3 HUNT FOR FAIRIES IN PAKISTAN’S HUNZA VALLEY

Deep inside a great cauldron of eight mountains, in north-eastern Pakistan, the Hunza Valley was cut off from the outside world until the completion of the Karakoram Highway in 1978. Famed for its 32 varieties of apricots, spring is the best time to visit when valley air flutters with blossoms. A three-hour hike from the village of Tato leads travellers to Fairy Meadow National Park — a 10,800ft-high alpine idyll, at the base of Nanga Parbat. The sight of the snow-dusted peaks mirrored perfectly in the clear mountain ponds is mesmerising. Take strolls across the juniper- and pine-scented plateau and keep an eye out for blue-eyed fairies. Local legend has it this area is paradise for these mystical creatures. Whether you’re a believer or not, a visit definitely contributes to Pakistan’s blossoming tourism renaissance. wildfrontierstravel.com ET

Navigating the turquoise waters of Attabad Lake, Karakoram Highway, Hunza Valley, Pakistan LEFT, FROM TOP: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge from the water; hiking a forest trail on the clifftops of the Lycian Way, Turkey