Hunza Valley one of the most picturesque and culturally rich region of Gilgit Baltistan. Situated in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan it is approximately a two hour drive from Gilgit city on the Karakoram Highway.

At an elevation of 2500 meters it is situated on the north/west of Hunza River and spread over 7900 square kilometers, it hosts a number of famous peaks of more than 6000 meter in height: Ultar, Rakaposhi, Diran, and Ladyfinger.

Itinerary

Day 1: Islamabad to Gilgit by morning flight.

Gilgit to Karimabad (Hunza). Sort stay at Rakaposhi View Point. Arrival at Hunza. Sightseeing and photography. Overnight stay at selected hotel at Hunza.

Day 2: Full day to explore Hunza. Visit Duikar, Altit Fort, Baltit Fort and Ganaish. Overnight stay at Hunza.

Day 3: Full day trip to Upper Hunza. Visit Attabad Lake, Gulmit, Passu, Borit Lake and Khunjrab Pass. Return to Passu for night stay.

Day 4 Full day free to go for short hiking trip along Passu glacier or do local exploration around Passu

Day 5: Return travel to Gilgit. Enjoy scenic drive on KKH. Lunch en route at Rakaposhi View Point. Night stay at hotel at Gilgit

Day 6: Forming flight to Islamabad.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Get Ready for this very special hike in the Margallas!

There are some beautiful meadows on the ridge. We will approach these meadows from the Chauntra Village early in the morning. Its a challenging hike that involves some steep sections both at uphill and downhill. Our plan is to start as early as possible to complete the hike before it gets hot later on.

We gather up at the Khyber Gate of the F-9 Park (on Margalla Road) and go to the Chauntra Village as a convoy (5Km from there). We park cars at the village and start the hike.

Hike Rating is Medium to Hard (due to the steep sections). Distance is 12Km loop. Wear some sturdy shoes and bring enough water/drinks to stay hydrated. If everything goes as per plan, we will do a short picnic at the meadows, so dont forget to bring along refreshments. Also, you dont want to miss taking photos !

Hike Tip: Hiking Poles (sticks) are very handy tools especially on the steep slopes both uphill and downhill.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Nanga Parbat (8126m) is the second highest mountain peak of Pakistan and ninth highest in the world. Its base camp is one the most beautiful and most accessible base camps of any 8000-meter peaks in the world!

Fairy Meadows, named by German mountaineers, is an alpine pasture at an elevation of 3300 feet above sea level and offers excellent views of Nanga Parbat and other high peaks.

On this 5 days adventure trip planned in collaboration with Sustainable Tourism Foundation, we will take you to the Fairy Meadows side of Nanga Parbat. This area offers excellent trekking opportunities with lush green meadows, pine covered slopes and superb views of Nanga Parbat and other high peaks. It is a lifetime opportunity for adventure and nature lovers. On this trail, porters will carry the heavy luggage while you hike carrying your day pack to the Fairy Meadows camping site (an easy to moderate hike of about 3 hrs.).

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Departure from Islamabad at 05:00 a.m. for Chilas. Travel on Karakorum Highway in air conditioned transport and cover distance in about 11 to 12 hrs. with break for lunch and refreshments. Overnight stay at hotel in Chilas.

Day 2: Early Breakfast at hotel. Leave for Roikot Bridge (about 1 ½ hrs. drive). Roikot to Jhel on 4x4 jeeps (1 ½ hrs. jeep ride). Trek from Jhel to Fairy Meadows (3 to 4 hrs.). Those who are not interested in trekking can hire a pony to reach Fairy Meadows in about 3 hrs. Overnight stay in wooden huts/tents at Fairy Meadows.

Day 3: One day trekking excursion to explore Bial Camp and Nanga Parbat base camp (8 to 9 hrs. both ways) Those who are not interested to go on a long hike can stay back at Fairy Meadows and explore area around camping site and enjoy nature walk, photography and spend time at leisure. Overnight stay in wooden huts/tents at Fairy Meadows. Dinner with Bonfire.

Day 4: Breakfast at camping site. Enjoy morning hours to do photography, explore area towards Fantori or relax in the beautiful mountain environment. After lunch trek back to Jhel (easy downhill trekking of about 2 ½ hrs.). Jhel to Raikot bridge travel by 4x4 jeeps in 1 ½ hrs. Raikot to Chilas by van in another 1 ½ hrs.). Overnight stay at hotel in Chilas.

