Fairy Meadows Trip Plan — 3-Day Itinerary

Route: Islamabad – Karakoram Highway – Raikot Bridge (or fly to Gilgit, then 2 hours by road to Raikot). Jeep from Raikot to Tattu (about 1.5 hours), then a 2.5–3 hour trek up.

• Day 1: Reach Raikot, jeep to Tattu, trek up to Fairy Meadows. Night in a cottage under Nanga Parbat.
• Day 2: Viewpoint and Beyal Camp trek — the full Nanga Parbat face in front of you.
• Day 3: Trek down, jeep to Raikot, onward journey.

What to carry & what you need:

• Broken-in trekking boots with ankle support, and poles if you have them — the trail climbs about 600 m over loose gravel
• Layers — a base layer, a warm fleece or down jacket and a waterproof shell; nights at 3,300 m are cold even in summer
• A headlamp with extra batteries — electricity is limited; start the trek by 10 am and never trek at night
• At least 1.5 litres of water, purification tablets and energy snacks — only a few tea huts on the trail
• Cash in small notes — there are no ATMs anywhere on this route (jeeps, porters and tea huts are all cash)
• A basic first-aid kit — rehydration salts, blister pads and painkillers; there is no clinic at the meadows
• Sunscreen, a cap and UV sunglasses for the exposed trail
• Visitors from abroad: register at the Chilas police checkpoint and carry passport and visa photocopies; tell someone your plan — signal is patchy or absent

Note: Season is May to September. The Raikot–Tattu jeep track is steep and narrow — not for the faint-hearted. Carry warm clothes even in July.