Baltoro K2 Base Camp Trek

Day 1   Arrival to Islamabad .transfer to the Hotel or Guest House              City tour of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Day 2   Fly to Skardu incase flight cancels drive to Chilas.             You will drive on the 8th wonder of the world the Karakorum Highway along Hazara, Kohistan and Shangla districts of the province of KPK which quite exciting. You will also have chance to see mighty Indus River on your way to Chilas there are ancient rock carvings of travelers, pilgrims and conquers who left their histories and purpose of visits to these areas. Or you can either travel along the beautiful Naran and Kaghan Valleys and over Babusar Pass 4100m to Chilas in 10 to 12 hours.

Day 3   Rest day at Skardu or Drive Chilas to Skardu 9 to 10 hrs. Hotel Official activities On this day you can prepare for the next day and visit to Skardu Bazar either you can visit to Karpocho Fort of 400 year old which gives you the history of kingdoms of Baltistan.

Day 4    Drive to Askoli 7 to 8 hrs. (2800 meters). On this day you will drive on the rough bumpy road along the Baraldo River which flows from the Baltoro Glacier all the way down to Skardu along different villages of Shigar District. You will see many mountains on the way your first view of the Mango Gusor 6288m a snowy peak seen to the southeast up a side valley, straight ahead the perfect pyramid of Bakor Dass Peak (5,809m) you will reach to the village with about 150 houses at 3000 m.

Day 5   Askoli – Jula 6 to 7 hrs Trek    (3100 meters). It is a smooth day walk to your first camp to Jula. It takes 6 to 7 hours along the Braldo River with stunning views of snow covering mountains all around.  You will see the Biafo Glacier on your way to Jula and have a lunch with the view of the glacier under the shade of willow trees at Korphon it is camping spot if the trekkers are slow and have plenty of time for this trek. Normally people go to Jula crossing the Dumodo River flowing fromPumah Valley for camping which is better camp site with enough space for the tents, with clear water and toilet facilities.

Day 6   Jula –Payu 6 to 7   (3600 meters). Like the previous day it is also easy walk along left bank of the Braldo River all the way to Payu. You will come across two side stream on the way and if you ar lucky enough with the weather condition there is dramatic view of Payu Peak, Trango Towers, Cathedrals and first sight of the Baltoro Glacier and see K2 on this day from a spot near to Payu one of the interesting campsite of this trek under the trees, where mostly the trekkers have rest day. The porters prepare their food for the next days.

Day 7   Rest day  at Paju to be acclimatize you can have walk.

Day 8    Paju – Khuburche 5 to 6 hrs (3800meters). The first two hours walk on easy path to reach up to the moraine of Baltoro Glacier where the Braldo River roars from the black hole as from sluice gate. The glacier stretches up the valley as for as the eye can see a vast turbulent sea of rocks and gravel two kilometers vast and 62 kilometers long. You walk across the boulder-strewn ice, up and down great slag heaps, climbing steadily for two to three hours on a long diagonal to other side. Then you follow the southern edge of the glacier with great views of Payu Peak, Choricho, Uli Biaho Towors, Trango Towers, Nameless Tower and Cathredals all the way you reach to Kubutse crossing the Liligo Glacier which change dramatically every year and the path mostly changes on this glacier to reach to the campsite at 4000 meters with clear spring water and wonderful campsite mostly stays crowded during the season.

Day 9    Khuburche – Urdukus  3 to 4 hrs (4240 meters This is a lovely walk mostly along the crest of the lateral moraine but with crossing two glaciers from your right side. There are stunning views across Baltoro a series of mountains ahead and back and the first 8000 Broad Peak be also seen on this from some spots and disappears when you reach close to Urdukas Campsite. The most magnificent campsite at 4200 meters from where the K2 first seen by Gowin Austen climbing 600 meters above the campsite.

Day 10    Urdukas – Goro    6 to 7 hrs(4500 meters). It is a walk all the way on the Baltoro Glacier with superb views of the Karakorum Mountains. The first hour is across crevasses, the walk is smoother and the going easier walking on gravel but somewhere glimpse of white ice. This day the view Gahabrum IV (7929m) straight ahead, Mashabrum (7821 m) snowy triangle to the south is amazing mountain still not climbed from the south face. You reach to Goro-1 which is campsite if you have plenty of time worth stay night here for morning view of Mashabrum. It takes 2 to 3 hours from here to Goro II the campsite at 4,500 meters, you will pitch the tents on rough stones and ice this the coldest camping site on Baltoro Glacier.

