The Barah Brok Trek is a guided trip lasting 12 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 5,300 m. It is graded Moderate, one long summit day — 5 days on foot. 5 fixed departures are open from $1,450 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Barah Brok Trek to the K2 Viewpoint, 2027 All-Inclusive
The Barah Brok Trek is a 12-day trip from Islamabad to Islamabad, with five days on foot above Barah village in the Ghanche District of Gilgit-Baltistan, east of Khaplu on the Shyok River. It climbs through the shepherds' summer pastures to the twin lakes of Blue Lake at about 4,300 m, then up Moses Peak, about 5,300 m, where K2 stands on the skyline.
The Valley
Barah sits on the Shyok about 100 km east of Skardu. Above the village a side valley climbs through a steep gorge to two high lakes. No glacier, no technical ground and very few other trekkers. The reason to come is the view from the top: K2 and the big Karakoram peaks around it, from a summit you can walk up.
The Route
Days 1–3: Islamabad and Skardu. Arrive in Islamabad, fly to Skardu (about 2,500 m) and keep a spare day there for weather and acclimatisation.
Day 4: Khaplu to Barah. Drive east up the Shyok, stop at Khaplu Palace and the Chaqchan Mosque, and sleep at Barah (about 2,400 m).
Days 5–6: Summer Pasture and Blue Lake. Climb to the summer pasture (about 3,500 m), then up the gorge to Blue Lake (about 4,300 m), the hardest walking day.
Day 7: Rest at Blue Lake. A full acclimatisation day before the summit.
Day 8: Moses Peak and the K2 viewpoint. A pre-dawn start to about 5,300 m and back to camp. The summit is optional; the K2 viewpoint below it is a full success on its own.
Days 9–12: Out. Descend to Barah, drive back to Skardu, fly to Islamabad and depart.
Domestic flights, hotels, all meals, camping equipment, porters and a satellite phone are included. Altitudes are approximate; your guide confirms them on the trail.
Cover photo: Khaplu Palace, on the drive to Barah (Day 4). Photo: Muhammad Ashar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Related Treks: K2 Base Camp Trek Classic | Thalay La Trek | K6 & K7 Base Camp Trek
- Duration
- 12 Days - 11 Nights
- Max altitude
- 5,300 m
- Grade
- Moderate
- Days on foot
- 5
- Best season
- Summer ( June - September )
- Group size
- Max 12
Barah Brok Trek Price
Join one of our fixed departures at an all-inclusive group price of $1,450 per person for 12 days, Islamabad to Islamabad, domestic flights included. Everything in the services-included section is covered at this fixed price. Choose your departure below.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip.
| Departure | Dates | Price | Availability | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 01 | 20 Jun – 1 Jul | $1,450/person | 9 of 12 places | $145 | Book now |
| Group 02 | 11 Jul – 22 Jul | $1,450/person | 7 of 12 places | $145 | Book now |
| Group 03 | 1 Aug – 12 Aug | $1,450/person | 5 of 12 places | $145 | Book now |
| Group 04 | 22 Aug – 2 Sep | $1,450/person | 8 of 12 places | $145 | Book now |
| Group 05 | 3 Oct – 14 Oct | $1,450/person | 6 of 12 places | $145 | Book now |
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $2,900 | A private 12-day Barah Brok trek with your own guide, cook and porters. Islamabad to Islamabad, domestic flights included. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $2,100 | Private trek for couples or friends: the Blue Lake camps and the K2 viewpoint on Moses Peak, together. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $1,700 | Small group with a private guide and full trek support, rest day at Blue Lake included. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $1,450 | Best value. Guide, cook, porters, camps, meals and domestic flights for the 12-day Barah Brok trip. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes — if you can walk uphill for a few hours, this is well within reach.
Graded Moderate, one long summit day.
What to expect
The highest point is 5,300 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Experience
Itinerary — Barah Brok Trek
Twelve days from Islamabad and back: a spare day in Skardu, the drive through Khaplu to Barah, then five days on foot to Blue Lake and the K2 viewpoint on Moses Peak, with a rest day at altitude before the summit.
Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
540 m
We meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. Evening briefing with your trip leader: gear check, flight plan, and what the mountain asks of you.
Day 2Fly to Skardu
2,500 m
About 45 minutes past Nanga Parbat when the weather plays fair. When it doesn't, we drive the Karakoram Highway and overnight in Chilas. That is why Day 3 exists.
Day 3Skardu: buffer and acclimatisation
2,500 m
A spare day by design. Climb to Kharpocho Fort above the Indus, or drive up to Satpara Lake. If the flight slipped, this is where we catch it up.
Day 4Drive to Barah via Khaplu
~2,400 m
East up the Shyok to Khaplu, with time for the palace and the Chaqchan Mosque, then on to Barah village. First night in Balti farm country, under the slopes you'll climb tomorrow.
Day 5Barah to the Summer Pasture
~3,500 m
A steady climb along the stream, past the fields and then above them, to the shepherds' summer huts at about 3,500 m. Porters carry the camp; you carry a daypack.
