Overview
Our K2 Base Camp trek is a 22-day expedition into the heart of Pakistan’s Karakoram, following the legendary Baltoro Glacier to Concordia and K2 Base Camp (5,400m) before crossing the spectacular Gondogoro La Pass at 5,585m.
This is one of the world’s great high-altitude trekking journeys. Over 14 days on the trail, you’ll travel through an exceptionally remote mountain landscape, surrounded by some of the highest and most dramatic peaks on Earth, including K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums.
Rather than retracing the same route after reaching K2 Base Camp, our itinerary continues across the Gondogoro La and descends through the Hushe Valley, turning the journey into a full traverse of the Karakoram rather than an out-and-back trek.
This is a demanding expedition for experienced hikers. Long trekking days, rough glacial terrain, sustained time at altitude and the crossing of the Gondogoro La make it a considerable step up from trips such as Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro.
Throughout the expedition, you’ll be supported by our experienced Pakistani mountain team and a dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor, with full camping and logistical support along the route.
Expedition Highlights
Trek to K2 Base Camp
Stand beneath K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, after trekking deep into one of the most remote mountain regions on Earth.
Cross the Baltoro Glacier
Follow the legendary Baltoro Glacier through the heart of the Karakoram, surrounded by some of the world’s most spectacular granite and ice-covered peaks.
Experience Concordia
Reach the extraordinary mountain amphitheatre of Concordia, where the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers meet and four 8,000m peaks dominate the skyline.
Cross the Gondogoro La
Cross the 5,585m Gondogoro La Pass before descending into the Hushe Valley, creating a complete traverse rather than retracing your route.
14 Days of Trekking
Spend two weeks on foot in a genuinely remote wilderness, camping beneath some of the highest mountains in the world.
Dedicated Expedition Doctor
A dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor travels with the group throughout the expedition.
K2 Base Camp Expedition Costs & What’s Included
The total expedition price is shown above.
Just pay a €399 deposit to secure your place. A part-payment of €1,000 is due six months before departure, with the remaining balance due three months before departure.
You can choose to pay the balance in instalments or in full.
Before You Go
- Pre-departure training weekend in Wicklow, Ireland
- An Earth’s Edge team jacket, buff and cap for you to keep
- Ongoing pre-departure support from the Earth’s Edge team based in Ireland
- Advice on training, equipment and preparing for extreme altitude
In Pakistan
- Experienced expedition leader
- Pakistani mountain guiding team
- Dedicated Earth’s Edge expedition doctor
- Full support team including guides, cooks and porters
- Internal flights between Islamabad and Skardu, where operating
- Hotel accommodation in Islamabad and Skardu, based on twin sharing
- Fully serviced camping during the trek
- All meals and drinking water as outlined in the itinerary
- Celebratory dinner
- Planned group transport throughout the expedition
- Airport transfers matching the recommended flights
- Permits and national park fees
- Group trekking and camping equipment
- Fully stocked expedition medical kit
Flights
Flights are not included in the expedition price.
Travelling from Ireland? We’ll send you our recommended flight timings approximately 10 months before departure. These timings are designed to connect with our complimentary group airport transfers.
You are welcome to choose alternative flights, but we recommend speaking to us before booking so we can make sure your arrival works with the expedition schedule.
Read our K2 Base Camp blogs
Do you fancy having more information on this expedition? We have lots of extra insight into our K2 trips on the blog.
Itinerary
Day 2
Fly Islamabad to Skardu, 1 hr
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Today we take the short but spectacular flight to Skardu. Free day to explore Skardu. Altitude 2,228m. Note: If our flight is cancelled due to bad weather we will start the drive to Skardu travelling for 10/11 hrs on the Karakorum Highway to reach Chilas.
Day 3
Free day in Skardu
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Today we enjoy a free day in Skardu. Overnight hotel. Note: If our flight is cancelled due to bad weather we will continue the drive to Skardu travelling for 10/11 hrs on the Karakorum Highway to reach Skardu.
Day 4
Drive Skardu to Askoli, 7hrs
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Today we take the thrilling and spectacular drive to Askoli, the starting point of our trek. Altitude 3,000m.
Day 5
Trek Askoli to Jhola; 9 hrs, 12.6km
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We walk along the Braldu River to set up camp at Jhola. Altitude 3,100m
Day 6
Trek Jhola to Paiyu; 9 hrs, 16.6km
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A tougher day as the trail to Paiyu undulates for most of the day. Altitude 3,450m.
