Snow Lake Trek Pakistan - 21 Days

Snow Lake trek is a long and rigorous trek in the northern Karakoram mountains of Pakistan. It starts from Askole and after trekking the lengths of Biafo and Hispar glacier, we reach the valleys of Nagar and Hunza. Few of the main attractions are the snow lake and the Hispar La pass (5, 128 m) which separates the Hispar glacier (44km) from Biafo glacier (63km). Biafo is the world's third longest glacier outside polar region. The views on the trek are unmatched.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad

Pass By: F-6 Markaz, Islamabad Pakistan
Your flights will normally arrive in Islamabad in the afternoon. Our guide(s) will receive you from the airport. Soon the participants will be transferred to hotels. This day the participants can relax and recover from the journey.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Chateau Royal, Prestige Residence or equivalent standard hotel (depends on occupancy) in Islamabad.

Day 2: Fly to Skardu, Karakoram

Pass By: Skardu, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan
Participants on this morning will take the spectacular flight from Islamabad airport to Skardu airport. You will be able to see Nanga Parbat if clouds allow. After arrival in Skardu, the day is free. In case of flight cancellation, overnight stay in Chilas.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Concordia Motel, Mountain Lodge or equivalent standard hotel (depends on occupancy) in Skardu.

Day 3: Spend free day in Skardu

Pass By: Kharphocho Fort, Kharpocho Fort, Chumik Rd, Skardu
After breakfast, the participants will walk to Kharpocho fort in Skardu, which is located up on a mountain. The Kharpocho fort gives a splendid view of the Indus and Skardu town. The participants will also have an option to take a tour to Sadpara Lake followed by free shopping time in Skardu Bazaar.
During sightseeing, our staff will take care of further government documentation required in Skardu. This can sometimes take two days. We have contingency days towards the end of the trek incase of any delays.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Concordia Motel, Mountain Lodge or equivalent standard hotel (depends on occupancy) in Skardu.

Day 4: Drive to Askole village

Pass By: Askole
The participants will begin the jeep safari towards Daso, the passage will go through the Shigar valley. The journey will be followed on the sides of Braldu river which extends to Askole. Askole will be the last village on our route; the participants will start walking after leaving jeeps behind. However at times the participants may begin their walk before arrival in Askole but it depends on the road conditions. Overall it will take you between six hours to eight hours in covering the distance.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 5: Trek to Namla

Pass By: Biafo Gyang Glacier
The trek starts by following the K2 Base Camp trail and then turns west onto the Biafo Glacier. The trail ascends over a shoulder to reach the left moraine and descends on to the glacier then back on to the left bank where the grassy camping site called Namla is located behind a lateral moraine.The trek starts by following the K2 Base Camp trail and then turns west onto the Biafo Glacier. The trail ascends over a shoulder to reach the left moraine and descends on to the glacier then back on to the left bank where the grassy camping site called Namla is located behind a lateral moraine.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 6: Trek to Mango

Pass By: Biafo Gyang Glacier
After crossing a fracture zone on the glacier we reach the centre of the glacier where we follow moraine ridges, underfoot there is loose rock making this a challenging day. We set up camp on the left bank of the Biafo in a grassy area.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 7: Trek to Baintha

Pass By: Hispar Glacier, 37P9+58X
The route continues up the center of the glacier on a broad highway of ice making the walking easier than yesterday. We cross to the right and come off the glacier to a grassy area where Baintha camp is located.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 8: Acclimatization and rest

Pass By: Biafo Gyang Glacier
This is a rest day for you and the porters in order to help with acclimatization to the high altitude. You can relax in camp or if feeling energetic walk up a ridge behind camp with fine views of Latok group and The Ogre. Look out for Ibex that can often be seen grassy slopes above.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 9: Trek to Morfogoro

Pass By: Hispar Pass
The trail is steep and loose to get onto the glacier however once there we follow the flat glacier making relatively straightforward walking. Further along the glacier there are some crevasses to be aware of where depending on the conditions we might rope up to safeguard our passage. There are superb views of many peak including The Ogre (7, 813m) and also we will get the first views of the Hispar La and Snow Lake.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 10: Trek to Hispar La Base Camp

Pass By: Hispar Glacier, 37P9+58X
Today we walk to the south end of a large snowy flat area known as Snow Lake finding our way through a network of crevasses. Snow Lake is a high altitude glacial basin over 16km wide at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers. Martin Conway, the first foreign visitor, gave Snow Lake the name in 1892 and described this area as "beyond all comparison the finest view of mountains it has ever been my lot to behold, nor do I believe the world can hold a finer.”

