Snow Lake Biafo Hisper La Trek & Hunza Valley Tour | 2024| BOOK NOW

You will be greeted by the team of Hunza Adventure Tours at Islamabad International airport then transfer you along with your luggage to centrally located hotel in Islamabad. Overnight stay in Islamabad.

Weather permitting, we take a spectacular flight to the high mountain region of Baltistan in the northeast. On a clear day, we should be able to see Nanga Parbat (8124m) and K2 (8611m) towering above all other mountains. (It is quite possible adverse weather in Islamabad or Skardu may affect our flight plans and make it necessary to drive by the Karakoram Highway to Skardu, a journey of approx two days).
b) In case of cancellation of flight drive 10-12hrs by air-conditioned coach/car to Chilas (480km) on the Karakoram highway. Overnight in Chilas.

a) Overnight stay in Skardu. Preparations for our trek and depending on our time of arrival into Skardu, there may be time to visit the town and possibly an excursion to Kachura Lake situated at the edge of the valley. Skardu is the regional capital of Baltistan, lying at the edge of a broad floodplain that is the confluence of the Shyok, Indus, and Basha Rivers.
b) If we are driving the road journey today will be 7-8 hrs to Skardu (275km) or 10-12 from Chilas. On route are spectacular views of Nanga Parbat (8125m)
overnight stay in Skardu

We will travel by jeep with our crew and supplies along the Shigar and Braldu valleys to Askole. Villages in Shigar have changed little in over five hundred years; farms with fields of barley, wheat, and vegetables surrounded by stone walls and stands of poplar, willow, and apricot trees. The apricot is a very important crop in the north, having a multitude of uses for the Balti and Hunzakut people. Villagers greet us as we pass through on the rugged dirt and stone road that leads to Baltoro. As we approach, the landscapes become desert-like, and once within the sheer valley of the Braldu, it is necessary to cross the river several times by suspension bridges. At various points, the road may have collapsed due to erosion and we will transfer the gear across on foot to a vehicle on the other side.

After considerable organisation of equipment, supplies and porter loads for the journey ahead, we commence trekking towards Jhola. The valley opens out to reveal the Biafo Glacier flowing for more than fifty kilometres from the Hispar La pass to thBraldu. We have our first taste of moraine walking as we cross the snout of the glacier and descend to our lunch spot beside the river. We also experience the harsh, stark environment that forms the base of these great mountains. The walk from Askolie to Namla is on an easy gentle plain first and then becomes difficult as we get on to the snout of Biafo Glacier. This will take about 6 to 8 hours. The first sight of the pinnacles of the Paiyu Group is stunning

After breakfast and packing away the camp, we leave the pastoral tranquillity of our little ablation valley and return through the gap in the lateral moraine to climb up again onto the Biafo Glacier. We follow moraine ridges running up the middle of the glacier separated by runs of bare ice. This is a fascinating landscape with high peaks all around and the further up the glacier we get, the easier becomes the underfoot conditions. We continue trekking moving from one moraine ridge to another to secure the easiest progress and after around 3 hours we will make a stop to eat our lunch and take time to really enjoy our situation. After lunch we continue on the glacier for a further 2 hours until having turned the first ‘corner’ and almost at the next, we find a route through the contorted ice to the valley side and climb up to a pleasant green ablation valley offering magnificent views down valley towards the Braldu.

From the camp we descend to the glacier and once more negotiate a way through a jumble of boulders to reach the easier going of the central moraine ridges. Today we reach the ‘miracle highway’ of white ice which stretches off into the distance.
The ice is not at all slippery as the surface is covered in tiny weathered ridges and is also filled with the grit of the rocks it has ground in its scouring passage through the mountains. After the last couple of days walking over the rocks and screes of the moraine, this is delightful walking and we begin to make rapid progress up the glacier.
Today we cross the glacier to its north-east side and once again for our night’s camp we will climb down off the glacier and make our way through the lateral moraine to the valley side where we pick up a trail which leads eventually to our camp at Baintha. This is a splendid camping place, with lush grassland, an abundance of flowers and birds and the chance to spot shy ibex on the mountain slopes above the camp

Today is a day for acclimatization before we go higher up the glacier. Baintha is the perfect place to stop for the day, especially since beyond here there is absolutely nothing in the way of greenery for some considerable distance. This rest stop also allows our porters the opportunity to bake a supply of Balti bread and chapattis to last them over the coming days. We can use this day to rest and catch up on laundry or diary entries. Or, for those with energy to spare, there is the very worthwhile option of following a trail up above the camp for fantastic views down the glacier and of the Latok group of mountains. This group comprises four main summits: Latok I ( 7145m), first climbed in 1979 by a Japanese expedition; Latok II (7108m), climbed in 1977 by an Italian expedition; Latok III (6949m), climbed in 1979 by a Japanese team; and Latok IV (6456m), climbed in 1980 by another Japanese team.
These peaks represent some of the most technical climbing anywhere and none of the group received a second ascent until 1988. The group is isolated from its neighbor’s by the Baintha Lukpar Glacier to the south and the Choktoi Glacier to the north and present a superb mountain image. Equally impressive are the views looking down and up the Biafo Glacier which from this vantage can be seen in all its glory.

