22-Day Karakoram Trek to Concordia and Gondogoro La from Islamabad

• Upon arrival in Islamabad, meet the tour representative, who will assist you with your transfers.

• Spend the day in Islamabad getting permit details finalized with the Ministry of Tourism.

• The evening is free to explore on your own.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

• In the morning, transfer to Islamabad airport for your flight to Skardu (2,272 m). This flight is subject to clear weather.

• Alternatively, take a two-day drive to Skardu along the Karakoram Highway, sometimes referred to as the world's eighth wonder.

Stay overnight at Chilas on the banks of the Indus, the "Lion River".

• If you have already reached Skardu, today is a leisure day for you. Spend time exploring the surroundings on your own.

• If you are travelling by road and are yet to reach Skardu later in the day, enjoy the scenic journey and check in to your accommodation in Chilas/Naran on the banks of the Indus River.

Stay overnight.

• Enjoy a free day in Skardu.

• Explore the capital of Baltistan, sometimes called "Little Tibet" due to its geographic location and historical links with Tibet and Ladakh.

• Stroll through the narrow bazaar, climb up the cliff to visit the historic Kharpocho Fort, and visit the turquoise blue Satpara Lake, just a few kilometres from the town.

Meals and overnight at a motel/resort.

• Leave Skardu and drive on a metalled road heading east.

• Drive through a small pass and enter Shigar, a valley of orchards.

• Arrive in Thongol and leave the jeeps for a short walk to the campsite.

Meals and overnight stay at the camp.

6-7 hour jeep ride.

• Start the trek in the soft morning light (6-7 hours).

• Walk along the Braldu River and arrive at Askole, the last permanent settlement along the trek, often mentioned by early explorers as the last human habitat of the Indian subcontinent.

• Another three hours' walk across barren wasteland brings climbers to Biafo Glacier, a tortured sea of ice and rocks two kilometres wide at this point. It takes around two hours to cross the glacier on an established trail, walking most of the time on moraine and occasionally on ice.

• Once across the glacier, it is twenty minutes to Kordofan.

Overnight stay.

• Today, you will experience a tough walk up to a cliff face to reach the cable bridge for crossing the Dumordo River. Climbers may have to wait here for some time for their turn to cross the river over the newly built wooden bridge, which replaced a swinging pulley. The last two hours are a comparatively easy walk beside the river. This part of the trek can be unexpectedly hot and dry, so protect yourself well from the sun.

• Reach Khrobrak (4,242 m) campsite, a small stretch of land just by the Braldu River, which provides natural music all the time (7-8 hours of trekking).

Overnight stay.

• Today, the trek starts smoothly with an occasional scramble over the rocks.

• After three hours of walking, reach the point where water streams from the Paiju Peak divide into four rushing streams that can be crossed by jumping over stones and then walking through the meltwater.

• In the east, dominating the horizon, are the towering summits of Gasherbrum 4, Cathedral Towers, and Broad Peak.

• After negotiating scree and sand, walk along the river for a while.

• Arrive at Paiju (3,560 m), a refreshing campsite situated in a grove of willows and poplars through which flows a stream of fresh water (4-5 hours of trekking).

Overnight stay at the camp.

• Begin the day's trek with about an hour's walk across gradually ascending barren terrain to reach the snout of the Baltoro Glacier, a vast, turbulent sea of rocks and ice more than two miles wide and nearly forty miles long. The first stretch of the walk on the undulating glacier can be a little challenging as climbers dodge small crevasses. The view is magnificent, with the Cathedral and Trango Towers rising to 6,000 metres on the left.

• Begin to feel the pulse of creation: the melting ice, the shifting rocks, and the groans of the glacier as it rearranges its icy rivers.

• While walking across boulder-strewn ice, gradually gain height over three hours to the glacier's south side.

• Arrive at a flat, sandy area of the lateral moraine, the Khobursay campsite at 4,000 m (5-6 hours of trekking).

• Walk on the lateral moraine of the glacier for the first two hours.

• After arriving at the green pastures of Urdukas, cross crevasses and then walk on the medial moraine of the glacier. The middle part of the glacier has its own surprises for climbers, with small streams of water rushing over clear blue ice and huge mushroom-like ice towers erupting from the glacier.

• While hiking, Gasherbrum 2 (8,035 m), the 14th-highest peak in the world, peeps from the right shoulder of G-4 in the east. Biango, at 4,030 m, is the campsite, dominated by a stunning view of Mashabrum (7,900 m) due south.

• Prepare for camping on a thin layer of moraine over glacial ice, as the night can be cold. Trekking time is 7-8 hours.

• Start trekking on the medial moraine of the glacier towards the incredible sanctuary of Concordia.

