K2 Base Camp Trek

Bucket Lister + trips – you will meet your Bucket List Leaders at the airport and fly out as a group.

Bucket Lister trips – you will need to organise your flights to depart the UK today, to arrive in Pakistan on day 2.

Arrive at Islamabad Airport, where there will be a private transfer to your accommodation.

Your adventure begins with a pre-trek briefing at lunchtime today.

This is followed by a sightseeing visit to Faisal Mosque and a welcome dinner.

This morning we will fly to Skardu, and enjoy the spectacular views of Nanga Parbat from the air. As the flight time is only 1 hour, once we have checked into the hotel you will have the afternoon free to explore Skardu.

It’s an early start today, for a 6-hour journey in a 4×4 jeep to Askole, through the beautiful Shigar Valley. Note – as the road heads east to follow the Braldu River its condition deteriorates. The valley narrows as we enter the Braldu Gorge and by mid-afternoon we arrive in Askole; the last village in the valley. Situated at 3000 metres, we’ll camp here overnight.

It’s an early start on our first trekking day. We’ll trek along the Braldu River and the snout of the Biafo Glacier, the world’s third-longest glacier outside the polar regions! We cross the Domordu River, before reaching our camp for the night at Jhola.

Trekking Time: approximately 7 – 8 hours 

Our route today will, for the most part, follow the  Braldu River. Along this undulating route, we’ll get our first views of the distinctive pyramid-shaped Gasherbrum IV (7925m). We traverse out to the middle of the Baltoro glacier, with incredible views of the giant peaks of the Karakoram, guaranteed to take your breath away.

We camp tonight at Goro II; if we are rewarded with a clear evening, nothing will have prepared you for the sunset and the red hue over Masherbrum.

We’ll join the Baltoro Glacier just after our last real refuge of trees, continuing up the valley via moraines to Paiyu. Paiyu is a fixed campsite where we will spend the night

Trekking Time: approximately 6 – 7 hours 

Today is a rest day and an opportunity for acclimatisation. For those who wish, a hike above the camp gives a great chance to view the Cathedral Peaks, the Trango Towers and, on a sunny day, K2 itself.

Many people will find today’s trek demanding; the uneven and undulating terrain (rocks and moraines) as we walk along the Baltoro glacier to Khoburtse makes today challenging. However, the scenery makes this worthwhile. We’ll be able to see Paiyu Peak (6,610m) Uli Biaho (6,417m), Great Trango Tower (6,286m), Lobsang Spire (5,707m) and the Cathedral Towers.
After Khoburtse the trek becomes easier, to our campsite tonight in Urdukas.

Trekking Time: approximately 8 hours 

We traverse out to the middle of the Baltoro glacier, with incredible views of the giant peaks of the Karakoram, guaranteed to take your breath away.

We camp tonight at Goro II; if we are rewarded with a clear evening, nothing will have prepared you for the sunset and the red hue over Masherbrum.

Trekking Time: approximately 6 – 7 hours 

Today’s trek continues along the glacier, past Mustagh Tower (7284m), to Concordia, where glaciers meet.

As we approach Concordia ahead of us will be Gasherbrum IV, whilst we’ll get peeks of Gasherbrum ll. Broad Peak eventually comes into view above the ridge connecting Marble Peak and Crystal Peak. K2 keeps itself hidden until the very moment we reach Concordia when suddenly its full height is revealed.

Enjoy sunset here, in the heart of the upper Baltoro Glacier, from where you’ll have a 360-degree panoramic view of some of the world’s highest mountains.

Trekking Time: approximately 5 – 7 hours 

Relax and enjoy the scenery today.

Our first destination today is Broad Peak Base Camp, around 3 hours from Concordia. Initially, this will be on rugged terrain with glacial meltwater rivers and remnants from past expeditions. Along the way, you’ll have excellent views of K2.

After lunch at Broad Peak Base Camp, the journey continues to K2 Base Camp, (around three hours) with a visit to the Gilkey memorial, followed by an overnight stay at K2 Base Camp.

Trekking Time: approximately 6 hours 

The route today will mostly be downhill. Once we arrive at Concordia we will rest and enjoy the views.

Trekking Time: approximately 4 – 6 hours 

After one last look at K2, we’ll head back down the Baltoro glacier to Goro I camp, where we’ll stay overnight.

Trekking Time: approximately 5 – 7 hours 

We continue down the glacier and cross lateral moraines to reach Khoburtse.

Trekking Time: approximately 6 – 7 hours 

We say goodbye to the moraines today! After crossing to the north side of the Baltoro Glacier we walk down to the valley and the main trail. As we pass the snout of the glacier we can see the origin of the Braldu River.

The last hour of today’s trek is an easy walk on a good path, with a final gentle uphill climb to our campsite.

Trekking Time: approximately 5 – 6 hours 

Much easier walking today, as we trek from Paiyu along the Braldu River to Jhola.

Trekking Time: approximately 6 hours 

Our final day of trekking, back to where we started. 

Trekking Time: approximately 3 – 5 hours 

After breakfast we’ll head back to Skardu by jeep; here you will finally get a chance to take a hot shower and relax before tomorrow’s flight back to Islamabad.

We fly from Skardu to Islamabad this morning; following a private transfer to your hotel you will have the afternoon free for sightseeing or relaxation.

There will be a farewell dinner this evening.

We include this day in case of flight cancellations from Skardu; should this be the case we switch to a road journey. The road journey takes two days, but is via the Karakoram Highway, tracing the Indus River, so is a spectacular experience.

If the contingency day is not required for travel we have a day free for sightseeing in Islamabad.

Today marks the end of our K2 adventure.