Spring arrives quietly in the Karakoram. Snow still rests on the peaks, glaciers pulse with blue light, and in the valleys below, thousands of apricot trees burst into soft pastel bloom. It is one of the most poetic transitions in the mountains — winter and spring meeting for a brief moment, when the air is crisp, rivers shine with glacial melt, and villages glow with the gentle colors of blossom season.
This journey takes us from the wide desert plains of Skardu to the legendary valleys of Hunza and Passu, following winding rivers, dramatic granite walls, ancient fortresses and peaceful villages hidden between high peaks.
We will photograph towering giants of the Karakoram, pastel orchards of apricots and almonds in bloom, reflections in glacial lakes, sand dunes framed by snowy ridges, and some of the most dramatic river canyons on Earth. Beyond landscapes, we spend time with local communities, documenting culture, welcoming smiles, traditional gardens, and the rhythm of life in villages where spring is still celebrated quietly and sincerely.
Gilgit-Baltistan is a super friendly and welcoming region of Pakistan, tourist friendly with smiling people. When snow peaks meet apricot blossom — the Karakoram in its most delicate season.
Day 1 — Islamabad → Skardu (2,300 m) — April 1
Flight from Islamabad to Skardu takes about one hour; on arrival we transfer to the hotel and check in, leaving time to rest and acclimatize before an afternoon photography session at the Skardu Cold Desert where dunes meet mountain backdrops. This first evening is about working with the long, warm tones of sunset, practicing compositions that use sand textures and distant peaks, and testing telephoto compression on river reflections; equipment suggestions for the day include a wide-angle for landscapes and a fast mid-tele for compressed mountain layers.
Day 2 — Skardu → Khaplu (2,600 m) — April 2
We shoot around Skardu at sunrise to capture river valleys and village orchards, then after breakfast drive to Khaplu (approximately 3½ hours) with planned stops for landscape and village photography along the way. Upon arrival and hotel check-in there is free time to walk the valley and photograph apricot orchards in bloom during the soft evening light; the day focuses on clean compositions, subtle environmental portraits, and framing blossom foregrounds against mountain layers.
Day 3 — Khaplu → Machulu → Barah (2,700 m) — April 3
An early drive takes us into Machulu Valley for sunrise among apricot blossoms with the Haldi Cones as a backdrop; after returning to Khaplu for lunch we will move to Barah in the late afternoon to photograph terraced orchards and village terraces at golden hour, then return to the hotel. The photographic emphasis today is on blossom detail paired with expansive peak silhouettes, selecting focal lengths that let you move from intimate blossom studies to wide panoramas without losing the sense of scale. Machlu is also my personal favorite place for portraits – super friendly people live there, you will be tired of having invited for tea in the local houses!
Day 4 — Khaplu → Skardu (2,300 m) — April 4
Morning light in Khaplu offers more orchard and valley work before a return drive to Skardu (about 3½ hours) with several village stops for documentary and landscape frames. After check-in there is time to visit one of the nearby sand dune fields for sunset, concentrating on patterns, leading lines in the sand, and the contrast between warm dune tones and cool mountain shadows; this is a good opportunity to practice exposure bracketing and low-angle compositions.
Day 5 — Skardu → Hunza (2,400 m) — April 5
We begin with a morning shoot in Skardu, then pack and drive toward Hunza along the Indus, following the Gilgit–Skardu route and entering the Karakoram Highway; the drive is long (around six hours) but spectacular, passing the confluence of ranges where you can see the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindukush and—on clear days—Nanga Parbat (8,126 m). We will stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint, arrive in Hunza in the late afternoon, check in to our accommodation, and take an evening walk to photograph the valley with Rakaposhi in the background; focus on panoramic stitching opportunities and the tonal transitions between river canyon and high peaks.
Day 6 — Hunza: Baltit, Altit, Duikar (2,500 m) — April 6
Today we visit Baltit Fort, a steep ten-minute walk that rewards with commanding valley views, then drive to Altit Fort and the Royal Garden where we will have tea at Kha Basi Café run by local women. In the late afternoon we head to Duikar (Eagle’s Nest) for sunset photography, capturing Rakaposhi, Diran, Spantik (Golden Peak), Ultar and the Miar Glacier in warm backlight; the day is ideal for architectural and cultural details, environmental portraits, and silhouette studies against high mountain profiles.
Days 7–9 — Hunza → Hoper → Attabad → Gulmit → Ghulkin → Passu → Khunjerab (April 7–9)
Over these flexible days we will explore Hoper Valley for blossom and village scenes, visit Attabad Lake for its intense glacial blue and reflective compositions, walk the old town in Gulmit and the local carpet co-op run by women, then continue to Ghulkin for a short viewpoint hike offering panoramic views of the glacier and Passu’s spires. We will cross or photograph the iconic Hussaini suspension bridge if the group is comfortable, use the river plains around Passu for golden-hour work, and—weather permitting—approach the high road toward Khunjerab for raw high-altitude landscapes and possible wildlife sightings; evenings will be used to review images and plan shoots for the next day, prioritizing flexibility to catch the best light and weather windows.
Day 9 (evening) — Drive to Gilgit and overnight in Gilgit (April 9)
At the conclusion of the Passu/Khunjerab sector we drive toward Gilgit for the night, using the late drive to select final compositions and archive files; this day is practical for preparing gear and culling images before the return flight
Day 10 — Gilgit ✈ Islamabad (500 m) — April 10
Transfer to Gilgit airport for the morning flight to Islamabad and the end of the tour; use the final morning for any last quick shots around Gilgit depending on flight time, back up your cards, and finalize contact exchanges and image-sharing plans.
Pricing:
Total price (twin shared cabin, twin shared hotel rooms): 5200 USD
Difficulty: easy
Single supplement: +900 USD
Tour includes:
- Accommodation double/twin rooms
- all meals and non-alchohol drinks,
- all transportation during the tour
- support by professional English speaking photo guide
Not included in the price:
– Airfare international
– Local flights not included (recommended list will be provided)
– Visas (if applicable)
– Single supplement to upgrade to a single room
– Tips to the drivers
What to bring
Gear:
– DSLR or mirrorless camera with tripod
– A wide angle lens. For example, Nikkor 14-24 or Canon 17-40. Best lens for use in wide-angle scenes or architecture photography
– A middle-zoom lens such as a 24-70 mm
– A telephoto zoom lens, such as a 70-200 mm. Be sure to have additional tripod mount to this lens.
– Set of filters for seascape photography: ND 3, 6, 10 stop and CPL filters
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We strongly recommend you get a trip cancellation & travel insurance after booking your trip. If you cancel and the Workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:
Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus $300 service fee.
75 days or more: 75% refund
60 days or more: 50% refund
Less than 60 days: no refund
Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.
Tour leaders
Atif Saeed
Atif Saeed is a renowned Pakistani photographer celebrated for both his powerful wildlife portraits and atmospheric landscape work. For more than a decade, he has explored Pakistan’s vast wilderness — from snow-covered Karakoram peaks and high mountain deserts to forests and river valleys rich with wildlife. His photography is known for intimate perspective, dramatic natural light, and a deep respect for nature and traditional mountain culture. Atif is also the author of numerous photography books that highlight the beauty and biodiversity of Pakistan, inspiring appreciation and conservation through his art. His work has been featured internationally, and he continues to travel to remote regions, documenting the raw character and quiet poetry of the natural world.