Day 5: Early morning departure for Islamabad. Travel on KKH via Dasu, Besham, Thakot, Mansehra and Abbottabad. Enroute stop for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Reach Islamabad at around 9:00 p.m.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

As the weather is getting warmer we plan to do a night ride this Saturday!

Take advantage of this invitation to leisurely cycle through Constitution Avenue in Islamabad, with its numerous buildings beautifully lit up with colourful lights!

Those returning during the ride please inform the coordinators.

It is a easy ride and it’s on the road so all kinds of bicycle can join.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

FROM TROY TO LAHORE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ULYSSES AND NICOLAS BOUVIER

A journey through the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Central Asia!

Traveller-photographer Ferrante Ferranti will take you on a 40-year photographic journey- an exploration of civilizations and spirituality, which he began at the age of 20 when he first went to Sicily and Greece in search of his roots. Inspired by the Iliad and the Odyssey, and the writings of the Swiss writer, poet and photographer Nicolas Bouvier, author of The Way of the World (L’usage du monde), he continued his journey to Egypt, where he became interested in Islamic arts and decided to become a photographer, and then to Syria, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Guest Presenter- Ferrante Ferranti is a traveller - photographer and architect, who lives in Paris. Fascinated by Fernand Pouillon's book-‘The Stones of the Abbey, the portrait of a medieval monk architect in Southern France’-, he began training as an architect in Toulouse. He then trained in theatre and scenography of the Baroque period. As a traveller-photographer, he has collaborated for thirty-five years with the writer Dominique Fernandez in an exploration of the baroque and the different strata of civilizations, from Bolivia to Siberia.

He is the author of several books on photography, including ‘Reading Photography (Lire la photographie)’ published in 2015. He has been teaching photography at the Catholic University of Angers since 2015, and has conducted photography workshops around the world. His photography work has been displayed in many prestigious institutions in France, including at the ‘Maison Européenne de la Photographie’- which held a first retrospective of his work in 2013.

· In collaboration with Serena Hotel, Islamabad & the Embassy of France, Islamabad.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

The Second Ridge is basically just outside Islamabad, in the KPK region. Pl. NOTE: NOC may be required for the foreigners/ diplomats

The Second Ridge has been one of our favourite hiking tracks! The views of the snowclad Himalayas make this very special as it shows the diversity of the flora of the Margalla Hills. The whole track is covered with tall pine trees and listening to the whispering of pines in cool breeze is an experience on its own!

If the weather is clear. the climax of the hike is the lake's view point from where both Khanpur and Rawal Lake can be seen!

The total distance is 12Km (return trip).

Hike rating is Medium (Easy long walk on top of the ridge)

We will go together in our own cars in convoy.

Wear sturdy shoes; bring your own refreshments. Dress appropriately. Don’t forget your camera/phone for some

special memories!

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Group-1. 24-29 June

Group-2. 12-17 Aug

Hunza Valley one of the most picturesque and culturally rich region of Gilgit Baltistan. Situated in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan it is approximately a two hour drive from Gilgit city on the Karakoram Highway.

At an elevation of 2500 meters it is situated on the north/west of Hunza River and spread over 7900 square kilometers, it hosts a number of famous peaks of more than 6000 meter in height: Ultar, Rakaposhi, Diran, and Ladyfinger.

Itinerary

Day 1: Islamabad to Gilgit by morning flight.

Gilgit to Karimabad (Hunza). Short stay at Rakaposhi View Point. Arrival at Hunza. Sightseeing and photography. Overnight stay at selected hotel at Hunza.

Day 2: Full day to explore Hunza. Visit Duikar, Altit Fort, Baltit Fort and Ganaish. Overnight stay at Hunza.

Day 3: Full day trip to Upper Hunza. Visit Attabad Lake, Gulmit, Passu, Borit Lake and Khunjrab Pass. Return to Passu for night stay.

