Destination Baanway

14/08/2017

We believe it too

So, I got tired of listening to all this one-sided, biased portrayal of Pakistan everywhere. Just an attempt to show Pakistan is a lot more than just terrorism, minority killings, homeland, Abbotabad, riots and chat masala.

It's rainbows, and butterflies, and happy clouds and floral patterns.

Just saying.

01/06/2017

This summer, experience Baanway with us as we take you through the apricot orchards and the lush green Pine Forests; the Hunza Royalty, and the Majestic Rakaposhi! Sing along with the locals, stay at a local guest house, be their guest as they treat you their famous Burus Shapik, Chaab Shoro and Dao Dao Soup. Slip through the night and gaze upon the galaxy of stars above in the wilderness of Gojal valley. Lest, touch the maxims of Pakistan with two magnificent high passes of Khunjeraab and Babusar.

Few seats left.

Register here: https://goo.gl/NwCSsv

https://www.facebook.com/events/216147738892057/

02/10/2016

Destination 02: Sosbun Brakk, Biafo, Baltistan, Pakistan
Elevation: 6,413m above sea level (21,040 ft)
In the Image (Left to Right): Sosbun Brakk, on the Snow Lake Trek, Biafo to Hispar La.
Location: http://bit.ly/2d68WiM
Image Credit: Shahid Durrani

The Sosbun Brakk is part of the Spantik – Sosbun Muztagh. The peak stands at 6,413m above sea level and the exquisite view is seen from Marpogoro to Karpogoro on the Snow Lake Trek. The Glacial Pool is that of the Biafo Glacier which stems from Concordia, all the way to Hispar La, joins with the Hispar Glacier to make one of the largest confluence of glaciers outside the polar regions. This 100 mile glacial trek is a humble abode to the Snow Lake, a 10m long glacial basin, which gives the trek its maiden name; the Snow Lake trek, is part of the Greater Karakoram Trail, which connects Hunza and Nagar valleys to Baltistan.

01/10/2016

Destination 01: Gondogoro La, Baltistan, Pakistan
Elevation: 5,585m above sea level (18324 ft)
In the Image (Left to Right): The visible peaks (from left to right) are K-2 (8,611m), Broad Peak (8,051m), Gasherbrum III (7,952m), Gasherbrum II (8,035m). Gasherbrum I (8,080m) is in the clouds just off the right edge. Gasherbrum IV (7,925m) is hidden in the clouds to the left of Gasherbrum III.
Location: http://bit.ly/2dkOaNB
Image Credit: Fibonacci Moose

For the first stop of our Baanway Destination series, the choice was an unanimous Gondogoro La. Nicknamed, The Throne Room of the Mountain Gods, this pass stands at an elevation of 5585m above sea level. The point of crossing which connects Hushe Valley to Concordia (Baltoro Glacier) is at 5618m. A life threatening, fiery treat to trekkers and climbers from around the world, the overwhelming panorama provides views of 4 out of the 14 highest peaks in the world. Commonly known as the 8000ers, the K-2. Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and II, all are in the image. Pakistan is home to 5 of the world's 14 highest peaks in the world; the fifth being Nanga Parbat (8,126m) in the Himalayan Range.

23/08/2016

Baanway ke logon! We are starting a new photoseries, which would feature some of the places we, as individual travelers have been to over the years. We will be posting these "pit stops", as we like to call them, every other day; and would be sharing the relevant details and significance of that particular place in moment.

Of course, we have one of our co-founders, an awesome musician, and therefore we have decided to give this series a flavor of music; so with every photo, we would be sharing a song that was running as the background score of that particular scene. We have had travel playlists for so long, we decided to share it with you folks!

So stay tuned and keep them love towards your home destination: 0092 coming!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.324986874505145.1073741828.306137203056779&type=1&l=dad7c56356

Every other day; a new pitstop; a different story; a different song.

22/08/2016

Contemplate. Contemplate your entire existence upon the peak of that mountain.

When I got to the campsite, it was fairly dark. The bags were in; People were out; Fires were lit; and food was grilled. Just before dusk, we all had seen an avalanche make its way through the silver plateau and upon the camp 1's dorsal plain. It was chilly, in sense and state. The sun had gone down and a few dying rays lit up the irregularities of the sky. A more prominent exposure was in the ordeal. Moonrise. As the earth's solitary satellite made its way out of the Himalayas, it threw a sharpened array across the multitude of the mountain. Clear for the first time since our arrival, the peak lit up like a power saver halogen. The silver plateau giving justice to its name. The fairer details exposed to the luminating moonlight. The thought of capturing it came much later though. I was absorbing now. Every single ridge. Every single curve. Every bump. Every stent. Every single node along the pointy mountain. I was detailing it in my head like Po***ck would if he would ever detail his murals. For me, this was the ultimate mural. A living, breathing, defining, catering, death. Nanga Parbat was conceived. Once done, that was a few bits of 8 to 10 minutes. I was bouncing off thoughts on it. Each one of them would disappear before it hit him. Nonetheless I found the activity rather amusing.

Conversing. I was conversing.

The song humming through my head through the entirety of the trek from Tatu Village to the Fairy Meadows was Jogiya from Moor, which was then released.

Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/saudsss/jogiya-moor-javed-bashir
Datestamp: August 13th, 2015.
Location: Fairy Meadows Broad View Hotel

20/08/2016

Friends, we will be departing from Karachi in a few hours for our first signature trip of Valley Escape - Naltar. We apologize for due inconvenience to those who wanted to join us on this trip but could not do so due to lack of seats. Our team will surely be posting another trip soon; and we hope to host you in our future events.
Lots of different ideas coming up; we will be bringing you more experiences soon, and a whole lot of Pakistan you have never seen before! Toodles!

09/08/2016

Stories, Experiences, Banway.

https://medium.com//banway-as-i-live-and-breathe-ac5e56901cae #.e62qxo9n7

Banway, is the Urdu rendition of the numerical value 0092; the country code of Pakistan.