Beyal camp is a small summer settlement of huts, tea shops and campsites about 4 km beyond Fairy Meadows, a walk of an hour and a half to two and a half hours through the forest beside the Raikot glacier. At around 3,500 metres it sits a little higher than the main meadow and closer to Nanga Parbat. It is the stepping stone for everything further up: the Nanga Parbat viewpoint about an hour beyond, and the base camp on this side of the mountain a few hours after that.
Most visitors see Beyal as a day walk from the meadow. This guide covers the walk, what you find when you arrive, when it makes sense to sleep there, and what lies beyond it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Above Fairy Meadows, along the Raikot glacier |
| From Fairy Meadows | About 4 km, 1.5 to 2.5 hours |
| Altitude | Around 3,500 m, by most accounts |
| Nanga Parbat viewpoint | About 1 to 1.5 hours beyond Beyal |
| Base camp, Rakhiot side | About 2.5 to 3 hours beyond Beyal, a little under 4,000 m |
| Facilities | Tea shops, basic huts and rooms, campsites, in season only |
| Season | Roughly June to September |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate as far as Beyal |
Where is Beyal camp?
Fairy Meadows lies at the lower end of the Raikot glacier, which flows down from the north side of Nanga Parbat. Beyal is further up the same valley, in a smaller clearing in the forest, where the trees begin to thin and the glacier and the mountain's face come much closer.
It is a seasonal place. In the tourist season a handful of local families run tea shops, simple huts and camping grounds there. Outside the season it is empty and under snow.
The walk from Fairy Meadows
The path leaves the far end of the meadow and heads up the valley through pine and fir forest. It is well used and, compared with the walk up from Tato, gentle: a wide path with long, fairly level stretches and a few short climbs. A stream runs beside it for much of the way.
Through the trees you get glimpses of the Raikot glacier below, grey with rock and rubble on its surface rather than white. Nanga Parbat appears and disappears ahead as the forest opens and closes. The last stretch comes out into the clearing at Beyal, with the tea shops and huts scattered across it.
Allow an hour and a half if you walk steadily, and up to two and a half with children or plenty of stops. Most people leave the meadow after breakfast, when the mountain is most often clear, and are at Beyal by mid-morning.
What you find at Beyal
Beyal is simpler than the main meadow in every way. In season you can expect:
- Tea shops selling tea, soft drinks, biscuits and simple cooked food such as daal, rice and noodles. Everything has been carried up, so prices are higher than on the meadow.
- Basic huts and rooms run by local families, with beds and blankets but not much more. Don't expect an attached bathroom or hot water on tap.
- Campsites where you can pitch your own tent or hire one.
- Very limited power and little or no phone signal.
It is also quieter. Day walkers pass through in the morning and head back in the afternoon, and by evening Beyal belongs to the few people staying the night. Our guide to Fairy Meadows hotels covers booking and prices on the main meadow for comparison.
Should you sleep at Beyal?
For most visitors, no: a day walk from the meadow gives you Beyal and the viewpoint and gets you back to a warmer room for the night. A night at Beyal makes sense in three cases:
- You are walking to base camp. Starting from Beyal takes several hours off the longest day of the trip and gives you time to turn back without racing the light.
- You want quiet. In July and August the main meadow can be busy and loud. Beyal after the day walkers leave is a different place.
- You want the mountain close up at dawn. Sunrise on the face from Beyal is nearer and more direct than from the meadow.
Sleep on the main meadow first. A night at 3,300 metres before you move up to around 3,500 lets your body adjust, and it means you arrive at Beyal rested rather than straight after the jeep and the climb from Tato.
Nights at Beyal are colder than on the meadow, and the huts are draughty. Take a sleeping bag or ask how many blankets you will get, and keep your warm layers on after dark. A horse or porter from the meadow can carry your bags up; agree the price the evening before. If you are bringing a tent, our guide to camping in Fairy Meadows covers gear for the cold nights.
Beyond Beyal: the viewpoint
From Beyal the path climbs more steeply for an hour to an hour and a half to the Nanga Parbat viewpoint, a ridge above the Raikot glacier at roughly 3,650 to 3,700 metres. Here the forest is behind you and the whole north face of the mountain stands across the glacier, with ice falls and hanging glaciers in full view.
In season a stall at the viewpoint sells tea and simple food. The viewpoint is where most day walkers turn round, and it is a good end to the day: from the meadow to the viewpoint and back is a comfortable full day for most healthy adults. Our guide to things to do in Fairy Meadows sets it alongside the other walks from the meadow.
The base camp approach
Beyond the viewpoint the path continues towards the base camp used by expeditions on this side of Nanga Parbat, a little under 4,000 metres. This is the route of the German expeditions of the 1930s and of Hermann Buhl's first ascent in 1953, which is why the meadow and Beyal have been on climbers' maps for so long. Our guide to Nanga Parbat itself tells that story.
From Beyal, walkers usually take two and a half to three hours to reach base camp. It is a different kind of walk from the path to Beyal:
- The ground gets rougher, with a climb along a ridge and a stretch on loose rock and moraine beside the glacier.
- The final section is steep, and the trail is less obvious.
- There is no shelter, and the weather changes quickly this close to the face.
Go only with a local guide, which lodges on the meadow or at Beyal can usually arrange, and only in settled weather. Start early, agree a turnaround time and keep to it wherever you are. It is not a walk for young children or for anyone who has felt unwell at Beyal.
When to go to Beyal
The path to Beyal is usually clear of snow from late June to September. In May and early June snow can lie on the upper stretches, and the tea shops and huts may not have opened yet. By October the huts are closing and nights are well below freezing.
The best hours are the morning. Cloud tends to build around Nanga Parbat as the day warms, so the earlier you reach Beyal and the viewpoint, the better your chance of a clear face. Carry a rain jacket and a warm layer even on a sunny morning.
Is Beyal worth the walk?
For almost everyone who has come as far as Fairy Meadows, yes. The walk is easier than the one up from Tato, the forest is beautiful, and the view from Beyal and the viewpoint is closer and bigger than anything on the meadow.
It suits fit adults, older children who are used to walking, couples and groups who want a quieter second night. For families with young children, Beyal itself is a sensible turning point: tea, a rest, and back to the meadow for lunch. If anyone in your group struggled on the way up from Tato, our guide to the Fairy Meadows hike explains how horses can help, and the same applies here.
For the overview of the meadow, the season and getting there, see our Fairy Meadows destination page.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Beyal camp from Fairy Meadows?
About 4 km, a walk of an hour and a half to two and a half hours through the forest beside the Raikot glacier.
What is the altitude of Beyal camp?
Around 3,500 metres by most accounts, a little higher than the main meadow at about 3,300 metres.
Can you stay overnight at Beyal camp?
Yes, in season. Local families run basic huts, rooms and campsites, along with tea shops. Expect simple food, no attached bathrooms and cold nights.
Is the walk to Beyal camp difficult?
No. It is mostly a gentle forest path with a few short climbs, easier than the walk up from Tato. The viewpoint beyond it is steeper.
How long from Beyal camp to Nanga Parbat base camp?
Usually two and a half to three hours on rougher ground beside the glacier, with a steep final section. Go with a local guide and in good weather.
Can children walk to Beyal camp?
Children who are used to walking can usually manage it at a gentle pace with stops. For young children, Beyal is a good place to turn back rather than continuing to the viewpoint.
