Rupal Valley

The Rupal face of Nanga Parbat rises around 4,600 metres from the valley floor to the summit at 8,126 metres, which makes it the highest mountain face on the planet by vertical relief, and standing under it is the reason to walk this valley. The trek starts from Tarashing, reached by jeep from Astore, and follows the valley past the villages of Rupal and Shaigiri to the base camp meadows, a walk of a day or two on easy ground with the wall growing steadily ahead. Glacier snouts push into the valley from the side, and the Rupal river runs grey with meltwater. The villages are small, built of stone and timber, farming barley and potatoes at the limit of what will grow. Nanga Parbat has a formidable mountaineering history, and memorials at the base camp mark climbers who did not return.

What you actually see

• The Rupal face - the highest mountain wall on earth, seen end-on from the meadows.
• Base camp meadows - grazing grounds under the face with memorial markers.
• Glacier snouts - ice pushing into the valley from side glaciers.
• Stone villages - Tarashing, Rupal and Shaigiri on the valley floor.

When to go

June to September. Snow blocks the valley outside that window and the jeep road from Astore becomes impassable. Afternoons often cloud over, so early starts give the clearest views of the face.

Honest expectations

Accommodation is camping or very basic village guesthouses, and food must largely be carried. The jeep road is rough and slow. Altitude at base camp is around 3,600 metres and acclimatisation matters. Local guides are worth hiring both for route-finding and for arrangements in the villages.

Nearby

Rama Lake and Astore town lie north; Deosai plateau is east.