The Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak) Expedition (8,080 m) is a guided trip lasting 45 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 8,080 m. It is graded Expedition — technical, prior 8000m preferred — 6–7 days on foot approach each way. 4 fixed departures are open from $16,800 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak) Expedition (8,080 m) — 45 Days, Full-Board
Gasherbrum I — Hidden Peak — is the eleventh-highest mountain on earth at 8,080 m, and the harder of the two Gasherbrum twins. It shares a base camp with Gasherbrum II and the same week-long Baltoro approach, but there the similarity ends: GI is more technical and more remote, with a longer, more committing route and a summit day that punishes hesitation. It is not the peak to choose as your first eight-thousander. If that is what you are after, climb GII first — same base camp, same team, and it is the honest order to do them in.
nThis is a 45-day full-board expedition run by the Skardu outfit that handles Baltoro logistics every summer. One high-altitude porter per climber above base camp, bottled oxygen, high camps, fixed rope, satellite phone and weather forecasting at base camp, and established helicopter-rescue contacts. Published prices run with a minimum team of four. We do not sell summits — your guide's turnaround call is final. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
n- Duration
- 45 Days - 44 Nights
- Max altitude
- 8,080 m
- Grade
- Expedition
- Days on foot
- 6–7
- Best season
- Summer ( June - August )
- Group size
- Max 4min age 21
Gasherbrum I Expedition Price
Our full-board Gasherbrum I expedition is $16,800 per person — peak royalty and permits, liaison officer, Islamabad-Skardu flights, the jeep to Askole, porters, full base camp, one HAP per climber above BC, oxygen, high camps and fixed rope. A base-camp service tier for self-sufficient alpine teams starts at $7,400. Published prices run with a minimum team of four; parties of one to three are quoted privately, because the government peak royalty is charged per team rather than per climber. Forty-five days, summit 8,080 m.
nFixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 4 dates are currently open, each capped at 8 people. Every date is the same price, $16,800 per person. A $1,680 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
| Departure | Dates | Price | Availability | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition 01 | 10 Jun – 24 Jul | $16,800/person | 8 of 8 places | $1,680 | Book now |
| Expedition 02 | 20 Jun – 3 Aug | $16,800/person | 6 of 8 places | $1,680 | Book now |
| Expedition 03 | 8 Jun – 22 Jul | $16,800/person | 8 of 8 places | $1,680 | Book now |
| Expedition 04 | 18 Jun – 1 Aug | $16,800/person | 8 of 8 places | $1,680 | Book now |
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 3 options. Rates run from $7,400 to $24,500. What each band covers is set out in the table.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Camp Service | $7,400 | For self-sufficient alpine teams. Permits, royalty, liaison officer, transport, porters and full base camp — nothing above BC. |
| Full-Board Guided | $16,800 | One HAP per climber above base camp, oxygen, high camps, fixed rope, expedition guide, BC medic and forecasting. |
| Premium (2 HAP) | $24,500 | Two HAPs per climber, larger oxygen allocation, private BC tent, priority evacuation arrangement, guaranteed departure. |
Is this expedition for you?
Only if you have climbed high before. This is a mountaineering expedition, not a trek.
Graded Expedition — technical, prior 8000m preferred.
What this mountain asks of you
The highest point is 8,080 m. At that altitude acclimatisation is not optional, and the turnaround decision belongs to your guide.
An expedition needs a Trekking & Mountaineering visa rather than a tourist visa, plus an NOC and a peak royalty. We arrange the NOC and the permits.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Expedition Plan
Expedition Plan — Gasherbrum I / Hidden Peak (8,080 m)
<p>Forty-five days in phases rather than fixed daily stages: Islamabad formalities, the Baltoro approach past Concordia to the Gasherbrum base camp, three acclimatisation rotations, a weather window, the summit push, then clearing the mountain. Above base camp the weather sets the schedule, not us.</p>
Day 1Arrive Islamabad
540 m
Team assembles. Kit check, insurance and documentation review, dinner with your expedition leader.
Day 2Islamabad — Briefing & Liaison Officer
540 m
The mandatory expedition briefing and formalities, and you meet the liaison officer who travels with the team.
Day 3Fly to Skardu
2,230 m
The flight up the Indus past Nanga Parbat. Weather-dependent; the schedule carries slack for it.
Day 4Skardu — Load-Out
2,230 m
Final gear check, oxygen and rope inventory, food packing, porter loads weighed.
