Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
The K2 Base Camp trek walks the length of the Baltoro Glacier to Concordia and the foot of K2 (8,611 m). It is the classic Karakoram adventure and the trip most foreign trekkers ask us about first.
K2 doesn't reveal itself easily. You earn the view across a week of glacier travel, past Trango Towers, Masherbrum and the great granite walls of the Baltoro, before Concordia opens up and four of the world's fourteen 8,000-metre peaks surround you at once.
This is a full-service trek run by a Pakistani team that lives and works in the Karakoram. You carry a daypack. Porters, cooks, a mountain guide and a support crew handle the rest. The route is non-technical but long and high, which is exactly why preparation and an experienced local operator matter.
Day 1 to 2
Meet the team, trip briefing and gear check. Fly to Skardu (weather permitting) or take the Karakoram Highway over two days.
Day 3
A long jeep day up the Braldu valley to Askole (3,000 m), the last village and trailhead.
Day 4
First trekking day along the Braldu river to the Jhola campsite (3,200 m).
Day 5
Trek to Paiju (3,450 m) with the first views of the Trango group and Paiju Peak.
Day 6
An important acclimatisation day before stepping onto the Baltoro Glacier.
Day 7
Climb onto the Baltoro Glacier and trek beneath the Trango Towers to Khoburtse (3,800 m).
Day 8
Short day to the meadow camp at Urdukas (4,050 m), one of the most scenic sites on the route.
Day 9
Long glacier day to Goro II (4,300 m) surrounded by Masherbrum and Muztagh Tower.
Day 10
Reach Concordia (4,600 m) with K2 rising directly ahead. The heart of the trek.
Day 11
Walk to K2 Base Camp (5,150 m) at the foot of the mountain, then return to Concordia.
Day 12 to 15
Retrace the Baltoro over several days back to the Askole trailhead.
Day 16 to 18
Jeep to Skardu, then fly or drive back to Islamabad. Buffer days built in for weather.
Comfortable hotels in Islamabad and Skardu on the road sections, and quality two-person tents at every camp on the trek. Dining and kitchen tents mean hot meals and a warm place to gather each evening.
Fresh, varied meals cooked by our trek chef: eggs, porridge and bread for breakfast, a packed or cooked lunch, and hot three-course dinners. We cater for vegetarian and most dietary needs with advance notice.
You need to be fit and comfortable walking 5 to 7 hours a day on uneven glacier terrain at altitude for two weeks. No climbing skills are required, but regular hill walking, cardio and some multi-day trekking experience make a big difference.
Foreign trekkers need a Pakistan tourist visa, usually supported by a Letter of Invitation we provide. The route also requires a trekking permit and Central Karakoram National Park fees, which we arrange. See our visa and permit guides for the full process.
We build in acclimatisation days, carry a comprehensive first-aid kit and a portable oxygen supply, and our guides are trained to recognise and respond to altitude sickness. We monitor weather and glacier conditions daily and will adjust the plan when safety requires it.
Read our altitude and safety guide and is Pakistan safe for foreign trekkers.
It is strenuous. You walk 5 to 7 hours a day on glacier terrain for about two weeks, reaching 5,150 m. No technical climbing is needed, but good fitness and acclimatisation are essential.
No. K2 Base Camp is a trek, not a climb. Multi-day trekking experience and solid fitness are enough. Our guides handle route-finding and glacier navigation.
Mid-June to mid-September, when the Baltoro is snow-free and river crossings are safest. July and August are the most reliable months.
Guided trips generally start around USD 2,900 per person and vary with group size and dates. We provide a clear, itemised quote before you commit.
The trekking regions of Gilgit-Baltistan are quiet and welcoming to foreign visitors. We manage permits, logistics and on-trail safety throughout. See our safety guide for details.
This is the advanced version of the K2 trek. Instead of retracing the Baltoro, you cross the Gondogoro La (5,585 m) for a sunrise panorama of K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums, then descend into the Hushe valley.
The Baltoro Glacier is the approach route to K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums. Trekking its length to Concordia is one of the world's classic high-mountain journeys.
Skardu is the staging town for every Karakoram expedition, but it is a superb destination in its own right: alpine lakes, cold deserts, ancient forts and the road to the Deosai Plains.
