K2 Base Camp Trek with a Local Guide, 18 Days

This trip follows the full traverse route to K2 through the Baltoro and Gondogoro La, but is run under the direction of a local mountain guide. The format is intended for participants who do not need constant Russian-language accompaniment and who are ready to receive instructions and settle day-to-day matters in English.

After Islamabad and Skardu the group transfers to Askole, passes the Jula and Paiju camps and comes out onto the Baltoro glacier. Through Khoburtse, Urdukas and Goro the route leads to Concordia and then to K2 Base Camp, where a night is spent. The return runs through Concordia and Ali Camp to Gondogoro La, after which the group descends through Khuspang and Saicho to Hushe.

This is a demanding, self-contained high-altitude trek, not a walk to a viewpoint. Participants live above 4000 m for several days, walk over moraine and glacier and cross a pass of about 5600 m. Crampons, a harness and fixed ropes are used on the key section. Experience of multi-day treks, good endurance and technical training beforehand are compulsory.

The gradual height gain and the rest day at Paiju form the basis of acclimatisation, and the outing to K2 precedes the crossing of the pass. Even so, how you feel at altitude cannot be guaranteed. The local guide sets the pace, the departure time and whether the route can continue, and participants must report any deterioration in their condition immediately.

If detailed explanations in Russian and constant help with communication matter to you, the main trip with a Russian-speaking guide is the one to choose. If you are confident communicating with the local team and already have the necessary experience, the local-guide package keeps the same route logic and the same main mountain stages.

Day 1. Arrival in Islamabad.

A team representative meets the group at the airport and arranges the transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon there is the compulsory briefing at the Ministry of Tourism of Pakistan, followed by an introduction to the guide and the other participants, a check of documents and a briefing. This day is needed to complete the formalities and to resolve any equipment problems before the flight to Skardu. Night in a hotel.

Day 2. Flight to Skardu.

The group flies from Islamabad to Skardu. On arrival there is hotel check-in and preparation of the baggage for the journey into the mountains. Skardu is the last major logistical point on the route, so the guide checks the distribution of personal and group loads again. Night in a hotel.

Day 3. Transfer to Askole, 3050 m.

The group travels by four-wheel-drive vehicle through the Shigar and Braldu valleys to Askole. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours. In the village the porters are met, the baggage is distributed and preparations are made for the self-contained part of the route. The task of the day is to reach the start of the trek without additional walking and to agree the work of the whole trekking team. Night in tents.

Day 4. Askole to Jula, 3300 m.

The first stage runs along the Braldu river through Korofon to the Jula camp. A calm start allows boots, rucksack and pace to be tested before the more difficult glacial ground. The height gain is about 250 m, the distance about 12 km and the time on the move about 5 hours. Night in tents.

Day 5. Jula to Paiju, 3580 m.

The route crosses hilly ground and in places a narrow trail above the river. As the group advances, the first views of the Baltoro glacier, the Cathedral towers and the peaks of the central Karakoram open up. The long stage works towards gradual acclimatisation before moving onto the glacier. The height gain is about 280 m, the distance about 18 km and the time on the move about 7 hours. Night in tents.

Day 6. Rest and acclimatisation at Paiju, 3580 m.

The group stays at the Paiju camp. Participants recover after the first stages, dry their belongings, monitor their wellbeing and prepare equipment for several days of moving over moraine and glacier. For the porter team this is also a day for preparing loads and supplies for the next part of the route. Night in tents.

Day 7. Paiju to Khoburtse, 3900 m.

The group moves onto the Baltoro glacier and continues over stone-covered moraine. The route requires constant attention to the uneven ground; along the way Paiju Peak, Uli Biaho and the Trango towers come into view. The camp lies at the edge of the glacier. The height gain is about 320 m, the distance about 14 km and the time on the move about 7 hours. Night in tents.

Day 8. Khoburtse to Urdukas, 4050 m.

The group continues over moraine to Urdukas. This stage, short compared with the previous day, reduces the total load and gives the body time to adapt to a night above 4000 m. The height gain is about 150 m, the distance about 6 km and the time on the move about 3 hours. Night in tents.

Day 9. Urdukas to Goro, 4380 m.

The group descends to the central part of the glacier and moves towards the Goro camp. Masherbrum and Gasherbrum IV come into view along the route. A night on the glacier means colder and windier conditions, so changing into dry clothing and restoring hydration immediately after the stage matter. The height gain is about 320 m, the distance about 11 km and the time on the move about 5 hours. Night in tents.

Day 10. Goro to Concordia, 4650 m.

