Shimshal is one of the most remote villages in Pakistan, reached by a jeep road that the villagers largely built themselves, and the base for treks to the Shimshal Pamir.
For centuries Shimshal was reached only on foot, through gorges above the Hunza River. A jeep road opened in 2003, largely dug and blasted by the villagers over many years. Shimshal is known across the country for its mountaineers, and most families still keep yaks, sheep and goats on the high Pamir pastures in summer.
When the herds come down in the autumn, the village celebrates the Kuch festival. If you want to see this, plan carefully, because the dates follow the herders' calendar.
Highlights
- The jeep road from Passu
- Village life among the Wakhi
- The Shimshal Kuch festival
- Treks to the Pamir pastures
