Explore. Compete. Celebrate.
Winter exploration, adventure, friendly competition, live music and one memorable graduation farewell night.
Every day is planned for winter, with cosy indoor alternatives ready so the fun never stops. Three nights in Karimabad, at the heart of the Hunza valley, with the Karakoram all around.
Eight days, including one contingency day
Six teams of ten, competing for one trophy
Chilas ×2 and Hunza ×3, plus an optional Islamabad night
Early bird from Islamabad, if you pay by 1 December 2026
Where we go, one day at a time
Pick a day to see the road we drive and the places we stop. The house markers are our hotels; tap one to open it in Google Maps.
DAY 02 · TUE 5 JAN
Islamabad to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway
About 470 km, the main winter route via Besham and Dasu. 5:00 AM departure.
- Islamabad5:00 AM departure
- Abbottabad
- Mansehra
- Besham
- Dasu
LOADING MAP…
The eight days
- 01
MON 4 JAN
Karachi to Islamabad
Travel up from Karachi by train or air and arrive in Islamabad the day before departure. You can add one hotel night in Islamabad to the package.
- 02
TUE 5 JAN
Islamabad to Chilas via the Karakoram Highway
Gather in Islamabad for a 5:00 AM departure. Our team welcomes you and travels with you the whole way. Coaster karaoke, team introductions, a road-trip playlist battle and photo challenges keep the long road north alive. Reach Chilas by evening for check-in, a hot dinner, a group briefing and rest.
- 03
WED 6 JAN
Chilas to Hunza: welcome to the mountains
Breakfast at 8:00 AM, then on to Gilgit and Hunza, stopping at the Rakaposhi Viewpoint (7,788 m) for photos. Check in during the afternoon and warm up with refreshments. At 7:00 PM, the indoor welcome night: a traditional dinner, a Hunza Traditional Bazm with local musicians, team introductions and a university trivia tournament.
- 04
THU 7 JAN
Karimabad and Altit: discover Hunza
Baltit Fort at 9:30 AM in staggered groups, then Altit Fort and the Royal Garden at noon. Lunch, Karimabad shopping and cafés from 2:00 PM, and group photography at a viewpoint at 4:00 PM. In the evening, the IBA Winter Olympics: indoor games, charades, music bingo and team competitions, and an optional bonfire.
- 05
FRI 8 JAN
Upper Hunza, then Graduation Night
Depart at 9:00 AM for Hussaini Bridge, the oldest handmade hanging bridge in the north, with its adventure trail and ziplining. On to Passu Cathedral (the Passu Cones) and a short stop at Rainbow Bridge. At Attabad Lake: a cruise, ziplining and quad biking or ATV riding. Back at the hotel by 3:00 PM to get ready. From 7:00 to 10:00 PM, IBA Graduation Night.
- 06
SAT 9 JAN
Hunza to Chilas: the journey home
Breakfast at 8:00 AM, a final class photograph and check-out. Return to Chilas with scenic stops along the way. In the evening, an indoor movie, student performances or a final group quiz, depending on arrival time.
- 07
SUN 10 JAN
Chilas to Islamabad: until the next reunion
An early departure for the drive south, with photo submissions, trip awards and a farewell playlist on the way. Arrive in Islamabad in the evening.
- 08
MON 11 JAN
Contingency day
Kept free as a buffer in case weather or road conditions slow us down. Book onward flights from Islamabad on or after 11 January.
Our hotels
CHILAS · 2 NIGHTS · 5 & 9 JAN
Shangrila Hotel Chilas
A popular stopover on the bank of the Indus River, right on the Karakoram Highway. Part of the Shangrila Hotels chain that began in Skardu, it is a comfortable resting point for travellers heading to and from Gilgit-Baltistan.
HUNZA · KARIMABAD · 3 NIGHTS · 6–8 JAN
Hunza Darbar Hotel
A heritage-inspired, 40-room deluxe hotel at Zero Point in Karimabad. It was built in 1996 by the Mir and Rani of Hunza and is still run by the royal family.
Rooms are on a quad-sharing basis, with heating, hot water and backup electricity. Room allocations are shared in your private group after payment.
Heated coasters, all the way
Winter-equipped, heated coasters
Drivers who know the KKH in winter
A runner car follows the group
Fuel, tolls and parking included
Planned for January in the mountains
WINTER TRAVEL SAFEGUARDS
- We take the Karakoram Highway through Besham and Dasu, the main winter route to Gilgit-Baltistan. The Babusar Pass road is closed in winter, so we don't use it.
- Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department and Pakistan Meteorological Department updates are checked before departure and on every travel day, and departures follow official road updates.
- Mountain sections are driven in daylight, in winter-equipped vehicles with experienced drivers.
- Comfortable stopover hotels in Chilas split the long drive in two in each direction.
- 11 January is kept as a buffer day, so a weather delay never means a rushed or night-time drive.
- Hotels have room heating, hot water and backup electricity, and the Graduation Night hall is heated with working backup power.
OPTIONAL ADVENTURES
Optional activities are paid separately and booked on the day, weather permitting.
How to stay safe and warm
Stay with your team
You are in a team of ten, travelling with E47 trip leads and guides. Tell your lead before you leave the group, and be back at the coaster on time.
Tell us about your health
Share allergies, medical conditions or medicines when you register, and bring enough of your own medicines for the whole trip.
Dress for the cold
Hunza nights in January are well below freezing. Layer up, keep your gloves and beanie on you, and wear boots with grip on icy paths.
Keep away from ice and water
Stay off frozen lake edges, icy slopes and riverbanks. The Amazing Race is run inside an approved safe area away from water and ice.
