Trek Traverse Karakoram

Arrive in Islamabad at the airport, you will be welcomed by your Mountain Guide. Afternoon visits Ministry of Tourism for trek briefing & tour the twin cities of Pindi & Islamabad. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning flight to Skardu. This flight is subject to weather. In case of cancellation of flight, drive to Skardu with an overnight stay at Chilas (730 km, 18 to 19 hours drive) Overnight at Motel.

A day at Skardu, Stroll down the narrow bazaar, visit the turquoise blue Satpara Lake. Overnight at Motel

Board soft top 4×4 jeeps for the exciting ride to the trek head, 160 km drive of 5 to 6 hours. Camp at Hushe village (3,200 meters)

We start our great traverse from Hushe village. The trek today is gradual ascent, well used by the villagers on their way to summer pastures. Camp overnight at Saistcho at 3,750 m, amid fascinating views of Namika Peak (6325m), and Defokhar (6543m). (4/5 hours walk)

Today we pass through small ablation valleys and then descend down to the glacier. We ascend a dry mud ridge rising from the lateral moraine of the glacier, to arrive at the pleasantly green campsite of Spenser. 5/6 hours trek, camp overnight at 3,950 meters. 5/6 hours trek.

We walk through the narrow ablation valley for an hour, then descend down to the glacier for another easy hour on the white glacier. After taking photos of K6 (7281m) & K7 (6934m), we walk back to Saitscho. Total 7/8 hours walk.

We climb the hill east of glacier’s snout and then walk parallel to the glacier. Later we descend down to the lateral moraine of the glacier. Undertake a steep climb to arrive on the grassy summer pasture. Walk between numerous flowers and small streams to arrive at Dalsampa at 4,265 meters, camp by a small Lake. 5/6 hours trek.

Enjoy views of Yermanendu Kangri (7163m), and Mashabrum S (7821m). Stroll through wildflowers, descend down to the glacier to traverse it. Camp at Khuispan (4700m), a level green spot that has numerous wildflowers. 5/6 hours trek.

Before the ascent of Gondogoro pass. Enjoy the view of Laila Peak (6100m), Drangra (6325m), Tasa Peak (6614m)

We leave camp at 2:00 a.m. to climb the Gondogoro La (5600m). Walking on the stony ground, first ascend gradually to approach the pass. Then ascent is steeper, requiring good balance on the rocks. The view from the top of the pass is unparalleled, with K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum 1 to 4, Mashabrum, and many mountains appearing at our level. The descent involves a steep walk on the snow and, the use of fixed ropes as well as crampons. Camp overnight at Ali Camp (5060m), 9 to 10 hours hiking.

Start your trek walking on the Vigne glacier, descend gradually over the white glacier to arrive at the meeting of Vigne glacier with Baltoro. Here traverse the Baltoro glacier’s lateral moraine and its numerous crevasses. We arrive at Concordia, lured by the classic views of K-2 (8611m), Camp at 4,500 meters. 4/5 hours trek.

Concordia – the meeting place of five glaciers, named after “Place de la Concordia” in Pairs. It offers views of some of the highest peaks of the world. Within a radius of 15 kilometers are 41 peaks above 6,500 meters, almost half of them still virgin and unnamed. The views of K-2 in the morning, afternoon and evening, all the time playing hide and seek with clouds, are just above narration. You have to be there to not only see it but feel it for yourself, as it appears so close to you. Also visible from Concordia, clockwise from K-2 are Broad Peak (8047m), Gasherbrum 4 (7925m), Baltoro Kangri (7312m), Kondus (6756m), Mitre (6025m), Paiyu (6610m), Crystal (6252m), Marble (6173m) and Angle Peak (6858m).

We descend down along the Baltoro glacier, walking on its medial moraine. We have a challenging view of Muztagh tower to our north. Biango at 4,329 m is our campsite, dominated by the thrilling view of Mashabrum (7821m) in the south. 5/6 hours trek.

Walk on the medial moraine of Baltoro glacier. The middle part of the glacier has its own surprises for us, small streams of water rushing over clear blue ice, and mushroom-like huge ice towers jetting from the glacier. We step off the glacier on the green slopes of Urdukus. From the camp enjoy views of Paiju Peak, Choricho (6756m), Uli Biaho, Trango Towers, Cathedrals, and Biale (6278m). 5/6 hours trek.

We descend down to the glacier, and walk towards the west on its lateral moraine, with fine views of towering summits. After 4 hours walk to traverse the Baltoro glacier, encountering small crevasses of the terminal moraine. Paiju (3582m), a refreshing campsite situated in a grove of willow and poplar trees with a freshwater stream running through it. 6/7 hours trek.

