountain journeys on Earth. Before, during, and after your booking, our team will share the required gear list, recommended fitness level, campsites/terrain details, and other important information to help you prepare for the challenge.

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:

https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/

We recommend the following books to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the culture and beauty of the region:

• Beyond the Mountain by Steve House
• Karakoram by Steve Swenson

The well-being of our guests is the paramount concern at Beyond the Valley. We have meticulously instituted the following measures to ensure their safety:

• Risk Inventory Analysis and Treatment (RIAT) to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
• An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is designed to respond effectively to any emergencies.
• Strict Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide actions and behaviors.
• Comprehensive training for guides and support staff to equip them with the necessary safety and first-aid skills.
• Sharing of emergency contact details and clear communication of safety measures to all stakeholders.
• Hygiene SOPs are in place, with training provided to kitchen staff for maintaining food safety.
• We maintain strong rapport with local communities to foster an environment of mutual support and safety.

Our guides are not just experienced but also trained first-aiders, well-equipped to handle emergency situations. At Beyond the Valley, we have an Incident Response Team (IRT) in place, which includes the Guides, Operation Manager, representatives from Rescue 1122, Tourist Police, District Administration, a dedicated rescue team, and local community organizations. In an emergency, the IRT is activated and it operates according to the set guidelines and SOPs to ensure a quick, effective, and coordinated response to manage the situation and safeguard the participants.