Last Updated on: 11th March 2026, 07:32 am
Fairy Meadows, located at around 3,500 m above sea level, is one of northern Pakistan’s most talked-about destinations. It’s the best place from which to view the Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest mountain in the world. But just getting to Fairy Meadows is a big part of the adventure – and according to some, the nerve-wracking Jeep ride up is the highlight of the entire experience.
In this guide, we’ll cover every step of reaching Fairy Meadows in detail. First of all, you’ll need to get to Gilgit, which you can learn more about at the end of the article – along with tips on accommodation.
From Gilgit, the steps to reach Fairy Meadows are as follows:
- Get from the city to Raikot Bridge, about 90 minutes away
- Take a Jeep ride from the bridge area up to Tato Village – a thrilling journey which lasts about two hours
- Hike from Tato Village to Fairy Meadows – a moderate hike which should take 2-3 hours (roughly 5 km)
Getting to Raikot Bridge
The first step in reaching Fairy Meadows from Gilgit is to get to Raikot Bridge. Here’s the easiest and cheapest way:
Head to Gilgit’s main bus terminal in the morning and find a shared minivan bound for Chilas. Tell the driver you want to be dropped off at Raikot Bridge. I paid just PKR 500 for the journey.
It’s unclear if these minivans depart according to schedule or leave when full. But in my case, I arrived at the bus terminal at 10:00, and the minivan departed about ten minutes later.
The ride from the bus terminal to Raikot Bridge should take about 90 minutes. Considering all of the steps involved to reach Fairy Meadows, you’ll want to depart as early as you can.
Note that there is a daily NATCO bus to Chilas, but it only departs at 12:00 – too late to make it to Fairy Meadows before sunset. Local taxi drivers are an option, but they typically quote passengers around PKR 5-7,000 – over ten times the price of the minivan.
Arrival at Raikot Bridge
From my understanding, the Jeep drivers waiting at Raikot Bridge are part of a collective which decides the price, leaving no room for haggling or discounts. The only way to save money, then, is to split the ride with other passengers.
At the time of my trip, the total roundtrip price for the Jeep ride was firmly set at 16,100 PKR (and it will likely be higher by the time you read this).
At first, I was relieved to see plenty of domestic tourists hanging out by the bridge, figuring I could split a ride with some of them.
But before long, a police officer approached me, and after checking my passport and visa, he informed me that foreign and Pakistani tourists were not allowed to share a Jeep! (But oddly, you’ll most likely share the vehicle with local villagers making their commute.)
I did, however, see a Korean couple waiting by the bridge, and I approached them to see if they wanted to share a ride.
The really tricky thing about splitting the Jeep ride with strangers is that since you must go up and then down with the same driver, everyone in the vehicle must also have plans to leave Fairy Meadows on the same day.
I felt incredibly lucky that the random couple I encountered would also be spending two nights at Fairy Meadows. Otherwise, I would’ve had to keep waiting around – or pay the whole fare myself.
On that note, two nights at Fairy Meadows does seem to be quite common. So if you’re really concerned about finding people to take the Jeep with, planning for two nights would be ideal.
In my case, though, I didn’t actually have anything reserved – but more on that below.
The Adventurous Jeep Ride
We began a gradual descent up a relatively wide yet rocky road. But soon, the road grew more and more narrow. And we were soon about to see first-hand why this is widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous roads.
The road from Raikot Bridge to Fairy Meadows is just 15-16 km long, but it has an elevation gain of roughly 1,300 meters. It’s rocky and bumpy, while the road is known for its switchbacks and hairpin turns. And there are absolutely no guardrails!
This is definitely not an experience for those with a fear of heights. Looking out the window, your head will linger right above a sheer drop hundreds of meters into the ravine below.
All the while, this ride is an extremely bumpy one, and you’ll have to hold on tightly to the metal bars to avoid being jostled back and forth – or worse, ejected from the vehicle!
But personally, I wasn’t too worried. Despite the risks, these Jeep drivers do this ride daily, and are likely familiar with every little twist, turn, and bump.
Our driver – and the locals sitting next to him – just sat there calmly as if they were on a casual ride through town.
It’s also worth mentioning that you should leave as much luggage as you can at your hotel in Gilgit. Even though you can hire porters for the hiking portion, the Jeep will shake so violently that any fragile goods or electronics with you can easily break.