Day 5Skardu to Askole
3,050 m
A full day by 4×4 up the Shigar and Braldu valleys to the roadhead.
Day 6Askole to Jhola
3,160 m
The approach begins — out along the Braldu to the first camp.
Day 7Jhola to Paiju
3,400 m
Up toward the snout of the Baltoro. The last trees and running water.
Day 8Paiju — Rest & Porter Preparation
3,400 m
A full rest day while porters prepare glacier loads. Acclimatisation walk.
Day 9Paiju to Urdukas
4,050 m
Onto the Baltoro, the Trango Towers on the left, camp on the grass ledge above the ice.
Day 10Urdukas to Goro II
4,300 m
A full day on the glacier, Muztagh Tower ahead. Camp on the ice.
Day 11Goro II to Concordia
4,650 m
Into the amphitheatre — K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums together.
Day 12Concordia to Gasherbrum Base Camp
~5,000 m
South-east up the Abruzzi and onto the Gasherbrum glacier to the base camp shared with GII.
Day 13Base Camp — Puja & Setup
~5,000 m
The puja, dome and kitchen up, oxygen and rope staged, medical baseline taken.
Day 14Rotation 1 — Camp 1
~5,900 m
First carry and night at Camp 1, then back to base camp.
Day 15Rotation 2 — Camp 2
~6,400 m
Second rotation, sleeping higher and stocking the route, then descend to rest.
Day 16Base Camp — Rest & Recovery
~5,000 m
Full rest. Eat, sleep, let the body build red cells. Weather models reviewed daily.
Day 17Rotation 3 — Camp 3
~7,000 m
The final acclimatisation push high on the route before dropping back down. GI needs this one more than GII does.
Day 18Base Camp — Weather Window
~5,000 m
Waiting. This is most of an 8000m expedition and the part nobody photographs. We move when the forecast says so.
Day 19Summit Push — To the High Camp
~7,000 m
Back up through the camps to the high camp, oxygen from here for most climbers.
Day 20Summit Day — Gasherbrum I
8,080 m
A long alpine start on committing ground to the summit of Hidden Peak at 8,080 m, with GII, Broad Peak and K2 across the ice. Turnaround time is set before we leave camp and it is not negotiable.
Day 21Descend & Clear the Mountain
~5,000 m
Down through the camps, stripping the route and carrying everything off.
Day 22Base Camp — Contingency
~5,000 m
Held in reserve for a second attempt or bad weather. GI turns teams back more often than GII; this day earns its place.
Day 23Base Camp — Second Contingency
~5,000 m
A second reserve day. Forty-five days rather than forty-two exists for exactly this reason.
Day 24Base Camp to Paiju
3,400 m
Off the ice and back down the Baltoro.
Day 25Paiju to Askole
3,050 m
The last walking stage to the roadhead.
Day 26Askole to Skardu & Departure
540 m
The 4×4 down the Braldu gorge, then fly out, debrief and onward connections. Assalam-o-Alaikum.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $16,800 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Peak royalty
- Peak permit
- Liaison officer and all government fees
- Islamabad-Skardu flights
- Hotels in Islamabad and Skardu
- The 4×4 to and from Askole
- Full base camp for the permit window — dome
- Kitchen
- Dining and toilet tents
- BC cook and staff
- All meals
- Porters in and out
- Satellite phone
- Weather forecasting and BC medical kit
- Full-board tier adds: one high-altitude porter per climber above BC
- Four high camps with tents
- Fuel and food
- Share of fixed rope and communal hardware
- Bottled oxygen allocation
- Expedition guide
- Helicopter-rescue coordination
Not included
- International flights
- Pakistan visa fees
- Your personal climbing equipment and down suit
- Mountaineering and evacuation insurance (mandatory
- Arranged by you)
- Summit bonuses and staff tips
- Personal oxygen beyond the stated allocation
- Helicopter costs themselves
- A summit. We do not sell one and we will not imply one. Weather
- Snow conditions and your own condition decide the outcome
- The guide’s turnaround call is final
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
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 $16,800 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 Gasherbrum I Expedition
Booking & Payment
Minimum team size is four climbers. The Gilgit-Baltistan peak royalty is charged per team, not per person, so a party of one to three carries a materially higher cost per climber. We will still run it — just ask, and we will quote you privately and honestly rather than hide a supplement in the headline price.
