The K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek is a guided trip lasting 21 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 5,585 m. It is graded Strenuous — 5,585 m pass with fixed ropes — 12–14 days on foot. 5 fixed departures are open from $2,600 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek — 2027 All-Inclusive
What Makes This Trek Unique?
- Circular Route: Enter via Baltoro Glacier from Askole, exit into the green Hushe Valley — no backtracking.
- Four 8,000 m Peaks in One View: The only location on Earth with this four-peak panorama from a single vantage point.
- Iconic Landmarks: Trek past the Trango Towers, camp at legendary Concordia (4,500 m) and stand at K2 Base Camp (5,150 m).
- Technical Challenge: The Gondogoro La crossing uses crampons, ice axe and fixed ropes.
- Duration
- 21 Days - 20 Nights
- Max altitude
- 5,585 m
- Grade
- Strenuous
- Days on foot
- 12–14
- Best season
- Summer ( June - September )
- Group size
- Max 10
K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek Price
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 02 | 1 Jun – 21 Jun | $2,600/person | 6 of 10 places | $260 | Book now |
| Group 03 | 20 Jun – 10 Jul | $2,600/person | 9 of 10 places | $260 | Book now |
| Group 04 | 26 Jun – 16 Jul | $2,600/person | 7 of 10 places | $260 | Book now |
| Group 05 | 15 Jul – 4 Aug | $2,600/person | 5 of 10 places | $260 | Book now |
| Group 06 | 9 Aug – 29 Aug | $2,600/person | 8 of 10 places | $260 | 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) | $6,500 | A fully private 1-on-1 experience with a dedicated personal guide. Completely flexible schedule and pace tailored entirely to you. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $4,400 | Semi-private experience with personalized pace. Perfect for couples or close friends who want privacy and personal attention at a lower cost. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $3,300 | The perfect balance of value and personal attention. Travel with a small, like-minded team led by an expert Karakoram guide throughout. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $2,600 | Our best value option. Full support staff, porters, cooks, and experienced guides included for the entire journey. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes, with some training behind you. Plenty of first-timers do this one and finish strong.
Graded Strenuous — 5,585 m pass with fixed ropes.
What to expect
The highest point is 5,585 m. At that altitude acclimatisation is not optional, and the turnaround decision belongs to your guide.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Expereince
Itinerary K2 Base Camp & GGla
A circular high-altitude expedition combining the Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp (5,150 m), and the legendary Gondogoro La Pass (5,585 m) crossing into the Hushe Valley. The only trek where four 8,000 m peaks are visible simultaneously.
Day 1Arrive Islamabad
540 m
Arrive in Islamabad, where your Karakoram Venture team meets you for a warm welcome. We transfer you to your hotel to rest after the journey, then gather for the pre-trek briefing — route, logistics, permits and a first gear check over dinner.
Day 2Fly to Skardu
2,500 m
Fly north to Skardu (2,500 m), one of the world's most spectacular flights, passing Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) on a clear day. After settling in, an easy acclimatisation walk by the Indus and a relaxed evening let the altitude settle in.
Day 3Skardu Prep
2,500 m
A vital day in Skardu for final gear checks, hiring porters, and confirming permits and the NOC for the restricted zone. We rent any missing equipment, organise loads, and visit the bazaar — a buffer that means we step onto the trail fully ready.
Day 4Skardu to Askole
3,000 m
A long, dramatic 4x4 jeep day through the Shigar Valley to Askole (3,000 m), the last village before the wilderness. The road clings to the Braldu gorge — the literal end of the road and the start of the trail. We camp at Askole among the fields.
Day 5Askole to Jhola
3,050 m
The first full day on foot, following the milky Braldu river through a stark, broad valley. The walking is long but gentle in gradient as we ease into the rhythm of the trek, reaching Jhola Camp (3,050 m) by a footbridge over the river.
Day 6Jhola to Paiju
3,420 m
Trek up the Braldu valley to Paiju Camp (3,420 m), set in a green oasis at the snout of the Baltoro Glacier. Ahead, the Paiju and Trango peaks rise into view — the first hint of the giants to come. A welcome patch of trees and running water before the ice.
Day 7Rest at Paiju
3,420 m
A planned rest and acclimatisation day at Paiju. Porters prepare loads and bake bread for the days ahead, while we take a short walk to aid acclimatisation and rest properly before the demanding glacier section begins.
Day 8Onto the Baltoro
3,795 m
A tough, memorable day as we step onto the Baltoro Glacier itself, picking a route across rubble-strewn ice and moraine. The Trango Towers and Cathedral peaks soar overhead. We camp at Khoburtse (3,795 m) on the edge of the ice.
Day 9Urdukas
3,930 m
A shorter day up to Urdukas (3,930 m), a famous grassy balcony perched on the valley side above the glacier. The camp offers one of the finest views on the whole trek — a front-row seat facing the Trango Towers and Grand Cathedral.
Day 10Goro II
4,295 m
A full, demanding day entirely on the open ice of the Baltoro, navigating the maze of the glacier to Goro II (4,295 m). The scale is staggering — Masherbrum, Gasherbrum IV and the Mustagh Tower fill the skyline as we push deeper into the range.
Day 11Concordia
4,500 m
The day you've come for. We trek up to Concordia (4,500 m), the legendary meeting point of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers — the 'throne room of the mountain gods.' Camp here is ringed by giants, with K2 standing clear at the head of the valley.
Day 12K2 Base Camp
5,150 m
A long out-and-back along the Godwin-Austen Glacier to K2 Base Camp (5,150 m), standing face to face with the second-highest mountain on earth and passing Broad Peak Base Camp and the Gilkey Memorial. An unforgettable, high day before we return to camp at Concordia.
