Itinerary
- Day 1
Islamabad
Your guide meets you at Islamabad International Airport and takes you to your hotel. Once you've settled in, you'll head out on a city tour hitting Faisal Mosque, Shakar Parian, Pakistan Monument, Damen Koh, Lok Versa, and the local museums. This gives you a solid overview of both Islamabad and Rawalpindi before you leave for the mountains.
- Start point
- Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan (Arrival Islamabad)
Included Activities
- City tour of Islamabad and Rawalpindi
- Visit Faisal Mosque
- Visit Shakar Parian
- Visit Pakistan Monument
- Visit Damen Koh
- Visit Lok Versa
- Museum visits
Landmarks Faisal Mosque Pakistan Monument - Day 2
Islamabad to Skardu
You'll catch domestic flight PK-451 from Islamabad to Skardu (weather permitting). The afternoon is yours to wander around Skardu town. If weather cancels the flight, you'll instead spend 13-14 hours driving by coach to Chilas, covering 480 km along the Karakoram Highway.
Optional Activities
- Explore Skardu town
- Day 3
Skardu
Full day in Skardu handling official formalities and getting your trek gear sorted. You'll check out the Bazaar and visit Khurpucho Fort. If yesterday's flight got cancelled, you're instead driving 8-9 hours from Chilas to Skardu, following the Indus River the whole way.
Included Activities
- Visit Bazaar
- Visit Khurpucho Fort
Landmarks Khurpucho Fort - Day 4
Skardu to Askole
After breakfast, you load into 4x4 jeeps for a bumpy 6-8 hour drive to Askole, the last motorized transport before the actual trek starts. You'll grab lunch along the way and reach a family-run campground where you'll set up your first camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch en route), Dinner
Included Activities
- 4x4 jeep drive to Askole
Landmarks Central Karakoram National Park - Day 5
Askole to Jhula
Early morning departure from Askole and you're officially trekking now. You'll enter Central Karakoram National Park, sort final permit registrations at the park office, then walk 6-8 hours covering 19.5 km on a mix of trail and dirt jeep track. The terrain isn't steep but it's definitely a long day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Askole to Jhula
- Permit registration at park office
- Entry to Central Karakoram National Park
Landmarks Central Karakoram National Park - Day 6
Jhula to Paiyu
Another early start with 6-8 hours of trekking through hilly terrain, crossing streams and dealing with elevation changes. The sun's intense and the dust kicks up plenty, so load up on sunscreen and carry lots of water. Your porter team might treat you to a Balti music session after dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Jhula to Paiyu
- Day 7
Paiyu to Khoburtse
Trek for 5-7 hours covering 14.3 km as the terrain gets more glaciated. About an hour in and you're onto the Baltoro Glacier, which you'll hike for several days until reaching Concordia. Expect hilly, rocky, uneven ground with occasional trail, and a river crossing with a bridge near the end. The campsite has solid views and a waterfall nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Paiyu to Khoburtse
- Baltoro Glacier hiking
Landmarks Baltoro Glacier - Day 8
Khoburtse to Urdukas
Easy day with just 2-3 hours of walking, covering 6.3 km. As altitude builds, the pace stays intentionally steady so you're not pushing your body too hard. Urdukas camp itself is the real highlight, offering great views of Trango Towers, Muztagh Tower, and Lobsang Peak right from your tent.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Khoburtse to Urdukas
Landmarks Trango Towers Muztagh Tower - Day 9
Urdukas to Goro II
Trek 5-7 hours for 12.3 km and now you're getting your first proper views of the major Karakoram peaks. Masherbrum at 7,821 m, Muztagh Tower at 7,284 m, Mitre Peak at 6,025 m, and Biarchedi Peak at 6,781 m come into view as you climb higher.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Urdukas to Goro II
Landmarks Masherbrum Muztagh Tower Mitre Peak Biarchedi Peak - Day 10
Goro II to Concordia
Trek 5-7 hours over 14 km of glacier terrain to hit Concordia, often called the 'Throne Room of the Gods'. You'll cross more ice than previous days and from camp you'll see Gasherbrum IV, Mitre Peak, Broad Peak, Marble Peak, and K2 itself standing at 8,611 m.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Goro II to Concordia
