Fairy Meadows is one of the best-known attractions in Pakistan's Himalaya. The track up to the forest area near the 8,126 m high Nanga Parbat is notorious, and many describe it as one of the most dangerous roads in the world. To get to Fairy Meadows, you will most likely stay a night at Raikot Bridge across the Indus River, then take a daring jeep trip up to Tattu village and hike the remaining 5 km all the way up. From Fairy Meadows, most visitors continue their tour to Beyal Camp, Viewpoint, German Point, and the Nanga Parbat Base Camp. Find out more about the best tips and all you need to know about getting to Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat.
(Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows)
Arriving at Raikot Bridge – Getting a Jeep Right Away Or Staying Overnight?
After my experience in Northern Pakistan, I would very much recommend staying a night at Raikot Bridge and ascending to Fairy Meadows by jeep the next morning. Traveling this way, you will have a few advantages, first of all, less stress, and secondly, you will have enough time to find other travelers to share the costs.
Raikot Bridge crosses the Indus River and is part of the legendary Karakorum Highway. Every traveler heading to Fairy Meadows will have to stop here. Since there aren't many cities nearby, it's very unlikely to reach Raikot before noon. Theoretically, you could still get a jeep in the afternoon. However, if you are alone, you would need to find other passengers, register with the police, and finally hike all the way from Tattu. If the time is getting too late, you might end up on the track after dusk.
(Nothing much to see: The road at Raikot Bridge)
The most prominent hotel at Raikot Bridge is the Shangri-La, where we stayed for around 10,000 Rupees (approx. 30€) in a double room. Compared to other accommodations, the price is a bit higher. On the other hand, you will get functioning internet and hot water, which is definitely not a given in Gilgit-Baltistan. Across the street, Fairy Meadows Gateway Hotel is the cheaper alternative, but with much lower comfort, especially when it comes to warm water. One could stay there to just pay half of Shangri-La and visit the latter for wifi once in a while. Further down the road towards Chilas, there's a third option, the Raikot Gazebo, a branch of the popular Raikot Sarai up in Fairy Meadows. It is considered to be cheap, with medium comfort, lacking hot water, but offering excellent food.
3 hotels at Raikot Bridge:
- Shangri-La Fairymeadows Inn: Around 30€ for a double room; a bit more expensive, but including fast internet and hot water. The food was also good.
- Fairy Meadows Gateway Hotel: Around 15€ for a double room; cold water and no reception/internet. There's a small restaurant with classic Pakistani roadside cuisine.
- Raikot Gazebo (by Raikot Sarai): The Indus Valley branch of the legendary Raikot Sarai in Fairy Meadows. There's no warm water, and the internet is weak. It's a bit further away from the bridge in the direction of Chilas.
Note: We asked if we could leave our baggage for a few days in Shangri-La, which wasn't a problem at all. The same is possible in the other hotels. Considering that you will have to hike upwards for 3 hours after the jeep tour is done, it's a wise idea to cut a bit down on weight.
Booking a Jeep, Sharing the Costs, and Registering with the Police
Right behind the checkpoint, which consists of an open barrier and a sometimes tightly pulled string, you will notice dozens of jeeps. Here you can ask around and will find a ride up to Tattu within a few minutes. Tattu is the village where the jeep track ends and the hiking path begins. The price for the jeep to Fairy Meadows is fixed by the state now. It costs 8,500 Rupees one way, but you will always have to pay for a return ticket. So all in all, they will ask you for 16,000 Rupees, of which you pay the last 6,000 Rupees on the return journey. The jeeps can fit six people, so it’s absolutely worth sharing the car. However, that also means that you have to come back together. Otherwise, you will have to pay extra. Therefore, you all need to agree on one time for the return.
(Jeeps for Fairy Meadows)
Before you get on the track, you need to register at the police station. They already know about you when you check into the hotel. The registration is necessary to get an overview of all foreigners in the area and to keep them safe along the track. Apart from that, one of the local policemen is running his own little side business. While taking your details, he will continuously ask if you need excellent taxi services.
(Fairy Meadows jeeps)
Once all your information is documented, the journey begins. The road to Fairy Meadows is often described as one of the most dangerous ones in Pakistan. Yes, it’s pretty narrow and steep. The jeeps often get close to the edge, and it can look pretty scary. But since the drivers are traveling this track daily and have a lot of experience, you can trust their skills. Overall, there are many riskier things to do than heading to Fairy Meadows by jeep.
(The road to Fairy Meadows)
How Long Does It Take By Jeep to Fairy Meadows?
The jeep journey from Raikot Bridge to Tattu Village takes around 90 minutes up to 2 hours. The exact time depends a bit on the day. After a third of the journey, you will have to change to another jeep. Since the heavy cloudbursts of summer 2025, a part of the road has been destroyed, so the passengers will have to get off and walk on foot.
(Road to Fairy Meadows)
From a distance, this part looks pretty scary. If you look down while passing it, it might make you dizzy, so just stick to the wall and the path. Technically, it’s not a big challenge to walk along that narrow rim. By jeep, it is definitely not possible.