The great Baltoro glacier ends here, we descend on the easy trek. Jhola is the meeting point of the Dumordo river coming from the Panmah glacier and Braldu river. Overnight in Jhola. 5/6 hours trek.

We start our trek early, first, we cross the Dumordo River on a footbridge recently completed. After crossing Pari we will arrive at Korophon. It is a nice green place and Biafo glacier starts from here. Arrive at Askole the first village on the trek with big wheat fields. 5/6 hours trek.

We celebrate the mid-part of our trek.

Walking along the Braldu river, after 2 hours we arrive at Biafo glacier, 2 km wide at this point. We take a steep climb before the snout and then set foot on the glacier. After having lunch among moraine boulders, we continue scrambling across the boulders of lateral moraine for 3 hours, arrive at Namla campsite at 3,400m. (6/7 hours trek).

Back on the glacier, we cross the crevasses area, once across it the ascent is gentle. Enjoy views of Latok 1 (7145m), Latok 2 (7108m). After lunch, we get the first view of Hisper Pass, with mountain walls on either side rising to 6,000 meters. Biantha campsite at 4,025m in ablation valley with grassy area and a clear stream flowing through dense willow shrubs surrounded by Himalayan flowers. (6/7 hours trek).

Rest day at Baintha, with optional excursion (3/4 hours) to base camp of Latok peaks.

The first hour of the trek is lovely to walk along the ablation valley, crossing many small lakes surrounded by willow bushes and wildflowers. Then descend on the glacier and approach the medial moraine. Once on the glacier, the walk is gradual climb over smooth ice. In case of fresh snow on the glacier, we must rope up and walk with a flying belay. Just two hours from our destination camp, we walk carefully through an area of open crevasses. Karfogoro campsite at 4,605m. (7/8 hours trek).

We rope up and walk in a single file to stay away from the hidden crevasses. Here the progress is slow but steady and the ascend gently. After two hours steady plod we arrive at the intersection of Sim gang glacier with Snow Lake. Here the view is magnificent as we enter a wide open wilderness of white snow. We camp at around 4,900m in a flat bowl of ice several kilometers wide and surrounded by jagged black and white mountains. (3/4 hours trek)

The size of Snow Lake is 77 sq. km. We use two days at Snow Lake for exploration of this unique and stunningly beautiful mountain place. We may explore one of the many passes leading from Snow Lake, and we may attempt a 5,800-meter-high trekking summit.

Walking in single file with a rope between us, we ascent pass in 2 hours. The view from the top of pass 5151m. is superb with views of Baintha Brakk (7285m). On the other side of the pass, Hispar glacier stretches as far as the eye can see. The Hispar pass is very wide and we walk for an hour on its wide open crest. We descend down to Hispar glacier walking through deep soft snow. Khanibasa campsite at 4,580 m has Edelweiss, gentians, and asters grow around the camp. (7/8 hours trek).

We cross Khanibasa glacier that takes around 1 ½ hour. From the middle of the glacier enjoy spectacular views of Kanjut Sar 1 (7700m the 29th highest peak in the world), Now trek follows on the lateral moraine with exciting views across to the hanging glaciers and frequent avalanches on the southern ice walls. Yet the highlight on this side of the pass is the abundance of wildflowers of numerous sizes and types, growing in small ablation valley (6/7 hours trek). Yutmar at 4,329 m. is a flat sheltered field in ablation valley, surrounded flowers.

An hour’s easy walk through Ablation Valley brings us to Yutmaru glacier, that takes around 2 hours to traverse – with high ice walls and deep crevasses to negotiate. Once across, we climb up steeply over the cliff with a panoramic view back to Hispar Pass. Walking on a path 100 meters above Hispar glacier, we pass many small campsites. Our campsite Bitanmal at 3,902 m. in ablation valley, is a wide-open summer pasture surrounded by willows and flowers. (6/7 hours trek).

Opportunity to explore side valleys.

A lovely walk through green pastures in the ablation valley past willow and cedar shrubs Hispar village, a combo of mud houses, apricot, willow & poplar trees, & fields of wheat, peas, beans and always present wild poppies. Camp at 3,201m (7/8 hours trek).

Walking for 2 hours through dry cliffs beside Hispar river, we arrive at Huru at 2800m to board jeeps for Hunza valley. Enjoy spectacular views of Rakaposhi (7788m), Ultar 1 (7400m) & Golden Peak (7027m). Overnight at hotel in Karimabad. (2/3 hours trek).

Visit the recently restored Baltit Palace at Karimabad and Altit fort at Altit village. Hunza cultural dance in the evening.

View the summit of Nanga Parbat from the road. overnight at Besham motel. 11/12 hours drive.

Arrive & visit the Ministry of Tourism for trek de-briefing, and later explore the bazaars of the twin cities. Overnight at the hotel. 5/6 hours

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.