Peace and paradise in Phander Valley

A Phander Valley travel guide, for those looking for an off the beaten track place to relax in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan.

 

The winding road from Gilgit to Chitral is traversed by many, but savored by few. Poplar-lined pathways, brilliant turquoise waters, hospitable Ismaili people; these are but a few of the reasons you should take your time along the road.

A plethora of villages line the way from Shandur Pass to Gilgit, but none are so picturesque as Phander (pronounced “fun-der”), a small village in the eponymous Phander Valley.

I meant to visit Phander for two or three days… and what began as two days turned into five nights! Every day, there was another reason to stay: new people coming to say hello and speak with me for hours, fishing excursions along Phander’s famous trout-filled waterways, motorbike adventures to nearby villages. I could’ve easily whiled away a few more days if my time wasn’t limited, and I know I’ll be back one day.

If you’re looking for a peaceful place to put up your feet in Gilgit Baltistan, Phander is the place. Here’s a quick Phander Valley travel guide to make your trip as smooth as possible.

 

Phander Valley travel guide - Sunrise over wheat fields in Phander, Pakistan - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Sunrise over wheat fields in Phander

Lost With Purpose’s Phander Valley travel guide

Phander Valley travel guide - Wildflowers on a hill overlooking the village - Lost With Purpose travel blog

A burst of wildflowers in May

Best time to visit Phander

Your window of opportunity for visiting Phander is limited to April – October. Hotels will not be open outside of that window of time.

I visited in mid-May during Ramadan, which meant I was the only tourist in the valley for most of the days I was there. (Not that that means much, as most tourists only stay one day anyway.) The weather was unusually bad, and temperatures hovered around freezing on cloudy days, dipping well below at night.

If you want to enjoy Phander without losing a few fingers, July/August is the best time to visit. Cherries, apricots, and mulberries will be in season, and the fishing season will be in full swing.

The downside: June-August is high season for domestic tourists. Though Phander isn’t as popular as other locations in Gilgit Baltistan, the reach of Pakistani tourists grows with each passing year, and Phander will only become more popular with time.

Should fall colors or peace and quiet be a priority, September/October is an ideal time to visit. The summer holiday season will calm down by then, and trees should be changing color by the end of September. Cold is the biggest downside here, with average highs of around 10-15°C (50-60°F) in September.

Phander Valley travel guide - Mountain views on the NATCO bus from Gilgit to Phander - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Epic views on the NATCO bus from Gilgit to Phander

How to get to Phander Valley

Phander Valley sits along the “highway” running from Chitral to Gilgit. If you’re traveling the Chitral-Gilgit road, you’ll be passing through Phander Valley.

From Gilgit to Phander

The NATCO bus from Gilgit to Mastuj is your most reliable bet… though it leaves at a painfully early 6:00 in the morning. I bought my ticket on the spot, but during high season (summer, after Ramadan) you might want to book your seat a day in advance at the NATCO bus stand tucked away on the corner of River View Road and Punyal Link Road in Gilgit. A ticket costs 400 Rs—don’t forget to tell the ticketing man you’re getting off at Phander, not Mastuj.

Once you’re on the bus, the trip should take around 6 hours. You’ll be in Phander by 12 for lunch.

Alternatively, a Hi-Ace minivan runs from the same NATCO stand at a more palatable 11:00 in the morning, or whenever it’s full. A ticket to Phander is 450 Rs. Make sure to arrive around 10:30 to ensure you get a seat.

From Chitral/Mastuj

The process is similar in the other direction. You’ll need to get on the NATCO bus from Mastuj that leaves the station at (an even more painful) 5:00, and let the driver know you’re getting off at Phander.

Know that the Chitral-Gilgit road is not open from approximately November to May each year, as Shandur Pass closes due to snow.

Phander Valley travel guide - Tent camp in Phander - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Part of Dream Island Hotel tent camp in Phander

Where to stay in Phander Valley

There are a small number of places to stay with limited facilities in Phander—where you stay depends on your budget. Keep in mind that prices may rise in high season due to demand.

Note: The famous Phander Rest House overlooking the lake was damaged by an earthquake and is not open for business.

Budget hotels in Phander

Phander Valley travel guide - Lake View Hotel Phander - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Lake View Guesthouse & Restaurant

Contact: 03555145278, 03555185035

I stayed at this modest hotel, across from the destroyed Phander Rest House. Small but warm double rooms with attached bathroom (without hot water) go for 800 Rs/night.