(Halfway, a local hitchhiker sat on the bonnet. He's Tattu's village teacher.)
From Tattu Village to Fairy Meadows – Hiking or Horse?
The jeep will bring you as far as Tattu, the village at the beginning of the hiking path to Fairy Meadows. Before you start, you can go to some of the shops and restaurants here, like the Tattu Valley Jail. They serve some food, chai, water, and next to it, you might be able to employ some luggage carriers, human ones, or animals.
(The hiking track starts after this bridge in Tattu)
Many visitors get themselves a horse and are led all the way up from Tattu Village to Fairy Meadows. The price is fixed at 3,500 Rupees without many options to negotiate. If you get your baggage carried up by some of the local men, you will be charged by weight, 1K costing 100 Rupees.
(Horses instead of hiking)
The hike itself is quite doable, even for beginners. You should start slowly and relaxed, just moving forward step by step. The first part crosses through a green forest area with some water flows. Don’t turn left when you see the sign "Upper Fairy Meadows 30 min away"! The path to the actual Fairy Meadows is pretty straight until the serpentines start to bring you up along the sharp rocks.
(Midway to the Fairy Meadows)
This part is a bit barren and mostly made of rocks and gravel. At the edge, it goes far down, so you should always watch your step and move on carefully. Especially when horses and cows pass, it gets a bit crowded on the small track, and you should always stick to the side near the mountain. If you stop and turn your head around, the snowy peaks of Nanga Parbat already appear. After many curves, the 8,126 m high mountain comes closer and closer, yet it is still hours and hours of hiking away.
(The peaks of Nanga Parbat)
Staying at Fairy Meadows – Hotels and Supplies
The Fairy Meadows in Gilgit-Baltistan have changed over the past 20 years. Nowadays, there’s not much left of the beautiful loneliness in the middle of nature. Instead, the area is covered with hotels, at least all built out of wood and heated with fire. This has some advantages and disadvantages. The wooden architecture is quite beautiful and has some romantic flair. On the other hand, it causes more and more deforestation, which turns the Fairy Forest into an actual Fairy Meadow.
(Fairy Meadows and its Hotels)
For now, the level of development is still acceptable. The more trees disappear, the more problematic the situation will get, though. The cloudbursts and floods of 2025 have shown how devastating water can be if there is no forest to stop the flow. If you don’t want to support the development of Fairy Meadows, you could also just continue to Camp Beyal, which at first sight seems to be the more sustainable option. Or, of course, you opt for individual camping.
(Fairy Meadows with Nanga Parbat View)
The prices for hotels at Fairy Meadows vary significantly from summer to winter. In the off-season, you can get a room with one double and one single bed for around 5,000 Rupees per night. In summer, the prices are much higher. Then you should count in 10,000 to 20,000 Rupees for the same accommodation. Generally, I wouldn’t only recommend autumn because of the price, but also for its calmness. At this time of the year, Fairy Meadows isn’t too overrun by tourists, and you can enjoy nature much more by yourself. If you’re looking for action, on the other hand, then come in June, July, or August.
From Fairy Meadows To Camp Beyal
You could easily make it from Fairy Meadows to the Base Camp in one day, given that you start early in the morning. The hotels will serve you a hearty breakfast including fried pratha bread, toast, and omelette, and you're off around 7 or 8 a.m. To get all the way to the Base Camp, you should count 8.5 km and about 6-7 hours.
(Camp Beyal)
After around 4 km, you will reach Camp Beyal, a beautiful meadow with rivers, horses, and smaller lodges. You can get food and supplies here. If you need a longer break, there are also options to sleep in comparably good hotels.
From Camp Beyal To Viewpoint
The next part of the track is about 2 km long and brings you from Camp Beyal to the so-called Viewpoint. This route goes a bit steeper up and is scattered with large rocks lying around in the valley. At the end, you will reach two huts with a café and a toilet, accessible on request inside the house of the workers.
(Viewpoint on the way to Nanga Parbat Base Camp)
From the little terrace, you will enjoy a nice view across the glacier with the peaks of Nanga Parbat in the background. That’s exactly why the Viewpoint is named the way it is named.
(Glacier in front of Nanga Parbat)
From Camp Beyal To Base Camp – Two Possible Routes
(Two routes to the basecamp: one leads across the glacier)
The way from the Viewpoint to the Base Camp is only 2 km long, but those 2 km are a lot more challenging. There are two different routes you could take. One follows the hills next to the glacier and leads around the mountains. After a comparably flat route, it steeply inclines. However, if you don’t have special gear, this is the path you should follow to reach the Base Camp of Nanga Parbat.
