Shimshal is remotest valley in the entire Karakoram, located on three hours driving distance from the Karakoram Highway 53km jeep road (accessible for the first time in October 2003 by jeep). It is only accessible through a narrow, barrow gorge across the Passu Village area and Hunza River. Shimshal covers the largest territory of the Gojal of the Hunza. From its western reaches border by the Hunza River, its area extends as far as Baltistan to the East and it northern Khunjerap River, demarcates the frontier with China.

This valley holds attractions for various kinds of tourists. It has many of the still unclimbed above 7000M peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan are located here, some of the longest glaciers and a wide range of wild life like the famous snow leopards and mountain bears, a large number of blue sheep population and mountain ibex and many other wild life species of the area. It has attraction for the society lovers as the only place where the culture and values of Hunza is still alive. The pastures of this valley and Pamir yaks are very famous and its unique traditional festivals are very interested. These all makes Shimshal as one of the best place to visit in Hunza in Hunza Valley. The people of Shimshal (Shimshal’s) friendly farming and herding community as entirely comprised of Wakhi speakers and due to the valley’s remoteness and difficult accessibility, much of their traditional Wakhi culture has remained intact. Just as centuries ago, the people of this area lead a simple life dictated by the seasons and the nature around them. The first settlement of this remote mountain Valley is estimated to have arrived some 400-500 years ago. At that time Shimshal was under the rule of the Mir of Hunza who sent criminals and society outcasts to Shimshal for punishment. It is also known that the hired the tough Shimshalis to raid caravans arriving from China. The Shimalis themselves have their own story of their origin. Well adjusted to the high altitude life with summer pastures lying as high as 4800M. In the summer the families are going to pastures with their children and spend three or four month there while changing the pastures with yaks, sheep and goats. The people of Shimshal are very strong having good reputation of high altitude porters, mountain guides and mountaineers in Pakistan.

You may travel by aero-plan, by bus or by train or by horse and camel but traveling by yak is unique one on the mountainous region. The YAK is dweller of mountain and is a fierce looking shaggy creature, similar to cow and have been found in the extreme North of Pakistan, especially in the Upper Hunza Valley- Gojal, Skardu, Chitral region. Yaks have been used as a source of milk, beef, wools and carrying the loads to the mountains in the high pastures and also for riding on the mountains. It is the best animal for the transportation on the high mountain regions and also for crossing the rivers. Yaks have been used for sports like yak polo and race in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan)

“THE ASIAN GUIDES” is pleased to offer you yak safaris in the remotest area of the Karakorum in the region of the Pamirs- Shimshal in Hunza Valley. This area is well known for the yaks (Pamirs yaks) and high mountain pastures, natural beauty, tradition and culture of the mountain people. You may visit to traditional houses, meet with local families and enjoy of the yak

Trekking on Yak in Shimshal Valley

riding in the nature. Yak riding is an interested voyage in this part of Pakistan, in the pastures of the Shimshal. The suitable period for the yak safaris is June to October but the best is in September to October.