During your mountaineering vacation, you will travel to K2 and Concordia in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan. After that, you will traverse the Gondogoro La and eventually arrive in the Hushe Valley, which will bring your voyage to a successful conclusion.

Trek Details

The journey starts in Islamabad, Pakistan’s designated capital built from scratch. Your guide will welcome you when you arrive at Islamabad International Airport and drive you to your hotel for a well-earned break. The walk will be discussed later in the day in a briefing.

You will take an amazing flight to Skardu the next day to have beautiful views of Nanga Parbat, K2, and other Himalayan and Karakoram mountains. 45 minutes later you will arrive in Skardu, Baltistan’s capital. Here you will relax, get ready for the walk, and tour nearby sites.

You will then travel by the powerful Indus River across the Shigar Valley until Askoli, the last known settlement before crossing the Central Karakoram National Park into the wilderness. Your path will wind across the Baltoro Glacier and the Braldu Gorge to Concordia, where the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers meet. Among some of the highest mountains on Earth, Concordia presents unmatched vistas of K2, Broad Peak, Pastore Peak, and the Gasherbrum Massif.

Before returning to Concordia for a night, you will have the choice to walk down the Godwin-Austen Glacier to visit Broad Peak, the Gilkey Memorial, and K2 Base Camp.

From Concordia, the trip proceeds across the upper Baltoro Glacier to Ali Camp, the base of the Gondogoro La Pass. Standing at 5,585m, this difficult pass calls for ropes and crampons. Local rescue personnel from Hushe fix and maintain ropes at the beginning of the trekking season, therefore guaranteeing safe travel. Rising temperatures cause early in the morning climbing to start to avoid ice slides or avalanches.

Trekkers who reach the top of the Gondogoro La are given panoramic views of four of the highest mountains in the world: Gasherbrum I (8,080m), Broad Peak (8,051m), K2 (8,611m), and Gasherbrum II (8,035m).

Rising from the pass, you will find the lovely Hushe Valley, an isolated Balti community encircled by magnificent landscape. From Hushe, you will travel back to Skardu by driving along the Shyok and Indus Rivers, past little, lovely Balti villages.

Once at Skardu, you can savour the conveniences of a nice bed and a heated shower. Return to Islamabad in a scenic flight the next day. Should flight cancel, the Karakoram Highway will be the route of return. You will be taken to the airport for your next trip home following a peaceful night in Islamabad.

We at Shipton Treks & Tours are sure the K2 and Gondogoro La Trek will leave you with lifetime memories of adventure and unspoiled beauty.

Organising the K2 and Gondogoro La Trek in Pakistan has long history for Shipton Treks & Tours. Many groups have been led on this amazing trip by us with success. Based on more than 10 years of trekking experience, our well crafted schedule gives acclimatisation, safety, and fun top priority to guarantee you have an amazing trip.

Although we try to follow the exact daily schedule shown below, variables like weather or unanticipated local events call for flexibility. Should alterations be needed, your trek leader will do all in their power to modify the itinerary to cause least disturbance.

Travelling for adventure calls both an open attitude and a cooperative team spirit. Extreme temperatures, erratic weather, or last-minute changes could all be experienced by participants; hence teamwork is absolutely essential on this amazing road.

Holiday Info:

Details for K2 and Gondogoro La Trek

Group Size:   Maximum of twelve passengers per group for individual departures.

Private Groups:  Select your desired dates; then, get in touch to help us to customise the cost and schedule. Groups, couples, and families can all get discounts; kindly ask before you book.

Starting Point:    Islamabad starts and finishes the journey. You can also join or complete the journey in Skardu; contact us for further information.

Airport Transfers:   Our agent will see you off on your departure day and meet you at Islamabad International Airport and be with you all during the trip.

Refund and Flexible Payment Options:

Refund Policy

In cases of trip cancellation owing to COVID-19, security concerns, or political upheaval in Pakistan or your home nation, secure your position with a $170, totally refundable* deposit.

Flexible Payments:

Installment Plan:   Divide your money into four sensible chunks. Our travel consultants can help you create a free from stress payment plan.

Change Anytime:  Alter your travel dates, plans, or payment schedules without additional charges.

Book With Confidence – No Surcharge Guarantee

Once you book with Shipton Treks & Tours, the cost of your trip is locked in once. Unlike other operators, we promise no extra costs independent of other circumstances.

Benefits of Early Booking:

Early lock in your price to prevent possible raises.
Get reduced rates for international travel.
Guarantee availability in small group trips.

Governmentally approved and bonded travel company Shipton Treks & Tours follows rigorous rules set by Pakistan’s Tourism Department.

MEAL PLAN:

Fully inclusive of all meals throughout, from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 20.

