Gupis Yasin

Gupis Yasin is located in the west of Gilgit-Baltistan in the high mountains at an elevation of 7,139 feet in the Hindu Kush Range at a distance of 187 KM from the Gilgit main city. It is given the status of district in 2019 and separated from Ghizer district including Gupis, Yasin, and Phander.

Gupis-Yasin - Gateway to High Mountain Passes

Gupis-Yasin has boundaries with Upper Upper Chitral, Ghizer, Swat, and Upper Kohistan districts. It has strategic importance due to the high mountain pass connected with Yarkhun Valley in the Chitral district and Broghil Pass that connects with Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan and Tajikstan through the Chitral district.

There are number of high mountain passes in the Gupis Yasin district. The Thoi pass connects Yasin to Yarkhun in Chitral, the Assumber Pass connects Yasin to Ishkoman, the Darkut Pass connects Yasin with Wakhan and Chitral, Shandur Pass connects Gupis with Chitral, and Buroghul Pass connects Yasin with Brughol.

Gupis Yasin can be accessed via Karakoram Highway from Islamabad, then turn left on the Gilgit-Chitral highway from the Gilgit main city. After crossing Gilgit City and Ghizar, you will be in the beautiful valley of Gupis Yasin in the high mountains of the Hindu Kush Range. It is famous for boating, lakeside trout dining, and exploring historical colonial-era fort.

Gupis Valley

In the Gupis Valley, there are several lush green and attractive tourist places. These valleys always has pleasant and spell-bound weather. Phander village is the most beautiful location in Gupis along the Gilgit River and is also much famous among tourists due to its splendid beauty. It is also famous for trout fish in Phander lake. The Phander Lake is the most attractive point to visit in Phander village. It is located at a distance of 170 km from Gilgit City. There are several guest houses and hotels in the Phander Valley, in which PTDC Phander is most famous. The most famous location is Shandur Pass at an elevation of 12,500 feet. It is always covered with snow during winter, whereas in the summer season it becomes a vast meadow. In the month of July, a festival called Shandur Festival is held here, in which the people of Chitral and Gilgit participate.

Shandur National Park

Shandur National Park, which covered an area of 8,000 acres, was established in 2012 for the purpose of preserving various botanical plants as well as a number of different animal species. Langer provides the natural view of grazing animals along the wider pastures on the both sides of the Shandur River. One can observe freely grazing animals such as sheep, goat, yaks, and horses. Frozen winds are flowing from snow-covered mountains toward the river bed.

Shandur Lake

Shandur Lake is just located near the Shandur Pass on the left side of Chitral-Gilgit Road. It is a high mountain glacier lake in the Hindu Kush Range. The Gilgit River that travels across also Gupis-Yasin district also originates from the same lake and merges into the Indus River at Jaglot in Gilgit.

Lush Green Yasin Valley

Yasin Valley is a high mountain valley in the Gupis-Yasin district connected with the Wakhan Corridor. It is situated along the Yasin River at a distance of 148 km from Gilgit city. A rugged and narrow road turns right toward the Yasin Valley by crossing a bridge over the Ghizer River. The valley is famous for its deep independent history, unique dialects, and highly remote mountain trails

Assumbur Pass is a favorite tourist place in the Yasin Valley, which connects the Ishkoman Valley with the Yasin Valley. There are several lush valleys on with fresh water streams that attract tourists in Yasin Valley. It is famous for wildlife lovers due to the number of migratory birds from the Wakhan Corridor Afghanistan and Tajikstan.

In Yasin Valley, you can explore the Taus Bazaar to purchase some anticraft made by local artisan as well as tea stalls to enjoy the hot tea in the cold and pleasant atmosphere of the village in the evening. It is the main place to purchase the required supplies before going to start the Darkut Pass trek.

Darkut Village the last settlement

Darkut village is the last settlement in the Gupis-Yasin district in the Hindukush Range on an elevation of 10,000 feet. While moving toward the Darkut Glacier and Darkut Pass, road leads from the center of the village, where you can observer the local women are working in the fields and school going children on the trek. Every house has a small form cultivating different types of vegetables and one cow for milk purpose. People of the village are normally totally rely on their self-made food.

Darkut Glacier and Darkut Pass Trek

The Darkut Pass and Darkut Glacier is the major attraction in the Yasin Valley. The Darkut Pass connects the Gilgit-Baltistan with Afghanistan in the Wakhan Corridor. For this purpose, you can hire a jeep from the Taus Bazaar or drive your own vehicle upto Darkut village. After crossing the wooden bridge over the Darkut River, a narrow passage in the dense trees is started. At the end of the passage, there are two treks, left is going toward the Darkut Glacier and right is going toward the Darkut Pass. For Darkut Pass trek, you need camping. Camping sites are available in the Darkut village. It would be better to start the trek early in moring at dusk, so you could complete the roundtrip in same day. For camping purposes, you must also hire a local porter to carry your required equipment and luggage.

Darkut Glacier and Ghamubar Lake

Ghamubar Zom is a mountain at the elevation of 6,518 meters above sea level near Darkot in Yasin Valley. It can be clearly seen from Darkot as well as Rawat villages. From Darkot Pass, one can observe its peak more closely.

Along the Darkut Glacier side, you can see the glacial lake, also known as Ghamubar Lake, in front of the Darkut glacier. The greyish blue color of the lake is fascinating the coming tourists. The passage leads toward the glacier is along the lake on the loosely bed of rocks those are normally slides down due to melting ice over the rocks. After crossing the whole trek along the lake, one will over the starting point of the Darkut Glacier. From there, you can explore the further glacier parts toward the peak. You must hire local guide for the Darkut Glacier and Darkut Pass trek.

Historical Ruins of Muduri Fort

In Yasin Valley, there is ruins of history Muduri Fort, also known as Yasin Fort, along the Yasin River. From the main road, a small trek leads toward the riverside from the streets of Yasin village. Every house has trees of apricot, cherry, almond, or walnut. One have to pass through the fields of wheat and rice where local people can be seen while working. Ruins of fort are visible along the both sides of the river.

The Koyo Zom is the highest peak in the Hindu Raj mountain, at an elevation of 22,546 feet, in Gupis Yasin in the Hindukush Range on the boundary of Gupis Yasin and Chitral. Hindu Raj Range is the mountain range between the Hindu Kush and Karakoram Range.

Continue your journey toward alpine meadows passing the Gupis bazaar, then read our full Phander Travel Guide.

Gupis Yasin is famous for Shandur Festival

Shandur Festival is held on Shandur Pass in the month of July. People from all over Pakistan, as well as foreigners, attend that festival. It is a festival among the people of the Chitral and Gilgit. A pole match is played between the Chitral and Gilgit teams.