For many – myself included – the Jeep ride is the top highlight of the entire Fairy Meadows excursion. People in the US and other countries pay good money for thrilling 4×4 adventures (like this one, for example). But the ride to Fairy Meadows goes for just a fraction of the price.
While I wouldn’t call myself an ‘adrenaline junkie,’ this was nonetheless an unforgettable experience.
Our driver made occasional stops along the way, but not for very long. In any case, it was a nice chance to take some photos.
But other times, the driver will have to pause to make way for oncoming vehicles. On such a narrow road, this is one of the most nerve-racking experiences of the journey.
In total, the journey normally takes about two hours. And not long before Tato Village, you should see some signs of civilization in the form of local farms.
The drop-off gets a lot less steep from this point, while the road will also become a bit wider.
Upon arrival, you’ll have to make an agreement with the driver for the specific time you want to be picked up on the day of your return.
You should also take a picture of him and his vehicle, as there will be a lot of other cars waiting around.
The three of us compromised on a 13:00 departure time for two days later. But if it were totally up to me, I would’ve chosen 11:00 or 12:00.
It also makes sense to hike back down from Fairy Meadows together. Reception is very spotty in this area, so texting each other won’t always be reliable. If none of you are certain about your hotels yet, plan to meet at a prominent landmark, such as Reflection Lake (more below).
The Hike Up
Upon arrival at Tato Village, it’ll soon be time to start the hike up to Fairy Meadows. If you’re traveling with luggage, it’s here that you can hire a porter to take your stuff up on horseback.
I didn’t need to, but apparently, the total cost can be around PKR 5000. Though the price also depends on the number of bags you have and the total weight.
The hike up to Fairy Meadows goes on for roughly 5 km (or longer depending on the location of your hotel. There’s an elevation gain of about 874 m, and the hike can take around three hours. (In my case, it took me exactly 2 hours and 45 minutes).
The trail is mostly straightforward. But given how you’ll be hiking at an elevation of around 3000 m above sea level, it can indeed feel like quite a workout.
Still, it’s a good way to prepare yourself for a longer hike in the region, such as that to Behal Camp.
Normally, you should be able to enjoy clear views of Nanga Parbat, but it was cloudy on the day of my ascent. Fortunately, during the climb down, I would enjoy perfectly clear skies.
As mentioned, the trek is mostly straightforward. But during the second half, past the aptly-named Midway Hotel, things get steeper. And the trail can get confusing at some points.
I recommend using an offline map such as Organic Maps or Maps.me to help you navigate. And note that near the end, the main trail does a big U-turn. My app, however, recommended taking a shortcut via a steeper and more direct trail.
But I now realize that you should instead take the longer route, as it’s more gradual and clear trail.
I visited Fairy Meadows in May, and there was still snow on the ground in certain areas. Luckily, there wasn’t enough snow to require any special gear.
And if you’re traveling in summer, the trail should already be clear.
Finally, after the nerve-wracking Jeep ride and the hike up, I made it to Fairy Meadows in the early evening. As mentioned, I didn’t have a hotel reservation, but decided to head straight to Green Land Hotel which I’d seen recommended online.
Fortunately, despite it being a weekend, they had a room available for me, from which I could even enjoy a clear view of Nanga Parbat (at least once it cleared up).
Learn more about finding accommodation in Fairy Meadows at the end of the article.
Around Fairy Meadows
While, as mentioned, the journey to Fairy Meadows is arguably the top highlight of the experience. But what should you expect to do there once you finally make it?
As we’ll cover in a separate guide, one of the top things to do at Fairy Meadows is to hike up to the Behal Camp and the Nanga Parbat Viewpoint shortly after it.
If you’re visiting in the summer, you may also be able to make it to the Nanga Parbat Basecamp, situated at an altitude of 3850 m. But it was far too snowy to proceed past the viewpoint at the time of my visit.
Fairy Meadows was named in 1953 by Austrian climber Hermann Buhl – the first one to summit Nanga Parbat.
Nanga Parbat is the 9th-highest mountain in the world, reaching up to a staggering height of 8,126 m. Often dubbed the ‘Killer Mountain,’ roughly a fourth of those who’ve attempted to climb it have perished during the journey.
That’s why a lot of people just prefer to view it from Fairy Meadows, which offers the clearest views of the mountain’s north face. And one of the most scenic places to do so is from Reflection Lake situated in the northern section of the park.
