Highways of the Himalaya trailer

The mountains of Northern Pakistan have remained a mystical destination for centuries. Yet this area encompasses the most captivating mountain chains on the planet. The Karakorum, Himalaya, Pamir, Tian Shan and Hindu Kush chains have sheltered human existence in their valleys for thousands of years. This is a journey of unique exploration that delves into these extraordinary corners of the world.

Highways of the Himalaya begins in the Indian capital of Delhi – a pleasant springboard for our foray into ‘Heaven on Earth’, Kashmir. We spend an idyllic three nights on luxury houseboats before heading to Jammu in the beautiful Shivalik range. Leaving the ‘City of Temples’ we travel across the Punjab to the Holy city of Amritsar, home to the Sikh pilgrimage site, the Golden Temple. From here we cross into Pakistan and the Mughal city of Lahore, cultural and spiritual heart of the country. The tour then swerves north to the capital, Islamabad for two nights before driving north into the mesmerizing beauty of the Karakorum Mountain Range. We are now in the realm of ‘Little Tibet’ where the River Indus flows through pristine villages and meadows, and glaciers and gigantic ice walls form the landscape. Yet it is an area that is a veritable architectural treasure trove and home to Pakistan’s greatest wealth, the simplicity and purity of the people who live amongst this astounding beauty. As we traverse the Karakorum Highway – with it glorious twists and turns – through the Hunza valley and the Hindu Kush, we delve into the secrets of the Silk Road and trace the steps of Alexander the Great and the Aga Khan. We then cross into China via Sost, the highest border in the world at 4693 metres. This is where China meets Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and where an incredible convergence of the Kunlun, Pamirs, Karakorum and Tian Shan mountain ranges can be seen. A downhill run on the terminus of the Karakorum Highway brings us to the legendary caravanserai of Kashgar, where we witness the chaotic and tumultuous Sunday livestock market, still in business after 2,000 years! Welcome to Highways of the Himalaya.