Fairy Meadows

As the flight arrived on time we had enough time to travel by jeep straight to fairy meadows, an enchanting haven at 3300m on a green meadow with fantastic views looking up at Nanga Parbat, at 8125m, the world's 9th highest peak.

Beyal villagers

The journey there though wasn't easy. 1st a 2 hour jeep ride from the KKH up the narrowest, rockiest, steepest, dangerousest dirt track you can imagine (Maggi had her eyes closed the whole way). Then we had to walk with porters (2 10 year old kids) along a path which was supposed to take 2 hours but took us 4 hours due to the fact that winter landslides had taken away much of the path, leaving some sections narrow and rocky round corners, with sheer drops - not good for Maggi's head for heights and at one point Shigri had to find a horse to take her the rest of the way. We were also both quite affected by the altitude, making our legs leaden and lungs burning.

Jerry at Nanga Parbat Base Camp

Our arrival though didn't disappoint and were given a very comfortable wooden hut from which we could view the changing colours of Nanga Parbat from our bed. Awesome.

The next day we took it easy and were lucky enough to watch a game of Polo by the local villagers in the next meadow. Unlike polo in England there are no rules and it was quite a spectacle with the mountains towering around us. After the polo they played cricket and Jerry was invited to uphold English honour, which he managed for 4 balls (including 2 4's) before being clean bowled.

After batteries had been recharged, the following day Shigri and Jerry climbed up to the base camp (Maggi declining due to more sheer drops) along the glacier before crossing it to the empty camp meadow covered in wild flowers, looking back down the valley and up at the start of the mountain snow, breathtaking!

Maggi on horse

Killer mountain also put paid to Jerry's dear old walking boots as one of the heals completely came away from the boot. A Heath Robinson repair with his spare laces enabled him to return safely before he got them mended with nails later.

On route at Beyal the local kids offered fresh Lassi made with goats milk - a bit sour but refreshing.

Fairy Meadows remains our favourite spot in Pakistan and we have great memories of sing songs round the camp fire.

Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows