Photography Adventure: Nangma Valley & Skardu

arrival in Pakistan’s capital city, where your adventure begins. After a long flight, we’ll take you to your hotel so you can rest and refresh. Later, you’ll meet the crew, go over trip details, and prep your gear for the days ahead. It’s a relaxed day to recharge and connect with fellow photographers before heading into the mountains.

The day kicks off with an early morning flight to Skardu, one of the most scenic flights in the world. From your window seat, you’ll get a rare aerial view of the Karakoram peaks piercing through the clouds — a perfect teaser of what’s to come. After landing, you’ll check into the hotel and unwind. In the afternoon, we will explore Sarfranga Cold Desert and catch a sunset shoot by the river, playing with compositions against the rugged landscape.

We’ll hit the road for Khaplu, a 4-5 hour drive that’s filled with unreal scenery. Every turn reveals another jaw-dropping view, so expect plenty of spontaneous stops to capture winding roads, river valleys, and towering mountains. Once in Khaplu, we’ll visit the historic Khaplu Palace, where you can experiment with architectural shots, or wander through the old town streets to document local life. The day ends with a quiet evening, reviewing shots and soaking in the atmosphere of this timeless village.

From Khaplu, we’ll drive to Kande, the starting point of our trek. The hike to Mingulu takes about four hours, with endless photo opportunities along the way. Think vast valleys, dramatic peaks, and shifting light that constantly changes the landscape’s mood. We’ll set up camp at Mingulu, and as night falls, you can experiment with long-exposure shots or capture the stars stretching across the sky.

The trek continues as we make our way into Nangma Valley, a place that feels straight out of a dream. The peaks here rise like ancient giants, surrounding lush green meadows and glacial streams. Every angle offers something new — whether it's the scale of the mountains or the tiny details of wildflowers scattered across the valley floor. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring compositions, capturing the rugged beauty of the valley, and settling in for a golden hour shoot that will leave your memory cards full and your soul full.

After a sunrise shoot in Nangma Valley, half the team will descend back to Mingulu with heavy equipment, while the rest of us hike towards Amin Brakk. This massive rock formation is one of the trip’s highlights — a towering, dramatic structure that dominates the landscape. The hike is challenging, but the reward is unreal. We’ll set up camp near Amin Brakk and capture its raw beauty as the light dances across the cliffs. After sunset, we’ll stay out for night shots, photographing the stars above the peaks before resting for another big day.

We’ll catch sunrise at Amin Brakk before beginning our descent back to Mingulu, where we’ll reunite with the rest of the team. The trek back offers new perspectives of the landscape, and by the time we reach camp, you’ll already be spotting fresh compositions. The evening is spent capturing the valley in softer light, experimenting with different angles, and pushing creative boundaries as we wind down our time in the mountains.

It’s time to leave Nangma Valley, but not before squeezing in a few final shots during the descent to Kande. From there, we’ll drive back to Skardu, where a comfortable hotel bed and a hot shower await. The evening is all about unwinding — we’ll sit around a bonfire, go through everyone’s shots, share feedback, and talk through editing techniques. It’s the perfect way to wrap up the trek, surrounded by good company and even better memories.

We’ll catch an early flight back to Islamabad, giving you one last chance to photograph the mountains from above. Once back in the city, you’ll have some free time to explore, grab souvenirs, or just relax. In the evening, we’ll have a final group dinner — a chance to reflect on the trip, share favorite shots, and talk about everything we experienced over the past 10 days.

The adventure ends as we drop you off at the airport for your flight back home. But you won’t leave empty-handed. You’ll take home not just thousands of stunning photos, but also the memories of untouched landscapes, quiet moments in nature, and the feeling of being a tiny part of something vast and beautiful.