Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive at Islamabad & full day city tour

   • Arrival at Islamabad. 

   • Welcome reception on arrival at Islamabad airport. 

   • Transfer to the hotel. 

   • Afternoon city tour, and also visit Raja Bazar, Rawalpindi. 

   • Trek briefing from the tour leader in the evening. 

   Overnight at hotel.

2. Day 2: Travel to Skardu

   • In the morning, get transferred to Islamabad airport for flight to Skardu. This flight is subject to weather. 

   • Alternately, take two day drive to Skardu, on Karakoram Highway. 

   Stay overnight in a motel at Chilas on the bank of Indus.

3. Day 3: Free day at Skardu

   • Free day at Skardu, the capital of Baltistan, which stands at an altitude of 2278 meters. It serves as the starting point for some of the most scenic and adventurous trekking in the world. 

   • Early morning visit to a local bazaar.

   • In the afternoon, go to Satpara Lake. (6 miles). 

   Overnight stay at motel.

4. Day 4: To the Trekking Track

   • Transport by a 4X4 jeep to Arandu (3165m).

   Overnight at camp.

5. Day 5: Arandu to Bukken

   • 6/7 hours trek along Basha River to the snout of Chogo Lungma Glacier. It takes one hour to cross the northern lateral moraine. 

   • Across the glacier, it takes 4/5 hours to reach the green meadows of Bukken. 

   Overnight camp. (3,380 m)

6. Day 6: To Hurmal

   • 5/7 hours walk with view of the perfect pyramid view of Spantik Peak (7027M), which guards the head of the valley.

   • Continue to Manchikera, another summer settlement.

   • Walk along the Ablation valley between lateral moraine and reach the mountain to the summer settlement Hurmal. 

   Overnight at camp. (3,760 m)

7. Day 7: To Bolucho

   • Pass through the summer settlement of Gharincho and a small lake.

   • Continue 4/5 hours walk with magnificent views of Spantik and Laila peaks. 

   Overnight camp on a green pasture of Bolucho (3,955 m).

8. Day 8: To Laila Base Camp

   • Cross the Chogo Lungma Glacier, walk for about 20 minutes on the nasty snout of the glacier until reaching the smooth, white central part. 

   • Turn southwest up the Haramosh Glacier to Laila Base Camp. (4,360 m, 6/7 hours)

9. Day 9: Rest Day At Laila BC

   • Rest Day at Laila base camp. 

   • Free day for acclimatization.

10. Day 10: To Spantik Base Camp

    • Full day excursion to the base camp of Spantik. 

    • A strenuous 6/7 hour round trip trek over rock and ice.

11. Day 11: Trek to 4800m Peak

    • Five to six hours trek to climb a peak about 4,800 m for very good panoramic mountain views. 

    • Overnight camp at Laila base camp.

12. Day 12: To Haramosh Base Camp

    • Four to five hours walk up the Haramosh Glacier, with a view of the Haramosh Pass ahead. 

    • The last one hour is across big rock and crevasses, requiring climbing by rope.

    Overnight camp on a bed of rocks.

13. Day 13: Top of Haramosh Pass

    • Leave the camp at about 4 am to climb Haramosh Pass (4,800 m). 

    • Walk on the Haramosh Glacier, crossing many crevasses. 

    • After about two hours, with the danger of avalanches coming down from the left, move across the glacier towards the north side and continue up. 

    • The final ascent involves a steep walk along with the snow and ice. 

    • At some point, climbers will need to use 20 meters fixed rope as well as crampons and ice axe. 

    • At the top of the pass, find good views of Haramosh (7,409 m) and Laila.

    • After a short climb up to the right (north), arrive at Rakaposhi. 

    • Below, see Kutwal Lake and trees.

14. Day 14: Kutwal Lake

    • The descent on the Kutwal Lakeside is very steep, so climbers will need a rope to get down the first 40 meters across the snow. 

    • After four hours, reach grass and tree-covered area.

    • From there, it is an easy walk along the mini glacier, down to the shepherds huts at Kutwal Lake Camp at the green spot of Kutwal Lake (2,600 m), six to seven hours hiking.

15. Day 15: Trek to Iskary

    • Walk down from the lake through green pasture for one hour. 

    • Descend for half an hour across the glacier and then down to Iskary summer village (2,050 m).

    Overnight camp.

16. Day 16: Dassu

    • Go down the right side of the mini glacier and cross the Baskai stream to the shepherds' summer settlement of Gure. 

    • Traverse along the water channel down through trees and fields to Dassu and camp for overnight stay.

17. Day 17: Back to the Civilization (Gilgit)

    • Enjoy the last breakfast at the camp. 

    • Board soft-top 4x4 jeeps for Gilgit. 

    • Transfer to the hotel and enjoy a shower. 

    Meals and overnight stay at hotel. (2/3 hours drive)

18. Day 18: A Picnic to the Naltar Valley

    • Go for a picnic in Naltar Valley, a two hours 42 km drive from Gilgit. 

    • Full day picnic in lush green Naltar valley, heavily wooded with pine, spruce, birch and juniper.

    • Naltar village, at 2,880 meters, has an Air-force Ski Training base. Naltar Lake is about 12 km from the village and is a startlingly green pond about 200 meters in diameter.

    Overnight at the hotel.

19. Day 19: Drive to Besham - Narrab

    • Drive on Karakoram Highway along the Indus river to Besham / Narran. 

    Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (10/12 hrs. 380 km).

20. Day 20: Drive to Islamabad

    • Drive to Rawalpindi; en-route visiting Taxila, the former capital of Gandhara civilization. 

    • Visit the archaeological remains of a monastery (Julian), a city (Sirkup), and the museum. 

    • Continue your drive to Rawalpindi.

    • Transfer to the hotel, farewell dinner at a typical Punjabi restaurant.

21. Day 21: Departure For Sweet Home

    • Airport transfer for departure flight.