A deposit of 10% confirms your place. 50% is due at 120 days before departure and is used to file the peak permit and royalty; the balance is due at 60 days.
Places are confirmed only once the permit application is filed in your name. Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp — we will want to talk to you before we accept a booking.
Cancellation Policy
Peak royalty, permit and liaison-officer fees are paid to government months in advance and are non-refundable once filed, whatever the reason for cancellation. This is different from our trekking terms and we want it understood before you pay.
Cancel 120+ days before departure: everything except the filed permit costs is refunded. 60-119 days: 50% of the remaining balance. Under 60 days: non-refundable.
If we cancel the expedition for operational reasons, you receive a full refund with no deductions, or a free transfer to the next season. If it is cancelled by events beyond anyone's control (extreme weather, natural disaster, a government travel advisory or a road or flight closure), you receive a free transfer to new dates or a credit valid for 24 months, plus a refund of every cost we can recover; non-recoverable permit costs are itemized and deducted.
Permits & Documentation
Broad Peak requires a peak permit and royalty paid to the Gilgit-Baltistan authorities, a government liaison officer who travels with the team, and accident insurance for every member. One peak per permit — a second summit needs a second permit and a second royalty.
You need Pakistan’s Mountaineering visa, not a tourist or trekking visa. High-altitude porters must carry insurance to Rs 2,000,000, which we hold. We file all of it; you supply passport, photographs, climbing CV and insurance certificate.
Health & Fitness
Gasherbrum I is the harder of the twins — more technical, more remote and more committing than GII. Prior experience above 7,000 m is required and a previous 8,000 m summit is strongly preferred; we will ask for your climbing CV and we do turn people down. You must be solid on fixed rope with jumar and descender, confident in crampons on steep mixed ground, and able to make decisions at altitude in bad weather.
Minimum age 21. A full medical, including a recent cardiac assessment, is required before we accept a booking. Insurance must cover mountaineering above 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation — standard travel insurance will not do it.
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 a Gasherbrum I expedition cost with you?
Full-board guided is $16,800 per person — royalty and permits, liaison officer, all transport, full base camp, one HAP per climber above BC, oxygen, high camps and fixed rope. Base-camp service for self-sufficient alpine teams is $7,400, and a premium tier with two HAPs is $24,500.
Is there a minimum team size?
How much harder is GI than GII?
Meaningfully harder, and we would rather say so than sell you the wrong mountain. They share a base camp and the whole Baltoro approach, but Gasherbrum I is more technical, more remote and more committing, with a longer summit day on ground that punishes hesitation. GII is regularly a climber's first eight-thousander; GI rarely should be. Climb GII first — same base camp, same team.
What experience do I need?
Prior experience above 7,000 m is required and a previous 8,000 m summit is strongly preferred. We ask for a climbing CV and we do turn people down for this one. You need to be solid on fixed rope, confident in crampons on steep mixed ground, and capable of making your own decisions high on a mountain in poor weather.
Why is it 45 days rather than 42?
Because GI turns teams back more often. The extra days are contingency at base camp for a second summit attempt or a second weather window. On an eight-thousander, spare days are the single most useful thing you can buy, and shaving them is how operators quietly lower your summit chances.
Can I climb GI and GII on the same trip?
Yes — they share a base camp, which makes it the most efficient double eight-thousander anywhere. The rule is one peak per permit, so it means two permits and two royalties and the combination saves less than people assume. We price the pair at $26,900 full-board over about 55 days.
When is the summit window?
Expeditions run roughly June to August, with the stable window usually around mid-July and acclimatisation rotations through late June and early July. The Karakoram season is short and there is no second chance later in the year.
Do you use bottled oxygen?
An oxygen allocation is included at full-board and premium. If you intend to climb without it, tell us at booking — on GI that is a serious undertaking and it changes the plan, the HAP arrangement and the risk profile. We will discuss it with you directly.
What permits and visa do I need?
A peak permit and royalty paid to the Gilgit-Baltistan authorities, a government liaison officer with the team, and accident insurance for everyone. These are restricted-zone peaks and you travel on Pakistan's Mountaineering visa — not a tourist visa and not the trekking visa. We file all of it.
What happens if I cannot summit?
You come home safely, which is the actual objective. There is no refund for an unsuccessful summit — the cost is incurred whether you top out or not. What we guarantee is that the turnaround decision gets made on conditions and on your state, not on how much you paid. On Gasherbrum I that call gets made more often than on GII.
