This is how to trek in Pakistan for K2 views. I will provide details that include maps, costs, logistical requirements and facts as well as links to a full written narrative, photos and videos. This is a self-guided adventure on a shoe string. Follow the links to dig deeper into the adventure.
Difficulty Level:
Photo in K2 Museum from Macholu La
Link to 8,000er’s
K2 Trek Maps
|
Wpt
|
Description |
Alt (m)
|
Lat(N)
|
Lon(E)
|
|
1
|
Skardu Village |
2488
|
3514.465
|
076 23.717
|
|
2
|
Kapalu village |
2871
|
3514.870
|
076 22.708
|
|
3
|
Macholu village shop |
2658
|
3514.532
|
076 23.712
|
|
4
|
upstream – beyond village |
2868
|
3514.861
|
076 22.705
|
|
5
|
high trail, right side, above river |
3286
|
3515.314
|
076 21.565
|
|
6
|
stone hut |
3377
|
3515.378
|
076 21.388
|
|
7
|
stone huts at white rock, 4pm |
3598
|
3515.660
|
076 20.849
|
|
8
|
trail split |
3649
|
3515.701
|
076 20.793
|
|
9
|
bridge to last left valley (didn’t use it) |
3649
|
3515.734
|
076 20.646
|
|
10
|
trail x river to last left valley (R side of tributary) |
3731
|
3515.763
|
076 20.488
|
|
11
|
lots of dead sheep/goats |
3822
|
3515.677
|
076 20.292
|
|
12
|
Stone hut camp, at base of ridge at river split |
2884
|
3515.611
|
076 20.143
|
|
13
|
trail reaches ridge above camp |
3984
|
3515.593
|
076 20.111
|
|
14
|
shepherd village at valley crest |
4055
|
3515.563
|
076 20.045
|
|
15
|
ridge 1 above shepherd huts to left |
4177
|
3515.454
|
076 19.946
|
|
16
|
ridge 2 above left |
4390
|
3515.174
|
076 19.874
|
|
17
|
ridge 3 above left |
4517
|
3515.116
|
076 20.049
|
|
18
|
ridge 4 to right – now heading back to east |
4554
|
3515.049
|
076 20.073
|
|
19
|
ridge 5 hugging right side of bowl |
4553
|
3514.989
|
076 20.080
|
|
20
|
ridge |
4558
|
3514.901
|
076 20.053
|
|
21
|
ridge |
4590
|
3514.811
|
076 20.018
|
|
22
|
ridge |
4593
|
3514.787
|
076 20.054
|
|
23
|
ridge, can use trail to lower ridge also |
4627
|
3514.715
|
076 20.037
|
|
24
|
ridge |
4554
|
3514.613
|
076 20.039
|
|
25
|
cross glacier over small stream |
4536
|
3514.464
|
076 20.009
|
|
26
|
ridge |
4578
|
3514.432
|
076 20.113
|
|
27
|
ridge |
4619
|
3514.275
|
076 20.468
|
|
28
|
ridge |
4663
|
3514.288
|
076 20.522
|
|
29
|
ridge, cairns mark, see pass in distance, one more bowl |
4713
|
3514.183
|
076 20.484
|
|
30
|
rock shelter on backside of ridge |
4722
|
3514.121
|
076 20.404
|
|
31
|
trail, in last bowl |
4730
|
3514.034
|
076 20.359
|
|
32
|
last small ridge |
4750
|
3513.884
|
076 20.368
|
|
33
|
pass |
4785
|
3513.738
|
076 20.413
|
Costs $
| 2 Nights at Indus Hotel, Skardu (before & after trek) Shared Van transport (to/from Machilu village) Trek carried in food (sleep 2-3 nties in tent or stone hut) Misc Bus transport to/from Skardu via Islamabad |
$10 $10 $15 $10 $30 |
| Total | $75 |
Prices are out of date. Contact below for updates.
Skardu, Baltistan
Snow Land Guesthouse
Radio Pakistan Chowk Skardu Baltistan
05831-53487 Mob: 0344-543493
Outside of town, before you enter Skardu. Top End of the scale. Even has a pool!
Hotel Snowland Palace
Hameed Gharh, Near PDTC K2 Motel, Skardu
051-5885179 Mob: 0303-8490590
Outside of town, after Skardu center, across from the Government K2 Hotel.
Saleem Abbas saleemsadparian@yahoo.com
Indus Motel
College Road, Skardu
0092-5831-52608-52296 Mob: 0335-5406280
indusmotel_83@yahoo.ca (Muhammad Nazir, Manager)
400 – 700 Rs (I paid 250 Rs). Excellent food, and the hub for independant trekkers and climbers. Manager also works with the Pennies for Peace program (i.e. Three Cups of Tea auther).
Indus Travel Rent A Car Service, Yadgar Chwok, Skardu.
Syed Akbar Shah
05831-52449
Rented a jeep, with driver, for three days to/from Tarashing for 900Rs.
Riaz ul-Hassan, K2 Museum Resident Rep., 0092-58-3151514, riaz_sar@hotmail.com Good local source of information.
Other Area Accommodation
Tarashing (Nanga Parbat Trek)
Rupal Hotel
Also, a local guide is now required (for your protection). Per Abbas Ali <abbas.astori14@gmail.com> room rent 3000 Rs or $25 per night.
La Hore
Regale Internet Inn
Surriaya Mansion, Near Regal Cinema
65 The Mall, Lahore, 54000 Pakistan
00-92-42-7311987 Mob: 0333-4338588
regal_internet@hotmail.com, www.regal.com.pk
200 Rs dorm bed, 400Rs single, place is a dump and oven, but the only place to meet other travellers.
Raseeh Shams, Son of Regal Internet Inn owner.
Project Coordinator, Photo Journalist
www.faseehshams.com
Niamat Ali, Tuk-tuk taxi driver (motor rickshaw)
0323 4499347 or 042 6581524
For a 400 Rs round trip to nightly border closing and back to LaHore
Border
Latif Old Book Shop
Wahga Border & Lahore locations.
042-6581524
Cheap used books at the border in Pakistan. Has lots of used Lonely Planet Pakistan books in stock.
Government Hotel
Zahid Yaqeen, Manager at the Gov’t Hotel located at the border crossing. Excellent source of information and a relaxing break before the nightly closing.
00923134346890 or 00923465116568
yaqeen2747@hotmail.com or yaqeendosti@yahoo.com
c/o Mountain @ Culture
Nasseem Toyota Atous
Chaisma Bazar, Skardu
Baltistan, Northern Pakistan
Transport
India
From Amritsa Bus Park, there is a bus to Attari (8 km from border) for 10 Rs every 30min. Rickshaw to/from Attari to border is 20 Rs. Shared motor rickshaw to/from border is 5Rs each. Note: The Attari bus goes on to/from border at night for closing at a fee of 15Rs.
Pakistan
Took 400 Rs tuk-tuk from border to Internet Inn (see above). Only have a bus from border at night after closing show. Then switch bus twice.
Took 550Rs A/C bus from Neazzi Bus Stand to Rwalpindi (Islamabad) – 3/4hrs. Then 150 Rs taxi to the Pir
Wadhai Bus Stand
Took 1500 Rs A/C bus to Skardu 24/30hrs. Took private bus up and gov’t back. Both sucked.
Took another Neazzi bus back to LaHore, but from down the road, towards the highway junction (a short walk).
Click to watch Video