The group climbs to Concordia, the confluence of the major glaciers of the central Karakoram. On the approach K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV, Chogolisa and other peaks open up. This camp becomes the base for the outing to K2 and for the onward move towards Gondogoro La. The height gain is about 270 m, the distance about 15 km and the time on the move about 6 hours. Night in tents.

Day 11. Concordia to K2 Base Camp, 5100 m.

Early in the morning the group sets off along the Godwin-Austen glacier to K2 Base Camp. Sections of meltwater and difficult moraine are possible on the approach, so the guide sets the pace. After making camp, and if there is time and conditions are safe, it is possible to walk to the Gilkey Memorial. The night at 5100 m is an important altitude stage before the return to Concordia and the crossing of the pass. The height gain is about 450 m, the distance about 12 km and the time on the move about 5 hours. Night in tents.

Day 12. K2 Base Camp to Concordia, 4650 m.

The group returns along the familiar glacial route to Concordia. Losing height after the night at K2 helps recovery, but the moraine crossing still demands attention. After arrival there is rest and preparation of the technical equipment for Ali Camp. The descent is about 450 m, the distance about 12 km and the time on the move about 4 hours. Night in tents.

Day 13. Concordia to Ali Camp, 4800 m.

The group moves to Ali Camp at the approaches to Gondogoro La. After making camp the guide carries out the compulsory check of crampons, harness, self-belay and descender and repeats the procedure for moving on fixed ropes. The short stage is needed to conserve strength before an early and technically difficult crossing. The height gain is about 150 m, the distance about 10 km and the time on the move about 4 hours. Night in tents.

Day 14. Ali Camp to Gondogoro La, 5600 m, to Khuspang, 4600 m.

The group starts at night in order to cross the pass in more stable conditions. A significant part of the key section is done in crampons, belayed and on fixed ropes. Whether the crossing is possible is decided by the guide according to the weather, the state of the snow and ice and the readiness of the participants; reaching the pass is not guaranteed. After the high point the group descends into the Khuspang valley. The height gain is about 800 m, the descent about 1000 m, the distance about 10 km and the time on the move about 9 hours. Night in tents.

Day 15. Khuspang to Saicho, 3350 m.

The descent continues down the Gondogoro valley through pastures and moraine. The considerable loss of height makes recovery easier after the pass, but tiredness calls for a careful pace all the way to camp. The descent is about 1250 m, the distance about 16 km and the time on the move about 6 hours. Night in tents.

Day 16. Trek to Hushe and transfer to Skardu.

About three hours of walking bring the group to Hushe, where the walking part of the route ends. The group then travels to Skardu by four-wheel-drive vehicle; the road takes about 6 to 8 hours. At the hotel participants recover after the self-contained part, sort their belongings and prepare their baggage for the flight. Night in a hotel.

Day 17. Flight to Islamabad.

The group flies from Skardu to Islamabad and checks into a hotel on arrival. The day separates the demanding mountain logistics from the international departure and is used for rest and for preparing documents and baggage. Night in a hotel.

Day 18. End of the trip.

At the agreed time there is a transfer to Islamabad airport. Participants check in for their international flight independently. The departure time is determined by the schedule and by the time needed in reserve before the flight.

• A local guide
• Meeting and seeing off at the airport
• 2 nights in Islamabad in a hotel with breakfast
• 2 nights in Skardu in a hotel with breakfast
• Transport Islamabad to Skardu to Islamabad
• Jeeps Skardu to Askole, and Hushe to Skardu
• The wages of the local guide, the cook and the porters on the trek
• Local taxes and insurance for the guides and porters
• Catering on the trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Mules and porters for carrying the group baggage and personal baggage of up to 12 kg
• Road and bridge crossing fees
• The compulsory briefing and debriefing at the Ministry of Tourism of Pakistan
• All the necessary papers and permits
• Tents and mats on the trek
• Airport to hotel to airport transfers

• International flights
• Medical insurance and the costs of rescue work. The insurance must include helicopter cover with an evacuation sum insured from 40,000 US dollars; a helicopter in Pakistan costs 37,000 US dollars
• A Pakistan visa
• Lunches and dinners in the cities
• Tips for the team
• Any costs connected with political instability and natural disasters
• Any costs connected with change to the itinerary

The trek can be arranged for a closed group of friends, a club or a corporate team, with no one else joining. Dates, the make-up of the guiding team and any extra services available on the route are agreed individually.

A private group can discuss their own dates within the working season, separate transport, single rooms in the towns and extra help carrying personal baggage. The language the group is led in and the make-up of the team are confirmed before booking.

The route remains self-sufficient and high-altitude. Adjustments must not remove acclimatisation days, compulsory permits or the time needed to get back safely.

The price depends on the number of participants, the dates you choose, the make-up of the team and any extra services confirmed.