Optional means optional
Ziplining, ATVs and the cruise are your choice and run by licensed operators. Follow the operator's briefing and gear rules every time.
Get your own insurance
Insurance, hospitalisation, emergency evacuation and rescue are not part of the package. We strongly recommend personal travel and medical cover.
CLOTHING GUIDE · DRESS IN LAYERS
Layers
- Thermal inner set
- Fleece or sweater
- Down / puffer jacket
- Windproof outer layer
Head & hands
- Woollen beanie
- Neck warmer or scarf
- Insulated gloves
- Sunglasses
Feet
- Waterproof boots with grip
- Woollen socks (3+ pairs)
- Indoor slippers
Grad night & extras
- Formal outfit for Graduation Night
- Lip balm and moisturiser
- Power bank
- Personal medicines
Games, music and Graduation Night
WED 6 JAN · WELCOME NIGHT
Hunza Traditional Bazm
Live Hunza folk music with local musicians on rubab, sitar and drums, seated together on carpets the traditional way. Join in, learn a rhythm, or just listen.
THU 7 JAN · OPTIONAL
Stories by the Fire
A supervised bonfire in a hotel-designated area, with university memories, storytelling, acoustic music and hot chocolate.
FRI 8 JAN · 60–90 MIN
Hunza Amazing Race
A supervised team challenge with photo missions, cultural questions and creative video tasks, kept inside an approved safe area away from water and icy slopes.
FRI 8 JAN · GRADUATION NIGHT
A surprise singer
A live performance by an artist revealed only on the night. Keep your voice ready to sing along.
GRADUATION NIGHT · FRI 8 JAN · 7–10 PM
- 7:00 PMWelcome drinks and photo booth
- 7:20 PMClass memories video
- 7:40 PMStudent awards and performances
- 8:30 PMBuffet dinner
- 9:15 PMMusic, group photos and farewell messages
- 10:00 PMEvent concludes
Student-voted awards like Most Likely to Become CEO and Best Group Project Survivor.
TOP 5 INDOOR GAMES · PKR 50,000 CASH PRIZE POOL
The winning team of each game takes home PKR 10,000.
GAME 01 · PKR 10,000
Minute to Win It
Five 60-second challenges: cup stacking, balloon balancing, ping-pong toss, the biscuit-face challenge and paper towers.
GAME 02 · PKR 10,000
Shark Tank: Worst Startup Wins
Ten minutes to invent the most ridiculous startup, two to pitch it, one to survive the judges.
GAME 03 · PKR 10,000
IBA Charades & Meme Battle
Act out memes, student-life moments and iconic movie scenes. No talking allowed.
GAME 04 · PKR 10,000
Are You Smarter Than an IBA Graduate?
IBA memories, pop culture, music, general knowledge and rapid-fire business rounds.
GAME 05 · PKR 10,000
IBA's Got Talent: Grand Finale
A 3–5 minute act per team: comedy, music, a skit, mimicry, anything creative.
What the price covers
Accommodation
- Hotel nights: Islamabad ×1 (optional), Chilas ×2, Hunza ×3
- Quad room sharing
- Room heating and hot water
- Backup electricity
- Hotel restaurant facilities
Transportation
- Heated, winter-equipped coasters throughout
- Experienced mountain drivers
- Runner car for the team and emergencies
- Fuel, tolls and parking
Food
- Buffet breakfast
- Hot dinners
- Traditional Hunza welcome dinner
- Graduation Night formal dinner
Team activities & more
- E47 trip leads and guides
- Bazm night and bonfire night
- Team competitions and prizes
- Graduation Night setup, sound and projector
- Surprise singer on Graduation Night
- Photo and video coverage
NOT INCLUDED
- Karachi – Islamabad – Karachi travel (unless you select it)
- Lunches, and meals during inter-city travel
- Entry tickets and activity fees
- Optional activities (cruise, ziplining, ATV, Eagle's Nest)
- Room service, minibar and laundry
- Insurance of any kind
- Hospitalisation, emergency evacuation and rescue
- Additional nights or other personal expenses
Price per person
EARLY BIRD · PAY BY 1 DEC 2026
Actual price PKR 75,000
Islamabad onwards, without the Islamabad night
EARLY BIRD · PAY BY 1 DEC 2026
Actual price PKR 78,000
Islamabad onwards, with 1 night in Islamabad first
Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Use the same group name on every registration.
KARACHI – ISLAMABAD – KARACHI · OPTIONAL
Want us to book your train? Confirm early and pay in advance, and we book your tickets. This is charged separately from the trip price.
| CARRIER & CLASS | MODE | ONE WAY | RETURN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Line, AC Business | Train | PKR 17,000 | PKR 34,000 |
| Green Line, AC Standard | Train | PKR 13,750 | PKR 27,500 |
| Karakoram Express to Lahore + bus, AC Business | Train | PKR 16,750 | PKR 33,500 |
| Karakoram Express to Lahore + bus, AC Standard | Train | PKR 14,150 | PKR 28,300 |
| PIA, Fly Jinnah, Airblue (Economy) | Air | As available | As available |
- Total price per person = package price + your selected intercity fare.
- The trip leaves Islamabad at 5:00 AM on 5 January, so Karachi travellers arrive the day before.
- Book return flights from Islamabad on or after 11 January.
- Prices can change with fuel prices, ticket fares or other external factors. Bookings are first come, first served.
Three steps to a seat
Register
Fill in the registration form. You get a confirmation email with payment steps and account details.
Pay to secure your seat
Pay before the deadline in your email. Seats go first come, first served.
Upload your receipt
Upload the receipt on the link provided. You are then added to the private groups for team and room allocations, the winter packing checklist and logistics documents.
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