Landmarks Concordia K2 Gasherbrum IV Broad Peak - Day 11
Concordia to K2 Base Camp
Trek 6-8 hours for 13.5 km up to K2 Base Camp at 5,000-5,135 m. You'll be surrounded by mountains above 6,000 m, 7,000 m, and 8,000 m including K2, Broad Peak at 8,047 m, and Golden Throne at 7,240 m. After spending time at base camp, you'll head back down to Broad Peak Base Camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Concordia to K2 Base Camp
Landmarks K2 Base Camp K2 Broad Peak Golden Throne - Day 12
Broad Peak Base Camp to Concordia
Trek back down the Godwin-Austen Glacier for 5-6 hours covering 7.9 km, basically retracing your route to Concordia. You should make it back to camp by mid-afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Broad Peak Base Camp to Concordia
Landmarks Godwin-Austen Glacier Concordia - Day 13
Concordia
Rest day at Concordia to recover from the K2 Base Camp push. Mid-morning you'll practice basic climbing skills like putting on alpine boots, crampons, and a harness to get ready for Gondogoro La. The rest of the day is relaxed with plenty of downtime to take in the surroundings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Alpine skills practice with crampons and harness
Landmarks Concordia - Day 14
Concordia to Ali Camp
Trek 5-7 hours for 11 km over glacier and deep snow pockets as you approach Ali Camp. Some of your porter team splits off today since pack mules can't cross Gondogoro La. Ali Camp is in a nice spot but it's small and often crowded. Rest the afternoon, eat an early dinner, then head out around midnight to cross the pass. Try to catch a few hours of sleep first.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Early dinner before midnight departure)
Included Activities
- Trek Concordia to Ali Camp
Landmarks Ali Camp - Day 15
Ali Camp to Kuisbang via Gondogoro La
This is the longest and toughest day, 10-12 hours total covering 10 km. You'll depart around midnight using headlamps, climbing steadily for 4-5 hours to reach Gondogoro La at 5,650 m, gaining elevation as the night goes on. The sunrise from the pass is worth it. The descent uses fixed ropes and requires extreme care, so wear helmets and clip into the ropes from your harness. Have crampons ready for both ascent and descent. Then trek 3-5 hours down to Kuisbang Camp at 4,700 m. If weather cooperates, you'll get incredible views of Laila Peak.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Ali Camp to Gondogoro La
- Trek Gondogoro La to Kuisbang
Landmarks Gondogoro La Laila Peak - Day 16
Kuisbang to Saicho
Trek 6-8 hours for 18.7 km as the landscape shifts dramatically from glaciers to green, lush terrain. The first two hours cross glacier moraine, then it transforms into green, hilly easy trail with multiple small river crossings and several steep, exposed sections. A beautiful, well-spaced campsite at Saicho awaits with multiple stream systems.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Kuisbang to Saicho
Landmarks Saicho - Day 17
Saicho to Hushe to Skardu
Trek 2-3 hours for 10.5 km through the beautiful Balti village of Hushe, which is where your trek ends. You'll share a final cup of chai and say goodbye to your porter team. Then jump in a jeep for a 5-6 hour drive back to Skardu depending on road conditions, with lunch somewhere along the way. You'll hit your hotel ready for what might be the best shower of your life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch en route to Skardu), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek Saicho to Hushe
Landmarks Hushe - Day 18
Skardu to Islamabad
You'll fly domestically from Skardu to Islamabad on flight PK-451 (weather permitting). The afternoon is free to explore Skardu town. If weather cancels the flight, you'll start a 13-14 hour coach drive to Chilas instead, covering 480 km via the Karakoram Highway.
Optional Activities
- Explore Skardu town
- Day 19
Islamabad
Free day in Islamabad for exploring, sightseeing, and shopping around the city. If yesterday's flight was cancelled due to weather, you'll instead spend 11-12 hours driving from Chilas to Islamabad, going over Babusar Pass at 4,173 m.
Optional Activities
- Explore Islamabad
- Sightseeing
- Shopping
- Day 20
Islamabad
Transfer to Islamabad Airport and head home on your international flight.
- End point
- Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan (Transfer to Islamabad Airport for International flight.)
