K2 GANDO-GORO-LA TREK

Trek operates: June until September
No of days: 22 Tour cost from: 2050 US Dollar
Tour Route: Islamabad/Skardu Trek K2 base camp/Gando-goro la to Hushe valley
Transport: Private busses, 4x4 Jeeps
Tour starting point: Islamabad

Itinerary

Day 01 Islamabad
Trek briefing Ministry of Tourism. We will have free 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. (L-D)

Day 02 Skardu (2,500 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. (B-L-D)

Day 03 Askoli (3,300 m 10,825 ft) Camp
Jeep drives. It takes about six hours to drive from Skardu to Askoli or near Askoli. The drive through the Braldu Gorge is guaranteed to knock your socks off! (B-L-D)

Day 04 Korofong (3,500 m 11,480 ft) Camp
Trek begins. The walk from Askoli 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 Paiju Group is stunning. (B-L-D)

Day 05 Bardumal (3,550 m 11,650 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. (B-L-D)

Day 06 Paiju (3,666 m 12,025 ft) Camp
Trek this takes about 6 hours of walking and will give us our first sight of the mighty Baltoro Glacier and the Tango and Cathedral Groups. Paiju 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 Paiju. The campsite is perched high above the valley with excellent views. (B-L-D)

Day 07 Paiju (3,666 m 12,025 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. (B-L-D)

Day 08 Khuburse (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 Paiju Peak is astounding! An earlier alternative campsite is Liligo, but there is no water there. We will cross some gushing streams on the way. (B-L-D)

Day 09 Urdukas (3,950 m 12,950 ft) 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 Duke of Abruzi prepared the campsite in the beginning of this century. (B-L-D)

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 Gasherbrums 4 right in front of us. Goro is a cold campsite! It has a great view of the Muztagh Tower. (B-L-D)

Day 11 Concordia (4,550 m 14,925 ft) Camp
Baltoro Glacier. An easy 4 hour plus walks. 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! (B-L-D)

Day 12 Concordia (4,550 m 14,925 ft) 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; or go the other way towards the Gasherbrum peaks. (B-L-D)

Day 13 Ali Camp (5,050 m 16,560 ft) Camp
Trek on Vigne Glacier. This is done in 6 plus hours. The first few hours are difficult going as we get on the Vigne Glacier from the Baltoro. Once on the Vigne it is a straightforward uphill walk on a white hard glacier; a big relief from the Baltoro. Ali Camp is surprisingly a warmer camp when compared to Goro and Concordia. It is located on a bird's nest like small rocky area above the Vigne. The view looking down towards Concordia and K2 is powerful. (B-L-D)

Day 14 Hispang (4,833 m 15,850 ft)
Leave Ali Camp 2:00 a.m., cross Gondogoro La (5,700 m.), descend Gondogoro Glacier, arrive Hispang campsite at 2:00 p.m., long tough day. Wow! What a day! This is the apex of the whole trip. The first part of the walk is in darkness over rocks. As we enter the upper Vigne basin, we get on ice and snow. The route has been set for us and we walk while being cautious of crevasses. The ascent begins around 5:00 a.m. Ropes have been fixed for us. We should be on top of the pass before 9:00 a.m. All along we are helped and assisted by the staff. Simply said: from Gondogoro La top, there is no other comparable mountain view on this planet! The descent is harder and steeper than the ascent. Ropes again have been fixed and we basically descend about three pitches with the help of ropes. Once again, we are assisted at every step by the staff. Walking into the lush green Hispang Campsite with a running shallow sandy stream is like entering into heaven! (B-L-D)

Day 15 Dalsam Pa (4,200 m 13,780 ft) Camp
Trek Gondogoro Glacier. The most difficult part of this leg is located where we get off the Gondogoro Glacier and is a very small section of the walk. For most of the way it is a gentle and beautiful walk to Dalsam Pa. It takes about 4 hours. (B-L-D)

Day 16 Saitcho (3,400m 11,150 ft) Camp
Trek We slowly come back to civilization as we travel through high villages and summer pastures of the people from Hushe. There are awesome views of K6 and K7 towards our left on this walk. This takes about 4 hours. (B-L-D)

Day 17 Saitcho (3,400 m 11,150 ft) Camp
Rest you can play some volleyball in the heart of the Karakoram here! (B-L-D)

Day 18 Hushe (2,750 m.)Camp
Trek we walk for about 3 hours and have fantastic views of Masherbrum on the right. We have successfully circumnavigated this mighty peak! Hushe is a much more affluent village than Askoli. (B-L-D)

Day 19 Skardu (2,500 m 8,200 ft) Hotel
Jeep drives. It takes about 8 hours on the jeep to Skardu from Hushe On the way we cross the Shyok River near Khapulu. The rising sharp pinnacle from the sandy bed of the Shyok is a powerful sight. Lower down, crossing the Indus on Humayun Bridge at its famous and historical confluence with the Shyok is also a thrill. (B-L-D)

Day 20 Rawalpindi/Islamabad
Flight to Islamabad. (B-L-D)

Day 21 Rawalpindi/ Islamabad
Debriefing at Ministry of tourism (B-L-D)

Day 22 Trip will end with airport transfer.

Guarantee departures: Every Monday
Minimum 2 people.

Tour cost

No of Pax.	2-5	6-9	10-15
Price in US Dollar per person	$2550	$2250	$2050

COST INCLUDES

• All domestic transportation and transfers one way flight to Skardu
• Twin sharing accommodation at hotel with en-suite private facilities
• 2 person tent and mattresses
• Meals full board (B breakfast-L Lunch-D-Dinner)
• Trekking, camping and entrance fees at sites
• Fully escorted by our English-speaking Trekking guide and kitchen staff
• All camping and kitchen equipments
• Insurance for our local staff
• Portage for 20 kg of personal luggage.
• Tips for hotels staff

COST EXCLUDES

• Visa Fees.
• Expenses in hotels such as laundry, telephone and room service, etc. Back packs,
• Sleeping bags and climbing & technical equipment.
• Personal insurance
• Optional activities
• Meals not mention above
• Personal expanses
• Single supplements
• Tips for Guides, Trekking crews and drivers