Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat

Fairy Meadows, a stunningly beautiful alpine plateau in the shadow of Nanga Parbat, is one of the most magical spots in the Pakistani Himalaya. This gently sloping expanse of green meadow and pine forest, dotted with simple wooden huts, offers a breathtaking, front-row view of the colossal snow-and-ice face of Nanga Parbat, at 8,126 metres the ninth-highest mountain on earth and known as the Killer Mountain for its treacherous climbing history. A haven for trekkers, it is the gateway to walks toward the mountain's base camp beneath its immense Rakhiot Face.

What you actually see

• Nanga Parbat - the colossal ice face of the ninth-highest peak.
• The alpine meadows - the green plateau and pine forest.
• The base-camp trek - the walk toward the mountain's base.
• The night sky - the brilliant stars over the meadows.

When to go

May to September, the mountain summer, when the meadows are green, the weather at its best and the jeep track and trails open; even in summer, nights at altitude are cold. The plateau is snowbound and inaccessible outside these months. Clear mornings offer the finest views of Nanga Parbat before cloud gathers.

Honest expectations

Reaching Fairy Meadows is an adventure in itself, involving a notoriously narrow, rough jeep track followed by a steep uphill hike or pony ride, so it demands some fitness and nerve; accommodation is basic wooden huts with simple facilities. The reward, an idyllic meadow beneath one of the world's great mountains, though, is absolutely unforgettable and worth every effort.

Nearby

The Karakoram Highway, the Hunza Valley and Gilgit are within reach.