• As climbers make their approach, Gasherbrum 4 stands guard in the east.

• On the left, enjoy magnificent views of Muztagh Tower (7,200 m) on the border between Pakistan and China.

• Excitement mounts and paces quicken as climbers arrive at Concordia, lured by the classic views of K2 (8,612 m), the second-highest mountain in the world.

• Concordia, the meeting place of five glaciers, is named after "Place de la Concorde" in Paris. Within a radius of 15 km are 41 peaks above 6,500 metres, almost half of them still virgin and unnamed. Also visible from Concordia, clockwise from K2, are Broad Peak (8,068 m), Gasherbrum 4 (7,900 m), Baltoro Kangri (7,245 m), Kondus (7,000 m), Mitre (6,000 m), Paiju (6,610 m), Crystal (6,300 m), Marble (6,200 m), and Angel Peak (6,800 m). Trekking time is 4-5 hours.

• Get ready for a strenuous 10-hour round-trip trek over snow, rocks, and ice.

• As you start the trek, walk past the crevasses of the Baltoro Glacier and then on the lateral moraine of the Godwin Austin Glacier to the base camp of Broad Peak. Chogolisa (7,586 m) now appears on the scene, standing guard in the south and hinting at the new crossing from Concordia to the Hushe Valley.

• While proceeding towards base camp, walk on the moraine of the Godwin Austin Glacier. Walking here is much easier than the first two hours' stretch on rocks.

• On arriving at K2 Base Camp at 5,000 m, which is normally occupied by five mountaineering expeditions during the climbing season each year, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer size of K2.

• Return to Concordia for overnight.

• Start the trek. The first two hours are difficult as climbers leave Concordia and traverse the Baltoro Glacier and its crevasses. Once on the Vigne Glacier, it becomes a comparatively easier and gradual walk over snow and ice. Mighty Chogolisa (7,600 m) stands guard in the south.

• Camp overnight at Ali Camp (5,030 m), a combination of small rocky platforms between the cliff face and crevasse.

• Turn in early to prepare for the midnight wake-up call for departure over the Gondogoro La (5-6 hours of trekking).

• Leave the camp at about 1 am to climb Gondogoro La (5,566 m). For the first two hours, walk on the lateral moraine to avoid crevasses.

• As you get closer to the pass, walk on snow to the base of the pass. The final ascent involves a steep walk on the snow and the use of fixed ropes, as well as crampons and ice axes.

• The view from the top of the pass is unparalleled, with K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum 1 to 4, Mashabrum, and many other mountains appearing to be at eye level.

• The descent on the Hushe side is steeper, requiring good balance on the rocks.

Camp at Khuispan (4,629 m), a level green spot with wildflowers in July and August (9-10 hours of trekking).

• After the ascent of the pass, take time to explore the area or relax and admire the view of Laila Peak (6,063 m), Drangra (6,230 m), and Tasa Peak (6,514 m).

Overnight stay at the camp.

• Traverse across the Gondogoro Glacier, encountering small crevasses.

• Then hike over the soft ice of the glacier.

• The last half hour is a pleasant stroll past beautiful wildflowers, with commanding views of the Gondogoro Glacier, Yermandu Kangri (7,555 m), Mashabrum South (7,688 m), and the Mashabrum La (4-5 hours of hiking).

Overnight stay at the camp beside a small lake (4,198 m).

• Gradually leave the icy landscapes behind and descend to the meadows and pastureland at Saicho (3,727 m). Although climbers have left the icy wilds behind, they still enjoy tremendous views, including Namika Peak (6,230 m) and Defokhar (6,445 m). This includes 4-5 hours of hiking.

Overnight stay at the campsite.

• Descend to the Gondogoro River, enjoying spectacular views of K6 (7,171 m), K7 (6,839 m), and Link Sar (6,935 m).

• Continue descending through small summer settlements en route to the green irrigated fields at Hushe (4-5 hours of hiking).

• Overnight stay.

• Enjoy the last breakfast at camp for this trek, and say Khuda Hafiz (Goodbye) to the camping staff who have been pitching tents and preparing meals during the trek (5-6 hour jeep ride).

• Board soft-top 4x4 jeeps for a bumpy ride through the Karakoram. This part of Baltistan appears greener and more prosperous than on the drive to Thongol.

• Arrive at Skardu.

• Transfer to the motel and enjoy the hot shower.

Meals and overnight stay.

• Catch a flight to Rawalpindi.

• In case of flight cancellation, drive by road to Islamabad.

Overnight stay.

• Today, proceed to the office of the Ministry of Tourism for the de-briefing of the trek.

• The rest of the day is free to explore the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Overnight stay at the accommodation.

• Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

End of the tour.