EXPEDITION · 12 DAYS
12-Day K2 Base Camp Trek
Full guided trek to Concordia and K2 Base Camp, with local staff and permits included.
EXPEDITION GATEWAY · GILGIT–BALTISTAN
K2 Base Camp
Trek Gateway
The starting point for treks to Concordia and the Baltoro Glacier, beneath the world's second-highest peak.
K2 SUMMIT
8,611m
CONCORDIA
~4,600m
DURATION
~12days
DIFFICULTY
Strenuous
OVERVIEW
The road to the world's toughest mountain
K2, at 8,611m, is the second-highest mountain on Earth and widely considered the most difficult of the 8,000m peaks to climb. Most trekkers never attempt the summit itself — the real draw is the journey across the Baltoro Glacier to Concordia, a natural amphitheatre surrounded by four of the world's fourteen 8,000m peaks, with K2 Base Camp a further push beyond.
The trek begins in Skardu with a long jeep drive to Askole, the last village and true starting point on foot. From there, the route follows the Baltoro Glacier — one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions — through a string of high-altitude camps before reaching Concordia and, for those continuing, K2 Base Camp itself.
This is not a casual walk. It's a serious, multi-day expedition-style trek that demands fitness, proper acclimatization, and an experienced guide team — which is exactly what a well-organized itinerary and local staff are built around.
THE ROUTE
Skardu to Concordia, stage by stage
SKARDU → ASKOLE
The last village
A full day's jeep drive from Skardu to Askole, the final village and the true starting point of the trek on foot.
ASKOLE → JHOLA → PAIJU
Onto the glacier's edge
The trail follows the Braldu River before reaching Paiju, the last camp with trees before the glacier itself.
BALTORO GLACIER → URDUKAS
Onto the ice
The route joins the Baltoro Glacier, with the first clear views of the Trango Towers along the way.
GORO II → CONCORDIA
The amphitheatre of giants
Concordia offers the trek's signature view — K2, Broad Peak, and the Gasherbrums all visible at once.
K2 BASE CAMP
Journey's end
A further push from Concordia to stand at the foot of K2 itself, before retracing the route back to Askole.
BEST TIME TO GO
Late June through August
- LATE JUN — Route becomes passable as snow clears.
- JUL–AUG — Peak trekking window, most stable conditions.
- OUTSIDE THIS — Route conditions become significantly riskier.
PERMITS & PREPARATION
Not a walk-in trek
- PERMITS — Required for the Baltoro/Concordia zone, arranged in advance.
- STAFF — Local guides and porters are mandatory, not optional.
- FITNESS — Prior high-altitude trekking experience strongly recommended.
GALLERY
The route, in pictures
FAQ
The trek, answered
It's a strenuous, high-altitude trek requiring good fitness and prior trekking experience. No technical climbing skills are needed, but multiple days above 4,500m demand proper acclimatization.
Yes, trekking permits are required for the Baltoro Glacier and Concordia area and are arranged in advance as part of a guided trek, along with mandatory local staff.
The trekking window is narrow — late June through August — when the Baltoro Glacier route is most stable and passable. Outside this window, conditions become significantly more dangerous.
Stand at the foot of K2
Book the full guided expedition to Concordia and K2 Base Camp with local experts.