Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part II
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part II
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part III
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part III
TravelTwins.dk
Exploring the less beaten paths of the world
- look, read, dream, travel!
The extraordinary
KARAKORAM HWY.
The absolute jewel of Pakistan on the intersection of four mountain ranges - from Lahore to China's Xinjiang province
The entire Karakoram region forms a geographical crossroads between the deserts of Central Asia and the plains of Pakistan. It lies at the convergence of the Pamir, Kunlun, Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Great Himalaya mountain systems, while the borders of China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan all come within 250 kilometres of one another.
It is therefore no surprise that the region is exceptionally rich in both natural beauty and cultural diversity. It is a true melting pot of landscapes, peoples, and traditions.
Pakistan's Karakoram Highway offers such an
extraordinary concentration of towering peaks and immense glaciers. The mountain scenery is simply breathtaking. We strongly believe that the Karakoram Highway is one of the greatest overland journeys in Asia, and perhaps even in the world. Any serious traveller should consider making this journey at least once in a lifetime.
Location: Northern Pakistan, during 1 month
The route is not a superhighway, despite what the title might suggest. Rather, it is a series of smaller roads following a branch of the ancient Silk Road, stretching from Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan to the Silk Road oasis of Kashgar in China's remote Xinjiang province via the 4,730-metre Khunjerab Pass, the legendary Hunza Valley, and the trading town of Gilgit.
Despite the region's many different languages, it has a distinct identity of its own, shaped by Islam with large Shia and Ismaili communities, commerce, a harsh mountain environment, and a shared sense of isolation from the political and cultural centres of both China and Pakistan. Travel is inexpensive. Travelling overland along the entire 1,300-kilometre route can cost less than US$200, although we spent a little more as we prioritized several semi-technical treks along the way, and the journey took us one month. One thing travel along the Karakoram Highway does not offer, however, is predictability. During July and August, we experienced several unexpected delays caused by rockfalls, flooding, and mudslides. A tightly planned itinerary would have been a source of constant frustration.
During this journey, we chose to dress conservatively in shalwar kameez and grew beards to avoid offending local Islamic sensibilities. In return, we experienced the genuine Islamic tradition of hospitality time and again, making this one of the most rewarding journeys we have ever undertaken.
For even more mountain-madness in Pakistan or other travels into the Himalayas and the Subindian Continent:
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Mountaineering in the Hunza Valley
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Travels on the Hippy Trail into the Western Indian Himalayas
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Exploration of the Eastern Indian Himalayas and Bhutan.
Selected pics during this encounter:
(to see all photos, click Show More at the end of the gallery)
We traveled overland from New Delhi and here we arrive on the border with Pakistan to experience the quite outlandish Wagah Border ceremony. Patriotic throngs flock here to participate in the spectacle while sceaming: Pakistan zindabad! Long live Pakistan!
Lahore is widely regarded as Pakistan's gourmet capital, and most menus are distinctly tailored to suit carnivorous palates.
In both Lahore and Islamabad we slept on the roof of our hostel. It was more cool during the night, and we had an amazing view. We could see that many local workers also sleep outside as many do not have money to pay rent.
A kaleidescope of people and merchandise
Many lovely inexpensive curry and kebab stands to fill your stomach
Buying kebabs for the bus journey on the first leg on the KKH.
Leaving Pir Wadhai bus station bound for Hazara and Indus Kohistan in the North-West Frontier Province
Village near Mansehra. This is a region of forested mountains with a series of broad, fertile valleys.
Stop here to do some trekking. The natural boundaries are the Indus River and the peaks of the Lesser Himalaya. There is a string of nice villages along the river where Hindko and Gujar people live.
The bus is starting to get into problems due to overheating of the engine. This happened several times and eventually the bus would simply give up and break down. Notice the vegetation to the left of Cristoffer. This is hamp (hashish) plants which grow freely in many parts of northern Pakistan.
...simply to kill time while taking a break
The beautiful Alai Valley is a conservative place with Pathan people who are instinctively hospitable.
Only boys are learning English and the locals expect that you as a foreininger dress modestly (shalwar kameez) and show respect for their Sunni orthodoxy.
Cristoffer is sitting on the roof of a minibus which we switched into due to the break-down of the bigger bus that we intially boarded. Upper Kohistan is where the real mountains begin to show up. Several sub-6000m peaks begin to emerge in the upper Indus Kohistan valleys.
Bridge breakdown, past Dasu. We had to wait for nearly half a day between Dasu and Chilas due to a major landslide which had covered a bridge crossing the Indus River.
Beyond Chilas in the south of the Gilgit Region you will start to seriously feel majesty of the Karakoram range. As you arroach the Astor Valley on the KKH, the mighty Nanga Parbat will slip into view. Technically, Nanga Parbat is the end of the Great Himalaya, while on the other side to the west and north the Karakoram starts.
Anders with view over Gilgit town during sunrise
Gilgit is a charming town and a good place to stop for a few days to relax, arrange hikes, do some shopping for traveling onwards, etc.
Abricot drying in the Chaprot Valley near Chalt. Come here to do fine day walks and explore the scenery. You can walk along mule tracks throguh summer villages to pastures.
People here speak Shina, Burushashki and Urdu, which makes it a little difficuelt to communicate. We however managed to buy local produce from the locals. Who doen't like the tast of freshly made buttermilk in warm weather during a demanding hike?
Boy in Chalt. Past Chalt are a string of lovely small villages on the way into the Hunza valley: Khizerabad, Sikanderabad, Jaffarabad, Nilt, Thol, Ghulmet, Nasirabad, Hassanabad, and Ganesh. These are part of the natural beauty centerpiece of the KKH along the Hunza River as the mighty Hunza Valley opens up.