K2 base camp trek: route guide

The trek runs from Skardu up the Braldu valley to Askole, then along the Baltoro Glacier to K2 base camp, inside Central Karakoram National Park. Most groups return the same way; fitter, rope-trained groups cross the Gondogoro La pass into the Hushe valley instead.

Coordinates below are approximate; the route is not waymarked and your guide sets the daily line.

Distances and times are estimates for a standard guided itinerary; jeep access ends at Askole, so everything after that is on foot or by pack animal. Altitude, not distance, sets the pace: keep gains to about 400 m a day where you can.

July and August give the most reliable weather and the only period when fixed ropes are usually in place on the Gondogoro La and the Mountain Rescue Support Team is on station, typically until around late August. June and September are possible but colder and less certain.

Outside that window expect winter conditions and no rope or rescue cover. Check the current season status with your operator before committing, since rope removal dates shift year to year.

After Skardu, camping is the only realistic option. Askole and Hushe have small, very basic hostels if you need a roof at either end of the route.

In Skardu, guesthouses and small hotels are plentiful and cheap; book the first and last nights there and let your operator handle camp logistics. Sanitation on the route is minimal, so carry your own supplies.

You cannot do this trek independently: foreigners must be accompanied by a guide from a government-approved company, and a trekking visa is required. The visa takes about 4 weeks and needs an invitation letter from an approved operator; the process can start up to 6 months before arrival, and the visa is valid 3 months from entry.

For the Gondogoro La, bring crampons, a climbing harness and a carabiner. Fixed ropes are normally installed in July and August; using them costs about Rs 28,000 for up to two people (2026 estimate), with higher rates for larger groups. Outside the season you supply your own ropes.

Altitude is the main health risk: Askole sits above 3,000 m, base camp about 5,000 m and Gondogoro La about 5,500 m. Build in acclimatisation days. Diarrhoea is common because water on the glacier is drawn from contaminated runoff, so boil or treat everything and carry rehydration salts. Rescue, if needed, is by horse (about US$300–600) or military helicopter (about US$13,000–15,000), so insurance and pack horses are worth arranging.