Gilgit

While the high, dry, cold and snow-tipped passes of the mighty Karakoram may seem like the last place to discover a thriving trade town, Gilgit’s steadfast position on the historic Silk Road and the ancient Buddhism corridor allowed it to boom with merchants from the Far East, Islamabad and the far reaches of the Himalaya Ranges for centuries.

Today, the town’s bustling bazaar sees the hubbub of people haggling in the shadow of the whitewashed minarets, and nearby the tenuous suspension bridge is another real sight to behold, standing firm over the gushing force of the Gilgit River. A short drive away lies the 7th century Rock carving of Buddha in the Kargah valley, while the picture perfect surroundings are ideal to enjoy nature at her best from the meandering river ways of Gahkuch to the lush alpine enclave of the Naltar Valley.

However, as any Gilgit tourist guide will tell you, this remote city’s real draw lies in its surroundings high up in the extremities of the northern Himalayas. This makes it ideal as a base camp for mountaineering and trekking excursions to the less trodden sections of the wild mountains, as well as a host of outdoorsy activities from paragliding and river rafting to skiing in the winters.