Hassan, its owner, is a delightful man who speaks amusingly exaggerated English. He did everything in his power to make my stay as fun as possible: together, we visited several of his relatives’ homes, motorbiked to nearby Teru, and went fishing one sunny afternoon. He’s not the most proficient English speaker, but he makes up for it in enthusiasm.

Lake Inn Phander

Contact: 03555203015, 03555203532, lakein@gmail.com

Another modest hotel with several double bedrooms with attached washroom and hot water for 1,000 Rs/night, plus a garden where you can pitch tents. Faiz, the owner, is helpful and speaks English well. I used this guesthouse on my first women’s tour of Pakistan.

 

Mid-range hotels in Phander

Dream Island Hotel Phander

Contact: 03555479348, 03555621945, 03555479248

A rather comfortable campsite set up on a small river island down in the valley. Four-person tents with electricity go for at least 1,600 Rs/night; two-person tents are 1,000 per night. The campsite has several washrooms with shower and toilets, and a clean new kitchen where you can cook or order meals. It’s possible to set up your own tent as well. Very limited English spoken.

Phander Valley travel guide - A view of the PTDC Phander, Pakistan - Lost With Purpose travel blog

A view of the Phander PTDC by the lake

PTDC Motel Phander

The nicest accommodations in the area… but also the most expensive. On a hill overlooking Phander Lake, there’s no denying the hotel has a great location. Double rooms start at 4,500 Rs/night, singles at 3,500. Expect hot water and a restaurant, but not too much beyond that. The manager does speak English and was helpful despite my not staying there.

Phander Valley travel guide - Trout fishing in Phander, Pakistan - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Trout fishing on a sunny day in Phander

Things to do in Phander

Phander is the kind of place where you sit and watch the world go by, not rush through a bucket list of Top Things To Do. Though I think you should take a breather and let things unfold organically, there are a few things you can look forward to in Phander:

Phander Valley travel guide - Trout fish on a stick with a hand - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Typical (teeny) Phander trout

Go trout fishing

Phander is allll about trout fishing, and many locals are crazy about it.

Officially you need a permit to go fishing… but no one has one, and no one checks. Ask your hotel owner if you can borrow a fishing rod (a rhetorical question), and head down to the water to try your luck. The river areas around Handrap town outside of Phander were particularly bountiful when I was there in May.

Note that fishing season comes to a close in fall, when trout mating season begins.

Phander Valley travel guide - Greenery in a remote village near Phander - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Strolling through one of the villages below Phander

Short hikes and village walks

Just strolling around the villages and waterways is pleasant, and you’re sure to meet some friendly folks. If you want to push yourself a bit harder, you can follow some of the shepherd tracks up the surrounding mountains. Otherwise, there are two nelas, narrow waterways, that you can follow up into the mountains. One begins in Chashi, the village below/before Phander when you’re coming from Gilgit. Another begins in Handrap. If you look at them on the map, both head south.

Phander Valley travel guide - Teru village in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Teru village from above

Day trip to Teru or Shandur Pass

Teru is another beautiful village in the mountains, a bit higher in elevation than Phander. You can easily spend a day wandering through its fields and simple houses.

The famous Shandur Pass, about 2-3 hours from Phander, is more remote and all natural.

Both can be visited as a day trip if you hire a motorbike from someone or have your own transport. Make sure to check if Shandur is open before heading out—most of the year it’s closed due to snow.

Phander Valley travel guide - Bee keeper in Phander - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Talk about the most epic location for a honey stand ever

Seek out some local honey

Bee keepers line the road from Gilgit to Shandur, and mmm, their honey is dank!

Phander Valley travel guide - Making tea in someone's home - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Have chai in someone’s home

Many locals are very hospitable if given the chance, and invites for tea run aplenty. It’s common to serve homemade bread and a boiled egg with tea—the egg is actually boiled in the tea!

Phander Valley travel guide - Family in a traditional house with bread cooking on the stove - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Typical Phander scenes: family relaxing together as bread cooks on a stove at the center

Language, culture, and religion in Phander

Phander’s residents are primarily Khwar-speaking Ismaili Muslims, followers of the Aga Khan.

