Fairy Meadows is one of the most popular and beautiful places to hike in Pakistan, and for good reason. With the unobstructed view of the 8,125 m high beast that is Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in Pakistan, second only to K2, it is considered one of the most accessible hikes.

This hike allows you to witness an 8,000 m high mountain without embarking on a multi-day trek. If you are traveling in Pakistan, a visit to Fairy Meadows is a must. However, like all things related to backpacking in Pakistan, updated information is not easy to come by. Therefore, I am here today with a complete guide on how to hike to Fairy Meadows and reach the Nanga Parbat base camp. Let's begin, shall we?

Fairy Meadows to Beyal Camp (2 hours one way)

Length: 2 hours one way


Difficulty: Easy


Elevation: 3,500m

Our first trail begins with a well-leveled path through a thick forest out of Fairy Meadows and along the ridge, with a view of Nanga Parbat and Raikot glacier on your left.

The trail continues on a flat landscape for about an hour through the forest, passing several streams until you reach an opening where you will see a village overshadowed by Nanga Parbat from a distance.

Congratulations, you have reached the Beyal camp. You can grab a cup of coffee or continue on for about 30 minutes further along the trail, and you will arrive at a viewpoint at 3,667m where you will be able to see the Raikot Glacier and Nanga Parbat up close.

This part of the trail is just a simple stroll, so it is perfect for those who are not looking to hike a lot. However, if you want to hike further, you can continue on the trail to Nanga Parbat Base Camp.

Length: 3 hours one way


Difficulty: Hard


Elevation: 3,967m

From the viewpoint 30 minutes past Beyal camp, you will have to climb up a ridge for another 30 minutes and walk across the rocky glacier in order to get to the base camp. Be very careful at this point as the trail becomes steeper and rockier, but also more and more scenic. Following the glacier, you will have to climb up again onto a glass plain where you will find the Nanga Parbat base camp, standing at over 3,900m.

You will no longer feel like walking through a fairy-tale forest; instead, you will be surrounded by ice blocks and rocks.

Disclaimer: I tried to get to the base camp with a couple of people, but it was snowing heavily, and we had to turn back just after reaching the viewpoint. Maybe you will have better luck than I did.

More Fairy Meadows Activities

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:

Where to Stay in Fairy Meadows?

Greenland Resort by far offers the best view of Nanga Parbat, with a clear view over the glacier towards the mountain. The room is clean and well-built. The food costs around 150 - 500 PKR. The owner is also very friendly, helping me with all the booking, transportation, and food, while letting my friends camp for free. If you want a place with the best view in Fairy Meadows, this is the one.

The best time to hike Fairy Meadows is either April-May or September-October, preferably on weekdays, as these are considered shoulder seasons. Even though the weather might be a bit colder than during the midsummer months, you are more likely to have the place to yourself. Fairy Meadows is a very popular tourist attraction among the locals, and it can get very crowded. So, avoid peak times like the midsummer months or public holidays.

What to Pack for Hiking in Fairy Meadows?

When it comes to hiking, great preparation goes a long way. Here are some things to prepare before you make the trip:

How to Get to Fairy Meadows?

First, you will have to get to Gilgit, the capital city of Gilgit-Baltistan province in the north of Pakistan. From there, get to the Raikot Bridge, and then you will have to rent a jeep to get to the trailhead. After that, you will have to hike up to Fairy Meadows.

There are several ways you can get to Gilgit from Islamabad. You can fly to Gilgit via Pakistan International Airways. They run twice a day from Islamabad for around $113 USD. You might be able to find it cheaper through Expedia or Skyscanner as they may have some third-party discounts for you.

You can also take an overnight bus to Gilgit from Islamabad, which will cost you around 2,500 PKR and take 18 hours. The good thing about taking a bus is that you have the option to drop off directly at the Raikot Bridge before the bus arrives in Gilgit, provided you don't have a lot of stuff to carry.

If you would like to shed some weight off your backpack and leave some stuff before the hike, I would suggest you go directly to Gilgit, stay one night there, and leave your stuff at your guesthouse. I had no problem leaving half of my stuff at the Madina Hotel 2.

Getting to Raikot Bridge (1 hr by car)

Raikot Bridge is located 80km south of Gilgit, and it will take you approximately an hour to reach there. You can either hire a taxi to drop you off at the bridge or take a bus heading towards Chilas from the NATCO bus terminal shown below.

Personally, it is faster to either take a taxi yourself or hitchhike your way to the bridge. For the taxi, do not pay more than 1,000 PKR for the trip.

This is where it will get expensive, especially for independent travelers like us. You see, from the Raikot Bridge, you will need to take a local jeep up the mountains, and it will cost you 7,600 PKR per jeep for a round trip. The jeep can be shared with the locals or other travelers, with up to 5 passengers. You can wait for some other travelers to show up at the bridge if you have the time, but if you arrive late and don't want to hike in the dark, you will have to bite the bullet and pay for the entire jeep yourself.

Once paid, the jeep will take you through one of the bumpiest roads you will ever experience in Pakistan. The roads zigzag their way up the rocky mountain for about 1.5 hours, and you will arrive at a village where the trailhead begins.

Just before you leave, your driver will ask you for the date of your return and the exact time you will arrive back. Make sure you give your driver the correct details and be sure to stick to them. This is essential for the driver as they will have to come back and pick you up. Also, remember your driver's face!

Getting to Fairy Meadows (2 hrs by walk)

From the village, the trail gradually climbs for about 2 hours, and then it ascends steeply for about 30 minutes until you arrive at Fairy Meadows.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Pakistan

I hope this guide will help you plan your trip to Pakistan. I have written a ton more articles about Pakistan, and here's a selection of them to help you further plan your trip to Pakistan.

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