K2 Advanced Base Camp By Stuart Erskine

7) Karakorum K2 Base Camp Trek

Pakistan’s Karakorum range has for many years lain in the shadow of the more popular hiking regions in the Nepal Himalaya. However, the relative lack of visitors, we’re sure, is purely down to infrastructure. Though the logistics of hiking in the Karakorum can be trickier than in Nepal and elsewhere, the additional paperwork, planning and effort required to get there is absolutely worth it. The Karakorum include giants such as Gasherbrum I & II, Broad Peak, Masherbrum, Narga Parbat, the Trango Towers, the Ogre, the outrageously shaped Laila Peak and, of course, the mighty K2 herself.

The most attractive, challenging and comprehensive trek as regards scenery is the one from Askole to Concordia and the K2 Basecamp and Broad Peak Basecamp along the Baltoro Glacier which, at 38 miles (62km) long, is the largest glacier outside of the polar regions. After using the two or three days you’ll need to take in all the scenery at the basecamps, you can extend your trek with a very challenging, technical crossing of the 18,323 foot (5585m) Gondogoro La Pass, from where the views of the Gasherbrums, Broad Peak, Laila Peak, K2 and Masherbrum are incomparable.

In total, the entire trek takes around 20-25 days from Islamabad.