Astore Valley

Astore valley is situated at an altitude of 2 600 meters in the northern areas of Pakistan and is one of the six districts of the Gilgit-Baltistan Province. 120 km of this valley are divided in more than a hundred villages, inhabited by some 110 000 people. The whole area comprises of lush green pastures, wild forests, tranquil atmosphere and according to the season, fruits such as apples, apricots, cherries and almonds can also be found in abundance.Astor Valley is accessible from Gilgit via Jaglot in the North, Skardu from the East and Chitral from the South and it can also be reached from other parts of the country by the Karakoram Highway (KKH). However, its access to Skardu remains seasonal as some of the passes are blocked from December to March due to snowfall. The road may get blocked temporarily on its access from Gilgit, yet traversing this magnificent valley in 4x4 vehicles is a real delight.The most beautiful and well known villages in Astor valley include Chilam, Bubin, Eid Gah, Fina, Bulen, Chongra and Tarashing. People of these highlands are reputed to be nice and hospitable. Shina is the local language spoken throughout this vast area with its different dialects whereas Urdu is spoken by a few.The valley of Astor is also considered as trekker’s paradise. It offers a wide range of itineraries, from easy short walks for beginners and amateurs to strenuous treks for professionals. Walking through a village of this valley on a nice sunny day in summer, in absolute calm is quite an experience. Away from the hustle bustle of cities, visitors will particularly appreciate the exceptional quietude of this valley still preserved by the nature and the peacefulness of its small villages.From here, one can go to the world’s second highest plateau of Deosai and to the Fairy Meadows or the massif of Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest peak in the world (8 126 meters). Further South lies the Rama Valley and its beautiful lake that a visitor can't afford to miss. Surrounded by the majestic peaks: Nanga Parbat, Shaigiri, Rupal Peak, Chongra Peak, Leila Peak, the panorama is simply marvelous. Many wild flowers as well as rare medicinal plants are also found in this valley. Government has declared this valley as a Natural Park in order to preserve and protect its fauna, including the brown bear.Depending on itinerary, Rupal Valley, located in the same district, may also be another option for travellers. Here, the Nanga Parbat’s Rupal face makes a huge and gigantic wall that overlooks the valley. All treks to Rupal valley start from Tarashing village located in the south west of the valley. Tarashing is a small village of a few hundred inhabitants, situated at an altitude of 2 900 meters. It can be reached from Astor by jeeps in 2 hours. Apart from a few shops, there is also a big glacier besides the Rupal River which is also considered as a part of the village.Summer is the ideal period to discover Astor valley and its plateau, especially from May to August when temperatures are moderate. It snows usually in January and February and access to Astor Valley is often blocked. For your information, here below are the average temperatures in Astor Valley: 

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