Trek Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains

Trip Type: Walking & Trekking
Pakistan | 10 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 4,545.00 /Person

Trek among the towering rock walls and lush valley floors of Northern Pakistan’s Karakoram Range and Nangma Valley. The Baltistan region, sometimes...

Trek Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains

Trek among the towering rock walls and lush valley floors of Northern Pakistan’s Karakoram Range and Nangma Valley. The Baltistan region, sometimes known as Little Tibet, is a mountaineer’s paradise. Spend four days trekking along well-marked and relatively easy trails that cross glacial streams running through vibrant pastures and camp under the stars. You’ll be fully supported by a professional and welcoming crew of porters, guides and camp cooks who will prepare fresh and filling hot meals featuring local Pakistani dishes. Along your roundtrip journey from Islamabad, you’ll also get the chance to meet Balti locals and learn about the history and culture of this region, through dancing, shared meals and expert local knowledge.

Khush Aamadid! Welcome to Islamabad. When you arrive at the Islamabad International Airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and taken to your hotel. If you arrive early, you can join your leader and group for lunch and a city tour this afternoon. Back at the hotel, you’ll meet up with everyone again for a welcome meeting at 6 pm to get all the details on your upcoming trek. After, relax, explore or find a good spot for dinner.

First things first, you’ll check the weather – if it’s good, you’ll fly from Islamabad to Skardu (a short, scenic flight). If the weather isn’t cooperating, you’ll instead make the trip via the Karakoram Highway, making stops along the way among mountain peaks that humans are yet to have stepped a foot on. In Skardu – the gateway to the Karakoram Mountain Range – you’ll have some free time to explore and pick up any snacks or souvenirs that might be calling your name from the Skardu Bazaar. You’ll also have the chance to rent any hiking gear here that you may have forgotten to pack. While in Skardu, don’t miss Manthal Rock Buddha, Kharpocho Fort and Nansoq Organic Village.

Carry on into the mountains as you drive to Khaplu, passing through the small villages of the Ghanche district. Along the way, stop where the Shayok and Indus Rivers meet. Visit the small village of Yugo and enjoy lunch and a cultural village walk where you’ll get a feel for village life and meet some locals. This afternoon, travel on to Khaplu – the Ghanche district’s capital city. After checking into your hotel, enjoy some free time to explore. Maybe see the Khaplu Fort Museum and the organic garden.

After breakfast, drive from Khaplu to Kanday Village – the trailhead for your trek into Nangma Valley – and meet your local support crew of guides, porters and camp cooks. The first leg is short but with a few steep parts. From Kanday, descend to cross a wooden bridge over the Hushe River, then ascend through the narrow valley across two suspension bridges to the Mingulo Broq campsite. This lush site near the water is surrounded by willow trees and is also a local pasture, so you’ll likely get the chance to meet a few local shepherds. After lunch at the campsite, you’ll have time to explore nature or relax at camp. For dinner, your kitchen team will prepare local Balti cuisine, like balay (soup), chapshoro (cooked minced meat stuffed and sealed between two whole wheat flatbreads, cooked over a skillet) and other Pakistani dishes. Before sliding into your sleeping bag, be sure to turn your gaze upwards and take in the star-filled night sky.

Fuel up on a hot breakfast, then carry on from Mingulo Broq to Nangma Valley, passing through lush green fields alongside a glacial stream. Today’s trek is relatively flat, crossing over one stream and through another. You’ll arrive at the Nangma Valley campsite by lunch, where you can tuck into a fresh, hot meal. Enjoy some free time to take in the incredible views – looking out over the valley, you’ll see the North Ridge of Shingu Charpa. For dinner, tuck into another hot meal of local soup and a mix of regional and continental Chinese and Pakistani dishes.

