24 Day Islamabad to islamabd 16 days trekking
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrive in Islamabad. A member of the Karakorum Explorer staff will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. This representative will answer questions, brief you on the immediate arrangements, and escort you to the hotel in Rawalpindi. After meeting with the trip leader for a trek briefing, the afternoon is free to rest, relax or explore on your own,
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Day 2:
Discover Islamabad. Free day in Islamabad to discover the delights of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi is an old British -era settlement and Islamabad is the capital city and administrative center built some time after the partition of India in elevation in 1947. The cities are Located at about 1,500 feet in elevation in the hot and steamy plains of Pakistan's upper Punjab. You may wish to explore Rawalpindi by wandering among its many and varied bazaars, or visit the imposing Shah Fail Mosque superbly situated at the foot of the Margalla Hills. This mosque is one of the largest in the world, with room for 15,000 worshippers inside and 85,000 in the courtyard. In the afternoon we will attend a briefing at the Ministry of Tourism.
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Day 3:
Travel to Skardu. Transfer to the airport and fly to Skardu, (7,000), the starting point for some of the world's best mountaineering . If weather conditions warrant or if there are flight delays, we may have to make a two-day drive to Skardu via chilas and the frontier town of Gilgit on the Karakorum Highway (see note on flight delays at end of itinerary). If we do make this drive.We will overnight at the Shangri La Midway House in Chilas.
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Day 4:
Explore Skardu. Free day in Skardu, the capital of Baltistan. Tradition says that the town was once called Iskandaria and that it was one of the cities Founded by Alexander the Great. We'll explore its narrow bazaars and Turquoise blue Sadpara Lake about four miles south of the town. (If we are Travelling by road, we will drive through the narrow gorge of the Indus River to Skardu.).
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Day 5:
To Thongol. We board jeeps for the adventurous ride to the trail head (about six to seven hours). As we leave Skardu we cross a suspension bridge over the Indus River and enter Shigar Valley, known for its numerous fruit orchards. We'll enjoy views of Mango Gusor (20,362') and Bakhor Das (19,054')As we drive along
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Day 6:
Begin trek Korofan. The early morning light finds us beginning our trek as the Loads are distributed among the porters. Walking along the Braldu River, We pass the town of Askole after about an hour. Another three hours' walk Brings us to the Biafo Glacier, a tortured mile - wide sea of ice. Continue another half-hour to Korofan (10,170') on the other side of the glacier. Six to seven hours hiking.
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Day 7:
Khrobrakk. A tough day as we climb along a cliff face to the cable bridge Spanning the Dumordo River (the manual cable bridge over the rushing river is one of the many adventures of this trek!). The last two hours are comparatively easy as we hike on a level trail along the Braldu River to our campsite at Khrobrakk (10,700')seven to eight hours hiking.
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Day 8:
First Views of the Baltoro Glacier. Paiju. This is an undulating walk , with Occasional scrambles across the rock. Excitement mounts as we prepare to have the first views of the great mountains ahead. The trail climbs
to advantage point from where we can see the snout of the Baltoro Glacier. Visible in the east is the magnificent panorama of Cathedral Towers and
Broad Peak (26,400'). Paiju camp (11,750') is situated in a grove of willow and poplar trees and has a freshwater stream running through it. A sacrificial goat will be provided for the porters, and we'll be able to listen and watch as they sing and dance throughout the evening . Four to five hours hiking.
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Day 9:
Khobursay. A little over an hour after we leave camp, we step on the snout Of the Baltoro Glacier, a vast, turbulent sea of rocks and gravel more than a mile wide and nearly 40 miles long. We begin to feel the pulse of creation: the ice melts, the rocks roll, the glacier creaks and groans while rearranging its icy rivers. We walk across the boulder-strewn ice, gaining height steadily for three hours on a long diagonal to the south side of the
glacier. Along the way we have spectacular views of Paiju Peak 921,648'')., the jagged granite needles and blocks of the Trango Towers series, with Nameless Towers rising straight to 20,464' . Camp at Khobursay (13,000'), a flat and sandy area of lateral moraine. Five to six hours hiking.
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Day 10:
Biango. For the first two hours we walk along the rest of the lateral moraine. Across the Baltoro glacier we have exciting views of Paiju Peak, Choricho (22,160'), Uli Biaho, Trango Towers, Cathedrals, and Biale (22,160') .After crossing the green pastures of Urdukas (approximately 13,550 feet), we cross the side crevasses, then walk on the medial moraine of the Baltoro to Biango campsite. Biango, at 14,200', is part of the Yermanadu Glacier flowing down from Masherbrum Pass (17,594'). From here we have a spectacular view of the snowy triangle of Masherbrum (25,660'), the 24th highest peak in the world. Seven to eight hours hiking.
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Day 11:
To the incredible sanctuary of Concordia. Trek six to seven hours to Concordia (14,500'). As we make our approach, Gasherbrum IV(26,180')stand guard in the east, with Gasherbrum II (26,360') peering from
its right shoulder, More extraordinary mountain views await us at Concordia, where we see K2 (28,741'), Broad Peak (26,400'), Golden Throne (23,989'),Mitre Peak (19,718'), and a vast array of other peaks.
