The Rakhiot face
Nanga Parbat at 8,126 metres, close enough to hear the ice move at night.
Gilgit-Baltistan
Fairy Meadows
The meadow under Nanga Parbat
Weather now in Fairy Meadows 3,300 m
Live weather loads here.
When it snows: Deep snow from about December to February, and still lying in April. More on the seasons
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), updated every 30 minutes. Mountain weather changes fast: check again before you set off.
The place
The meadow under Nanga Parbat
Fairy Meadows is a steady walk and a long day: a jeep track up from the Karakoram Highway, then three to four hours on foot to a meadow that looks straight at the ninth-highest mountain on earth.
- Region
- Gilgit-Baltistan
- Best time
- June to September. The track and the meadow are under snow outside that window.
- Getting there
- Karakoram Highway to Raikot Bridge, jeep to Tato, then about 5 km and three to four hours on foot. There is no road to the meadow.
Highlights
What people come for
Beyal camp and the viewpoint
Two hours further on, and the walk most people remember best.
Base camp day hike
A long day from the meadow to the Rakhiot base camp and back.
The night sky
No road, no town, no light. Take the extra night.
Plan your trip
Getting there, seasons and what to expect
Getting to Fairy Meadows
Every route ends at Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway, about 55 km north of Chilas and about 75 km south of Gilgit. From there a local jeep climbs about 15 km to Tato, and the last 5 km to the meadow are on foot. The quickest way from Islamabad is to fly to Gilgit, about an hour on PIA's small turboprops, then drive 2 to 3 hours to the bridge; flights need clear weather and are often cancelled. By road from Islamabad it is about 420 km over the Babusar Pass in summer, too far for one day with the jeep and walk added, so most people stop in Naran or Chilas. When Babusar is closed, the only road is the Karakoram Highway through Besham and Dasu, which is longer and which the UK advises against.
When to go, month by month
June to September is the reliable season. The meadow can be reached from late spring, but in May and early June snow often lies on the upper path and on the way to Beyal, and not every cottage is open yet. Babusar reopened on 25 May in 2026, then closed again briefly in early June while snow and debris were cleared. July and August are the busiest months, with Eid and school holidays filling the cottages, and they bring afternoon cloud and rain that can hide Nanga Parbat for a day or two and loosen the jeep road. September is often the clearest month, with cold nights. By mid-October the season ends: in 2026 snow fell on Nanga Parbat and closed Babusar on 13 October, and most cottages shut for the winter.
How many days do you need?
Flying to Gilgit and back, four days is the shortest trip that works: up to the meadow on the first day, a free day for Beyal and the viewpoint, down to Gilgit on the third, and the flight home on the fourth. That is how our four-day Fairy Meadows trip runs. By road, allow at least six days, because the drive takes about two days each way. Plan two nights at the meadow rather than one. Cloud often covers the mountain for hours at a time, and a second night gives you a second sunrise. Add a day if you want the walk to Rakhiot base camp, a long day out and back. We also keep a spare day after any flight from Gilgit.
The jeep road and the walk
The 15 km jeep road from Raikot Bridge to Tato is narrow gravel with long drops into the Tato Nala, and only local drivers run it, usually in about an hour to an hour and a half. On 1 June 2026 a tourist jeep went off the road into the nala and seven people died, six visitors and the driver. Do not let a jeep be overloaded, travel in daylight, and change vehicles if the driver or jeep worries you. The road also closes after heavy rain. From Tato the path climbs about 5 km to the meadow at about 3,300 m, usually 3 to 4 hours on foot, with steep and stony sections. Horses can be hired at Tato for bags or riders. Beyal camp, at about 3,500 m, is a further walk of one to two hours.
Where to stay at Fairy Meadows
There are no hotels in the usual sense. Places to stay are wooden cottages and camps run by local families on the meadow, with simple rooms, shared or basic bathrooms in many, and set meals. Beyal, further up, has fewer and simpler places. Book ahead for July, August and the Eid weeks, when the meadow is crowded and the best-placed cottages fill first. Before or after the meadow you will need a night lower down. Gilgit suits anyone flying, and has the most choice. Chilas is closer to the bridge for those driving over Babusar, but it is very hot in summer, so ask for air conditioning. Naran is the usual stop on the Babusar route from Islamabad. Nights at the meadow are cold even in July, so bring warm layers for sleeping.