Day 4 Full day free to go for short hiking trip along Passu glacier or do local exploration around Passu

Day 5: Return travel to Gilgit. Enjoy scenic drive on KKH. Lunch en route at Rakaposhi View Point. Night stay at hotel at Gilgit

Day 6: Forming flight to Islamabad.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Director: Terence Young

Screenplay: Richard Maibaum & Berkely Mather, based on the novel by Ian Fleming

Cast: Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendariz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw, Bernard Lee, Eunice Gayson, Walter Gotell, Lois Maxwell

BAFTA Award: Ted Moore for Cinematography

Second in the long-running series of spy films based on Ian Fleming's pulp novels about the exploits of British Secret Service agent James Bond with code name 007.

In this episode Bond (Sean Connery) is sent to assist in the defection of a Soviet consulate clerk (Daniela Bianchi) in Turkey, where the international organization SPECTRE plans to avenge Bond's killing of one of their evil agents. Helping him in the mission is his counterpart (Pedro Armendariz) in Turkey while the antagonists trying to kill them are the highly feared Soviet counter-intelligence high ranking agent Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) and her trained assassin (Robert Shaw).

Spectacular action set pieces, the exotic locations in Istanbul, the famous Bond music theme and the colourful characters all combine to make this one of the best Bond films.

• In collaboration with Serena Hotel, Islamabad

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Plan Ahead!

Nanga Parbat (8126m) is the second highest mountain peak of Pakistan and ninth highest in the world. Its base camp is one the most beautiful and most assessable base camps of any 8000-meter peak in the world. Fairy Meadows, named by German mountaineers is an alpine pasture at an elevation of 3300 feet from sea level and offers excellent view of Nanga Parbat and other high peaks.

On this 5 days’ adventure trip planned in collaboration with Sustainable Tourism Foundation, we will take you to the Fairy Meadows side of Nanga Parbat. This area offers excellent trekking opportunities with lush green meadows, pine covered slopes and superb views of Nanga Parbat and other high peaks. June is the best time to visit this place. It is a lifetime opportunity for adventure and nature lovers. On this trail, porters will carry the heavy luggage while you hike carrying your day pack to the Fairy Meadows camping site (an easy to moderate hike of about 3 hrs.).

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Departure from Islamabad at 05:00 a.m. for Chilas. Travel in an air conditioned transport and cover distance in about 12 hrs. with break for lunch and refreshments. Overnight stay and dinner at hotel in Chilas.

Day 2: Early Breakfast at hotel. Leave for Roikot Bridge (about 1 ½ hrs. drive). Roikot to Jhel travel on 4x4 jeeps (1 ½ hrs. thrilling jeep ride). Trek from Jhel to Fairy Meadows (3 to 4 hrs.). Overnight stay and dinner at Fairy Meadows. Night stay in huts/tents at Fairy Meadows.

Day 3: Day hiking excursion to explore the Bial Camp and Nanga Parbat base camp (8 to 9 hrs. both ways) Those who are not interested to go on a long hike can stay back at Fairy Meadows and explore area around camping site and enjoy nature walk, photography and spend time at leisure. Overnight stay in wooden night stay in huts/tents at Fairy Meadows. Dinner with Bonfire.

Day 4: Breakfast at camping site. Enjoy morning hours to do photography, explore area towards Fantori or relax in the beautiful mountain environment. After lunch trek back to Jhel (easy to moderate downhill trekking of about 2 ½ hrs.). Jhel to Raikot bridge travel by 4x4 jeeps in 1 ½ hrs. Raikot to Chilas by van in another 1 ½ hrs.). Overnight stay at hotel in Chilas.

Day 5: Early morning breakfast and departure for Islamabad. Travel on KKH via Dasu, Besham, Thakot, Mansehra and Abbottabad. En-route stop for lunch and afternoon tea. Reach Islamabad at around 9:00 p.m. End of trip.

Bring along your family & friends and join us on an early morning ride around Shakarparian... looking forward to an active participation!

Discover Shakarparian (also known as Shakarparian Hills) - a national park located near the Zero point interchange in Islamabad. The old ' Gakhar' tribe leaders settled here before the Indo-Pak partition in 1947; later the clan was relocated to create a park for the newly marked federal capital of the country in 1960–61.This is where the foundation stone for Islamabad was placed!

Shakarparian also has a parade ground which hosts the Pakistan Day Parade every year on 23 March. The Pakistan Monument and museum and are also located in the area.

There is a new off road track being cleared by CDA recently that takes you very close to nature within minutes. We will go through that track as well!

Those returning during the ride please inform the coordinators.

It is an easy ride and it’s on the road so all kinds of bicycle can join.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org