Getting Back to Gilgit
On my final day, I met up with my companions whom I first met at Raikot Bridge, and we hiked down together. We successfully met our driver at the designated time, and then got to experience the thrilling Jeep ride yet again.
But back at Raikot Bridge, we realized that there was yet another additional step that we hadn’t thought much about: returning to Gilgit.
Some locals told us we could hire a Jeep all the way to town for an extra PKR 10,000 – a ridiculous price. Reception works fine at the bridge, so I even pulled out the InDrive. But no drivers would accept.
So we asked a local guy nearby (who turned out to be an undercover police officer) for any advice. He was very kind to us and said that he’d ask the next car passing by.
Only two minutes later, a random Toyota sedan appeared and the officer spoke with him. The driver – who was just an ordinary guy and not a taxi driver – offered to take us to town for 3000 total. We agreed.
Even when a situation seem tough, things often have a way of working themselves out in Pakistan.
Additional Info
The autonomous territory of Gilgit-Baltistan is part of the broader Kashmir region, which, before the Partition of 1947, was part of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Today, Gilgit-Baltistan is controlled by Pakistan and can only be entered from within Pakistan or via the land border with China. While we won’t be getting into politics here, many maps of India include Gilgit-Baltistan in its territory, which can make trip research especially confusing.
Pakistan actually controls two Kashmiri territories, the other being Azad Kashmir. To make matters even more confusing, when many Pakistanis use the word ‘Kashmir,’ they’re often specifically referring to Azad Kashmir – not the entire region.
As its name suggests, Gilgit-Baltistan consists of two main divisions. Skardu is the capital of the Baltistan division, and the city of Gilgit is the capital of the broader Gilgit division (and also of the entire Gilgit-Baltistan territory).
Accordingly, these are the two main transport hubs of the region. You can find direct buses from Islamabad to both cities, while both Skardu and Gilgit are home to the region’s airports.
But though Gilgit may have plenty of hotel and shopping options, it should only really be thought of as a place to pass through. Skardu, on the other hand, is also a destination in its own right, with plenty to do around the area.
Another must-visit destination in Gilgit-Baltistan, meanwhile, is the Hunza Valley, with its main hubs being Karimabad and Aliabad. Part of the Gilgit division, that region is a lot closer to Gilgit than it is to Skardu.
Check out our upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan itinerary guide to learn more about how to both get around and plan your time in the region.
Accommodation at Fairy Meadows is difficult to book online, as most hotel managers don’t bother with the traditional booking websites. One exception I can find, however, is BroadView Hotel.
I also tried contacting some establishments I’d read about online via WhatsApp, such as Fairy Meadows Cottages, though they quoted me around PKR 10,000 per night.
Still anticipating the possibility of having to pay for the entire Jeep ride on my own, I wanted to spend as little as possible on accommodation, and so I decided to do things the old-fashioned way: show up and ask around.
In the end, this worked out fine. The first hotel I approached was Green Land, which had been recommended online by other travelers. Despite it being a weekend, they had available rooms, and, after a bit of haggling, I brought the price of a private room down to PKR 3500 per night. (Prices, of course, can always fluctuate due to the season, inflation, etc.)
I had a nice stay at Green Land, and met a friendly group of Pakistani travelers with whom I hiked up to Behal Base Camp the following day. The shower water could’ve definitely been warmer, but I feel that way about most hotels in South Asia.
Note that most hotels in the Fairy Meadows area have on-site restaurants, so you can just eat at your hotel. Sure, meals will cost more than in Gilgit, but expect to pay around $5 USD per meal – still very reasonably for such an isolated location.
But you should also purchase plenty of snacks in Gilgit for your hikes. If you run out, there are said to be a couple of general stores at Fairy Meadows, though I didn’t end up needing to do any shopping.
A few other details to note:
- Fairy Meadows is developing rapidly, and lots of new hotels were under construction at the time of my visit. So you’ll likely have even more options than what you’ve read about online.
- Don’t expect any Wifi at Fairy Meadows. And even if you have an SCOM SIM card (more below), reception will randomly disappear for hours at a time.
- Though I had no issues finding an apartment on the spot during a weekend in May, you may have problems finding a place if you’re visiting during summer peak season.
- Be sure to bring enough cash for everything in advance.
- It gets quite cold at night, so pack warm clothing.
