The Great Karakoram Traverse
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Islamabad in the morning. Islamabad Airport transfers are provided. KE Land Only package services begin with breakfast at the hotel.
Day 2: In the morning we take the spectacular flight to Skardu. We take lunch at the K2 Motel, then drive for 3 hour by jeep via the Indus and Shyok valleys to our hotel in Khaplu.
Day 3: Crossing the Shyok River, we continue our spectacular journey to Hushe Village, the highest settlement in the area. Camp.
Day 4: A day for acclimatisation and for exploring. One option for today is to trek up to the summer grazing settlement in the high Honboro Valley. Camp.
Day 5: Following an easy walk through fir-dotted grazing land, we tackle more difficult terrain to reach Brumbrammah beside the Masherbrum Glacier. Camp.
Day 6: An acclimatisation day at Brumbrammah. We follow the moraine ridge and cross a tributary of the Masherbrum Glacier to reach Masherbrum Basecamp. Return to Camp.
Day 7: An easy day down to Hushe Village where we make final preparations for our trek across the Gondoro La. Camp.
Day 8: A short day to the idyllic campsite of Saitcho at the junction of the Charakusa and Gondokoro Valleys. The afternoon is free for relaxing. Camp.
Day 9: Trekking beside the Gondokoro Glacier, we follow a wooded moraine ridge to the summer grazing camp of Gondokoro Village and make a final scramble up a rocky gulley to Dalsan. Camp.
Day 10: A long day walking on the glacier beneath the beautiful spire of Layla Peak, takes us to Huisprung, a grassy terrace beside a small meltwater lake. Camp.
Day 11: A day for rest and acclimatisation. We will spend part of this day practicing the safety techniques required for ascending fixed ropes and glacier walking. Camp.
Day 12: In preparation for the crossing of the Gondoro La, we will move to a basecamp on a level site on the moraines below the pass. Camp.
Day 13: We climb to the pass using fixed ropes to safeguard the ascent. The view from the top includes K2, Broad Peak, Chogolisa and the Gasherbrums. We descend to Ali Camp.
Day 14: From Ali Camp we follow the Vigne Glacier to its confluence with the Upper Baltoro at Concordia. Camp.
Day 15: Rest day in Concordia. We have the option to trek up the Godwin Austin Glacier to visit K2 Basecamp via Broad Peak Basecamp.
Day 16: Leaving Concordia, we move down the Baltoro to Shachspong and set up our camp off the glacier at Urdukas. Camp.
Day 17: Today we complete the descent the Baltoro Glacier. Leaving the ice behind, it is much warmer as we reach the green, spring-fed oasis of Paiju. Camp.
Day 18: Crossing the Panma River by its only bridge, we follow a spectacular pathway across a cliff face to reach the place known as Korophon beside the Biafo Glacier. Camp.
Day 20: Today we cross the glacier to its east bank and set up our camp on the grassy oasis of Baintha (3940m.). Camp.
Day 21: A rest day at Baintha, with the option to walk above camp for great views of the Latok peaks and a panorama that extends back down the Biafo Glacier.
Day 22: We continue up the eastern side of the Biafo, generally on bare ice, with easily avoidable crevassed areas. We set up camp at Napina (4215m).
Day 23: We really have the feel of being in the heart of the Karakoram as we ascend to camp on the edge of Snow Lake at the place known as Sim Gang (4500m).
Day 24: Setting out at first light we cross the vast expanse of Snow Lake before starting a gradual ascent to our camp on the Hispar La at 5151 metres.
Day 25: We descend the Hispar side of the pass to camp before the Kani Basa Glacier.
Day 26: Excellent views of 7760 metre Kanjut Sar today as we cross a side glacier and trek down the ablation valley to Jutanmal (4200m).
Day 28: We descend via a crossing of the obligatory side glacier to the large meadow site at Bitenmal.
Day 30: We travel by jeep to Nagar where we cross the Hunza River and join the Karakoram Highway, finally arriving in our hotel in Gilgit.
Day 32: A contingency day in case of internal flight delays.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
