Celebrated for its dramatic combination of adventure and nature- from the K2 and Nanga Parbat peaks sought out by climbers to the gentle peach gardens running along river valleys and the Himalayan cedar-covered slopes- this country has also been stereotyped as dangerous, but that was never the whole story. Now it is transforming into an outdoor playground, with locally run projects driving change. On the edge of Attabad Lake, Luxus Hunza has chalet-style cabins framing astonishing blue waters in floor-to-ceiling windows. Hunza on Foot, set up by former BBC World News high-risk advisor Naveed Khan, leads leisurely paced walks to lesser-travelled corners, connecting with indigenous culture and overnighting in willow groves.
Meanwhile, retreats by Karachi-based yoga instructor Amafah Mubashir draw a different kind of nourishment from the landscape. Launching in August, Karakoram Bikers tours will switch up the tempo again, steering along the Khunjerab Pass and through the Deosai Plains on Suzuki and Honda rides. Then there’s smart, solar-powered Glamp Katpana, the latest project by entrepreneur Fahad Mahmood, its tented architecture integrated into the snow-covered dunes of the Cold Desert, with a menu that includes just-caught trout and barbecued yak. A compelling retelling of Pakistan’s natural appeal.
Source : CN Traveller
