So you want a real adventure? Something a bit different? You've come to the right place! The worlds second highest mountain wont disappoint.
DAY 1 : Depart UK
We most likely meet our guide for our trek at the airport. Depart London Heathrow in the evening.
DAY 2 : Early arrival at Islamabad International Airport
We transfer to a centrally located hotel to relax and recover from our flight. There may be time for a short sightseeing excursion to Islamabad, or its twin city Rawalpindi, before dinner. It may be necessary for some, or all of, the group to visit the offices of the Ministry of Tourism to receive an official briefing about the expedition.
DAY 3 : Fly or drive to Skardu

Depending on flight permissions, today we will either fly to Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, or start our journey to the Karakoram on the spectacular Karakoram Highway (KKH).
Weather permitting; we take the early morning flight to Skardu. The chances of flying are usually good (80% possibility) and the one-hour flight is nothing short of spectacular, with breathtaking views of the Rupal and Diamir faces of Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth highest mountain. If flying, we will spend the remainder of the day sightseeing in Skardu. The town is the main trekking and expedition hub in the Karakoram. We have the chance to visit its many bazaars known for their hand-woven woollen cloth and elaborate, colourful embroidered local gowns. Otherwise, it is possible to wander up the hill to the ancient Alexandria Fort overlooking the town. The awesome sight of the Indus sprawling across the wide alluvial plain beneath is an indication of the visual pleasures that lie in store throughout the trek.
If taking the Karakoram Highway, prepare for a simply astonishing two-day journey along what was once an ancient Silk Road and is now an international highway connecting Pakistan, as well as the entire Indian subcontinent, to China. Traversed for centuries by traders and travellers alike, the route will take us into a region rarely visited by modern expeditions, allowing us to peek into the everyday lives of these hardy mountain people. The Lower Hunza Valley is beautiful of course from a scenic perspective, but we will be able to appreciate more fully the astonishing engineering achievement of this highway cut deep into the mountains. This road is, for many, one of the treasured memories of their journey to the Karakoram.
(BLD)
(B = Breaky, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
DAY 4 : Sightseeing in Skardu or continuing the drive along the KKH

Skardu is a dusty fort town of bazaars, stores and ancient polo fields grazed by an eclectic variety of livestock. Originally settled by Tibetans, it is home to the Balti people, as well as the main stop before the mountains. With nods to its shamanist and Buddhist pasts, the town is of diverse origin, and is dotted with rustic hotels and second-hand shops for climbers, usually filling with trekkers and mountaineers during the summer. The Indus River flows past the town in a wide, flat valley and the stunning snow-topped peaks in the distance give a tantalising hint of the heights to come.
A free day in Skardu might also present us with a chance to take a jeep ride up to the beautiful Satpara Lake. A prominent rock inscription of the Lord Buddha on the drive to Satpara is a reminder of the important influence of Buddhism to this area before the arrival of Islam.
(BLD)
DAY 5 : Drive to Askole (3,048m) Drive 6-8 hrs
Leaving Skardu, we set out by jeep for approximately a 6 to 8-hour drive to Askole. Initially, friendly Balti farmers and waving school children are likely to enliven your journey through the colourful and fertile settlements of the Shigar Valley, but once we reach the confluence of the Braldu and Shigar valley the scenery changes from green and fertile to the desert landscape more typical of these mountains. Throughout the drive snow-capped 5000m peaks rise around us, with lush oasis visible where streams run down and cross the increasingly more rugged track. At times, landslides may make it necessary to walk short sections of the road. Askole is a single street of wooden houses flanked by vibrant fields of wheat and potatoes and dotted by apricot and mulberry orchards. This drive, like its big brother the KKH, reveals a hugely human aspect to the expedition and highlights the hospitality of the Balti people.
(BLD)
DAY 6 : Trek to Korofong (3,100m) 4 hrs, 10 kms

