K2 Base Camp & Concordia Trek
LOCATION: Gilgit, Pakistan
K2 Base Camp & Concordia is considered to be one of the world’s great treks with breathtaking scenery unsurpassed anywhere else in the high mountains.
.
K-2, “mountain of mountains,” as referred to by Reinhold Messner in the account of his 1979 ascent of this giant, is 8611 m. high. K-2 is located in the heart of the Karakoram Range and can be seen in its entirety from Concordia. This sublime pyramid sits at the head of the Godwin Austin Glacier which unites with a second glacier at Concordia to form the mighty Baltoro Glacier.
The journey starts with a flight to Skardu with spectacular views of the Karakoram range including Nanga Parbat, after several nights in Skardu we take jeep transport to the road head at Askole.
K2 Base Camp and Concordia follows a trekking route lined with rugged mountains all the way from Askole, the last village in the Braldu gorge, to Concordia. On our walk up the Baltoro glacier we will see the Trango Towers, Masherbrum, K2 and Broad Peak among many others. Concordia has been described as the “Throne Room of the Mountain Gods” for its unique 360° panorama of 7,000m mountains and impressive views of K2.
Trek Itinerary
- Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
- Day 2Fly to Skardu, if cancelled drive KKH to Chilas
- Day 3Sightseeing day in Skardu (or drive KKH to Skardu)
- Day 4Jeeps to Askole (3,048m)
- Day 5Trek to Korofong (3,100m)
- Day 6Trek to Bardumal (3,305m)
- Day 7Trek to Paiju (3,383m)
- Day 8Trek to Khoburtse (3,566m)
- Day 9Trek to Urdukas (4,130m)
- Day 10Acclimatising day at Urdukas
- Day 11Trek to Goro 2 (4,250m)
- Day 12Trek to Concordia (4,600m)
- Day 13Trek to Broad Peak Base Camp (5,000m)
- Day 14Trek to K2 Base Camp (5,150m) and back to Concordia (4,600m)
- Day 15Trek to Goro 1
- Day 16Trek to Khoburtse (3,566m)
- Day 17Trek to Paiju (3,383m)
- Day 18Trek to Korofong (3,100m)
- Day 19Trek to Askole
- Day 20Drive to Skardu
- Day 21Fly to Islamabad (or drive KKH to Chilas)
- Day 22Sightseeing in Islamabad (or drive KKK to Isb)
- Day 23Transfer to airport for flight home.
Day to Day Info:
Day 1, Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Hotel, trek briefing. We will have ample time for sightseeing and shopping in colorful old bazaars of Rawalpindi and new markets of Islamabad. We may also drive to the huge modern Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
Day 2, Skardu ( 2,500 m 8,200 ft): Hotel, flight. We will be on the most fantastic commercial flight in the world taking us from Islamabad to Skardu. If the weather is bad, we will drive in two days on the famous KKH to Skardu.
Day 3, Askolie (3,300 m 10,800 ft): Camp, jeep drive. It takes about six hours to drive from Skardu to Askolie or near Askolie. The drive through the Braldu Gorge is guaranteed to knock your socks off!
Day 4, Korofong (3,500 m 11,480 ft): Camp, trek begins. The walk from Askolie to Korofong is on an easy gentle plain and can be done in 6 to 8 hours. We cross the snout of the Biafo Glacier on the way. The first sight of the pinnacles of the Paiyu Group is stunning.
Day 5, Bardumal (3,550 m 12,000 ft): Camp, trek, river crossing. We follow the Braldu and the Biaho rivers to a river’s edge campsite. On the way we have to cross the Domurda River coming out of Choktoi and Panmah Glaciers. This crossing is done on a ‘garari’ or on a bridge upstream. Depending upon the time it takes for the crossing, the walk can take 8 hours or more.
Day 6, Paiyu (3,666 m 12,024 ft): Camp, trek. This takes about 6 hours of walking and will give us our first sight of the mighty Baltoro Glacier and the Trango and Cathedral Groups. Paiyu is the last campsite before the Baltoro. Efforts are underway to clear out the pollution and there has also been a recent plantation of many trees in the area. The walk follows the Biaho River all the way to Paiyu. The campsite is perched high above the valley with excellent views.
Day 7, Paiyu (3,666 m 12,024 ft): Camp, rest day. Wash up, relax, read, climb on a steep ridge behind the camp, sing and dance with the porters! Depending upon the size of the party, goats or a goat will be sacrificed and meat will be distributed to the porters as a form of thanksgiving and to bring us good luck on our next day’s walk on the Baltoro.
Day 8, Khoburse (3,800 m 12,460 ft): Camp, trek on Baltoro Glacier. Six to eight hours of walking. A tough day as we climb on the rocky moraines of the Baltoro, but the sight of Baltoro pinnacles and Paiyu Peak is astounding! An earlier alternative campsite is Liligo, but there is no water there. We will cross some gushing streams on the way.
Day 9, Urdukas (3,950 m 12,960): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. A short 4 hour plus walk on the rocky moraines and ablation valley of the Baltoro. We will cross couple of icy side glaciers on the way and may have our first sight of Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums. The historical campsite is located on a grassy slope high above the Baltoro and commands one of the most intense mountain views in this world. The campsite was prepared by the Duke of Abruzzi in the beginning of this century.
Day 10, Goro (4,300 m 14,100 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. This is a tough day’s walk on the undulating Baltoro. However, the footing becomes easy as the rocks become smaller and smaller as we move up the Baltoro. It takes about 8 hours to get to Goro. We walk right smack up the center moraine of the Baltoro. As Masherbrum emerges on the right, it takes our breath away and so does Gasherbrum 4 right in front of us. Goro is a cold campsite! It has a great view of the Muztagh Tower.
Day 11, Concordia (4,550 m 14,925 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. An easy 4 hour plus walk. As we enter the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods and see K2 emerging on our left, we feel that we have arrived at a very special place on the planet. For many, it is lifelong goal and a pilgrimage to come here. A place of superlatives and without any parallels!
Day 12, Concordia (4,550 m 14,925): Camp, rest, explore base camps. You can just sit and watch K2 all day long and sip tea; which many have done and have still not been able to fully get K2 in their system! Or you can go on a long whole day tiring trip to K2 Base Camp (4,800 m.); or go the other way towards the Gasherbrum peaks.
Day 13, Goro (4,300 m 14,100 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. Return to Goro camp site.
Day 14, Urdukas (3,950 m 12,950 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. Return to Urdukas camp site.
Day 15, Paiyu (3,666 m 12,025 ft): Camp, trek. We return to Paiyu camp site not stopping at Khobrse on the way down. We are now well acclimatized and the walk down is not as hard as going up and much quicker.
Day 16, Julla (3,550 m 11,650 ft): Camp, trek. We stop at Julla which is the place of crossing the Domurda River. We do not stop at Bardumal on the way down.
Day 17, Korofong (3,500 m 11,480 ft): Camp, trek. We return to Korofong camp site after crossing the Domurda River.
Day 18, Askolie (3,300 m 10,820 ft): Camp, trek. We return to the ‘metropolis’ of Askolie! Well, at least it feels like one after being on the Baltoro.
Day 19, Skardu ( 2,500 m 8,200 ft): Hotel, jeep drive. We return to a hot shower and a warm comfortable bed!
Day 20, Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Hotel, flight, trek debriefing.
Day 21, Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Extra ‘cushion’ day!
This is a tentative itinerary. For the enjoyment of your trip a ‘go with the flow’ attitude is necessary. Many factors will influence your trip, such as weather conditions, health, route conditions, etc. Please do not take this itinerary very seriously.
