Join the K2 Base Camp Trek in 2024 – space is limited!
Join the K2 Base Camp Trek in 2024 – space is limited!
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous
TOTAL DISTANCE: 1500 kms of driving
MAX ALTITUDE: 5350 meters
TOUR DURATION: 15 days
LODGING: Mix of local, camp, hotels
GROUP SIZE: 12 people
Join Epic Backpacker Tours as we embark on an exciting new itinerary to some of the most stunning destinations in Northern Pakistan: the Baltistan Region, Nanga Parbat, and Deosai National Park.
Pakistan is the ultimate destination for serious adventurers.
Our Skardu adventure tour takes you deep into the very heart of one of Pakistan’s most impressive and dramatic regions. This part of Pakistan is home to some of the biggest mountains in the world and is the perfect playground for adventurous souls.
Come with us on a multi-day trek in the legendary Karakoram mountain range, experience the raw beauty of Deosai National Park, hang out in the Fairy Meadows, feast on tasty local cuisine, and become a member of a tight-knit team of world travelers.
This is the perfect Pakistan adventure for people who love epic trips in the mountains and want to gain some experience trekking at altitude.
The Baltistan region of Pakistan is the land of mountaineering legend, fascinating local culture, tasty local cuisine, and home to some of the wildest and remote landscapes on earth.
The stage is set for you to comfortably explore one of the most compelling countries in the world with the Pakistan experts.
Dates | Status | Deposit | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact us for availability | $650 | $3200 |
Whether you’re just curious about this trip or are ready to make a deposit, we’re here for you.
To submit an inquiry or make a trip deposit, please fill out and submit the form below.
A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer, and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations. Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new areas, in search of everything from hidden valleys in the Karakoram to secret surf breaks along the Makran Coast.
Together with Epic Backpacker Tours, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.
Local legend Zahid Hussein has been on board with Epic Backpacker Tours for a few years now and his positive impact was felt immediately. His laugh is contagious and his outdoor skills, local knowledge, and guiding experience in Baltistan are second to none.
Zahid is a truly fantastic human being who has made an enormous positive impact on his community as well as on the general trekking scene in Pakistan for the last 3 decades. Zahid guides multiple trips with Epic Backpacker Tours including Trekking Amongst Giants and the K2 Base Camp Trek.
Arrive into Islamabad airport where you will be met by the EBT team. (If you are arriving within 24 hours of the start of the tour); we’ll ferry you to HQ where you can chill out and freshen up.
Note: We recommend arriving into Islamabad one day early so that you can settle in and be ready to go on the morning of day one. Accommodation pre-tour is not included.
Once you arrive at the hotel, you will have the chance to freshen up and get ready for a team briefing. We’ll discuss highlights and logistics of the tour, and will follow-up with lunch at the hotel.
Upon finishing breakfast, we leave immediately for the mountains. We will be driving ¾ of the way to Raikot Bridge – gateway to the exalted Nanga Parbat – and plan on spending the night in Naran (8-12 hours).
Today we start early, bound for Raicot Bridge. From there we take a 90 minute jeep ride up one of the craziest roads in the world before starting our 3 hour trek to the beautiful Fairy Meadows.
We will be spending two days at Fairy Meadows and will have lots of opportunities to explore the area.
For those who want to go on an adventure, we will be organizing a hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp* (weather permitting). This 4000 m base camp will provide some of the most epic vistas on this trip and should be seriously considered (usually all trip members join).
At the end of every night, there will be a bonfire and plenty of open skies (hopefully). On a clear night, the Milky Way will be visible.
*Note: the optional hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp requires a moderate level of fitness and take around 8 hours round trip (with plenty of time to chill out at base camp, eat lunch, etc).
We have two days in the Fairy Meadows and will have lots of opportunities to explore the area. You can hang out in the Meadows, read a book under a tree, or socialize with the locals.
For those who want to go on an adventure, we will be organizing a hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp* (weather permitting). This 4000 m base camp will provide some of the most epic vistas on this trip and should be seriously considered.
At the end of every night, there will be a bonfire and plenty of open skies (hopefully). On a clear night, the Milky Way will be visible.
*Note: the optional hike to Nanga Parbat Base Camp requires a moderate level of fitness and take around 7 – 10 hours round trip (with plenty of time to chill out at base camp, eat lunch, etc).
Today, we pack our bags and head back down to the Raikot Bridge. Pending an early departure from the Meadows, we will arrive at the bridge around midday.
From the bridge, we head deeper into the mountains and make for Astore. Astore is often called the “Switzerland of Pakistan” and is adored for its pastoral, languid beauty. We anticipate being in Astore before sunset.
Upon checking into our hotel, we say a brief goodbye to Mr. Khan, our driver, as we will be using jeeps for the next few days. Mr. Khan will meet us later on in Skardu.
We pile into our fleet of jeeps and head to Deosai National Park – the second highest alpine plateau in the world (4200m) behind the Tibetan Plateau. We will be in Deosai during peak wildflower season, the likes of which are out of this world!
We will spend the day exploring Deosai and there will plenty of photo ops along the way.
After wrapping our road trip, we will then make camp in Deosai at Barah Pani (Place of Big Water). Eager hikers will have the chance to walk some more and to gain an additional 200 m to a spectacular viewpoint.