Gilgit can be accessed directly by bus or plane from Islamabad. While less frequent, you may also be able to find direct flights from Lahore.
If you’re already in the region, you can also take a direct minivan or shared taxi from Skardu, a journey which should take 3-5 hours.
As for direct buses from Islamabad, the journey can last anywhere from around 18-24 hours! And that’s if there are no major incidents, such as landslides or traffic jams, along the way.
The plane from Islamabad to Gilgit, meanwhile, takes just one hour. So why even consider such a grueling bus ride?
One simple reason is cost. Flights can cost up to $90 one-way, while the bus ride costs roughly $20.
But another reason is reliability. Flights frequently get cancelled or delayed due to weather or visibility issues. Therefore, if you have limited time in the region, it can be very hard to make concrete plans knowing that your flight may repeatedly get delayed.
In my case, I already had plans to take the bus both ways. But during my trip, a brief war between India and Pakistan happened to break out, and all flights were cancelled for a couple of weeks!
The buses, on the other hand, were running daily as scheduled. So, in contrast to numerous stranded travelers that I met, my plans didn’t get interrupted at all.
Let’s talk more about the bus ride. There’s no way to sugarcoat it – this ride really, really sucks. But it is a way to travel over 600 km for next to nothing, while you’re bound to meet friendly locals during the journey.
Most bus companies weren’t even accepting foreign passengers at the time of my visit, leaving NATCO, a state-run bus company, as the only option. Unfortunately, a lot of NATCO buses are in pretty bad shape.
In my case, aside from the general discomfort of sitting in a cramped bus for so long, the ride mostly went as planned. But if you’re traveling shortly after heavy rain, landslides may delay the journey tremendously.
Another important thing to be aware of is the security situation. There are a lot of security measures in place to keep tourists safe, especially in the province of KPK, through which this bus passes as it travels along the Karakoram Highway.
Before your journey, you must prepare around 15 photocopies (or even more if you can) of both your passport and Pakistani visa. You’ll give these to the driver as the trip starts, and he’ll then pass a copy to police or security personnel at various checkpoints along the way. Fortunately, this means you won’t have to get woken up by the guards.
(Pakistan doesn’t really do centralized digital databases, so oftentimes these officers are just snapping a photo of your papers with their phone and then distributing it to a WhatsApp group with other officers!)
For the record, I felt completely safe while in Pakistan, and a lot of these practices are just extra precautions to keep foreign tourists safe.
If you’re a Chinese national, however, there are extra security precautions in place for you. I don’t have the updated information, so please look that up on your own.
All in all, the best way to get the latest information is to follow various Pakistan travel-oriented groups on Facebook.
Note that even if you already have a Pakistani SIM card, it’s probably not going to work in Gilgit-Baltistan. But there is a dedicated telecom company operating in the territory known as SCOM.
It’s easy enough to obtain a SIM card there upon your arrival – even as a foreign tourist. As I obtained mine in Skardu, I’m not sure exactly where to find one in Gilgit. But you’ll probably need to go to the MAIN office and not a branch, as not all offices can sell SIM cards to foreigners. (Most locals don’t realize this and may direct you to the wrong shop.)
In any case, you’ll definitely want to download Gilgit-Baltistan maps for offline use in advance of your trip.
The city of Gilgit is Gilgit-Baltistan’s largest city and transport hub, and there are plenty of hotel options here (though not many are actually on Booking).
I originally booked a night at a place called Duroyo Hotel, which I chose precisely because it seemed within walking distance of the bus station.
It turned out to be a fairly long and steep uphill walk – especially with all of my luggage. And it was only after my arrival that the staff decided to tell me that no rooms were available!
They did, at least, give me a ride to another location.
In the end, I stayed at ‘Hotel Express and Restaurant’ (not to be confused with Avari Xpress Hotel located a block east). While you need a taxi or public transport to get to and from the station, it’s in a central area along Shahre-e-Quaid-e-Azam Rd, near plenty of shops, restaurants and ATMs.
There was even a coffee shop right next door. And if you’ve traveled through South Asia before as a coffee lover, you know how hard it is to find real coffee!
In the end, the mishap turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as there didn’t seem to be any shops or restaurants near Duroyo Hotel.
Importantly, the staff at Hotel Express also let me keep my luggage in the staff room for a few nights while I was at Fairy Meadows. I then returned and stayed an additional night before moving on to Minapin.