Trango Tower Expedition

When you arrive at Islamabad Airport, our guide will be at the gate on international arrivals to meet you. They will be easy to identify because they carry our company logo with your name. To ensure you are comfortable, we will make sure the ride to your hotel proceeds smoothly. After check-in, you have time to rest or explore the city before lunch. This is because the majority of international flights arrive early in the morning. Our guide will tell you about the trek and check your gear in the evening. If you arrive between 9 AM and 12 PM, the meeting and any fees still due will happen at the hotel. We can take care of these in Skardu if you arrive late in Islamabad. If you have time, pay extra for a tour of Islamabad or Rawalpindi to see the sights. Please share information about your flight at least a month before arrival so everything goes smoothly.

If the weather is good, your trip starts with a flight from Islamabad to Skardu early in the morning. This beautiful one-hour ride gives you stunning views of Nanga Parbat (8126m), the ninth-highest peak in the world. On clear days, you can also view K2 and other spectacular peaks in the Baltoro region. You have the afternoon to explore the market or take a jeep ride to Satpara Lake, where Lord Buddha is a historic rock carving. If the weather makes flying impossible, we will take the Karakoram Highway instead. The 10–12-hour drive to Chilas offers beautiful views of the mountains, and we will stay the night there.

On this day, you can rest and look around Skardu while we finish getting your trekking permits from the local authority. The Tourism Department of Gilgit Baltistan will meet you and inform you about the trek. If you are travelling by road this day, we start our journey from Chilas to Skardu. Our team will be busy making food and packing gear for the trip once we get to Skardu, but you will have the afternoon to look around town. You could visit the fort and look around the local market. We will have a group dinner in the evening to prepare for the journey.

After an early breakfast, we'll load into 4x4 jeeps and set off on a thrilling jeep safari along a winding trail taking us deep into the heart of the Karakoram region. Shortly after leaving Skardu, we'll cross the Indus River on a bridge near its confluence with the Shigar River and enter the scenic Shigar Valley. The route passes through lush villages with green fields and orchards irrigated by glacial streams. We will continue to follow the Braldu River upstream, where the landscape transforms into a dramatic and arid gorge. Askole, the last inhabited village in this Shigar valley, is the gateway to the Central Karakoram National Park and the starting point of our trek. The drive from Skardu to Askole usually takes 6 to 8 hours, depending on the road conditions. The Braldu section can be challenging, as it's prone to landslides that may block the road. However, experienced local drivers are skilled at navigating these obstacles, often finding quick solutions or transferring jeeps if needed. In very rare situations, visitors may have to start walking before they reach Askole if the road becomes blocked. We will stop for lunch along the way and enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains and rivers. This will be an excellent beginning to our adventure.

Our trek begins after leaving Askole early in the morning as we enter the breathtaking Central Karakoram National Park. Once we register our permits for the final time at the park office, we follow a trail next to the Braldu River. The path is a mix of dirt jeep tracks and natural trails, making it a steady but long walk, typically taking 6 to 7 hours. Along the way, we pass the snout of the Biafo Glacier and arrive at Korofong before crossing the Dumordo River on a newly constructed bridge. The name "Jhola" comes from the old subway system people used to cross the river here. The views from Jhola are stunning, with Bakhor Das (5,809m) and the jagged peaks of Paiju in the distance. On sunny days, temperatures can rise to nearly 25°C, so staying hydrated is essential. Carry at least three liters of water, wear a sun hat, and apply plenty of sunscreen. This first day provides an excellent introduction to the rugged beauty of the Karakoram region.

From Joula, We start our trek to Paiju after breakfast. Starting early in the morning, we follow the main trail along the Braldu River. The route takes us past Bardumal camp, a flat area near the river, before crossing several glacier-fed streams. On warm days, these streams can swell due to melting snow, and we may need to ford them if bridges are unavailable. As we continue, we can see the massive Baltoro Glacier for the first time and the towering Paiju Peak (6,611m). As we reached Paiju, it was a green oasis at the foot of Paiju Peak, The starting point of Baltoro Glacier was visible in the distance. After reaching the campsite at Paiju (3,420m), we relaxed and enjoyed the surroundings, and sometimes, our porters entertained us with lively Balti music after dinner. This campsite marks an important stop on the journey to K2 Base Camp.

