K2 Base Camp Trek

Upon arrival at Islamabad Airport, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. During the day, your trek guide will conduct a briefing and check your gear. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city and pack for the trek ahead.

On this day of k2 Gondogoro la trek, we will fly to Skardu in the morning. Skardu is the logistic hub of the expeditions and trekking’s in the Karakoram range. The flight from Islamabad to Skardu will provide spectacular views of the Himalaya and Karakoram mountains and we should be able to see Nanga Parbat towering among other peaks drive by the Karakoram Highway to Skardu, a journey of approx two days). b) In case of cancellation of flight drive 10-12hrs by air conditioned coach to Chilas (480km) on the Karakoram highway. Overnight Basic Hotel/guesthouse.

on arrive in Skardu by flight, you’ll have a free day to rest and explore the town. Skardu is the gateway to the K2 trek, and there’s plenty to see, including the Skardu. For those who are driving from Chilas, the journey to Skardu takes about 6-8 hours. The drive offers beautiful views of the mountains and the valley, and upon arrival in Skardu, you can relax at your hotel and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before the trek begins.

We have a spectacular drive on a winding jeep trail with several steep sections. A short distance from Skardu we cross the Indus river on a bridge near the confluence with the Shigar river. We drive up the wide open Shigar valley passing some larger villages and their fields. Further up at the next river confluence we follow the Braldu river upstream. As we ascend the gorge it gets steeper and more arid. We pass a few villages with green fields from irrigation and shaded by apricot trees. Askole is the last village in this valley

After Askole, we start the trek by following the trail next to the Braldu river. Once passed the snout of the Biafo glacier we arrive at Korofong. We cross a tributary called Dumordo River on a new bridge to arrive at Jhola. In the past, the locals used an old trolley system or “jhola” with a bucket to cross the river hence the name of this place. The views from here are impressive with Bakhor Das (5,809m) and Paiju Peak’s needles in the distance

From Jhola, we follow the main trail to K2 Base Camp via Bardumal camp (also known as Skambong Scok). We follow a trail around a corner to join the Braldu valley again. Bardumal camp is in a large flat area next to the river. After Bardumal we have to cross several side rivers that sometimes involve a river crossing by foot if the bridges have been washed away. These rivers are glacier-fed and on a hot day, they will be fast f lowing due to snow melt. Paiju is a green oasis under the shadows of Paiju Peak (6,611m). From this camp, we have the first views of the immense Baltoro Glacier

After an hour from Paiju, we start walking on the Baltoro glacier for the first time. The path on the glacier is on rocky moraine and we should take care as the surface is uneven. We recommend the use of trekking poles. For the next two days the glacier has many ice ridges so we have to ascend and descend these slopes as we head up. We will stop for lunch at the old campsite at Lilligo. After this break we cross below the snout of the Lilligo Glacier and back on to the Baltoro. The trail is indistinct in places and it is easy to lose your way. It is important for the group to stay together with local guides to show the way. We walk up and down several moraine ridges before arriving at the Khoburtse campsite

From camp we follow a trail along the lateral moraine next to the glacier. Further along we descend down onto Baltoro and pass two side glaciers. It is a short day but quite hard work as we walk up the undulating moraine, gaining height all the way. During the walk there are superb views of Trango & Cathedral spires. We also see Mount Uli Biaho (6,005m) and Mount Biale (6,841m). The camp at Urdukas is very impressive with views over the Baltoro and to these mountains. As we are over 4,000m we stay at Urdukas for two nights for acclimatisation to the high altitude.

We have found with past groups that taking a rest day at Urdukas has worked well. The advantages of spending an extra night here are: • It helps the acclimatisation process and has proved to be more effective than a rest day at Paiju (3,383m). • There is a walk behind the campsite through grassy slopes full of alpine flowers. By climbing high and sleeping low is the best way to help your body adapt to high altitude. • This is the last campsite on grassy slopes off the main glacier. There are also facilities for washing and cleaning

From camp we descend onto the glacier and we will stay on the ice until our return to Urdukas. As we are higher up the Baltoro glacier the glacial ice is flatter. The walking is easier than before as we cross fewer moraine ridges. We walk in the centre of the glacier and have superb views of both sides lined by high mountains. There are views of Muztagh (7,270m) and Masherbrum (7,800m). We see Gasherbrum IV (7,925m) at the head of the Baltoro glacier near Concordia. The campsite at Goro II is on the glacier. There are ledges on the rock levelled out for the tents.