A gentle and beautiful start marks the start of this incredible trek. Leaving Askole village behind we initially walk along lanes and through fields where we’ll see friendly local Balti people going about their daily lives, but it doesn’t take long before the Karakoram begins to reveal itself; jagged peaks, stark snow-capped mountains and sheer cliff faces begin to dominate the landscape. A suspension bridge crosses the Baltoro River rushing from the glacier’s snout and we make camp on the other side in a small oasis amongst the trees at Korofong.
(BLD)
DAY 7 : Trek to Bardumal (3,305m) 7-8 hrs, 21 kms
From Korofong we follow the path up a side valley and cross the river on a good bridge that replaces the old trolley system or “jhola” that was previously used by both locals and expeditions alike. From here we have views of Bakhor Das (5,809m), its impressive summit a rocky fist perched above its base, often referred to as K2 by local villagers. In the distance the needles of Paiju Peak are visible. We continue from Jhola until arriving at Bardumal campsite.
(BLD)
DAY 8 : Trek through Braldu Valley to Paiju Camp (3420m). 7-8 hrs, 21 kms

We make an early start today along a path that is sometimes loose and occasionally flooded in places. We may need to take off our boots to wade across – sandals come in handy! Our objective today is Paiju Camp; a green oasis nestled beneath the striking granite spire of Paiju Peak (6,611m). At our high point we have jaw-dropping views of the Baltoro Glacier and the granite peaks of the Trango and Cathedral groups, and on a clear day it is even possible to see K2. Much has been done by the local Balti community to remove rubbish and human waste from both the trail and the camps ahead, in order to restore this incredible landscape to its natural splendour.
(BLD)
DAY 9 : Rest day / Acclimatisation day at Paiju
Today will be a rest day to acclimatise, take in the scenery, enjoy a relaxed morning stroll through alpine flower meadows and help our Balti team prepare for the next stage of the expedition. A short acclimatisation walk in the late afternoon will reward us with different views of the remarkable granite spires of the Trango and Cathedral Tower group at sunset.
(BLD)
DAY 10 : Ascent of Baltoro Glacier and trek to Khoburtse (3,903m) 7 hrs, 15 kms

From our camp at Paiju we walk an hour to the snout of the Baltoro Glacier where an enormous amount of meltwater pours from deep within the ice. Here, we climb up a rocky path onto its icy back and the trail then undulates as we climb over the buckling moraine-strewn surface of this permanently flowing glacier. Gradually we work our way across the glacier to its south side until we reach a side valley, donning our sandals once again to wade the numerous meltwater streams until we reach camp at Horbose. Today brings more sensational views of the Cathedral Towers, the Trango Group and the striking granite tower of Uli Biaho. This is a great day of trekking, over challenging and mixed terrain.
(BLD)
DAY 11 : Trek to Urdukas (4,130m) 4 hrs, 6.5 kms
A shortish day, but quite a puff as we gain height on the moraine. One of today’s highlights will be viewing mountains that feature in both climbing and base- jumping legend. We pass within striking distance the Great Trango Tower, the Nameless Tower and across the valley the immense rock walls of Cathedral Peak and Lobsang Spire. Our camp, Urdukas, is perched a hundred metres above the glacier, on terraces originally hacked by the Duke of Abruzzi’s K2 expedition of 1909. This is a truly awesome place. We should reach here in time for a late lunch and the rest of the afternoon is free to tend to camp chores or just to soak up the situation and surrounding views.
(BLD)
DAY 12 : Re-ascend the Baltoro Glacier to Goro (4295m). 7-8 hrs, 12 kms
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Taking the trail back onto the icy back of the Baltoro Glacier, we will pass the Yermanandu Glacier, flowing from Masherbrum, along with its immediate neighbour, Muztagh Tower – an imposing monolith of rock first climbed by the British team of Joe Brown and Ian McNaught-Davis in 1956. For many, however, today’s highlight is the enormous shining wall at the head of the glacier of the stunning Gasherbrum IV (7925m), which gradually begins to make its presence felt and lures us further into Concordia, the realm of the greatest mountains on earth. We are quite high now and camping on one of the largest pieces of ice outside of the polar regions. Ledges have been levelled out on the glacier to make our campsite and we’ll notice the drop in temperature that the altitude and camping on the ice brings.
(BLD)
DAY 13 : Goro to the spectacular Concordia (4500m) 4-5 hrs, 12 kms
The final approach to Concordia brings us some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere in the world. As our journey continues up the Baltoro Glacier there will be tantalising glimpses of the 8000m summits of Gasherbrum II (8035m) and the aptly named Broad Peak (8051m), which comes vividly into view above the ridge connecting the unique Marble and Crystal Peaks. Then, seemingly without warning, its peak towering almost 4000 metres from the valley floor, stands the mighty K2. Together, the giants of Concordia make other mountain ranges look puny in comparison and camping out, surrounded on all sides by the gigantic summits of Gasherbrum IV, Mitre Peak, Chogolisa, Crystal Peak, Marble Peak, Baltoro Kangri, Broad Peak and K2, is an experience that will stay forever etched in your memory.
(BLD)
DAY 14 : Trek to K2 basecamp. K2 BC (5,100m): 9-11 hours, return, Broad Peak BC (4,800m): 5-6 hours, return