ACCOMMODATION:

The group will lodge at the following during the K2 and Gondogoro La Trek:

Three nights at an international tourist-standard three-star hotel in Islamabad
One night in a tourist-standard hotel in Skardu before and following the trek
Accommodation will be twin-sharing with en-suite facilities at the hotels; 13 nights camping in 2-person tents throughout the journey. We will match solo travellers with another single client of the same sex. Although they are more expensive, single tents can be rented for trekking; single hotel rooms are not included.

Additional hotel nights in Islamabad can also be booked; single hotel rooms are also available at a further fee. Please call Shipton Treks & Tours regarding availability and cost.

INTERNAL FLIGHT:

Skardu Flights:

Being in a high alpine valley, Skardu is a weather-dependent airport. Only when clear view may planes land here. Though they are rare, flight cancellals do happen. Under these circumstances, parties will drive to make sure the journey schedule is not disturbed.

Enhanced Airport Facilities:

With GPS technology lowering the possibility of cancellements, Skardu Airport was upgraded to international status in 2021 Direct flights from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Dubai are today facilitated by the airport.

Alternative Travel Option:

Should flights be called off, the group will drive down the Karakorum Highway (KKH):

Day 1: 9-hour, 281km journey to Naran
Day 2: Keep on Skardu, 10-hour trip along the Indus River and Karakoram Highway.
This picturesque road presents breathtaking vistas on par with the flight.

HEALTH & VACCINATION:

Routine vaccinations:  Ensure your diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and measles-mumps-rubella boosters are up to date. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are also recommended.

Malaria:  While Skardu and the mountains carry no malaria danger, Islamabad has a modest risk. Speak with your doctor for direction.

Dengue fever:  Present in some places. As there is no vaccination or prophylactic measure, use care to prevent mosquito bites.

Dentist check-up:  advised before heading to outlying regions.

INSURANCE

Travel insurance covering the activities in your K2 and Gondogoro La Trek itinerary is highly advised. Make sure your insurer covers trekking at high altitudes and associated activities and knows the route.

MOUNTAIN GUIDE & SUPPORT STAFF

An accomplished Mountain Guide will oversee the group. The group will be accompanied during the K2 and Gondogoro La Trek by a complete support team of a cook, kitchen crew, and porters to carry all equipment and personal travel bags.

ALTITUDE

The K2 and Gondogoro La Trek is high altitude trekking. You will travel to 5,000 meters or above and stay at least one night above 4,000 meters. Although the human body can adjust to a great range of elevations, you need not worry about this; following easy acclimatisation guidelines is quite vital. Review the instructions on high altitude trekking on our website before starting this journey. Should you not have prior experience over 4,000 meters, we advise speaking with one of our trekking specialists prior to starting this journey.

CLIMATE

In Skardu, temperatures might rise to 30°C from mid-June through August; in Hushe and Askole, they might reach 25°C. Snow is forecast on the slopes leading to and from the Gondogoro La as well as on the top section of the Baltoro Glacier in June and early July. Snowfall can fall at any time of year over 4,000 metres. At the highest camps, night-time temperatures above 4,000 metres can dip to freezing or below and might reach -10°C to -15°C. Usually, the summer months provide clear sky, pleasant temperatures, and little precipitation—that is, snow. In mountainous regions, however, the weather is erratic, hence brief storms might strike at any moment.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

 Trekking in Pakistan by Isobel Shaw

 Karakoram Highway by King

In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods by Galen Rowell

K2 Triumph and Tragedy by Jim Curran

PASSPORT & VISA

The information provided here is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for requirements specific to your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. When travelling outside the EU, ensure your passport has at least two blank pages for each country you visit.

VISA FOR PAKISTAN

To visit Pakistan, every nationality calls for a visa. You have to apply before leaving; the visa cost is about USD forty. You will need a letter of introduction from a recognized agency to get a trekking visa for Pakistan; Shipton Treks & Tours will supply this. Furthermore, needed will be a copy of the group Restricted Area Permission for the K2 and Gondo Goro La Trek.

Applications for visas can be completed personally at your closest Pakistan Embassy or online. See the official website for further details about Pakistan visas:
Pakistani Government Visa Application:

REFUND POLICY

Secure your place with a deposit of $170 and pay the remaining amount upon arrival in Pakistan. The deposit amount is fully refundable if you or we cancel the trip due to the COVID-19 situation, security issues, or political changes in Pakistan or your home country.

EQUIPMENT LIST Generally speaking, try to keep your equipment weight low. Including your sleeping bag and mattress, the packing weight of your trek bag shouldn’t be more than 17 kg. The porters determine and rigorously enforce this weight limit; baggage are weighed before the trip starts. Things not needed on the journey can be left at the group hotel in Skardu or Islamabad.

Sent closer to your departure date will be a comprehensive equipment list

Best Time to Trek

The K2 and Gondogoro La Trek would be best timed for summer, from June to the end of September. Shipton Treks & Tours runs sixteen set departures during this period.