Itinerary

1. Day 1- Arrival in Islamabad

   • Meet and greet the tour guide, get a trek briefing and transfer to the hotel.

   • For the rest of the day, explore the bazaars of Rawalpindi and the new town of Islamabad.

   Overnight stay at the hotel.

2. Day 2- Fly Islamabad - Skardu

   •  Begin with a morning transfer to the airport for a flight to Skardu and then transfer to the resort. (This flight is subject to suitable weather conditions, so if the flight is cancelled, we will drive by road to Narran/Chilas.)

   Meals and overnight stay at the hotel.

3. Day 3- Skardu

   • If we travel by road, we will make the journey from Chilas to Skardu. If you travel by air, then enjoy a free day in Skardu.

   • Overnight in the hotel for meals.

4. Day 4- Skardu - Askoli

   • Take off in soft-top 4x4 jeeps for a bumpy ride to the trekking point head.

   • Enjoy the views of Mango Gusor (6208 m) and Bakhor Das (5809 m) peaks.

   Camp at 2950 m at Askoli.

5. Day 5- Askoli - Namla

   • Walk alongside the Braldu River for about an hour, reach the village of Askoli. This is the last permanent settlement along our trekking route.
   • Proceed to the Biafo Glacier.
   • After setting foot on the glacier, arrive at Namla campsite at 3400 m.

6. Day 6- Namla - Biantha

   • Cross an area of crevasses where extreme care is needed. It’s important to follow our guide closely.

   • Gently ascent the glacier, enjoying spectacular views of Latok 1 (7145 m), Latok 2 (7108 m) along the trek. The track follows the ablation valley past a small lake, then heads out across the lateral crevasses to the smooth white centre of the Biafo Glacier.

   • Spend the night at the campsite at Biantha at 4025 m on a grassy area with a clear stream flowing through dense willows and alpine flowers. 

7. Day 7- Biantha - Karfogoro

   • Spend the first hour of the trek on a lovely walk along the valley, crossing many small lakes surrounded by willows and wildflowers. This area is the habitat of bears and Himalayan ibex.

   • Do a gradual climb over smooth ice. If there is fresh snow on the glacier, we must rope up and walk using a flying belay while enjoying stunning views of the Sosbun Brakk (6418 m).

   Camp at 4025 m.

8. Day 8- Karfogoro - Snow Lake

   •  Make a predawn departure from the camp to walk safely over the soft snow on the medial moraine.

   • After two hours of steady plodding, arrive at the intersection of the Sim-gang glacier with Snow Lake.

   Camp at around 4780 m close to the Hispar Pass. 

9. Day 9- Snow Lake

   •  Enjoy the spectacular views of Snow Lake. For the first 40 years of the last century, explorers believed that Snow Lake was an ice-cap like those in polar regions from which glaciers flow in each direction, its size being estimated at 777 sq. km. Now the lake's estimated size is 77 sq. km. The lake was named by explorer Martin Conway in 1892, who gave a dramatic account of the area in his book "Climbing expeditions in Karakoram - Himalaya".

10. Day 10- Snow Lake - Khanibasa

    • Make an early morning departure to climb the pass. Gaiters are essential as snow can be deep even in the morning.

    • Hike in a single file roped together. The route passes through the centre of the pass around giant crevasses and striped, greenish-blue seracs towering on either side. The view of Snow Lake from the top of Hispar Pass at 5151 m is inspirational. Numerous glaciers emerge from Snow Lake and disappear between nameless unclimbed Karakoram peaks. The highest of these peaks is Baintha Brakk (7285 m), Ogre first climbed by Chris Bonington and Doug Scott in 1977. On the other side of the pass, the snow-covered Hispar Glacier stretches as far as the eye can see, and to the north rises the white pyramid of Workman Peak (19,300 ft.).

    • Descend from the pass to camp on the glacier’s northern moraine at 4580 m. 

11. Day 11- Khanibasa - Yutmaru

    • Soon after leaving our camp, spend about 90 minutes crossing the Khanobasa Glacier. Enjoy spectacular views of Kanji Sar (7700 m), the 29th highest peak globally.

    • Follow lateral moraine and marvel at the hanging glaciers and frequent avalanches on the southern ice walls. Yutmaru at 4330m is a flat, sheltered field in a valley, surrounded by willows and alpine flowers. It also offers fine views of the Hispar Pass and the Balchish Range.

12. Day 12- Yutmaru - Bitanmal

    • Go for an hour's leisurely walk through the valley to the Yutmaru Glacier, which we then take about two hours to cross, negotiating high ice walls and deep crevasses.

    • Do a steep climb that provides panoramic views back to Hispar Pass. As we descend, there are also views of the Kunyan Chish Range (7852 m), the 22nd highest peak in the world. The Pumari chish Glacier flows south from this mighty mountain.

    • Walk along a path 100 m above Hispar Glacier to reach our campsite at 3902 m.

13. Day 13- Bitanmal

    • Have some rest in the Bitanmal valley. Bitanmal valley campsite is a wide-open summer pasture surrounded by willows and flowers. In summer, the shepherds from Hispar Village move here to live with their herds of goats, sheep and yaks. It’s a perfect place for a rest day.

14. Day 14- Hispar Village

    • Walk through the green pastures, past willows, cedars and among the herds of goats, sheep, cattle and donkeys.

    • Meet the south bank of Hispar River and a vast alluvial fan rippling in terraces down to a cliff above the river.

    • Cross a wooden bridge over the river and climb steeply to enter the Hispar village and its mud houses, apricot, willow & poplar trees, and fields of wheat, peas, beans, along with the ever-present wild poppies and marijuana.

    • After spending some time here, walk for another hour to our camp close to a roaring river at 3200 m.

15. Day 15- Hispar - Huru - Hunza

    • In the morning, walk for two hours through the dry landscape to Huru and board soft-top 4x4 jeeps for the short ride to Karimabad., the capital of Hunza Valley. You are never short of spectacular views here - Rakaposhi (7788 m ), Ultar 1 (7388 m), Ultar 2, and Golden Peak tower above the valley.

    • Enjoy a free afternoon.

    Meals and overnight stay at the hotel. 

16. Day 16- Karimabad

    • Be free at Karimabad to explore the valley and visit the Altit and Baltit forts.

    • If time permits, we may drive 35 km further north along the Karakoram Highway to the picturesque village of Passu for thrilling views of the Passu & Batura glaciers. 

    • Enjoy Hunza cultural dance in the evening.

    Meals and overnight stay at hotel.

17. Day 17- Hunza - Chilas

    • Begin with a morning excursion to the Upper Hunza to enjoy the views of Passu Peak, Passu Glacier, Batura and other peaks of Karakoram.

    • Drive back along the Karakoram Highway to Chilas.

    Meals and overnight stay at a hotel.

18. Day 18- Chilas - Islamabad

    • Proceed towards Islamabad with your Pakistani mountain guide. 

    Overnight stay at the hotel.

19. Day 19- Departure

    • Proceed to the airport and board your return flight.