Document requirements depend on your nationality and can change. Check them before you buy non-refundable tickets, and again before you fly. The first name and surname on every booking must match the spelling in your passport exactly.

Mountain Guide does not sell air tickets and does not arrange entry visas, but it does provide the booking confirmations it holds and the documents issued by the host team.

Documents

• A valid passport
• A visa or other entry permit for Pakistan, if one is required for your nationality
• International and domestic air tickets, or e-ticket receipts, for the trip
• Medical insurance covering high-altitude trekking, a maximum altitude of at least 5600 m, search and rescue and emergency evacuation
• Your insurance policy number and the insurer's 24-hour emergency contact details
• Your booking confirmation for the trip and the organisers' contact details
• Passport copies and photographs in the format the host team requests for trekking permits
• Documents for a participant under 18, where these apply
• Digital copies of your passport, visa, tickets and insurance on your phone and in cloud storage
• Waterproof wallet for your original documents

The documents needed for local permits, and the deadline for sending them, are confirmed for each departure. Carry the originals of your passport, insurance and permits in your hand luggage.

Trekking in the Karakoram takes place in summer, when the route to the Baltoro and the high camps is normally open to organised groups. Specific dates are confirmed once permits, roads, bridges and the local team's availability have been checked.

The valleys can be hot and dusty, while the glacier, Concordia and the base camps can bring cold wind, rain, snow and sub-zero night temperatures. The weather and the state of the glacier can change the group's pace considerably.

The internal flight, the mountain roads and the jeep transfers all depend on actual conditions. Buy international tickets leaving time in hand after the planned return. The guide may change the start time or shorten a stage for safety, but such decisions do not automatically extend the trip.

Hotel accommodation with breakfast is provided in Islamabad and Skardu for the number of nights in the itinerary. Standard accommodation, a single room and extra nights should be checked against your trip confirmation.

On the trekking section the group lives in tents. Tents and sleeping mats are included in the price, but you bring your own sleeping bag and the rest of the equipment on the list. The camps are a long way from any town comforts, so think of the accommodation as an expedition camp.

Three meals a day are provided on the trek, with a cook and the kitchen equipment needed. Lunches and dinners in the towns are paid separately.

Food allergies, a vegetarian diet and medical restrictions must be reported before booking. Which substitutions are possible depends on self-sufficient logistics and is confirmed by the host team.

Showers and toilets. The hotels have the usual town facilities. On the camping section the washing arrangements are those of a field camp; a hot shower is not guaranteed. Toilet arrangements are made by the host team according to the campsite.

Power and charging. You can charge devices reliably in the towns. Access to electricity is limited on the trek, so you need a power bank, spare battery packs and separate batteries for your torch.

Internet and phone signal. After leaving Skardu, mobile signal and internet are unreliable and may be absent for long stretches. How the group will stay in contact is confirmed before the trip.

Laundry and drying. There is no regular laundry on the route. You need a supply of dry underwear and socks, a quick-drying towel and dry bags for clothing and electronics.

Baggage. The baggage limit carried for you is given under "What's included". You carry your own day pack with water, warm clothing, waterproofs and personal items.

You bring all of your own personal equipment. Before the trip, agree your footwear, sleeping bag and personal kit with the guide, taking the season and the conditions on the route into account.

Documents

• Passport
• Air tickets or e-ticket receipts
• Medical insurance covering the stated activity and the maximum altitude of the trip
• The embassy's application form, completed in English (3 copies)
• 4 colour photographs, 3x4 cm
• Copies of your passport
• We recommend keeping digital copies of your documents on your phone and in cloud storage

Personal equipment

• Rucksack of 50-60 litres
• A sleeping bag with a comfort rating of -10 °C
• Trekking poles, which must have baskets of at least 70 mm
• Crampons
• Classic ice axe with a steel pick, or a technical ice tool
• Climbing harness
• 5 karabiners
• Cow's-tail lanyards
• Descender

Clothing and footwear

• Single-layer mountaineering boots
• Trainers (for the towns)
• Waterproof shell: jacket and trousers. The market runs from simple 5,000/5,000 membranes through to Gore-Tex garments
• Fleece top and bottoms
• Base layer, top and bottoms
• Down jacket with a hood
• Warm mittens
• Thick gloves
• Thin gloves
• Bandana (as well as sun protection in the valley, it can keep your throat or face warm in the cold)
• Warm hat
• Warm trekking socks for summit day

Other items

• LED head torch with at least 12 hours of battery life
• Sunglasses
• Ski goggles
• Vacuum flask, 1 litre. Preferably without a push-button lid
• Windproof mask for the lower face
• Gaiters
• Sun cream and lip balm
• Chemical hand warmers (not compulsory, but they can be very useful)
• Personal first-aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or a support brace