From our camp at Paiju we walk one hour to the snout of the Baltoro Glacier where an enormous amount of melt water pours from deeply within the ice. Here we climb up a rocky path onto its icy back. The trail undulates as we climb over the buckling moraine strewn surface of this permanently flowing glacier and we gradually work our way across the glacier to its south side. Here the moraine is more stable as it is held together by colourful vegetation which receive their moisture from many spring fed streams. After a further hour we reach the point where the Trango Glacier meets the Baltoro and say goodbye to this great natural wonder. We have a short break, don crampons and rope up for the complex glacier climb to basecamp still a further 4 hours of walking from the terminus of the Baltoro. Basecamp is located across the Trango glacier directly underneath Trango 2 and near a beautifully clear glacier lake. The start of the route to our camp is the obvious gully directly above camp. Trango base camp is at 3970 m. Trekking time: 7 – 8 hours Trekking distance: 15 km (BLD)

Today will be a rest and acclimatisation day at basecamp, time to take in our surroundings, go on a short acclimatisation walk, and rest ready for the next days trekking. (BLD)

We aim to take the same hybrid expedition/alpine climbing approach to climbing this mountain as we practice on Aconcagua and Elbrus. This expedition is not supported by Sherpa or high-altitude porters and the onus will be on the team to carry their own equipment to the higher camps. Please refer to the FAQs for a detailed route description. A typical ascent profile looks like this. • Carry/acclimatisation day to C1 (4,750m) from BC, descend to BC to sleep • Climb to C1 and occupy C1 for one night • Climb to C2 (two places possible at 5320m and 5,570m respectively) • Summit push (6,280m) and descend to C1 • Descend to BC and rest • Contingency day (BLD)

A well-deserved day of rest and reflection after an actionpacked summit push. Today we celebrate our success with our Balti team who spend the day preparing a delicious local dinner. Our mule or porter team arrive into camp and join the party as we prepare for our trek home. (BLD)

After the climbing period of Trango Tower, we will head back towards Islamabad by following the same itinerary backwards. Today we will trek on the Baltoro Glacier with spectacular views of the Trango Towers towards Paiju. As we approach, we have to detour to the south to cross the Liligo Glacier. This glacier defies world trends in that it is steadily growing. Twenty years ago its snout was half a mile up the valley and now it has collided with the main Baltoro Glacier, with the result that the churning forces have made it impossible to cross without the detour.

Sure! Here's a short, SEO-friendly paragraph for your Paiju to Korofrong trek: The trek from Paiju to Korofrong is a breathtaking journey through the Karakoram Range, offering trekkers a chance to explore some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. This section of the famous Baltoro Glacier trek takes you from the picturesque Paiju campsite to the high-altitude Korofrong camp, located near the towering Trango Towers and Laila Peak. Along the way, you'll trek over rugged terrain, glaciers, and rocky paths, with incredible views of peaks like Gasherbrum IV and Broad Peak. This trek is a perfect blend of adventure and natural beauty, ideal for those seeking a challenging yet rewarding mountain trek in one of the world’s most remote regions.

The trek from Korofrong to Askoli is a spectacular descent through the Baltoro Glacier, offering stunning views of the surrounding peaks, including the majestic Trango Towers and Laila Peak. After reaching Askoli, the journey continues with a scenic drive via Shigar Valley to Skardu, where you can relax and reflect on your adventure. The drive through Shigar Valley is one of the most picturesque routes in the region, with lush landscapes, towering mountains, and traditional villages along the way. This section of the journey provides the perfect end to your Karakoram trek, connecting the rugged beauty of the mountains with the vibrant culture of Skardu.

After breakfast, we will board a PIA flight to Islamabad. In case of cancellation of flight we will drive to chilas (8 - 10 hours) and over night in chilas. Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Islamabad for exploring, sightseeing, and shopping. Note: If our flight on day 17 cancelled we will spend 11-12 hours driving from Chilas to Islamabad via Babusar Pass 4173 m.

Transfer to Islamabad airport for international flight