⛰ 540m
Arrive at Islamabad International Airport, meet our team representative, and transfer to your hotel. Hold a mandatory pre-trek briefing on logistics, document checks, and gear inspection.
🏠 Hotel in Islamabad
⛰ 2,230m | ⏱ 45 min flight (or 11–12 hrs drive)
Take a scenic morning flight over Nanga Parbat and the main Karakoram spine into Skardu (weather permitting). If flights are canceled due to mountain weather, begin the overland drive via the Karakoram Highway to Chilas.
🏠 Hotel in Skardu or Chilas
⛰ 2,230m | ⏱ 8–9 hours drive
If traveling overland, finish the scenic drive along the Indus River gorge into Skardu. If you arrived by flight on Day 2, spend this day acclimatizing with visits to Kharpocho Fort, Katpana Cold Desert, or Shangrila Lake.
🏠 Hotel in Skardu
⛰ 3,050m | ⏱ 5–6 hours drive
Drive in 4x4 vehicles along the Shyok River past the historic 18th-century Serena Khaplu Palace to Hushe Village (3,050m)—the final roadhead of Ghanche District. Meet your local Balti porters, complete gear loads, and camp overnight.
🏕 Camp / Guest House in Hushe Village
⛰ 3,330m | ⏱ 4–5 hours trek
Begin trekking north alongside the Hushe River. Ascend through summer shepherd settlements and juniper groves to reach Saicho, a grassy campsite situated at the junction where the rivers of the Gondogoro, Charakusa, and Honboro valleys converge.
🏕 Camp at Saicho
⛰ 4,150m | ⏱ 5–6 hours trek
Head northeast along the lateral moraine of the Gondogoro Glacier. The trail climbs steadily over loose scree and rocky moraine to Dalsangpa (meaning "field of yellow flowers" in Balti), offering magnificent views of surrounding granite towers.
🏕 Camp at Dalsangpa
⛰ 4,600m | ⏱ 4–5 hours trek
Cross onto the moraine edge of the Gondogoro Glacier, trekking toward the high alpine basin of Khuispang. Establish base camp directly facing the sweeping, slanting ice wall and razor spire of Laila Peak (6,096m).
🏕 Camp at Khuispang / Laila Peak BC
⛰ 4,600m | ⏱ Flexible exploration
A dedicated buffer and photography day at base camp. Trek higher along the moraine toward the base of Gondogoro La for panoramas of Trinity Peak and the surrounding icefall, or capture early morning and sunset light hitting Laila Peak’s west face.
🏕 Camp at Khuispang / Laila Peak BC
⛰ 3,330m | ⏱ 6–7 hours trek
Begin the descent back down the Gondogoro Glacier moraine, bypassing Dalsangpa to reach the lower elevation and rich oxygen of Saicho campsite.
🏕 Camp at Saicho
⛰ 2,600m | ⏱ 3 hrs trek + 2 hrs drive
Trek down through Hushe Village, bid farewell to your porter team, and board 4x4 jeeps to Skardu and visit Khaplu Palace and Chaqchan Mosque while returning from Hushe.
🏠 Hotel in Skardu
⛰ 540m / 1,265m
Fly to Islamabad (weather permitting). If flights are grounded, begin the return drive along the Karakoram Highway to Chilas.
🏠 Hotel in Chilas or Islamabad
⛰ 540m
Complete the overland drive to Islamabad or use this reserve day as a cushion against mountain flight delays. Afternoon free for local city sightseeing.
🏠 Hotel in Islamabad
Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for onward international flights home.
✈ Airport Transfer
Foot
- Walking/ hiking boots.
- Gaiters. A pair of knee high gaiters used to keep boots dry if walking through deep snow or on wet ground.
- Wool Socks and liner socks.
- Sandals (for use around camp and river crossings).
- Trainers or trail shoes. Can be used on arrival to camp.
Clothing
- Gore-Tex shell jacket and trousers. For use if it rains or snows during the trek.
- Light trekking trousers. Minimum two pairs of trousers.
- Long sleeve, light colored polypropylene shirts. Minimum two shirts.
- Microfleece.
- Mid to heavyweight fleece jacket (Polartec 200 to 300).
- Sleeveless/ gilet or body warmer type fleece. This will help keep your core warm while not bulking when layering up. Gilet fleece can be used in combination with base layers, other fleeces and down jacket to provide maximum warmth and insulation.
- Lightweight synthetic long underwear for both top & bottom.
- Light to mid weight fleece pants (Polartec 100 to 200).
- Medium weight down jacket (recommended
Hand Wear
- Fleece gloves.
- Warms mittens and/or gloves
Head Wear
- Warm wool or fleecy hat/balaclava.
- Sun hat or baseball cap.
- Bandana or scarf. Very useful for the often dusty jeep rides and for protection on hot days
- Light weight climber’s headlamp for use at night around the camp. Bring extra batteries and spare bulbs.
- High quality sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Most effective for blocking sunlight are the wrap around type or side covers
Personal Equipment
- 4 season sleeping bag (maximum overnight low -15C).
- Fleece or silk liner for your sleeping bag. A liner protects your sleeping bag from getting dirty and helps by adding extra insulation to keep you warm at night.
- Thermosets self-inflating pad and/or foam mat.
- Backpack. Recommended size is 50 liters or larger as you need to have enough space to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing as well down jacket for days on the glacier. It is also a good idea to bring a pack cover to keep the contents dry.
- Stuff sacks for keeping your gear dry and organized. Or even better are fold dry bags such as from Expend.
- Two 1 liter water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best) and Camelback type water carrier 2 liter capacity. ·
Pee bottle. Highly recommended as means you do not have to get up to find toilet tent at night! For men you can use an old water bottle for women take a look at She Wee at http://www.shewee.com/ · Sunscreen and lip salve with an SPF 30 or better.
- Insect repellent.
- Water purification tablets (Pristine, Biox Acqua or Acqa Mira). You will be provided with boiled water at camp however if you refill water bottle at a water tap or steam during the day you should use water purifiers.
- Hand sanitizer. We suggest you keep this in your day pack for use after a toilet break during the trek or before eating any snacks.
- Favorite snack food.
- Paperback books, iPod and cards.
- Trekking poles (Black Diamond with “Flick Lock” are best). Having two poles is mandatory as required for your safety on steep and loose sections of the trail and for walking through deep snow higher up.
- Umbrella. You are likely to get some rain on this trek and also useful for providing shade when hot. · Camera with spare batteries and memory cards.
- Insurance certificate
- Baby wipes (optional)
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