Day 13Rest at Concordia
4,500 m
A rest and acclimatisation day at Concordia to recover and prepare for the crossing ahead. There's time to photograph the four 8,000 m peaks, explore nearby vantage points, or simply sit and absorb one of the greatest mountain amphitheatres on the planet.
Day 14Ali Camp
4,800 m
A half-day move to Ali Camp (4,800 m) at the foot of the Gondogoro La. The afternoon is spent on essential training — crampon work, ice-axe and fixed-rope technique with our guides and the Hushe rescue team — and an early night before the alpine start.
Day 15Gondogoro La (5,585 m)
5,585 m
The hardest and finest day of the trek. A pre-dawn start on fixed ropes carries us up to the Gondogoro La at 5,585 m, where the summit view of K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums is simply unmatched. A careful, roped descent on the far side brings us down to Khuspang (4,450 m) and the green of the Hushe side.
Day 16Khuspang to Dalsampa
4,150 m
After the high pass, a gentler day descending the Gondogoro Glacier and valley to Dalsampa (4,150 m). The landscape softens — meadows, grazing yaks and wildflowers replace the ice, and the body begins to recover in the thicker air.
Day 17Weather Buffer Day
4,150 m
A buffer day held in reserve. The Gondogoro La cannot be forced in bad weather, so this spare day keeps the whole itinerary safe — if the crossing went to plan, it becomes a welcome rest day in the Hushe valley.
Day 18Dalsampa to Saicho
3,350 m
A pleasant descent down the Gondogoro valley to Saicho (3,350 m), a green camp among juniper and birch. The hardest of the trek is behind you, and the walking is a relief — running streams, pasture and the first trees in days.
Day 19Hushe & Skardu
2,500 m
A final morning walk out to Hushe, the trailhead village and home of many of the porters and rescue team who carried the expedition. From here a jeep and road transfer takes us back to Skardu for a hot shower, a real bed and a celebration dinner.
Day 20Fly to Islamabad
540 m
Fly from Skardu back to Islamabad (weather permitting), with a road transfer as backup if flights are held. The evening is free for a farewell dinner and to mark the completion of one of the great treks on earth.
Day 21Departure
540 m
Transfer to the airport for your international departure. The expedition is complete — K2 stood face to face, the Gondogoro La crossed, and a circular journey through the heart of the Karakoram behind you.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $2,600 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Return domestic flights (Islamabad-Skardu-Islamabad)
- All ground transport
- Hotel nights in Islamabad and Skardu
- All trek meals
- Camping equipment
- Licensed guide
- Porters
- Cook
- All trekking permits
- A professional rescue team from Hushe Valley assists with the technical Gondogoro La crossing
- Satellite phone communication and daily weather forecast monitoring throughout the expedition
Not included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- Personal travel insurance and Pakistan visa fees
- Personal mountaineering gear (ice axe
- Crampons
- Harness) – available for rent in Skardu
- Tips for guides
- Porters
- 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 $2,600 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 K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price is required to confirm your spot. Full payment is due 30 days before departure.
Bookings can be made through our official website, authorized agents, or direct contact.
Prices may change due to availability, demand, and government travel regulations.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations 60+ days before departure: Full refund minus the deposit.
Cancellations 30-59 days before departure: 50% refund of total amount paid.
Cancellations less than 30 days before departure: No refund will be issued.
Permits & Documentation
Foreign trekkers should note that trekking and mountaineering in Pakistan fall under a different visa category than a standard tourist visa – we guide you to the correct one and issue a Letter of Invitation for your application.
Trekking permits and the NOC for the Baltoro–Gondogoro La restricted zone are arranged by us and fully included in the package price.
All trekkers must carry valid travel and high-altitude medical insurance covering high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
Health & Fitness Requirements
Trekkers must be in good physical health with prior trekking experience above 3,500 m.
Basic crampon and rope skills are required for the Gondogoro La crossing. Training is provided at Ali Camp.
Anyone with a history of severe altitude sickness must 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 K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek cost?
$2,600 per person on our scheduled departures. The package page lists exactly what is included; private and custom-group pricing is available on request — just ask.
How long is the trip?
21 Days - 20 Nights, start to finish.
When is the best time to go?
Summer (June 1 - Sep 15). We will help you pick the best window for your dates.
How hard is the K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek? Do I need climbing skills?
This is a serious high-altitude trek, though not a technical climb — no general mountaineering skills are needed on the route. Expect long days on glacier and moraine, cold camps, and real altitude with no road access once you are in. Come with strong cardio fitness and ideally some prior multi-day trekking. The Gondogoro La crossing itself uses fixed ropes and crampons on the pass, which our guides fix and manage for you.
How high do you go?
The high point is Gondogoro La at 5,585 m.
What permits or visa do I need?
Trekking here needs a Pakistan Trekking & Mountaineering visa, which is different from a standard tourist visa, plus trekking permits and an NOC for the national park. We arrange the permits and guide you through the visa paperwork before you travel.
What about insurance, safety and rescue?
We require mountaineering or adventure travel insurance that includes high-altitude helicopter-evacuation cover, valid to this trek’s maximum altitude. Out here heli-evacuation is the emergency option and its cost falls to the client and their insurer, so sort it before you travel. Every expedition carries a satellite phone, and we maintain helicopter-rescue contacts for the region.
Who guides the trek?
Your team is 100% local Balti — guides and porters from the valleys themselves, our own staff, never handed to a third-party broker.
How do I get to the start?
Fly Islamabad to Skardu (about an hour, weather permitting) or drive the Karakoram Highway, then 4x4 jeep to the trailhead. We arrange pickup and all ground transport.
Can I do this as a private or custom trip?
Yes — every itinerary can run as a private departure and be tailored to your dates, pace and group size. Tell us what you have in mind and we will build it around you.