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Day 12:
Rest day at Concordia, a good time to take lots of photos and revel in our surroundings. Concordia, the confluence of five glaciers, offers unprecedented views of the Karakorum peaks. Within a radius of nine miles rise 41 peaks above 21,000 feet, almost half of them still unnamed and unclimbed. D
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Day 13:
K-2 Base Camp. Day hike to K2 Base Camp(16,500'), as strenuous,10-hours round-trip hike over snow , rock and ice. As we start hiking from Concordia, we cross the crevasses of the Baltoro Glacier, then walk on the Medial moraine of the Godwin-Austin Glacier to Broad Peak base camp. When we look back towards Concordia, we can see the zebra -striped Glaciers sweeping around the corner and disappearing into the Baltoro Glacier K-2 Base Camp normally accommodates five to six mountaineering expeditions during the climbing season. Return to Concordia camp for overnight.
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Day 14:
Ali Camp. The first two hours of the trek are difficult as we leave the base camp and traverse the Baltoro Glacier and its crevasses. One on the Vigne Glacier. It's a comparatively easy and gradual walk over snow and ice, Mighty Chogolisa (25,110') stand s guard in the south. Camp overnight at Ali Camp (16,600'), a combination of small rocky platforms between the cliff Face and crevasse. We turn in early, as we have a midnight wake-up call For the departure over the Gondogoro La. Five to six hours hiking.
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Day 15:
Gondogoro La. Khuispan. We leave camp at about 1:00 a.m.to climb the Gondogoro La (18,368'). For the first two hours we walk on the lateral moraine to avoid crevasses. As we get closer to the pass we shift on snow until the base of the pass. The final ascent involves a steep walk on snow and, depending on conditions, the use of fixed ropes as well as crampons and ice axe. The views from the top of the pass are unparalleled, with K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I to IV, Masherbrum , and many other mountains
appearing at our level. The descent on the Hushe side is steeper, requiring god balance on the rocks. Camp at Khuispan (15,416'), a level green spot that has wildflowers in July and August. Nine to then hours hiking.
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Day 16:
Gondogoro La. Khuispan. We leave camp at about 1:00 a.m.to climb the Gondogoro La (18,368 ft.). For the first two hours we walk on the lateral moraine to avoid crevasses. As we get closer to the pass we shift on snow until the base of the pass. The final ascent involves a steep walk on snow and, depending on conditions, the use of fixed ropes as well as crampons and ice axe. The views from the top of the pass are unparalleled, with K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I to IV, Masherbrum , and many other mountains appearing at our level. The descent on the Hushe side is steeper, requiring god balance on the rocks. Camp at Khuispan (15,416 ft.), a level green spot that has wildflowers in July and August. Nine to then hours hiking.
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Day 17:
Khuispan. A rest day after the ascent of the pass. We can take time to explore the area or just relax and admire views of Laila Peak 22,000 ft.), Drangra (20,746 ft.), and Tasa Peak (21,694 ft.).
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Day 18:
Dalsampa. As we leave Khuispan, we make a long traverse of the Gondogoro Glacier, first encountering small crevasses, then hiking over the soft ice of the Glacier. The last half hour is a pleasant stroll though wildflowers, with Commanding views of the Gondogoro Glacier, Yermanadu Kangri (23,495 ft.) Masherbrum South (25,604 ft.), and the Masherbrum La Camp at (13.980 ft.) by two small lakes, Three to four hours hiking.
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Day 19:
Saistcho. At we continue, we gradually leave the icy landscapes and descend to the meadow and pastureland at Saistcho (12,300 ft.),. Although we've left the icy wilds, we still have tremendous views of the mountains, including Namika Peak 920,746 ft.) and Defokhar (21,464 ft.). Three to four hours hiking.
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Day 20:
Hushe, Descend to the Gondogoro River, enjoying spectacular views of K6 (23,881 ft.), K7 (22,744 ft.) and Link Sar (23,094 ft.),. We continue to descend, passing through small summer settlement en route to the green irrigated fields at Hushe (10,500 ft.), Four to five hours hiking.
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Day 21:
By Jeep to Skardu. Meet with jeeps and drive six to eight hours to Skardu, passing through man y picturesque villages perched on vertical rocks. This part of Baltistan appears greener and more prosperous than on our drive to Thongol.
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Day 22:
Return to Islamabad. Fly from Skardu to Islamabad, conditions permitting, Or make a two-day drive (20-25 hours total) on the Karakorum Highway, hotel.
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Day 23:
Explore Islamabad. A free day in Islamabad follows a short debriefing at the Ministry of Tourism . Optional excursion to Taxila, an archaeological site located about 20 miles from Islamabad . Here lie the remains of three great cities and many Buddhist monasteries dating from 600 BC to 600 AD. Taxila was situated at the juncture of trade routes linking China, India, Central Asia and the West and thus became the cultural cross-roads of the ancient world. If travelling by road then arrive Islamabad.
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Day 24:
Fly home. Transfer to airport and fly home from Islamabad
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
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