Feeling adventurous? 40 youngsters hike through Nathiagali

Participate in several games over two-days

For many, a four-kilometre hike through the snow is the definition of an ideal excursion. But around 40 enthusiasts decided to take on the challenging trek.

Including men and women, the group of enthusiasts participated in a snow-hiking event in the scenic Nathiagali of Galiyat in an event jointly organised by the Tourism Corporation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) and the Adventure Edge Club.

The participants covered a four-kilometre-long snow track from Donga Gali to Mukshpuri Top.

The two-day snow-hiking gala was aimed at promoting adventure tourism and reviving tourist attractions in the province.

TCKP General Manager (Admin and Properties) Sajjad Hameed and Adventure Edge Club Director Khalid Khalil supervised the activity.

Besides hiking from Donga Gali to Mukshpuri Top, the participants also engaged in team games, adventure games and igloo building.

They also displayed their survival skills in competitions.

A number of other activities such as bonfires and traditional music were arranged for the participants as they reached Nathiagali.

Participants said the activity would promote adventure tourism in the region and provide recreational opportunity to people.

They said that appreciated adventure tourism events arranged during the snowfall, adding that contrary to reports, the Mukshpuri Top was safe.

Mukshpuri is a 2,800-metre-high (9,200 ft) mountain in the Nathiagali Hills in Abbottabad district.

It is 90 kilometres north of Islamabad, just above Donga Gali in the Nathiagali area of Ayubia National Park. Much of its mountain is covered with Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests.

The department had earlier also arranged various events of cultural, religious and adventure tourism and sports including rafting, paragliding, jeep rally and zip-lining in Peshawar, Misri Banda and Akora Khattak in Nowshera, Shabqadar in Charsadda, Kohat and Khanpur Lake in Haripur district for the youth and families. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2018.