We leave Deosai at a reasonable time and drive to the largest city in Baltistan, Skardu (2-3 hours). Upon arriving at our hotel, guests will have the opportunity to take a shower and a nap.
In the early afternoon, we will leave the hotel to visit the local attractions, including the Buddha Rock (time permitting).
From Skardu, we will take a short drive through the gorgeous Shigar Valley before spending the evening in the Safa Ranga Desert. You will get to climb the bleach-white sand dunes for sunset and will be totally engulfed by the Karakorum Mountains.
On day 8, we begin the most adventurous and demanding portion of our tour – the Barah Broq trek. This is one of the most beautiful short treks in Pakistan and features high-alpine lakes, exposure to local shepherd communities, and the chance to climb Moses Peak, which offers one of the best views of the Karakorum.
We’ll make camp 4 times over the course of 4 nights: at 3300 m, 4200m, 4700m, and then back to 4200m. You will have the chance to visit several beautiful alpine lakes along the way and the view from High Camp at 4700m is particularly stunning.
Near the end of the trek, guests will also be able to attempt Moses Peak – a 5350 m viewpoint that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. From the Moses Peak, you will see almost every notable peak in the Baltistan including Masherbrum, Gasherbrum, Nanga Parbat, and, of course, K2.
To learn more about this trek, check out our compete guide on Barah Broq.
After spending a few days in the mountains, we begin our return journey back to civilization. We will hike all the way down to the road in one day, so an early start will be required. The hike down is not nearly as demanding as the way up and a delicious lunch will be waiting you at the bottom.
Upon meeting up with our transport at the valley floor, we will return to Skardu and have a relaxing night after our trek. Tasty food and celebrations will abound.
It’s time to depart from the Karakorum today. We have an early wake-up call and a long drive ahead of us (10-12 hours). We arrive back in Naran and have a calm evening before making another long drive the next day.
This is the last big day of driving on the tour; hurray! We leave early and make a beeline for Islamabad. Drive time is 8-10 hours and we will stop for lunch along the way.
Upon arriving in Islamabad, we will freshen up and get ready for a very special dinner at one of the most famous restaurants in Pakistan. We close the tour with one last meal together and roundtable.
We arrange for transfers to Islamabad International Airport for those who are flying out on day 15. Check out of the hotel is around 11 am on Day 15. You can choose to stay on at the same hotel if you are not flying home right away, though any additional nights at the hotel are not covered by EBT.
Despite what you hear on the mainstream news, Pakistan is one of the safest countries we have ever traveled to. Part of the ethos of Epic Backpacker Tours is to smash negative stereotypes associated with these countries by showing you what the media never does.
Late spring is typically the warmer season, though there can still be residual snowfall in the high mountains. Fall trips tend to be cooler, and the cities are not as hot.
Part of what makes our trips so awesome is the kind of people attracted to our adventures. On average, our trips are made up of 5-8 different nationalities. Over the years, we have had a nearly equal amount of men and women travel with us. The average age of a trip participant is 35. The oldest person to join us was 70 and the youngest was 19.
Mix of guesthouses/hotels and homestays that offer comfortable, but simple, facilities. Sometimes rooms might be without air-conditioning (although the rooms in Lahore and Islamabad, the two hottest places, will definitely have AC). We offer comfy, quality tents for camping.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Try reading our trip FAQ Page first where we break down questions about the tour in more detail or feel free to get in touch with us using the contact page!
Chat with us now!
Chat with us now!
Adventure Guide
Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.
In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to.
When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer.
Meet him during : K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Noeimi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.
She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos.
Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team!
Meet her during : Discover the Celestial Mountains | Island Peak Climbing Expedition
Adventure Guide
As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…
for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry.
He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world!
“
He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)
– Coastal
Head of canine operations
Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight.
She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.
These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen.
Adventure Guide
An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.
Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.
A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.
“
We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!
– Monika Steinlechner
Meet him during : Trekking in the Fann Mountains
Adventure Guide
Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.
His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.
Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens.
His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.
“
We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations!
– Alexandra Ruth
“Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.
Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?”
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour. Road trip with some hiking and cultural immersion.
A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.
Adventure Guide
João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare.
With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.
João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions.
After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.
João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none
When not in Pakistan, João is guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails – discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.
“
João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!
– Jeffery
Meet him during : Lost World of Europe | Discover the Hunza Valley | K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic Backpacker Tours team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains.
Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles
in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.
“
Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!
– Borgan
Meet him during : Discover the Hunza Valley
Adventure Guide
Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.
Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.
Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro will be leading his 11th tour in Iran with EBT this coming spring 2020
When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Backpacker Tours, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.
“
I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!
– Coastal
Adventure Admin / Marketing
After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe
She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Backpacker Tours and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements.
Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.
Head of Operations | Guide
A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations.
Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.
Together with Epic Backpacker Tours, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.
“
Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge.
– Calvin
“
Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.
– Katrina
Meet him during : Trekking Amongst Giants | Discover the Celestial Mountains | K2 Base Camp Trek
Founder | Adventure Guide | Director
Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way.
Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.
A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Backpacker Tours at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.
Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe.
For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.
He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands.
Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.
Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!
“
Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”
– Will De Villers
“
Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]
Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.
– Clark Tyler
Get exclusive trip updates, be the first to know when we launch a new itineraries and offer discounts, and stay up to date with what’s happening at Epic Backpacker Tours!