Fairy Meadows: Location, Height and How to Get There

Fairy Meadows height is about 3,300 metres, or roughly 10,800 feet, above sea level. As for Fairy Meadows location, it is in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, on the north side of Nanga Parbat, about 12 km south of Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway in a straight line. You reach it by a local jeep from Raikot Bridge to Tato village and then a walk of about 5 km.

This guide gives the height and position in more detail, explains how the meadow sits relative to the road, the jeep track and the mountain, and points you to our guides for each stage of the journey.

How high is Fairy Meadows?

Fairy Meadows lies at about 3,300 metres (10,800 feet). That is the figure given in most references, including Wikipedia, and the elevation data we checked for the meadow's mapped position on OpenStreetMap comes out at about 3,290 metres, so the two agree.

To put that in context:

• Raikot Bridge, where you leave the highway, is down by the Indus at roughly 1,150 to 1,200 metres, going by elevation data.
• Tato village, where the jeep track ends, is in the forest well above the gorge. Figures for it vary between about 2,200 and 2,400 metres depending on which part of the village you measure.
• Fairy Meadows is about 3,300 metres.
• Nanga Parbat, which fills the view to the south, is 8,126 metres, almost five kilometres higher than the meadow.

So in one afternoon you climb about 2,100 metres from the river to the meadow, most of it by jeep. At 3,300 metres many people notice a mild headache or shortness of breath on the first evening. Walk up slowly, drink water, and don't rush on to Beyal or the viewpoint on the day you arrive. Serious altitude sickness is uncommon at this height, but anyone who feels steadily worse should go down.

Where exactly is Fairy Meadows?

Fairy Meadows is a broad grassy clearing in pine forest at the head of the Rakhiot valley, just below the snout of the Raikot glacier. The valley runs south from the Indus up to the north face of Nanga Parbat, and the meadow sits about two thirds of the way along it.

On a map, measured in straight lines from the meadow:

• Tato village is about 5 km to the north
• Raikot Bridge is about 12 km to the north
• The summit of Nanga Parbat is about 17 km to the south
• Chilas is about 44 km to the west
• Gilgit is about 64 km to the north-west

Raikot Bridge itself is on the Karakoram Highway between Chilas and Gilgit. By road it is about 57 km from Chilas and about 77 km from central Gilgit, according to OpenStreetMap routing. Times on the highway vary with traffic and roadworks.

The area is the Fairy Meadows National Park, declared in 1995. It is also the traditional starting point for climbers attempting Nanga Parbat by the Rakhiot face, the route on this side of the mountain.

How do you get to Fairy Meadows?

The journey has three stages, and each one has its own guide on this site.

1. Drive to Raikot Bridge. From Islamabad the usual summer route is via Naran and Babusar Top, then down to Chilas and east along the Karakoram Highway. Our Islamabad to Fairy Meadows guide covers the route and timings, and our Raikot Bridge guide explains parking and what is there.
2. Take a local jeep to Tato. Private cars are not allowed on the track. Only union jeeps run it, and the ride takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Our Fairy Meadows jeep track guide covers how the system works and current fares.
3. Walk from Tato to the meadow. About 5 km on a forest path, which takes most people two to four hours. Horses can be hired for luggage or riders. See our Tato village guide for the trailhead.

If Babusar is closed, the only road to Raikot Bridge from the south is the Karakoram Highway through Besham and Dasu. The UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. Pakistani travellers still use it, but check current news and police advice first. Overseas visitors should read their own government's advice, because it can affect travel insurance. In summer, Babusar avoids that stretch.

When can you go?

The tourist season at Fairy Meadows usually runs from about April to the end of September, with June to September the most practical months for most families. Snow lies on the meadow in winter and the walk becomes a different undertaking. Our guide to the best time to visit Fairy Meadows goes through it month by month.

What lies beyond the meadow?

Fairy Meadows is the start, not the end, of the walking. About 4 km further on is Beyal camp, at around 3,500 metres, and beyond that the Nanga Parbat viewpoint and then the base camp on this side of the mountain. Each step takes you higher, so give yourself a night at the meadow before going further.

For more on the place itself, our Fairy Meadows destination page gives the overview, and our Fairy Meadows hotels guide covers where to stay. To compare it with other places in the north, see our destinations page.

Is the height a problem for families?

For most healthy people, no. At 3,300 metres the air is noticeably thinner than in Murree or Naran, and nights are cold even in July, but children and fit older parents visit every summer. The harder part for many is the 5 km uphill walk from Tato, not the altitude itself. Horses solve that for anyone who can't manage it.

Take more care with infants, anyone with heart or lung conditions, and anyone who has had altitude trouble before; ask a doctor before the trip if you are unsure. Whoever you travel with, keep the first evening at the meadow easy and save the walk to Beyal for the next day.

Frequently asked questions