Ismailis as a whole are generally quite educated and liberal. You’ll see plenty of women walking around compared to other parts of Pakistan, boys and girls often go to mixed gender schools, and literacy rates are relatively high.

This was particularly important to me as I traveled to Phander during Ramadan. Luckily, Ismailis are not prone to fasting, so eating during the day wasn’t too difficult or offensive to others.

However, despite the liberal atmosphere, take the usual measures. Dress modestly, and make sure to always ask before taking someone’s photo. The vast majority of the women I met in Phander did not want to be photographed.

Phander Valley travel guide - Young shepherd and his flock - Lost With Purpose travel blog

A young shepherd boy in Phander

Staying connected in Phander

The downside of Phander—and the rest of Gilgit Baltistan—is the wretched mobile signal. For me, anyway.

SCOM is the only network that works in Phander. Despite being relatively consistent, it’s slower than slugs.

Don’t expect to have more than 2G in Phander, and make sure to get your SCOM SIM card in Gilgit if possible. There’s not much in the way of mobile shops in Phander.

Phander Valley travel guide - Man sitting on a rock overlooking Teru - Lost With Purpose travel blog

Being guided around in Teru by my friend from Phander

Local guides in Phander

If you’re interested in exploring Phander with a local guide—or going on treks in Phander Valley or the greater Ghizer District—I met a man who can help you out.

Jageer Khan is from nearby Ishkoman Valley, and worked as a guide in Ghizer district and beyond for 12 years. Due to a lack of tourists, he no longer works full time as a guide. Nevertheless, his passion for guiding was palpable, and he would be happy to help out foreign guests in any way possible. He also speaks English well.

You can contact Jageer on his mobile at +923555238786, or send him a message on Facebook. Calling him is better, as mobile signal isn’t always strong enough for messages to go through where he lives. Let him know that you found him through Alex the American girl so he understands how you got his phone number.

 

Looking for an off the beaten track place to chill in Pakistan? Phander Valley is a beautiful region in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, full of friendly people and stunning mountain scenery. It's found along the road between Gilgit and Chitral. To help you plan a successful trip to Phander, here is a travel guide with everything you need to know including where to stay, how to get to Phander, and things to do while you're in Phander. Read on for more!

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Still on the lookout for mountainous adventures in Pakistan? Don’t miss this guide to trekking in Swat Valley.

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Alex Reynolds

American by birth, British by passport, Filipina by appearance. Addicted to ice cream. Enjoys climbing trees, dislikes falling out. Has great fondness for goats which is usually not reciprocated.

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25 thoughts on “Peace and paradise in Phander Valley

    Shams uz Zaman says:

    Thanks Alex!
    Very useful and valuable information. It covers almost all the details. I was planning to visit this year but due to pandemic outbreak will have to change my plans. Thanks again for giving contact numbers for booking. It will help a lot.

    That’s a shame about having to cancel your trip, though that’s the world we live in now I suppose. Here’s hoping you get there next year!

    Yasir Ahmed says:

    I do not know if this is due to COVID or something else but none of the hotel numbers you provided are working. I also want to ask you if I can go to Phander in my Suzuki Swift. How are the road conditions. Last year we went in the Swift up to Gahkuch and previous year up to Khunjerab Top.

    Yasir Ahmed says:

    Sorry…it does work, but only if you call from a mobile number. Dream Island saying rate for tent is fixed at Rs.2500/night. No negotiation. It must have become an important destination since PTDC closed.

    Thanks for the help Alex. Very informative article!

    Hasan Malhi says:

    Alex in Phander-land! Have you been there in Fall?

    Muhammad Faisal says:

    It was September 91 when I travelled from Mastuj to Phander. Back then it was pristine and totally untouched. Rare tourists. Enjoyed the trip a lot.

    Niat Jan says:

    Glad to to read your article about my village sepcially for presenting as a peaceful village. We are trying to maintain this atmosphere but the increasing population and unplanned construction will may change the shape of Phander in near future. I am managing a page Phander Development Organization in face book and you can also visit. I would like to share this also in my page.

    Hassan says:

    Hey Alex, I am a 17-year-old college student and love to travel. If it’s possible, can you send me the cheapest route details from Islamabad to Phandar Valley. I am thinking of visiting soon; maybe 10 of June cuz that’s when my A levels exams will finish.
    Hope you reply soon

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