Just returned from the above mentioned trip. Accompanied by wife and 3 kids. The entire trip was 10 days. Highlights were the hike to fairy meadows and rama lake (Astore). Visit to fairy meadows requires a 1.5 hours (hair raising and extremely dangerous) jeep trip from raikot bridge to fairy point and then a hike of 3.5 hours to fairy meadows. The last jeep leaves an hour before sunset so make sure you are there much before that.
We rested for a day in fairy meadows and the went on further to Beyal Camp on horses for 2 hours near the nanga parbat mountain. A bit tiring was absolutely worth it :thumbup::thumbup:. The guides are so nice and take really good care of you.
Proper hiking shoes, hiking sticks and a hat/cap is a must. You can hire a mule for your luggage. Mule will not go along with you, he will just race to the destination. You may also hire horses for yourself if you feel you are not fit enough for the hike.....and willing to loose out on the fun. All the tiredness evaporates as soon as the awesome peak of the Nanga Parbat mountain is viewed almost half way through.
Astore valley is quite beautiful and the hiking to Rama lake is quite pleasant. Certainly not as challenging as the Fairy Meadows one. The entire area is quite picturesque.