Day 8
Trek Paiyu to Khubertse; 10 hrs, 10.8km
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We enjoy stunning views of Paiyu Peak, Uli Biaho, Great Trango Tower, Lobsang Spire and the Cathedral Towers on the route to Khubertse. Altitude 3,816m.
Day 9
Trek Khubertse to Urdukas; 4 hrs, 5.1km
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A shorter and easier day today crossing beautiful slopes covered in wildflowers. Altitude 4,168m.
Day 10
Trek Urdukas to Goro II; 6-8 hrs, 12.1km
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Another stunning day today as we walk across the moraine and glacier with a lot of fun rock-hopping and stream-jumping. Altitude 4,319m.
Day 11
Trek Goro 11 to Concordia; 5 hrs, 9.2km
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A challenging but rewarding day trekking across more moraine and glacier. It is a gradual climb up to Concordia where the Baltoro, Abruzzi and Godwin Austen glaciers meet. Altitude 4,570m.
Day 12
Trek Concordia to Broad Peak Base Camp, 5 hrs
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Today’s route to Broad Peak Basecamp offers one of the best views of K2. Altitude 5,400m
Day 13
Trek Broad Peak Base Camp to K2 Base Camp to Concordia, 7 hrs
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We arrive at K2 Base Camp today! Altitude 4,570m.
Day 14
Rest day in Concordia
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We take a well deserved rest day to soak in our stunning surroundings. Overnight camp.
Day 15
Trek Concordia to Ali Camp; 6 hrs, 9.5km
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We leave Concordia and say farewell to some of the staff and ponies that have helped us until now. Overnight camp. Altitude 5,010m.
Day 16
Trek Ali Camp to Hispung via the Gondogoro La Pass, 12 hrs, 8.5km
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The toughest day on the trek takes us across the Gondogoro La Pass (5,585m). Overnight camp. Altitude 4,680m.
Day 17
Trek Hispung to Daltsampa via Saicho, 8hrs
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We walk through beautiful alpine meadows to Daltsampa. Overnight camp. Altitude 4,300m.
Day 18
Trek Daltsampa to Hushe; 4 hrs, 9.3km
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Our last day of this epic journey is spent on the trail from Daltsampa to Hushe where we bid farewell to the porters. Overnight hotel. Altitude 3,050m.
Day 20
Fly Skardu to Islamabad, 1 hr
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We fly back to Islamabad in the morning. Your afternoon is free for exploring. Note: If our flight is cancelled due to bad weather we will start the drive to Islamabad travelling for 9 hrs on the Karakorum Highway to reach Chilas.
Day 21
Free day Islamabad
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Enjoy a free day in Islamabad for exploring, sightseeing and shopping. Note: If our flight on day 21 was cancelled we will spend 11 hours driving from Chilas to Islamabad today.
Start Planning Your Journey
Facts
Pakistan is one of the most underrated and under-visited places in the world. Combine the amazing culture with the stunning Karakoram region where K2 is, and you've got a truly amazing place!
Mount Everest is 8,848m, making K2 just 237 metres shorter.
It got the name K2 in the Great Trigonometrical Survey where a British man Thomas George Montgomerie sketched the largest peaks he could see. The K stands for the Karakoram region, and he assigned K1 to K6 for the peaks.
There doesn't seem to be a name for the mountain locally. This may be to do with how remote it is and that the peak isn't visible from the nearest town of Askole.
The first attempt to summit K2 was in 1902, but it wasn't conquered until 1954 by an Italian team. The first female climber on K2 was Wanda Rutkiewicz from Poland in 1986.
Best time to trek K2 Base Camp?
The best time to attempt your K2 Base Camp trek is in the Summer months.
Temperatures on the expedition may vary from 0 to 30 degrees during the day and -10 to 10 degrees at night. It’s best to be prepared for lower temperatures due to wind chill or the weather turning bad. Usually the days are hot and the nights are cold.
What do you need to trek to K2 Base Camp?
We have an extensive packing list on what you should bring with you when trekking K2 Base Camp.
How to prepare to trek K2 Base Camp
We have classified K2 Base Camp as a level 7 expedition. Typical elevation gain per day would be 500 – 1000 meters, with at least one day over 1000 metres. We strongly recommend that you read our detailed information pack, which gives in detail on how you should prepare for trekking K2 Base Camp.
Certified B-Corp
Certified B-CorpEarth's Edge is a certified B-Corp. In fact, we are the highest scoring B-Corp in Ireland. We are passionate about sustainable travel, bettering the lives of the people connected with the company and minimising our environmental impact.
