21-Day Haramosh Peak Expedition from Islamabad via Baltistan

• Upon arrival in Islamabad, meet your tour representative and transfer to the hotel.
• Enjoy an afternoon city tour and visit Raja Bazar in Rawalpindi.
• Join a trek briefing with the tour leader in the evening.

Overnight at the hotel.

• You will be transferred to Islamabad airport for the flight. This flight is subject to weather conditions.
• Alternatively, we may take a two-day drive to Skardu through the Karakoram Highway.

Stay overnight at Chilas on the bank of the Indus.

• Free day in Skardu for those flying in.
• Skardu is the capital of Baltistan and stands at an altitude of 2278 meters. It serves as the starting point for some of the most scenic and adventurous trekking in the world.
• Visit the bazaar in the morning, and in the afternoon, go to Satpara Lake.

Overnight stay at the motel.

• Transfer by soft-top 4x4 jeeps to Arandu (3165 m).

Overnight at camp.

• Trek along the Basha River for 6-7 hours to the snout of Chogolungma Glacier. It takes one hour to cross the northern lateral moraine.
• Across the glacier, it takes 4-5 hours to reach the green meadows of Bakken.

Overnight camp.

• Walk for 5-7 hours with a view of the perfect pyramid of Spantik Peak (7027 m), which guards the head of the valley, to Manchikera, another summer settlement.

• Reach Harnal.

Overnight at camp.

• Pass through the summer settlement of Gharincho and a small lake.

• Continue with a 4-5 hour walk with magnificent views of Spantik and Laila peaks.

Overnight camp on the green pasture of Bolocho.

• Cross the Chogolungma Glacier and walk for about 20 minutes on the rough snout of the glacier until reaching the smooth, white central part.

• Turn southwest to Haramosh Glacier and reach Laila Base Camp.

• Rest at Laila Base Camp, as this is a free day for acclimatization.

• Wake up and get ready for a full-day excursion to the base camp of Spantik. This is a strenuous 6-7 hour round-trip trek over rock and ice.

• Start with a 5-6 hour trek to climb a peak of about 4800 m for magnificent panoramic mountain views.

Overnight camp at Laila Base Camp.

• Continue with a 4-5 hour walk up the Haramosh Glacier, with a view of Haramosh Pass ahead. The last hour is across big rocks and crevasses, requiring climbing by rope.

Overnight camp.

• Leave camp at about 4 am to climb Haramosh Pass.

• Walk on the Haramosh Glacier, crossing many crevasses.

• After about two hours, with the danger of avalanches coming down from the left, move across the glacier towards the north side and continue up.

• The final ascent involves a steep walk on snow and ice. At some point, climbers will need to use 20 meters of fixed rope, as well as crampons and ice axes.

• At the top of the pass, enjoy good views of Haramosh and Laila.

• After a short climb up to the right (north), arrive at Rakaposhi.

• Below, see Kutwal Lake and trees.

• Descend to the lakeside at Kutwal Lake. You will need a rope to get down the first 40 meters, as the trail is steep.

• After four hours, reach a grass- and tree-covered area.

• From there, take an easy walk along the mini glacier down to the shepherds' huts at Kutwal Lake Camp.

• Walk down from the lake through green pasture for one hour.

• Descend for half an hour across the glacier and then reach Iskary summer village.

Overnight camp.

• Go down the right side of the mini glacier and cross the Baskai stream to the shepherd's summer settlement of Gure.

• Traverse along the water channel, down through trees and fields, to Dassu and camp for the overnight stay.

• Enjoy the last breakfast at camp.

• Board soft-top 4x4 jeeps for Gilgit.

• Transfer to the hotel and enjoy a shower.

Meals and overnight stay at the hotel.

• Go for a picnic in Naltar Valley, a 42 km drive from Gilgit.

• Enjoy a full-day picnic in lush green Naltar Valley, heavily wooded with pine, spruce, birch, and juniper. Naltar village, at 2880 meters, has an Air-force Ski Training base.

Overnight at the hotel.

• Drive on the Karakoram Highway along the Indus River to reach Besham / Narran.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

• Drive to Rawalpindi, en route visiting Taxila, the former capital of the Gandhara civilization.

• See the archaeological remains of a monastery (Julian), a city (Sirkup), and the museum.

• Continue the drive to Rawalpindi.

• Transfer to the hotel, then enjoy a farewell dinner at a typical Punjabi restaurant.

• Transfer to the airport for your departure flight to your home destination.