(The route to German Point)
The second route to Nanga Parbat Base Camp requires proper equipment, because at some point, you will have to cross one of the smaller glaciers. Even the first ascent up the hill is a bit more challenging, but it leads you across lush green hills, where you can find enough grip with the right shoes. After that, you follow the ridge and rise higher and higher. If you don’t want to go all the way to the Base Camp, the German Point on this route is a very recommendable spot. It’s before the glacier crossing, so you wouldn’t need any special gear up to this landmark.
(View back towards Fairy Meadows)
Those are the 2 routes from Viewpoint to Base Camp:
- Turn left and follow the path along the hillside around the mountains with the glacier right next to you: No special gear needed.
- Go right up the green hill to German Point and further across the small glacier to the Base Camp: Special gear needed!
German Point – Worthy Alternative To Base Camp
Many visitors believe that the German Point is almost more worthy to visit than going all the way to the Base Camp of Nanga Parbat. From the Viewpoint to this spot, you have to walk for around one quite challenging kilometer, all the way up the mountain. Eventually, Nanga Parbat appears to be very close and presents its best views for spectacular pictures. In the Base Camp, on the other hand, you will be almost right in front of the rocks, which is impressive, but doesn’t give you the complete panorama.
(Proud hiker reaching German Point)
Especially when the hours are getting late, German Point is a good alternative to the Nanga Parbat Base Camp. Instead of turning back from the Viewpoint, when you notice that you won’t make it all the way to the Base Camp, you could just ascend to the German Point and still have enough time for your return in daylight. The only important thing is to pass the steep parts of the track before it gets dark. Here, you could easily slip and fall if you can’t see the ground properly. From Viewpoint to Fairy Meadows, you could even manage with a torch, although it’s not recommended for most of the hike. In the worst case, it shouldn’t be much of a problem, though.
(Panoramic view of the Nanga Parbat group)
Back From Base Camp/Viewpoint to Fairy Meadows
The path from the Nanga Parbat Base Camp to Fairy Meadows takes around 6 h, sometimes more, sometimes less. Since it always goes down, you should be a bit faster than on the way to Nanga Parbat. Only the last part is a bit of a challenge, since for Fairy Meadows, you will have to ascend again.
If you start from German Point, you will reach the Viewpoint after 40 to 60 minutes. After that, you should count another 2 h to Fairy Meadows. If you are too exhausted, you can also crash at Camp Beyal and book a room there. For everyone who returns by jeep the next day, it’s better to push through to Fairy Meadows, though, to be ready for the hike to Tattu Village the next morning.
Back From Fairy Meadows to Tattu Village
The way from Fairy Meadows to Tattu can be finished a bit quicker than the route up. You will continuously walk down, but since the ground can be a bit slippery, you really should have proper shoes or slow down a bit. Most people will arrive at Tattu Point after roughly 90 minutes. Some manage to get to the jeep after an hour, but considering that you will have to hike for 5 km, this is already rather advanced.
Best Time To Visit Fairy Meadows
Most tourists visit Fairy Meadows in summer. That’s the high season with a lot of activity and significantly higher prices. If you like entertainment from horseback riding to ziplines, this is the right season for you. The second most popular time of the year to visit Fairy Meadows is spring, when the ground is filled with colourful mountain flowers. After that, autumn overwhelms you with its golden colours.
(Glacier view near Fairy Meadows)
My personal favorite is the change from summer to autumn around late September, but also autumn itself. The advantage: There are almost no other tourists, and you will enjoy a lot of space. Disadvantage: The temperature drops, at night sometimes down to 0 °C. You can choose one of the traditional rooms with a fireplace. The owners also heat the water for you, but it takes an hour and isn’t really that successful. You will get a lukewarm shower at best.
What To Bring For Hiking To Fairy Meadows?
Most of the hiking tracks are easily doable for everyone up to German Point, even if you don’t have professional gear. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t get on the path without any preparation. Some solid shoes with enough grip are a must. Sneakers will make you slip on the dusty and steep routes.
Furthermore, you will need sunscreen to protect you from the aggressive UV light at 3,000 meters above sea level. For the first part up to Viewpoint, you can choose some simple shirts without sleeves. After that, you might need a jumper. In case the weather changes, you should have a jacket ready for use as well.
To stay full of energy, pack some nuts and dried fruits or other light food with lots of fiber and carbs. Water you will find almost everywhere, but the rivers themselves aren’t really clean. That’s why you really need to filter it to not get sick from it. Mobile filter bottles that remove viruses are an ideal solution. We used Grayl, which worked really well, even with the worst looking water.
Alternatively, you could use the water from the long pipe that comes from the springs in the mountains all the way down to the valley. Those are a bit harder to find, though. Waiting for the right source is worth it, though, since, based on mine and fellow travelers' experiences, in Pakistan, river water will make you sick!
Those 10 things are essential for your hike up to Fairy Meadow:
- Rain jacket and jumper
- Proper hiking boots
- Sunscreen
- Torch
- A hat or scarf to protect your head
- Filter bottle that removes viruses
- Snacks
- Perhaps a tent and a sleeping bag
- Special equipment if you want to cross the glacier
- Cash for accommodation