Check in with your feet this morning and decide how you’d like to spend the day. Opt to take a day hike to Amin Brakk base camp (4500 metres), at the base of the towering rock face that’s known as one of the most spectacular climbs in the world. Start with a steep climb and continue on a relatively flat plateau, before the final, steep push through a rocky trail. While at the base camp, enjoy some free time for your own exploration before tucking in to refreshments and tracking your own steps back to Nangma campsite. Or if you’d rather lay low, choose to kick back and relax at camp. Either way, you won’t want to miss the sunrise from up here. If you choose to stick close to camp for the day, test your scrambling skills on nearby rocks or go on a scavenger hunt for local Karakoram bird and flower species. This evening, enjoy a live music and dance show by local Balti performers. Feel free to join in!

Make the trek back down to Kanday this morning and enjoy a traditional lunch with a local family in the village. You and your group will travel by road back to Skardu this afternoon, following the southern bank of the mighty Indus River. The views are stunning as you travel down a valley surrounded by towering peaks before arriving at the surreal landscape of the Safranga 'Cold Desert'. At 2300 m above sea level, it's one of the highest deserts in the world. After the obligatory photo stop (or two) continue on to the small town of Shigar, then on to Skardu.

Once again, the weather may play a role in today’s plans. If the weather is nice, you’ll drive from Shigar to the Skardu Airport, where you’ll fly back to Islamabad. In this case, you’ll check into your Islamabad hotel, enjoy lunch and enjoy some free time for sightseeing. Be sure to ask your leader for recommendations. If the weather isn’t agreeable, you’ll spend some free time in Naran, where your leader will be pleased to offer suggestions or plan an excursion around town for the group.

If you didn’t fly yesterday, today you’ll make the journey by road to Islamabad. If you’re already there, do some sightseeing in the capital. Don’t miss the Taxila Museum, which sits in the middle of several important archaeological sites, hosting a rich collection of Gandharan art dating back to the 1st century.

With no further activities or hikes planned, your amazing journey comes to an end today after breakfast. If you are leaving today, you’ll have an included transfer to the airport. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Meals
9 Breakfast(s), 9 Lunch(s), 9 Dinner(s)

Transport
Private Vehicle , Plane

Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Full Service Camping (3 nights)

Included Activities
  • Skardu Bazaar walk
  • Manthal Rock Buddha
  • Skardu - Kharpocho Fort visit
  • Khaplu Fort Museum
  • Yugo Village cultural walk
  • Mingulo Broq guided hike
  • Rumbak - Expert Licensed professional local guide
  • Rumbak -15 kgs of porter services per person
  • Mingulo Broq to Nangma valley guided hike
  • Amin Brakk base camp guided hike
  • Live music and dance show by local Balti people
  • Nangma valley to Kanday guided hike
  • Traditional lunch with local family at Kanday village
  • Hike among the towering peaks of Northern Pakistan’s Baltistan region on well-marked trails in Nangma Valley.
  • Enjoy fully supported camping with expert guides, porters and a professional cooking team, providing warm Pakistani meals at every campsite.
  • Stay active with an optional day hike to the mountaineer’s paradise of Amin Brakk, also known as the Great Tower.
  • Join in a live Balti dance performance at the Nangma Valley campsite and cross paths with local shepherds whose pastures share these trails.
  • Tap into your local leader’s expert insights as you take some time to explore the capital city of Islamabad.
  • This trip visits places as high as 4500 m above sea level, which can cause altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and health’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details on travelling at altitude and ensure you are familiar with signs of Acute Mountain Sickness.  This trip involves a full camping experience, giving you access to more remote destinations at close proximity, and the joy of experiencing the elements. Expect two-person tents (single supplement available) and sleeping bags, as well as a separate mess tent to enjoy fresh meals prepared by your support crew. Please read the packing list for required equipment carefully and remember that you don’t necessarily have to bring it all with you – you can hire or buy some of it in Skardu.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Price: NZD 5,495.00

Price: NZD 5,495.00

Price: NZD 5,495.00

Price: NZD 5,495.00

Price: NZD 5,495.00

Price: NZD 5,235.00

Price: NZD 5,235.00

Price: NZD 5,235.00

Price: NZD 6,185.00

Price: NZD 4,545.00

Price: NZD 6,055.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
HQXP
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Islamabad, Pakistan
Trip Finishes:
Islamabad, Pakistan
Countries Visited:
Pakistan
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Destination Details
Pakistan | 10 Days | 1 - 12 People