Reaching K2 basecamp will, for many, be the main focus of this expedition. To reach this majestic mountain, see it up close, catch a glimpse into the life of the climbers wanting to attain its summit and to visit the Gilkey memorial for climbers who have lost their lives attempting it, is a combination of both visual splendour and incredible emotion.
An early start will see us begin the journey into K2 basecamp, and our first objective is to reach the basecamp of K2’s gigantic neighbour, Broad Peak. Our path from camp, established by porters supplying both K2 and Broad Peak basecamps, will soon become more complex as we enter a maze of crevasses and meltwater rivers of the upper Baltoro Glacier. After a few hours of tricky walking we reach easier terrain and follow the medial moraine of the Godwin Austen Glacier to reach Broad Peak basecamp.
Reaching Broad Peak basecamp is a fantastic achievement in itself and rewards you with the immense views for which the Karakoram are famous. Looking back into Concordia the bulk of the 7,665m Chogolisa stands out for its perfect symmetry and further back Mitre Peak and the mountains we will have come to know so well stand like sentries along the Baltoro.
Beyond Broad Peak basecamp we again enter glaciated terrain as we negotiate the swells of the glacier and more glacial streams. Crampons are not needed as we are mostly walking on the many boulders carried by the ice and after a further 3 hours we reach ‘the strip’, the traditional basecamp area for attempts on the Abruzzi Ridge, the ‘normal’ route on K2. Basecamp is not the sea of yellow tents and prayer flags found at the foot of Everest. Currently there are no iconic signs; instead a modest rockpile marks the site. Depending on the time of the season and the number of expeditions, we may well find we are alone here. At the foot of over two vertical miles of rock and ice, the second highest mountain on Earth stands proudly as reward for over a week of toil.
(BLD)
DAY 15-19 : Return trek to Askole and drive to Skardu
Making the most of our last few days in the Karakoram we retrace our steps to Askole via Goro 1, Khoburtse, Paiju and Jhola. Trekking this route back allows us to savour the summits from a different perspective and, as we are fully acclimatised and trekking fit, we are able to start the day at a leisurely pace and explore small side valleys and sections of the glacier we might not have had the time to see on our ascent. We will plan to arrive in Askole by midday and will be met by the vehicles and make our way directly back to Skardu, around a 6 to 7-hour drive. Arriving in the Balti capital, we check into our hotel and enjoy modern facilities, a group meal in a local restaurant and a comfortable bed.
(BLD)
DAY 20 : Morning flight to Islamabad or return journey via the KKH in case of no flights
Today we will plan to fly from Skardu to Islamabad, and so the day will be spent either exploring Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi, or on the road enjoying the scenery of the return journey along the KKH if no flights are available.
We will check in to our hotel in the centre of Islamabad and celebrate our climb and ascent with a group meal in a local restaurant.
(BL)
DAY 21 : Depart
Today is a contingency day to allow for any delays due to weather – we will either spend the morning in Islamabad or finish up our scenic drive along the KKH no flights are available.
Possible night flight departing from Islamabad to your home country. Islamabad Airport transfers will be provided.
(BL)
DAY 22 : Arrive UK
Possible day flight to UK (previous night’s accommodation included) or arrive after overnight flight.
These are subject to minor changes depending on flight arrival and departure times, weather, group dynamics and fitness and so on, but the itinerary outlined provides an excellent indication of the trek and what you will experience.