Day 6Up the gorge to Blue Lake
~4,300 m
The hard day. Roughly 800 to 1,000 m of climbing through a steep gorge to the twin lakes at about 4,300 m. Go slow, drink often, arrive with something left.
Day 7Rest at Blue Lake
~4,300 m
Nobody climbs today. Your body builds red cells while you walk the lake shore and watch the light on the ridges. This day is why our summit day works.
Day 8Moses Peak and the K2 viewpoint
~5,300 m
Out before dawn. A long, stony climb toward Moses Peak, about 5,300 m. The reward is K2 on the skyline with the big Karakoram peaks around it. Your guide sets the turnaround time, and the K2 viewpoint below the top is a full success on its own. Back to Blue Lake for the night.
Day 9Down to Barah
~2,400 m
All the height you earned comes off in one long descent, gentle on the lungs and hard on the knees. Poles help. Last night in the valley.
Day 10Drive back to Skardu
2,500 m
Back along the Shyok to Skardu, a hot shower and a proper bed.
Day 11Fly to Islamabad
540 m
Morning flight back. If it is cancelled we drive the KKH via Chilas, so keep your international departure flexible.
Day 12Depart
540 m
Transfer to Islamabad airport.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $1,450 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Islamabad–Skardu–Islamabad flights (by road via Chilas if a flight is cancelled)
- Airport transfers
- Hotels in Islamabad and Skardu
- A private 4×4 to Barah and back
- All meals
- Twin-share tents with mess and kitchen tents
- A licensed local Balti guide
- Cook and porters
- Trekking permit and community fees where required
- A satellite phone with the group
- Daily route and weather monitoring by our team
Not included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- The Pakistan visa fee
- Personal travel and medical insurance, which must cover trekking to 5,300 m and helicopter evacuation
- Personal trekking gear (boots
- Sleeping bag
- Down jacket)
- Rental can be arranged in Skardu
- Tips for guides
- Porters and support staff (recommended $5-10 per day per person)
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
- Trek brochure
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $1,450 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About the Barah Brok Trek
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your place. Full payment is due 14 days before departure.
Bookings can be made through our official website, authorized agents, or by direct WhatsApp contact.
Prices may change due to availability, demand, and government travel regulations.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations 30+ days before departure: full refund minus the deposit.
Cancellations 15-29 days before departure: 50% refund of the total paid.
Cancellations less than 15 days before departure: no refund will be issued.
Permits & Documentation
Foreign visitors need a Pakistan Trekking & Mountaineering visa, not a tourist visa. We provide the Letter of Invitation once your booking is confirmed.
Restricted-zone treks may require a trekking permit and NOC — we arrange these where needed and the standard fees are included.
We require valid travel and medical insurance covering high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation.
Health & Fitness Requirements
Moderate, with one long optional summit day. You should be comfortable walking about 5–7 hours a day on steep, rough trails at altitude.
You sleep at about 4,300 m and the optional summit reaches about 5,300 m. A rest day at Blue Lake is built in before the summit, but prior trekking experience is recommended.
Anyone with a heart condition or a history of severe altitude sickness should consult a physician before booking.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Barah Brok Trek cost?
$1,450 per person on our fixed departures, for 12 days from Islamabad to Islamabad with domestic flights, hotels, meals and the full trek crew. Private trips cost $2,900 solo, $2,100 per person for 2–3, $1,700 for 4–6 and $1,450 for 7–10. A deposit of 10% confirms your place.
How long is the trip?
12 Days - 11 Nights, Islamabad to Islamabad. Five of those days are on foot.
When is the best time to go?
Summer, June to September. Earlier or later in the year, snow can linger on the high ground above Blue Lake.
Can you really see K2 from Barah Brok?
Yes. From Moses Peak, about 5,300 m, and from the K2 viewpoint just below it, K2 stands on the skyline with the big Karakoram peaks around it, cloud permitting.
How hard is the Barah Brok Trek?
Moderate, with one big day. The trails are steep but non-technical and there is no glacier. The day up the gorge to Blue Lake climbs roughly 800 to 1,000 m, and summit day is long and stony. You can stop at the K2 viewpoint instead of the top.
How high do you go?
You sleep at about 4,300 m at Blue Lake. The optional summit of Moses Peak is about 5,300 m, and we build in a rest day at Blue Lake before you try it.
What permits or visa do I need?
You need a Pakistan Trekking & Mountaineering visa, not a tourist visa. We send the Letter of Invitation once your booking is confirmed and arrange the trekking permit if one is required.
What about insurance and safety?
Bring insurance that covers trekking to 5,300 m and helicopter evacuation. Your group carries a satellite phone, and your guide sets the turnaround time on summit day.
Who guides the trek?
Your team is 100% local Balti: our own guides and porters from these valleys, never subcontracted.
How do I get to the start?
We meet you at Islamabad airport and fly you to Skardu. If the flight is cancelled we drive the Karakoram Highway with a night in Chilas. From Skardu a private 4×4 takes you through Khaplu to Barah.
What if the flight back from Skardu is cancelled?
We drive back via Chilas, which can take until Day 12. Book a late or flexible international flight home.
