Drive Gilgit - Karimabad

It is definitely worth to go to the bus station in Giglit early in the morning, when most microbuses leave. There is then no problem to set off in the direction of Karimabad within half an hour. Approximately at the two thirds of the way there is the bridge to the right side of the river. There is a military checkpost controlling not only tourists, but also Pakistanis from other provinces. Therefore you can quite frequently see how passengers who do not carry their IDs have to leave the micros. From here you can already see a very nice dramatic landscape full of green oases under the slopes of the arid mountains.

It is definitely worth to sit on the right hand side to see well. Close peak of Rakaposhi (7788 m asl) is the unique in the world. It is just 10 km from the valley and exceeds it by 6 km.

Micros unexpectedly does not end in Karimabad as one would according to the purchased ticket expect, but in the town situated around the karakoram highway. From there it is still 200 height meters and about 3 kilometers to Karimabad. So it makes more sense to take a shared taxi than descent along the winding path with a heavy backpack.