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 11: Cross Snow Lake and trek to Hispar La

Pass By: Hispar Glacier, 37P9+58X
Today we traverse across the vast Snow Lake area and make the ascent to Hispar La. The climb to Hispar La is not too steep although it always feels quite strenuous at this altitude, we also have to be aware of the crevasses in this area. The views at Hispar La are fantastic looking down Biafo glacier to Snow Lake and The Ogre and other side down Hispar glacier to peaks in Hunza.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 12: Trek to Kani Basa

Pass By: Hispar Pass
After an early start we descend from Hispar La crossing a crevassed area and then later on the glacier flattens out. We have to cross Kani Basa glacier which is facture zone where the two glaciers collide. Shortly afterwards we reach our camp located in a grassy ablation valley with good views of Kanjut Sar (7, 760m).

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 13: Trek to Jutmal

Pass By: Hispar Glacier, 37P9+58X
This is a challenging day as we have to find our way through a series of moraine ridges; climb a loose scree slope then cross several glacial streams. Jutmal camp is on a grassy area along the side of the glacier.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 14: Trek to Bitanmal

Pass By: Hispar Village, Hunza Nagar
After an hour we descend down a steep bank to cross another side glacier then back to the valley as before where the walking is good. Camp at Bitanmal is in a large meadow often used by herders from Hispar village.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 15: Trek to Falaling Chhish

Pass By: Hispar Village, Hunza Nagar
We make the last side glacier crossing over the Kunyang Glacier, then walk up by a steep path and cross a stream to get to the meadows at Falaling Chhish.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 16: Trek to Hispar Village

Pass By: Hispar Village, Hunza Nagar
From our camp at Falaling Chhish we cross a bridge to reach Hispar village. You will certainly notice the vibrant green of the orchards and terraced fields after the black and white scenery of the Hispar Glacier. Depending on the condition of the road we may meet our jeeps in the village if the road is broken then we have a further walk followed by a short drive to our last camp on this trek.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Camping in twin-sharing dome tent

Day 17: Drive to Karimabad

Pass By: Hunza Valley, Karimabad, Gilgit Pakistan
We take a jeep for a couple of hours to Nagar village along a rather narrow track before reaching the Karakoram Highway. We drive up the road to Karimabad where we check into a hotel and the rest of the day is free to wash up, relax and explore the town.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Hilltop Hotel Hunza, World Roof Hotel or equivalent standard hotel in Hunza.

Day 18: Contingency day/sightseeing

Pass By: Hunza Valley, Karimabad, Gilgit Pakistan
This day is allocated for any potential delays during trekking. We do not want our guests to miss their domestic flight due to delays. These delays can be caused by multiple factors including (but not limited to) road blocks. This time can be utilised for sightseeing of Hunza valley.

Hunza valley is very beautiful and today we have the chance to explore Karimabad, it is an interesting town spectacularly situated on a hillside to the north of the road with views of the fertile valley below (due to their extensive irrigation system) and a glimpses of snowy mountains. We will visit the forts of Alti and Baltit dating from the 13th century the Baltit fort, once the home of the ruling Mir, guards the valley and is now a museum and the Alti fort is even more dramatic perched above the Hunza river. In the afternoon we drive to Gilgit.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Riveria Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel or equivalent standard hotel in Gilgit.

Day 19: Fly to Islamabad

Pass By: Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
On this day the participants will take a flight from the airport in Gilgit to Islamabad airport. You will have a good time to relax at the hotel in Islamabad.
The domestic flights sometime get cancelled due to weather conditions. In case of flight cancellation, you will drive to Naran or Besham for overnight. It takes eight hours by a vehicle.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Chateau Royal, Prestige Residence or equivalent standard hotel (depends on occupancy) in Islamabad.

Day 20: Contingency day for flight cancellations

Pass By: Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
This day is allocated for any potential delays in case the domestic flight does not operate the previous day. Our guests will depart early morning from Chilas to Islamabad which can take up to ten hours. However it will be a free day in case the participants make it to Islamabad on the domestic flight. This time can be utilized for sightseeing in Islamabad.

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Twin-sharing room at Chateau Royal, Prestige Residence or equivalent standard hotel (depends on occupancy) in Islamabad.

Day 21: Fly to home country

Pass By: Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
Our staff will transfer all our guests to the airport on their respective departure timings. The checkout time of all our partner hotels is 12pm.

Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.