Day 11   Goro – Concordia 6 to 7hrs (4700 meters). This day is slightly easier walking smoothly all the way to Concordia an excitement soon after the campsite you will view north to famous Mustagh Tower 7,284 meters seen here as gigantic stone axe  apparently sheer  sided and unclimbed at the head of Biango Glacier. On the southern side there is chain of Biarchidis over 6,000 meters give amazing seen and ahead Gashabrum IV is always there in front, more ahead you will have the Mable and Baltoro crystals to the northern side. You go more ahead you will see the top of the Hidden Peak Gasbrum I,( 8060 meters) behind Gashabrum VI while reaching to Concordia the joining of the five glaciers you will be in the heart great Mountain K2, Broad Peak, Angel Peak to the left and to the East Baltoro Kangri, Kondus, Snow Dome, Golden Throne and numerous nameless mountains all around this is an exciting day of your trip.

Day 12    Free day at Concordia,walk up to K2 Base and back .10 to 12 hrs This a day to be relax after long days on the Baltoro Glacier and some people do long day excursion to the base camp of the second highest mountain in the world the K-2 which is dream of every adventure lover to see it. Some people go have camp to the base camp enjoy there visiting the Giky’s memorial which close to the K2 base camp. As you approach K2,you look back to Concordia and see zebra striped glaciers sweeping round the corner and disappearing down the Baltoro.

Day 13   Trek to Ali Camp 5-6 hrs Five to six hours to the Ali Camp is a day on the white ice with large crevasses an interesting day to approach Ghondoghoro Pass 5600 meters pass which mostly possible for acclimatized and having experience on glacier trekking. You will camp at 5100 meters at Ali camp and prepare for the mid night walking to cross the Ghondoghoro Pass to Khispang and down to Hushe Valley.

Day 14   Trek to Khispang crossing Ghondghoro Pass 8 to 10 hrs This is the hardest of your trekking you will set off towards Ghondghoro Pass at mid-night and reach at the pass early morning to avoid the avalanches and rock fallings on the way to Khispang. The for hour from the Ali camp is difficult walk on the moraine of the glacier with rock boulders and one hour on flat ice and snow covered glacier to proceed to the beginning of the pass and then climb up to the pass 45 to 50 degrees  ascent to the summit of the with fix rope and wearing crampons. The view from the pass is exciting and superb of K2 and all the 8000s located in the Karakorum and it freezing cold with chilly wind on the pass jus you can click some pictures and quickly going to descend down to your next camp with fix rope half an hour and scree slope to the lateral moraine of the Khispang Glacier and reached to an exciting campsite at 4,000 meters.

Day 15   Trek to Siacho downwards to Hushe Valley 5 to 6 hrs It is an easy day from here to the next camp one half hour on Ghondoghoro glacier and then you to lush green meadows and somewhere thick juniper forest to reach Saicho at about 3600 meters a campsite with stream water and in the trees, your porters celebrate the safely arrival from the pass until late night by singing and dancing.

Day 16   Trek to Hushe 4 to 5 hrs (3050m) This will be the most interesting day of the trip the last walking day for the members and the porters to reach Hushe the last village of  Ganche District in the  Khapolu Valley. You will reach to village and your jeeps will come to pick you here.

Day 17   Drive to Skardu 5-6 hrs The first two hours will be on the rough road like the one to Askole but safer and not bumpy and then another four hours on metal road to Skardu the place you left for your trip. Hope you will enjoy the trip and all will be back safe sound to your homes.

Day 18   Flight to ISB or drive to Chilas. Hotel Shangrila

Day 19   Drive to Islamabad. Debriefing .Hotel or Guest House

Day 20  Departure for destination

Note: Options: On day 12 you can go to Camp at Broad Peak Base Camp and Day 13 visit to K2 Base Camp, walk down to Concordia and then to Ali Camp and so on as the program in this way you need one more extra day if you are much interested to visit K-2 Base camp.