{"id":6341,"date":"2017-05-28T11:21:03","date_gmt":"2017-05-28T07:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/?p=6341\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T20:25:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:25:36","slug":"astore-valley-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/againstthecompass.com\/en\/astore-valley-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Astore Valley: A historical paradise in Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wanna travel to Pakistan with Against the Compass?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Pakistan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 12th to 21st, 2026<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The sky was gray but the sound of the current, produced by the thawing glaciers, announced the arrival of summer. A group of engineers, who were governmental employees, allowed me to stay at their shack. I woke up with the sunrise and the sound of the teapot being heated up. The wave of spring-like cold did not prevent me going outside to gaze at the sublime landscape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mouth was extremely dry, as I was drinking my second cup of tea with salt and my third piece of plain, dry paratha (a local bread), the traditional, regional breakfast. However, I didn\u2019t care much about it, as I was at the heart and remotest part of the Astore Valley, a paradise with a strong historical symbolism, which only a few foreigners have ever visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more places to visit, read my 1-month Pakistan itinerary<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Astore Valley: A historical paradise in Pakistan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Astore, a valley 120km long with an area of 5,000km2<\/sup>, is located in the north of Pakistan, in Gilgit-Baltistan<\/a><\/strong> state. The valley is at the eastern face of Nanga Parbat, a peak 8,125 high, often called the Killer Mountain, as it is considered one of the most dangerous mountains in the world to climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Easter face of Nanga Parbat, a peak of 8,125 meters high<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The landscape that makes up the valley is not only of a colossal beauty but is also, composed of large geographic variety and contrasts, offering the adventurous traveler endless trekking options, as well as the opportunity to get immersed in a culture which not many tourists have ever had the chance to experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given its huge dimensions, it would take ages to explore the valley entirely. Some local Pakistanis claim that Deosai Plains, Rama Lake and Rupal are the places that you should visit. However, whereas it\u2019s true that these places have a natural beauty, they also tend to be the most commercial ones, as they get swamped with local tourists during high season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, as an independent traveler and a lover of authentic experiences, in my opinion, the trading route that connected Gilgit-Baltistan with the Indian subcontinent<\/strong> is, by far, the itinerary that offers the most interesting perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For centuries, this route was used as a commercial connection between Gilgit and the region of Kashmir. The Gibians used to go to Srinagar (the main city in Kashmir) to study, as well as importing a wide variety of products, such as the famous Kashmiri fabrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ancient trading route that connected Gilgit-Baltistan with the Indian subcontinent<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The end of the route, very close to Kashmir. After a couple of meters, the road was blocked by the snow<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Astore Map:<\/strong> The three red markers belong to Rupal, Rama Lake and Deosai Plains, the most touristic places in the valley. The blue markers belong to the trading route that leads to Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n