A four-day trip to the Khunjerab National Park & Khunjerab Border in June
Otherwise, to do away with the oppressive heat of Peshawar in June, there can be no better place than the marvelous Khunjerab National Park and the famous Khunjerab Border.
As you walk down the streets of the city of Peshawar overwhelmed by the heat which can reach 45 degree Celsius during the summer, just think about the region of Khunjerab where it snows even in the summer months. And here are the reasons that you should visit the Khunjerab National Park and the Khunjerab Border this June.
Our guide ‘Plan Your Escape’ to Khunjerab National Park will prove useful for the aspiring travelers out there.
Whenever summer is at it unbearable best, a trip to Khunjerab National Park is the ideal thing to do. I and my friends wanted to escape from heat so we all without any delay planned to visit Khunjerab which is the highest border. And in June, it is one of the few regions in the Pakistan that really get to feel snowing. Apart from beautiful sceneries, it has everything that one may look for, be it a beautiful picnic spot away from noisy cities.
Why to visit Khunjerab border in June?
Khunjerab Border, the world’ highest paved INTER- NATIONAL border pass is in itself an exhilarating experience. It lies on the skirts of Khunjerab National Park and is 4693 meters high and this is the foreign link connecting Pakistan and China. Whereas, during June, most of the Pakistan is having scorching heat, the Khunjerab Border receives fresh snow, making it the right place to be, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Oh yes, we started into the last week of June aiming to feel the first snow of Khunjerab and trust me, it was all that I expected. The minute we got closer to the Khunjerab Border the cold winds unwrapped themselves around us and we were lost in a winter environment even when it was summer.
Khunjerab National Park wildlife
Wildlife enthusiasts will find the following a Home away from Home
Most definitely, Khunjerab National Park provides a dream scene to every wildlife lover. It hosts some of the most out of the ordinary species of animals like snow leopard, ibex, and yak among others. It is one of the most important protected areas in Pakistan because of its strategic location where the terrain of the park is very high so it comes in the upper reach of the Biodiversity.
On your lucky day you might encounter these animals on your trekking trips in the park. The benefit of getting out of the car even if you don’t get to see the snow leopards is the sight of the marmots running around and the Ibex feeding on the fresh greenery on the valleys.
The following are some of the general preparations that you ought to make before you proceed to Khunjerab Border;
In planning to take a trip to Khunjerab Border in June, therefore there are certain things that one needs to be advised to put in mind. More importantly, you will need warm clothes, and do not be surprised if June is cold, it can be. The summers here are also cool and it seldom goes above freezing point, so carrying jackets and thermal wear are must. It would take the tourist 4 hours if they want to cover a distance from Hunza Valley to Khunjerab Border by car but the ride on the Karakoram Highway will be very eye opening.
The drive itself is like moving through a roller coaster going through valleys, high mountain peaks, glacial rivers and more. When you get to the border area at Khunjerab, spend some time to watch the physanty, make some pictures and get fresh with the fresh cold breeze in the atmosphere.
Read this Vlog in Urdu خنجراب ںیشنل پارک
Camping and Accommodation Tips
It would be also nice to note that one of the most effective means of experiencing the wonders of nature in Khunjerab National Park is through camping. In case you are travelling in a group with friends or even in the company of your family I would recommend that you take to the camping option rather than trying to get bookings in some of the hotels in Hunza. It helps to save a lot of money and at the same time provides an opportunity to step outside and enjoy the calmness of the surrounding nature.
Hunza has a lot of terrains that you can select so as to pitch your tent. Besides, many residents can host travelers at lower rates for paying guest that is, being a part of the Hunza family. I assure you that you will not have any sort of regret leaving the hotel and checking in any local house around and also for trying the mouth-watering crops common in that area.
Taste the Specialties of the Hunza Valley
If you happen to be in Hunza you don’t miss this opportunity and taste the Hunza food. This place offers great combination of tastes and, the food is prepared according to the traditions. In the course of our visit we got to taste some yummy apricot oil based preparations like Gral which is a pancake prepared with assorted vegetables, and Malida—bread and yogurt mix. Everything we have eaten above was possible for only about 1000 PKR only, which was really reasonable to pay for such fresh and homely dishes!
The Thrill of Khunjerab Border
This skit is entitled the World’s Highest ATM, with candidates performing for pressure, excitement presents themselves at height or elevation.
Guaranteed, one of the main attractions of Khunjerab Border is pulling the cash from the Highest ATM in the world located in 4,693 meters above the sea level. It is an enjoyable, fun and rather unique thing that should be done is every traveler. For a snack, how about make a quick withdrawal to take some cash then sit back, relax with a cup of coffee while admiring the fantastic snow-capped mountains and glaciers.
What to do at Khunjerab National Park and Khunjerab Border
Khunjerab National Park and Khunjerab Border tourists’ visitors’ guide has highlighted the following dos and don’ts at the park and the border.
However, if you find yourself in the Khunjerab border, it is prudent to avoid activities that will make you exercise unnecessarily such as running round with joy. The air up here is thin you know it has very little oxygen than you would normally find and so it might be a bit hard to breathe if you come from a low altitude region. There are some couple of tourist we met who were dizzy and some bent down experiencing short breath, so must be very careful with the movements and do not miss out on drinking water.
Any activities such as running or any type of rigorous exercise was also known to bring on the symptoms of altitude sickness, so keep it light while in the area.
Khunjerab National Park: This article is a goldmine for those who wish to go on an adventure.
That is why Khunjerab National Park is not only the snowy fairy tale landscape, but also the enthusiasts of active type of recreation. Be it hiking through terrains of the hilly tracks or an explorer’s delight of identifying the many species of wildlife, it’s never boring. And if you look carefully you may get a lucky take of snow leopard or wolf at the horizon line.
As for the wild animals we saw during the tour we had marmots and the ibex that we took some pictures with. However, there was a local shepherd who told us that the wolves usually hunt for these marmots, therefore we did not take time to even listen to the conversation.
Final Thoughts: Is Khunjerab Border Good to Visit in June or Not?
Absolutely! Travelling to Khunjerab National Park and Khunjerab Border in June has got to be the trip of the century. Still, the cool climate, fantastic scenery, and an abundance of wildlife make it ideal during the hot summer months. This is true whether in site seeing, wildlife or game hunting or simply to get away from the rush of the modern world, Khunjerab has something to offer each one of us.
Therefore, if you are planning a vacation in June or if you know someone who is, then get your bags packed, zip up your jacket and go to the Khunjerab Border. You won’t regret it!
One Comment on “A 4-day trip to the Khunjerab National Park & Khunjerab Border in June”