Itinerary
The Itinerary for Zani An is noticeable below
A connection road runs to Uthool before Warijun, Mulkho's major hamlet; do not take the route just beyond Warijun that leads to Zani village. The road from Uthool continues for a few kilometres to Zani An. It was constructed to transport an air compressor to a canal building site. The canal, which has been under construction since 1992, will deliver water from a ridge-top lake to Mulkho. The road beyond Uthool isn't well maintained, so you'll have to rely on a jeep to get there. Drivers may go you further if the conditions are favourable and you pay an additional fee.
Jeeps from Chitral to Mulkho. Any Tirich-bound jeep will take you to Warijun. You can either wait for a local jeep to Uthool, organise a Warijun-Uthool special hire, or hike for many hours to Uthool, which is 675 metres above Warijun. Chitral-Uthool jeeps take five hours, although they are scarce because there are only a handful in the village. Hires that are unique.
The jeep ride from Shagrom to Chitral takes nine hours and leaves at 4 a.m. Jeeps do not depart on Fridays and only once every three or four days. Alternatively, go down the valley to Zindrauli, cross the bridge to Warkup, and then wait for a vehicle to Chitral from Turikho. Hires that are unique.
The Trek
From Uthool (2640m), take the road to the pass. The trail immediately ascends, climbing 300 metres in the first hour. Water is available at the last green space, two hours above the settlement, beside a few willow trees. When the snow in the gullies above melts later in the season, water is no longer available higher up. Continue on for another hour to Zani An (3840m), which is 7.7km from Uthool. Snow usually lasts into June, especially on the north side.
As you descend into the small Tirich valley, several huge cairns highlight the good track. Shagrom may be seen upvalley, 4.5 kilometres and 1080 metres below the pass. Descend across fields and past dwellings two to 212 hours from the pass to a footbridge spanning Tirich Gol. Cross the footbridge and proceed downstream for 5-10 minutes along the road to camp among poplar trees near the river, or hike upstream for 30 minutes to Shagrom (2760m).
Holiday Overview
The trek through Zani An provides trekkers with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The spectacular peaks of Istor-o-Nal and Saraghrar, which dominate the landscape, may be seen from the pass. The massive Buni Zom peak rises over the Turikho and Mastuj rivers to the east, providing a spectacular background for the walk.
The very simple access to the Tirich Valley makes Zani An particularly appealing. The pass is linked by a jeep road, which provides trekkers with a comfortable and spacious trail. This route makes the ascent from Uthool, a tiny settlement in the Mulkho region, easier. The height gain from Uthool to Zani An is roughly 1200 metres.
Tirich residents use the Zani An pass as the quickest and shortest way to their valley. Interestingly, whereas Tirich residents refer to the pass as Zani An, Uthool villagers refer to it as Tirich An. This naming mismatch reflects the historical and cultural significance of this pass to the neighbouring communities.
Crossing Zani An considerably decreases transportation costs and time spent in a jeep for trekkers planning to visit Tirich Mir Base Camp. Larger trekking parties can choose to transfer most of their supplies by road and then trek across Zani An to meet their support crew in Shagrom, a Tirich Valley settlement.
Despite the fact that the route is relatively short and uncomplicated, appropriate acclimatisation is needed for hikers. If proper safeguards are not followed, altitude-related problems can develop quickly. Uthool, at an elevation of 2640 metres, is a picturesque settlement where trekkers can spend the night before crossing the mountain.
Larger hiking groups may want to camp on the large meadow across from the village school. This meadow, which is bordered by walnut trees and has a nearby freshwater spring, is a fantastic camping place with breathtaking views.
To summarise, Zani An is a picturesque and strategically vital mountain pass in Pakistan's Karakoram Range. It provides trekkers with beautiful views, acts as a crucial route to Tirich Valley, and can greatly cut transportation time and expenditures for people travelling to Tirich Mir Base Camp. Trekkers should, however, prioritise appropriate acclimatisation to guarantee a safe and comfortable route via this breathtaking pass.
