Location
Activity
Altitude
Islamabad to Skardu
Flight (1 hr) OR 2-day drive along Karakoram Highway. En route: Indus River, lush valleys. Mountain view: Nanga Parbat (8,126 m).
540 m to 2,228 m
Skardu
Permits, expedition briefing, acclimatization. Side trips: Upper Kachura Lake, Shigar Fort.
2,228 m
Skardu to Askole
Jeeps ride through Shigar Valley and along Braldu River.
3,050 m
Skardu to Askole
Continue jeep ride to Askole, last permanent village before Baltoro Glacier.
3,050 m
Askole to Jhola
Trek to Jhola.
3,150 m
Jhola to Paiju
Trek to Paiju. View of Paiju Peak (6,610 m).
3,400 m
Paiju
Rest/acclimatization day at Paiju.
3,400 m
Paiju to Khoburtse
Trek to Khoburtse. Views of Trango Towers (6,286 m).
3,800 m
Khoburtse to Urdukas
Trek to Urdukas. Views of Cathedral Towers (5,866 m).
4,050 m
Urdukas to Goro II
Trek to Goro II. Views of Masherbrum (7,821 m).
4,300 m
Goro II to Concordia
Trek to Concordia, “Throne Room of the Gods” surrounded by K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrums.
4,650 m
Concordia to Gasherbrum Base Camp
Trek to Gasherbrum Base Camp.
5,050 m
Base Camp to Camp I
Acclimatization Rotation 1: Climb to Camp I and return.
5,800 m
Base Camp to Camp II
Acclimatization Rotation 2: Climb to Camp I, then to Camp II, overnight, and return.
6,400 m
Base Camp to Camp III
Acclimatization Rotation 3: Climb to Camp II, touch Camp III, and return.
7,100 m
Base Camp to Camp I
Summit Push: Climb to Camp I.
5,800 m
Camp I to Camp II
Summit Push: Climb to Camp II.
6,400 m
Camp II to Camp III
Summit Push: Climb to Camp III.
7,100 m
Camp III to Camp IV
Summit Push: Climb to Camp IV.
7,500 m
Camp IV to Summit
Summit Day: 14–18 hrs of technical climbing. Challenges: steep ice/rock walls, exposed ridges, avalanches, unstable ice flutings. Descend to Camp II/III.
7,925 m
Camp II/III to Base Camp
Descent to Base Camp.
5,050 m
Base Camp to Askole
Trek back to Askole.
3,050 m
Askole to Skardu
Jeep ride to Skardu.
2,228 m
Skardu to Islamabad
Flight or drive to Islamabad.
540 m
