K2 BASE CAMP TREK 2026

✔ Return domestic transfers (Islamabad – Skardu – Islamabad)
✔ Accommodation during trek
✔ All trekking permits and fees
✔ Experienced local guides
✔ UK expedition leadership by Ashton Hiking Club
✔ Daily meals during the trek
✔ Twin-share tents during expedition
✔ Trek logistics support team (porters & crew)

✘ International flights to Pakistan
✘ Travel insurance (mandatory, high-altitude cover required)
✘ Vaccinations
✘ Personal trekking gear
✘ Tips and personal expenses
✘ Pakistan visa fees

This expedition covers approximately 175 kilometres with nearly 12,000 metres of cumulative elevation gain, making it one of the most demanding and rewarding high-altitude treks on Earth. Participants must manage extreme heat in the lower valleys at the start of the journey, followed by a combination of cold, altitude, and highly varied terrain in the upper Karakoram. This is widely regarded as the ultimate mountaineering trekking challenge.

Where possible, travel between Islamabad and Skardu is by domestic flight — considered one of the most scenic commercial flights in the world, offering jaw-dropping aerial views of the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges, including Nanga Parbat and surrounding glaciers.

Days 1–4 | Islamabad → Skardu

Participants travel from Islamabad to Skardu by domestic flight (weather permitting) or by road. The flight itself is an unforgettable experience, often described as one of the most spectacular mountain flights on Earth, with close-up views of some of the highest peaks and deepest valleys in the world.

These days are dedicated to rest and acclimatisation after international travel. Activities include comprehensive equipment checks, final gear fitting, expedition briefing by the guide team, and purchase of any last-minute supplies. Short acclimatisation walks and sightseeing excursions around Skardu Valley may include visits to local viewpoints, bazaars, and cultural landmarks.

Day 5 | Skardu → Askole

This is no ordinary transfer — it is an epic journey in itself. A rugged drive through some of the most remote terrain in the Karakoram, crossing roaring rivers and cliff-hugging tracks, delivers you to Askole, the last inhabited village before the vast glacial wilderness. From here, the road ends and the adventure truly begins. 

Jeep transfer from Skardu to Askole village (approx. 6–8 hours), the last permanent settlement before entering the high Karakoram. This day includes meeting the full trekking staff, loading equipment, final logistics checks, and overnight stay in Askole.

Days 6–13 | Baltoro Glacier Trek

Trek through the legendary Baltoro Glacier region, one of the most spectacular trekking corridors in the world. The route passes through remote camps such as Jhola, Paiju, Urdukas, Goro I and Goro II. These days are designed for gradual altitude gain and acclimatisation, with dramatic views of iconic peaks including Trango Towers, Uli Biaho, Masherbrum, Gasherbrum IV, and Broad Peak.

During this phase, trekkers experience intense daytime heat in the lower sections, combined with long trekking days across rocky moraines, glacier crossings, and high-altitude wilderness camps.

Day 14 | K2 Base Camp (5,150m)

Arrival at K2 Base Camp, situated at the foot of the world’s second-highest mountain. Time is allocated for rest, photography, exploration of surrounding base camps (including Broad Peak), and reflection in one of the most legendary mountaineering locations on Earth. Begin descent back towards Concordia.

Days 15–18 | Concordia → Gondogoro La → Hushe Valley

Return to Concordia, often called the “Throne Room of the Gods,” offering panoramic views of K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I & II, and surrounding 7,000–8,000m peaks.

An early morning ascent leads to the crossing of Gondogoro La Pass (5,585m) — the technical and physical climax of the expedition. From the summit of the pass, trekkers are rewarded with a rare and dramatic panorama of four 8,000-metre peaks: K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II.

This section combines extreme altitude, cold temperatures, fixed ropes, steep snow and ice, and demanding descents into the Hushe Valley, making it the defining moment of the entire expedition.

Day 19 | Return to Skardu

Jeep transfer from Hushe to Skardu. Time for rest, hot showers, equipment return, and celebration after completing the trek.

Days 20–21 | Skardu → Islamabad

Return to Islamabad by flight or road. Once again, the Skardu–Islamabad flight (weather permitting) offers a final aerial farewell over the world’s greatest mountain landscapes, providing one last unforgettable perspective of the Karakoram from the air. Farewell group dinner, trip debrief, and final departure.

From one of the most spectacular commercial flights on Earth to standing beneath K2 and crossing Gondogoro La with four 8,000-metre peaks in view, this expedition is not just a trek — it is a full-scale high-altitude mountaineering journey from start to finish.