General
Darkot Pass Trek (2024-25)
The Darkot Pass Trek via Yarkhun is a thrilling high-altitude journey over the difficult terrain of the Hindu Kush. This walk provides stunning views of towering granite peaks, enormous glaciers, and lonely valleys as you pass the difficult Darkot Glacier and descend into the picturesque Yarkhun Valley. This trip in distant northern Pakistan is ideal for experienced trekkers looking for both beauty and adventure. It provides unforgettable experiences in one of the world’s most pure and undisturbed locations.
Dates & Cost – Darkot Pass Trek
Summers are ideal for the Darkot Pass Trek. The start and end dates in the table below are your arrival and departure dates from Pakistan. The months mentioned below are the ideal months for trekking in the Hindukush region of Pakistan. We have guaranteed departures every year. Our dates and costs for Darkot Pass Trek are given below.
| Start Dates | End Dates | Price (USD) | Availability | Deposit | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-Jun-2024 | 10-Jul-2024 | US$ 2,800 | Limited Space | US$ 260 | BOOK NOW |
| 20-Jun-2025 | 10-Jul-2025 | US$ 2,800 | Available | US$ 260 | BOOK NOW |
| Start Dates | End Dates | Price (USD) | Availability | Deposit | Registration |
Holiday Information
- Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
- Airport transfers on the first and last day
- All road transport in Pakistan
- Hotel accommodation in Pakistan (twin sharing rooms)
- Trekking accommodation in Pakistan (twin sharing tents)
- Hotel meals in Pakistan (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trekking meals in Pakistan (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trekking logistics (tents, non-personal equipments and tools)
- Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc)
- Porters for trekking equipments, kitchen (supplies, tools, equipments, crockery, gas) and personal luggage
- Travel Insurance (recommendations only)
- Visa to Pakistan (supporting documents offered)
- International airfare
- Personal equipments (list provided on registration or request)
- Tips for guides, porters, staff etc
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)
Itinerary – Darkot Pass Trek
The itinerary for the Darkot Pass Trek is given below.
Day 02: Islamabad city tour
Day 03: Drive to Chilas (Midway)
Day 04: Drive to Yasin Darkot Village
Day 05: Trek to Gashoshi
Day 06: Trek to Tokemali
Day 07: Trek to Darkot Pass (4575m)
Day 08: Trek to Darkot Glacier
Day 09: Trek to Chikar
Day 11: Trek to Vendikot
Day 12: Trek to Khismanja
Day 13: Trek to Khan Kun
Day 14: Trek to Yarkhun Lasht
Day 15: Trek to Rawark
Day 16: Trek to Bang
Day 17: Drive to Mastuj
Day 18: Drive by jeep to Kalash
Day 19: Fly/drive to Peshawar
Day 21: Fly to home country
Why Register Early?
1. Early Bird Discount: The given prices for the holiday are limited-time discount offers and are subject to change. Service providers including (but not limited) to airlines and hotels increase prices in peak-season. Early reservations cost less than peak-season.
2. Limited Flight Seats: Domestic flight seats to the Karakorams and Himalayas are sold out way ahead of time because there are only two daily flights during peak season. Among other things, the deposit is used to book domestic flights for you in advance.
3. Pay Balance after arrival in Pakistan: In these unusual times, we appreciate that paying the final balance for your trip may cause concern. Our policy is to only receive your final balance once you arrive in Pakistan. The only payment before arrival is the deposit.
4. Deposit valid for 3 years: We understand the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic (Covid-19). As part of our relaxed booking conditions following Covid-19, deposits are valid for 2 years.
6. Pay Minimum Deposit: The deposits for the holiday are also early-bird discounts and automatically change accordingly:
- 1st October: USD 190
- 1st November: USD 290
- 1st January: USD 350
- 15th February: USD 400
- 1st March: USD 450
- 1st May: USD 490
Note: The same dates above apply to next season's deposits.
Refund Policy for All
Deposit: Once paid, the deposit is non-refundable (but valid for 2 years) as it will be spent on making in-country arrangements.
Balance: Pay the balance only after arrival in Pakistan on the first day. Payment guidelines will be shared timely.
Currency
All international travelers can pay in US Dollars (USD) or equivalent in Euros (EUR) or Pound Sterling (GBP). Pakistani travelers are charged the equivalent in Pakistani Rupees (PKR).
Single Supplement
Separate hotel rooms (single supplement) will cost an additional USD 290. This includes all hotel nights. This payment should be made with the balance upon arrival.
Separate tents (single tent) will cost an additional USD 180. This includes the cost of additional porterage. This payment should also be made with the balance in Pakistan.
As Featured In:
| Apricot Tours' Social Responsibility |
| 1 foreign trekker = 5 trees |
| Apricot Tours will plant five trees for every foreign trekker who visits Pakistan for trekking to Nanga Parbat. The trees will be planted in the northern areas of Pakistan starting from 2019 as part of our CSR initiative. We aim to contribute to "Goal 13: Climate Action" of UN's Sustainable Development Goals by taking part in the massive government campaign to plant 10 billion trees during the next five years to tackle climate change. Pakistan's adverse climate impacts are very much visible through changing temperatures, prolonged droughts, increased floods and extreme weather conditions especially in Pakistan's mountain regions. Pakistan stands 7th on the list of countries that are mostly likely to be affected by global warming and has one of the highest deforestation rates in Asia. Decades of tree felling have reduced the country's forests to less than 3 percent of its total land area. How planting trees will make a difference? Planting trees will help save energy and money, cool our cities, reduce carbon emissions, reduce soil erosion, provide habitat for species of many kinds, provide clean water and add to the beauty of Pakistan's mountain region by simply being there. Our participants can also donate separately. Details on this initiative can be requested. |
Photo Gallery – Darkot Pass Trek
Overview – Darkot Pass Trek
The Darkot Pass via Yarkhun is an enthralling and hard adventure over one of northern Pakistan’s most magnificent and isolated mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush. The walk begins at Darkot and progressively ascends to the Darkot Pass at an elevation of 4575 meters. As hikers reach the pass, they are confronted with a huge and rocky environment characterized by towering granite peaks, dazzling glaciers, and deep canyons. Trekkers cross the lateral moraine of the Darkot Glacier, navigating vast, flat glacier surfaces while cautiously avoiding crevasses and streams. The stunning vistas of granite spires and faraway glaciers create an awe-inspiring environment, providing for a memorable high-altitude adventure.
When you reach the summit of the Darkot Pass, the fall gets substantially steeper, particularly on the Darkot side, where the glacier is wet and slippery, especially in the early sun. Crampons are advised for safe transit through this portion. The path borders the glacier, meandering across glaciated peaks and culminating in a 200-meter-high ridge that separates hikers from the Zindikharam Glacier. A short ascent leads to the spectacular Lalay Rabat, which sits at the top limit of the Boroghil region, a lonely and tranquil place famed for its pastoral landscapes and nomadic villages. Trekkers continue from Lalay Rabat along a steep, zigzagging path to the lower Yarkhun Valley, where well-trodden paths bring them through beautiful alpine meadows and secluded towns. The walk mixes physical endurance with breathtaking natural beauty, providing explorers with a unique peek into the raw and untamed core of northern Pakistan’s mountains.
Website Last Updated: October 29th, 2024
