Eighteen days up the Baltoro to Concordia and K2 Base Camp — the single greatest concentration of high mountains anywhere on earth.
From Askole, the last village, the route follows the Braldu and then the Baltoro glacier for six days to Concordia — a junction of ice where the Godwin-Austen and Baltoro glaciers meet, surrounded by four 8,000-metre peaks and dozens above 7,000.
K2 Base Camp sits at 5,150 metres beneath the south face. Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and II are all within sight. The walking is not technical but it is long, glaciated, at sustained altitude, and there is no way out except the way you came in — or over Gondogoro La, which is a separate proposition entirely.
This is a full expedition. Porters, cook crew, a licensed guide, a permit, a liaison arrangement and a satellite phone. Baltoro Guides have been doing it since 2004 and their high-altitude porters are on fixed daily rates with insurance, which is not universal on this route.
01
Four 8,000-metre peaks visible from one point on the ice. There is nowhere else like it.
02
Beneath the south face of the second-highest mountain on earth.
03
The largest granite walls in the world, passed on day eight.
04
A grass ledge above the glacier — the only green on the whole Baltoro.
05
The operator's high-altitude crew are on union rates with insurance. Ask any other operator the same question.
Meet in Skardu. Equipment check, permit paperwork and briefing.
Short walk at Kharpocho and Sadpara, final kit issue, and a medical check with the expedition doctor.
Eight hours by jeep up the Shigar and Braldu valleys to the last village on the road.
First walking day, following the Braldu river across the Biafo glacier snout to the camp at Jhola.
Along the river to Paiju, the last place with trees and running water before the glacier.
Acclimatisation day. Porters prepare loads and bake bread for the glacier section.
Onto the Baltoro glacier proper. Slow going on moraine, with the Trango Towers coming into view.
A short day to the grass ledge at Urdukas, high above the glacier, looking straight across at the Trango and Cathedral groups.
Back down onto the ice and up the centre of the glacier. Masherbrum ahead all day.
The day the mountain appears. K2 comes into view about two hours out. Camp on the ice at Concordia at 4,600 m.
Up the Godwin-Austen glacier to base camp at 5,150 m and the Gilkey Memorial. Long day at altitude, back to Concordia for the night.
A day to be there. Optional walk toward Gasherbrum base camp for the eastern view.
Begin the return down the glacier.
Back to the grass ledge, and the first green in a week.
Off the glacier and back to running water.
Along the Braldu, retracing the approach.
Final walking section to Askole, then the long jeep back down to Skardu. Hotel, shower, and a proper meal.
Transfer to the airport or the Gilgit road. Buffer day recommended for weather-affected flights.
Included in the price
Not included
Prices vary by date: high season costs more, and the shoulder weeks are the quietest on the route.
4.9
from 2 reviews
Andrés Silva
Chile · Travelled July 2025
Porters on fixed rates with insurance, a rest day at Paiju that some operators skip, and a doctor's check before we left Skardu. Concordia at first light is the single most extraordinary thing I have seen. It is also the hardest thing I have done.
Ingrid Solberg
Norway · Travelled June 2025
I asked before booking what the high-altitude porters are paid and whether they are insured. They sent me the rates. No other operator I contacted did. Everything else on the trek followed from that answer.
The difference
Same objective, run differently. The price gap is usually about group size, who carries what, and how many nights you spend acclimatising.
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