DIAMERGILGIT-BALTISTAN· 35.39°N 74.58°E
Fairy Meadows
A green alpine shelf face to face with Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain on earth.
Overview
Fairy Meadows is a green alpine shelf facing the Raikot face of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain on earth at 8,126 metres. From the meadow and the ridge above it, the peak fills the horizon, its glaciers spilling down toward the pine forest. It is one of the classic mountain views of Pakistan.
Reaching the meadows is part of the adventure: a jeep along a narrow track from Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway to Tato village, then a walk or pony ride uphill. The track and the huts are open only in the warmer months, and the reward at the top is unforgettable.
Suited for
- Trekkers
- Adventure
- Photographers
- Mountain views
Good to know
- Best time to visit
- June–September
- Suggested duration
- 2–3 days including the trek in and out
- Getting there
- Jeep from Raikot Bridge to Tato, then a walk uphill
- Altitude
- ≈ 3,300 m (approx.)
Popular places to explore
The most beautiful and worthwhile places in and around Fairy Meadows.
The Nanga Parbat View
Face to face with the 8,126-metre 'Killer Mountain'.
Fairy Meadows exists for one reason above all: the view of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain on earth at 8,126 metres, rising directly across the valley. From the meadow and the ridge above it the peak fills the sky, its Raikot glacier tumbling down toward the pine forest below. It is one of the great mountain views of Pakistan and the reason most travellers make the effort to get here. Sunrise and sunset, when the summit catches the light, are the moments people remember for the rest of their lives.
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Representative imageBeyal Camp & Base Camp Trail
A day-walk that carries you steadily closer to the great peak.
From Fairy Meadows a well-trodden trail continues gently uphill through forest and meadow to Beyal Camp and on toward the Nanga Parbat base camp and the Raikot glacier viewpoint. It is a rewarding day-walk that brings you steadily closer to the mountain, which grows above you at every turn. The route is straightforward in good summer weather but sits at real altitude, so it is best taken slowly, with time to rest and take in the view. For many visitors this walk — rather than any single landmark — is the highlight of a stay in the meadows.
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