Day 1: Rakaposhi-Diran Trek (Minapin--Hapakun--Taghafri)

Starting from Minapin Village in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, we climb up around 1500m in a day till Rakaposhi Basecamp i.e Taghafri.
The first part of trek is on a wide pathway designed for jeeps. After ascending for half an hour, the trail pass by a small Dam and a waterfall. The trail is moderately green till the Hapakun Campsite. Hapakun Campsite has one of the most beautiful views for the day, overlooking the steep lifeless brown mountains of Hunza region. Beginner-level trekkers have an option to camp at Hapakun, and start afresh the next day for Taghafri. Locals of Minapin are efficiently managing the camp hotels at Hapakun, where one can sleep overnight. One can also erect his own camp for a nominal fee.
Section between Hapakun and Taghafri is a steep climb up, which is also the greenest part of trek. Just before Taghafri one reaches the glacier viewpoint where Rakaposhi stands in all its glory. Rakaposhi is visible on the right and the jagged snowclad ridge from Rakaposhi connects into the Diran peak, few Kilometers on the left. From the glacier viewpoint, one can take in the legendary views of Glaciers 300m below the viewpoint. Viewpoint is mostly windy and chilly due the natural corridor formed by the topography. From viewpoint, one can turn right into the plains of Taghafri basecamp.
As opposed to viewpoint, Taghafri is located in a muted location between mountains and ridges on all sides making it non-windy, calm and relatively warm, thus making it an ideal location to camp overnight in comfortable conditions. Taghafri campsite is also managed by locals of Minapin, and here one can find camp hotel for overnight stay. In contrast to pristine beauty and tidiness of Hapakun campsite, Taghafri campsite is a disappointment, as it is managed poorly by the locals. Although locals charge a hefty amount from trekkers for erecting their own camps, the amount is supposed to be used to keep the campsite clean, but one finds it extremely disappointing to see animal's excrement and dung spread out on whole of the campsite.