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Due to its immense complexity and difficulty, the Karakoram has become the world's most demanding trekking route. To get there, you'll need to hire specialised agency services.
The Karakoram is located in Pakistan and is one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world. Stretching 500 km long and 200 km wide, this expanse contains more than half of the planet's highest peaks. 60 of the world's 110 tallest mountains are found in the Karakoram range. Among these, 4 exceed 8,000 metres in height, including K2 – the world's most inaccessible summit.
As if that weren't enough, the Karakoram is also notable for being the region with the most glaciers outside the polar areas.
You can reach the Karakoram from Pakistan's capital Islamabad by plane or bus to Skardu. From there, you'll continue by 4x4 along a dangerous track following the Braldo River, ascending the Shigar Valley until reaching Askole.
Here civilisation ends and the adventure begins.
The trek starts here, with about 14 days of journeying through uninhabited areas, making it absolutely essential to hire porters to transport supplies and equipment. To give you an idea, a group of 5 people will require about 30 support staff that Pakistan Tourism will provide – they're known for being very strict.
The trekking season in the Karakoram runs from May to October, though we particularly recommend July and August for the greatest atmospheric stability. That said, these are general guidelines – you must always check the specific weather conditions for your planned dates, as we're talking about mountain wilderness where conditions can change instantly.
The premier route through the Karakoram is the Baltoro trek, running from Askole to Concordia.
- This 4,600-metre route takes you past the confluence of 3 glaciers: the Baltoro, Vigne and Godwin-Austen.
- The route primarily follows the Baltoro Glacier itself – sometimes walking directly on it, other times along its flank and valley.
- Standing guard over this glacier are the mountains of Muztagh Tower (7,273m), Trango Tower (6,251m), Masherbrum (7,821m), Gasherbrum (7,929m), Chogolisa (7,665m) and K2 (8,611m – the Karakoram's highest peak and world's second tallest).
- Upon reaching Concordia, the route continues towards Gondogoro Pass, a col situated between two glaciers (Vigne and Hustre) at 5,600 metres. This is the trek's most challenging point, requiring crampons and ice axes to cross safely.
- The trek concludes in Khapalu village, reached via a steep road with exposed sections. An alternative option avoids this by retracing your steps back to Askole along the initial route down the Baltoro Glacier.
To undertake these treks, you must be in excellent physical condition and have proper mountain equipment – these routes are demanding even before accounting for the altitude and extreme cold.