Money, signal and power
Carry all the cash you will need from Islamabad, Gilgit or Chilas: the jeep, horses or porters, meals and tips are paid in cash, and there is no bank machine anywhere near Raikot Bridge or the meadow. Do not count on mobile signal at Fairy Meadows or on the walk up. Coverage is weak and comes and goes, and SCOM, which has the widest coverage in Gilgit-Baltistan, is the network most likely to work. Tell family at home that you will be out of reach for a day or two. Electricity in the cottages is limited and can go off in the evening, so bring a power bank, a head torch and spare batteries. Download maps and anything else you need before you leave Gilgit or Chilas.
Conditions and safety, November 2026
The 2026 season is over. Snow closed Babusar Top on 13 October and it normally stays shut until late May or June, and the cottages at the meadow close for the winter, so the next realistic window opens in about June 2027. Gilgit-Baltistan is not on the UK's list of areas to avoid, and no advisory covers the meadow itself. The concern is the approach by road: the UK advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, and the road from Islamabad also crosses Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under an emergency and governor's rule since 11 October 2026. In summer the Babusar route or a flight to Gilgit avoids that stretch of the highway. Foreign visitors should check their own government's advice, because travelling against it can void insurance.
Questions people ask
When is Fairy Meadows open?
The practical season runs from about late May to early October, and June to September is the safest window, when the path is clear of snow and the cottages are open. The road over Babusar is usually open from late May or June to mid-October. From November to April the meadow is under snow and the cottages are shut.
How long is the walk to Fairy Meadows?
From Tato, where the jeep road ends, it is about 5 km to the meadow, usually 3 to 4 hours uphill. Fit walkers manage it faster, and families with children or older parents should allow longer. The path is clear but steep and stony in places. Horses can be hired at Tato for luggage or for anyone who would rather ride.
Can you drive your own car to Fairy Meadows?
Only as far as Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway. The 15 km road from there to Tato is run by local jeep drivers, and private cars do not use it. Drivers usually leave their car at the bridge and go up by jeep. Agree the return day and time with the jeep driver before you set off, and keep his number.
Is Fairy Meadows suitable for children and older parents?
Many families go, but it is harder than a road trip to Naran or Swat. The jeep road is rough and exposed, the walk takes three to four hours, and the meadow is at about 3,300 m, where some people get headaches and breathlessness. Hiring horses at Tato, a slow pace and two nights at the meadow make it manageable for most healthy children and fit older travellers.
Can you visit Fairy Meadows in winter?
Not as a normal trip. Snow covers the path and the meadow from about November to April, and the cottages close. Babusar is shut, so the only road from Islamabad is the Karakoram Highway through Kohistan. For snow and mountain views in winter, flying to Hunza or Skardu is a more practical choice.
How many nights should you spend at Fairy Meadows?
Two nights is our advice. Nanga Parbat is often hidden by cloud for hours at a time, especially in July and August, and a second night gives you another sunrise and an unhurried day for Beyal and the viewpoint. One night means walking up, sleeping and walking down, which is tiring and leaves the view to luck.
Tour packages
Trips that go here
4 days
From Islamabad
Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat view in 4 days
Fly to Gilgit, jeep up from Raikot Bridge to Tato and walk to Fairy Meadows for two nights facing Nanga Parbat, with an optional walk to Beyal.
Price on request
View itinerary5 days
From Islamabad
Hunza Valley in 5 days
Five days by road from Islamabad, over Babusar in summer, with one full day in Hunza for the forts, Attabad Lake and the Passu Cones. Long drives, short stay.
Price on request
View itineraryTravel guides
Before you go
- Fairy Meadows: Location, Height and How to Get There6 min
- One Month in Northern Pakistan: A Slow Travel Plan6 min
- Which SIM Works in Gilgit-Baltistan? Network Coverage Guide7 min
- What to Pack for Fairy Meadows: A Season-by-Season List8 min
- University Trip to the Northern Areas: Organiser's Guide5 min
- Two Weeks in Gilgit-Baltistan: A 14-Day Itinerary6 min
Timeless beauty · Serene waters · Living culture
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