Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat, at 8,126 metres the world's ninth-highest mountain, anchors the western end of the Himalaya, and a trek to Nanga Parbat base camp brings you to the foot of its immense ice walls. Routes start from Fairy Meadows on the north side of the mountain or from the Rupal valley near Astore on the south.

Why visit Nanga Parbat

The name comes from Sanskrit for "naked mountain", while the local Shina name, Diamer, means "mountain of God". Climbers call it the Killer Mountain because of its long record of fatalities; Hermann Buhl reached the summit alone in 1953 on the first ascent. For trekkers the draw is sheer scale. You can walk to the base of its great faces without technical climbing and camp among meadows and glaciers.

Nanga Parbat base camp treks

  • Raikot side (north): from Fairy Meadows, a long day hike reaches the base camp below the Raikot face at about 3,967 metres, passing Beyal Camp on the way.
  • Rupal side (south): from Tarashing village, reached by jeep from Astore, trekkers walk up the Rupal valley to Herrligkoffer Base Camp at about 3,600 metres. Above it the Rupal Face rises some 4,600 metres from its base.
  • Diamir side (west): the face used by the standard climbing route since 1962.

Nanga Parbat View Point

You do not need to trek to see the mountain. The Nanga Parbat View Point on the Karakoram Highway between Chilas and Gilgit gives a clear sight of the massif. Close by, near Jaglot, a roadside monument marks the meeting point of the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush, above the confluence of the Gilgit and Indus rivers.

How to reach Nanga Parbat

For the north side, drive the Karakoram Highway to Raikot Bridge, take a local jeep to Tato and walk up to Fairy Meadows. For the south side, leave the highway for the Astore valley and continue by jeep to Tarashing. From Islamabad either approach is a long road trip with at least one overnight stop on the way.

Best time for a Nanga Parbat trek

June to September is the trekking season on both sides. Early summer brings melting snow and green meadows, while September usually offers clearer views and colder nights. Outside these months the base camps are snowbound and the jeep tracks may close.

Plan your trip to Nanga Parbat

Our 11 Days Hiking and Trekking Adventure takes you into the Nanga Parbat area, and our trekking and hiking tours cover other walking routes in the north. Choose a tour above, or tell us your dates and we will plan the drive, the jeeps, a local guide and camps or lodges for the side of the mountain you want to see.