Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive in Islamabad

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

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

   • The evening is free to explore on your own.

   Overnight stay at the hotel.

2. Day 2: Travel to Skardu

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

   • Alternately, 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 Indus, the 'Lion River'.

3. Travel To Skardu - Chilas / Naran

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

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

   Stay overnight.

4. Day 4: Explore Skardu

   • Enjoy a free day at Skardu.

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

   • Stroll down the narrow bazaar, climb up the cliff to visit the historic Kharpocho fort, visit the turquoise blue Satpara Lake, which is just a few kilometres from the town. 

   Meals and overnight at motel/resort.

5. Day 5: Thongol

   • 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 camping site. 

   Meals and overnight stay at the camp. 

   6-7 hour jeep ride

6. Day 6: Start the Trek - Kordofan

   • Start 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.

7. Day 7: Khrobrak Campsite

   • Today, you will experience a tough walk up to a cliff face to arrive at the cable bridge to cross 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, which is a small stretch of land just by the Braldu River, which will provide natural music all the time (7 to 8 hours of trekking).

   Overnight stay.

8. Day 8: Gasherbrum 4 - Paiju

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

   • Three hours’ walk brings you to the point where water streams from the Paiju peak divide into four rushing streams that can be crossed by jumping over the 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.

9. Day 9: On Baltoro Glacier

   • Begin the day’s trek with a walk for about an hour across gradually ascending barren territory to arrive at 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, campsite Khobursay at 4,000 m (5-6 hours of trek).

10. Day 10: Biango Goro 2

    • 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 (8035m), the 14th highest peak in the world, peeps from the right shoulder of G-4 in the east. Biango, at 4030m, is the campsite, dominated by a stunning view of Mashabrum (7900m) due south. 

    • Prepare for camping on a thin layer of moraine over glacial ice as the night can be cold. 7-8 hrs trek.

11. Day 11: To Concordia

    • Start trek, walking on the medial moraine of the glacier to 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 (7200m) on the border between Pakistan and China.

    • Excitement mounts and paces quicken as climbers arrive at Concordia, lured by the classic views of K2 (8612m), the second highest mountain of the world.

    • Concordia - the meeting place of five glaciers, is named after “Place de la Concorde” in Paris. Within a radius of 15km are 41 peaks above 6500 meters, almost half of them still virgin and unnamed. Also visible from Concordia (clockwise from K-2) are: Broad Peak (8068m), Gashabrum 4 (7900m), Baltoro Kangri (7245m), Kondus (7000m), Mitre (6000m), Paiju (6610m), Crystal (6300m), Marble (6200m) and Angel Peak (6800m). 4-5 hour trek.

12. Day 12: The Base Camp of K2

    • 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 Godwin Austin glacier. Walking here is much easier than the first two hours’ stretch on rocks. 

    • While 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 get overwhelmed by the sheer size of K2. 

    • Return to Concordia for overnight.

13. Day 13: To Ali Camp

    • Start the trek. The first two hours of the trek are difficult as climbers leave Concordia and traverse the Baltoro Glacier and its crevasses. Once on the Vigne Glacier, it is 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 the departure over the Gondogoro La (5 to 6 hours of trekking).

14. Day 14: Over Gondogoro La

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

    • While getting 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 our eye level.

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

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

15. Day 15: Khuispan- A Rest Day

    • 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.

16. Day 16: Dalsangpa

    • 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 to 5 hours of hiking).

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

17. Day 17: Saicho

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

    Overnight stay at the campsite.

18. Day 18: Hushe Valley

    • Descend to the Gondogoro River, enjoying spectacular views of K-6 (7171m, K-7 (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 to 5 hours of hiking).

    • Overnight stay.

19. Day 19: Back to Skardu

    • Enjoy the last breakfast at the camp for this trek, and say Khuda Hafiz (Goodbye) to camping staff who had been pitching tents and preparing meals during the trek (5/6 hours 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. 

20. Day 20: Towards Rawalpindi

    • Catch a flight to Rawalpindi.

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

    Overnight stay.

21. Day 21: Leisure day in Rawalpindi

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

    • Day free to explore the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

    Overnight stay at the accommodation.

22. Day 22: Departure

    • Transfer to the airport for your onward flight journey.

    End of the tour.