K2 Base Camp

Trav­el to Pak­istan takes sev­er­al days com­ing from the US In order to pro­vide you with the exact num­ber of days need­ed for this excur­sion, we have includ­ed trav­el time in the itin­er­ary. You will depart from the US on Day 1 and, by cross­ing the inter­na­tion­al date line, arrive in Islam­abad on Day 3, where Moun­tain Mad­ness ser­vices begin. If you are trav­el­ling from some­where oth­er than the US, trav­el time may vary, how­ev­er Moun­tain Mad­ness ser­vices still begin on Day 3.

Arrive Islam­abad. Trans­fer to hotel for overnight.

Quick flight (1hr) to Skar­du. Upon arrival trans­fer to hotel for overnight.

Ele­va­tion: 7,316 ft / 2230 m

Prepa­ra­tion day in Skar­du. Wel­come recep­tion and brief­ing with the Tourism Depart­ment of Gilgit Baltistan.

Ele­va­tion: 9,843 ft / 3000 m

Dri­ve to Askole by jeep (7 — 8 hours). The last vil­lage with about 50 hous­es. The vil­lagers grow their own grain, veg­eta­bles and fruit and own large herds of sheep, goats, yaks and dzos. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 10,500 ft / 3200 m

Distance/​Time: 12 miles / 6 – 7 hours

Start on a rel­a­tive­ly easy trail (3 — 4 hrs). After a lunch break con­tin­ue toward Paiyu for anoth­er 2 — 3 hours. The trail climbs to a van­tage point pro­vid­ing a view of the snout of Bal­toro glac­i­er. In the far dis­tance is a mag­nif­i­cent panora­ma of Cathe­dral Tow­ers and the tri­an­gle of K2 to the left for the first time. Paiyu camp­site. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 11,811 ft / 3600 m

Distance/​Time: 10 miles / 6 – 7 hours

Start on a rel­a­tive­ly easy trail (3 — 4 hrs). After a lunch break con­tin­ue toward Paiyu for anoth­er 2 — 3 hours. The trail climbs to a van­tage point pro­vid­ing a view of the snout of Bal­toro glac­i­er. In the far dis­tance is a mag­nif­i­cent panora­ma of Cathe­dral Tow­ers and the tri­an­gle of K2 to the left for the first time. Paiyu camp­site. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 11,811 ft / 3600 m

Today we’ll rest and accli­ma­tize for the remain­der of our trek. We’ll like­ly stretch our legs with a short local hike to aid in the acclimatization.

Ele­va­tion: 13,123 ft / 4000 m

Distance/​Time: 7.5 miles / 5 – 6 hours

Grad­ual climb up Bal­toro Glac­i­er along the south­ern edge. After about two hours, the path divides at the snout of Bal­toro glac­i­er where the left branch goes to the BC of Tran­go Tow­er and the Sar­po Lago pass. Con­tin­ue to the right, climb­ing up on the glac­i­er that stretch­es up the val­ley 39 miles / 62 km with a width of 1.2 miles / 2 km. Anoth­er steady 2 — 3 hour climb on a long diag­o­nal to the oth­er side. Fol­low the south­ern edge to Lili­wa and onward to Khuburtze for about 90 min­utes to the camp­site. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 13,480 ft / 4100 m

Distance/​Time: 4 miles / 3 – 4 hours

A 3‑hour walk most­ly along the crest of a lat­er­al moraine with stun­ning views of Paiyu Peak, Chorichi, Uli Bia­ho, Tran­go Tow­ers, etc. Urdukas is a spec­tac­u­lar camp­site. The fol­low­ing day we’ll enjoy a rest/​acclimatization day. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 14,764 ft / 4500 m

Distance/​Time: 7.5 miles / 4 – 6 hours

Today’s trek is across dif­fi­cult side crevass­es, how­ev­er the way is smoother and eas­i­er in the cen­ter. Con­tin­ue to Goro‑I oppo­site of Yer­ma­nen­do Glac­i­er cas­cad­ing down from Masher­brum pass. For the next 2 — 3 hours con­tin­ue east up the Bal­toro glac­i­er. Goro-II camp­site is pitched on the rough stones and ice in the cen­ter of the Bal­toro glac­i­er with water from the glac­i­er melt. Day 12 is built into the itin­er­ary as a con­tin­gency day to be used as/​if need­ed. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 15,420 ft / 4700 m

Distance/​Time: 6 miles / 5 – 6 hours

A slight­ly easy walk, with spec­tac­u­lar views and gigan­tic moun­tain panora­mas, includ­ing Muz­tagh Tow­er, Gasher­brum IV, Mitre Peak and the mighty K2. Camp at Con­cor­dia named by Mar­tin Con­way after the place De La Con­cor­dia in Paris. Overnight in tent.

Ele­va­tion: 16,900 / 5150 m

Distance/​Time: 7.5 miles / 6 – 7 hours

Trek to K2 Base Camp. We’ll nav­i­gate across the God­win-Austen & Bal­toro glac­i­ers to reach K2 BC. Soak in the views of K2 and the Karakorams!

Ele­va­tion: 15,420 ft / 4700 m

Distance/​Time: 7.5 miles / 5 – 6 hours

Things get a lit­tle eas­i­er now as we retrace our steps back to Concodia.

Ele­va­tion: 15,420 ft / 4700 m

Relax and enjoy the views!

Ele­va­tion: 16,400 ft / 5,000 m

Distance/​Time: 5 miles / 4 – 5 hours

Trek across the upper Bal­toro and onto the Vigne Glac­i­er, gain­ing ele­va­tion and leav­ing the peaks of Con­cor­dia behind as you reach the remote high camp at Ali Camp, our launch point for the Gon­do­goro La crossing.

Ele­va­tion: 18,536 ft / 5,650 m

Distance/​Time: 6 miles / 7 – 9 hours

Begin before dawn for a chal­leng­ing climb over Gon­do­goro La where you will be reward­ed with sweep­ing views of K2 and the Gasher­brums before descend­ing steeply into the stun­ning val­ley and camp at Khuspang.

Ele­va­tion: 10,990 ft / 3,350 m

Distance/​Time: 6 miles / 4 – 6 hours

Con­tin­ue down­hill into the thick­er air.

Flex day to be used as/​if needed.

Ele­va­tion: 10,000 ft / 3,050 m

Distance/​Time: 5 miles / 3 – 4 hours

Our last day on the trail is a short one to allow for time to dri­ve back to Skar­du (6−7 hour dri­ve) Hotel and show­ers tonight!

Scenic flight from Skar­du to Islamabad.

Buffer day for weath­er and or flight delays.

Depart Islam­abad and fly home on Day 24. Arrive home on Day 25 or 26 depend­ing your flight route and destination.