We walk up the centre of the Baltoro to Concordia. Now we are higher on the glacier there is ice underfoot and less rock. The walking is easier as the Baltoro is much flatter here. Concordia is where the Baltoro, Abruzzi and Godwin Austen glaciers converge. This is an incredible place surrounded by high peaks. We get our first views of the magnificent K2 to the North. We can also see Broad Peak and some of the Gasherbrum group

North of Concordia, the Godwin-Austen Glacier leads directly to the foot of K2, just 10 kilometres away. The first part of today's walk is the most difficult, crossing the chaotic meeting of the Godwin-Austen and Baltoro glaciers and involving the negotiation of a maze of crevasses and meltwater rivers. Beyond, the underfoot conditions are slightly easier, sometimes on long, level sections of gritty ice. It takes around 4 hours to get to Broad Peak Basecamp (4850m), followed by another 4 hours of out-and-back for those who are keen to get to K2 Basecamp. We overnight at Broad Peak Basecamp and anyone who chooses to go no further than this will enjoy arguably the best views of K2, as well as a fine panorama back down-glacier to Concordia, spectacularly framed by Mitre Peak, Chogolisa and the Gasherbrums.

A much easier day today, as we head back down the glacier to Concordia. Lunch at camp and an afternoon at leisure with plenty of time to enjoy the special ambience of the 'throne room of the mountain gods'.

This morning we can take a last look at K2 before packing up the gear and heading back down the Baltoro. In descent we can make longer stages and today we go past Goro to a campsite off our approach route at a place known simply as Shachspong (4100m). The word Shachspong is Balti for 'a big pile of stones' which is seems ironic considering the landscape through which we are trekking, but in fact this is a reasonably elevated part of the stone covered glacier and as such it makes for a very good viewing platform. Our local crews also refer to this place as Rex's Camp, after Rex Munro, the much-loved KE leader who completed more than 30 K2 treks in the 1990s. K2 is once again hidden but Gasherbrum IV resumes its prominence at the head of the Baltoro and also reveals a sliver of Gasherbrum 1. Down valley, the serried ranks of granite towers and spires of the Lobsang, Cathedral and Trango move into the distance, beyond which lie the peaks of Uli Biaho and Paiju. Directly opposite to the south is the snow-capped red granite spire of Masherbrum. This is an atmospheric place and now that they are headed for home it is quite possible that our crew will want to have a party. Almost anything can be a musical or percussion instrument and if you have the chance, listening to the voices of the Baltis in full song is quite an amazing experience.

Mo Anthoine in 1976. To the left of the Tower a smaller pinnacle is known as 'The Monk' and to the right is the graceful prow of Great Trango (6286m) first climbed in 1977 by John Roskelly and Galen Rowell. In August of 1992 two Australians Nic Feteris and Glenn Singleman climbed to a ledge on Great Trango at 5955m and then BASE jumped, falling hundreds of metres close to the rock walls before opening their chutes and landing on the glacier. At the time this was the highest BASE jump on record. Having made the detour and returned to the main Baltoro Glacier, we now cross to its north side, climbing over the huge swells of the glacier towards the ramparts of Uli Biaho. On the other side we then work our way down to the valley where we pick up the main trail and pass by the snout where the underground river which flows through the length of the glacier erupts out in a cascade to become the Braldu. The last hour of the day is an easy walk on a good path although there is a final uphill pull to reach the campsite at Paiju. On our first arrival here we relished the prospect of a cooler climate ahead. Now we will welcome its warmth!

Trek to Paiyu, after lunch contine trek to Mongon camp. The participants on this day of the K2 base camp trek will be walking down on the side of the glacier via Liligo, this will be last area where they will be shifting their trail from the moraine on the relatively stable ground.

Trek to Korofung. The walking on this day will be quite easier as the participants will be following the same trail to the Bradlu gorge. The camp site will be made at Korofung.

We make an early start ahead of our final short walk back to Korofon and the Biafo Glacier, where we recross the outwash river on the jhola and meet our transport. From here, we set off the long drive back to civilisation after almost two weeks in the wilderness. We cross the level area known locally as the 'King's Polo Ground' to reach the green fields, stone walls and houses of Askole. Continuing, we follow the remarkable jeep road through the Braldu Gorge and then travel down the fertile Shigar Valley to its confluence with the Indus. Arriving in Skardu, we check in at our hotel and there will be time for a welcome shower and clean up before sitting down to dinner. Tonight we will enjoy the comfort of a real bed!

Skardu airport is a 40 minute drive from the hotel along a good road lined with poplar trees. Boarding our plane we have an exciting flight out of the valley, once again passing by Nanga Parbat before turning south for Islamabad. If our flight is cancelled due to bad weather, we will start the drive to Chilas travelling for 9 hours along with Indus River.

Today we will spend the day in Islamabad. In the evening we have a group meal to celebrate our journey in the Karakoram mountains of Pakistan. If our flight on day 17 cancelled we will spend 11-12 hours driving from Chilas to Islamabad via Babusar Pass 4173 m.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. Transfer to Islamabad airport for international flight