After our rest day it’s time to get back onto the glacier and continue our trek to Snow Lake. At this point the Biafo is around 5 kilometres wide and we really get a sense of the massive scale of the landscape through which we are passing. On our right-hand side we pass the rocky peaks of the Latoks and the so called ‘Conway’s Ogre’, which has been visible right from the start of our trek along this glacier. Directly ahead of us we can see the rugged spires of the West Biafo Wall, including the ‘fairy tale’ castle of Sosbun Brakk. Here the distances begin to deceive your eyes as the scale of the landscape tests your legs. The walking is at first straightforward, on the ice ‘motorway,’ but as we reach a slight steepening of the glacier the ice becomes more broken and we have to carefully thread a path around numerous crevasses, some small and some enormous. If there is a covering of snow we must rope-up at this point to safeguard our passage over the hidden ‘slots.’ Most usually the glacier is snow free at
the time of our trips and we should be able to make good progress here. After around 4 hours we ‘pull off the road’ again to our next overnight stop. This last off-glacier camp before we cross the Hispar La is located beside pools below a prominent tower of rock and is known locally as Napina (4215m).

Leaving our camp we return to the glacier and make our way north-west. Again it is necessary to thread our way between crevasses and if the glacier is snow covered we will cover this section roped together for safety. The crevasses are mostly narrow and quite shallow and if they are open they present no danger or difficulty to step over or around. As we approach the southern edge of Snow Lake, with Sosbun Brakk just off to our left, we reach a ridge of tumbled rocks and boulders, testament to the immense forces at work at the junction of the Biafo and Sim Gang glaciers. The ridge of boulders surprisingly provides a reasonable campsite off the ice and where it is possible to construct reasonably level tent platforms which our crew will be busy preparing by the time we arrive here. This is the camp known as Sim Gang Basecamp and it is from here that we will set out to cross the southern arm of Snow Lake to the Hispar La.

After an early wake up call, we get ourselves ready in the starlit darkness, donning harnesses and packing crampons and axes ready for the day ahead. After breakfast, we set off in the growing light of dawn clambering over the boulder fields of our immediate surroundings. Beyond our ridge camp we encounter the ice and snow of Snow Lake. Here on the ‘shore’ we must rope up for the remainder of the day as we will now be continuously on snow covered glacier until reaching our camp on the very top of the Hispar La. Snow Lake is huge but is put in perspective by the immense peaks that thrust up all around its perimeter. Our little group are like ants as we march through this vast landscape with breathtaking views all around. After some 3 or 4 hours of steady marching across the level plains of Snow Lake we reach the foot of the slopes coming down from the Hispar La and begin to climb. The ascent is a fairly gentle affair and the angle never becomes steeper than around 30 degrees, but at altitude it is nonetheless strenuous. This climb is rewarded by one of the most incredible camping places in the world, with views straight down the Hispar to the mountains of Hunza inone direction and in the other we can look back over Snow Lake and the Sim Gang Glacier. Looking back this way the view is dominated by the peak of Baintha Brakk (7285m), more commonly known as the Ogre, which was first climbed in 1977 by Chris Bonington and Doug Scott. The epic descent from the mountain in a major storm after Doug fell on the first abseil (breaking both legs) is the stuff of legend. This camp, known as ‘Hispar Top (5151m), will live in the memory forever.

Waking up at the top of the world and watching the dawn paint in the peaks and spires of the Hispar and Hunza valleys is a truly magical experience. From our dining tent we can gaze at the Ogre while eating our porridge, an experience not given to many to enjoy. We rope up again for the initial descent from the pass on broad snow slopes following the glacier down as it flows over the terrain below. In some seasons the slope can be steep in places and a significant bergschrund can develop. Depending on the conditions your guide may put in some short sections of fixed line to protect our descent. This is the most technical part of the pass crossing which will vary greatly from year to year. Eventually after around 2 hours we reach the bottom of the slope
where the glacier levels out and we pass beyond the snow line. Continuing down the glacier the going is mixed as we negotiate the rubble strewn terrain of the moraines for a further 2 to 3 hours to reach our campsite in a small ablation valley to the north of the Hispar Glacier and on the east side of the tributary Kani Basa Glacier.

Our first job today is to cross the Kani Basa Glacier. From camp a trail of sorts leads to the edge of the valley where we must descend to the jumble of stones and boulders churned by the collision of this glacier with the Hispar. As we pick our way across we are treated to a fine view northwards toward Kanjut Sar (7760m), whose snows are the originator of the glacier. After some tricky moraine negotiation we reach the other side and find a pleasant lunch spot at the first water beyond the glacier crossing. There are several outwash streams to cross on the next section of our route and these offer varying degrees of difficulty. The size of these streams depends not on rainfall (there is very little of this) but on the strength of the sun since they are all fuelled by meltwater. On hot days and especially late in the afternoon they can be fearsome torrents and impossible to cross. Normally and especially early in the day they will be relatively small streams crossed on stepping stones or by a shallow ford.
During our descent of the Hispar Valley, an early start is essential every day in order to cross any side streams as early as possible before they become formidable obstacles. Our descent of this huge valley is done predominantly in the ablation valley that is formed between the sides of the true valley and the lateral moraine as the glacier shrinks away. On the Hispar the northern ablation valley offers some delightful walking at times and contains springs and meadows. We end the day following the trail through the ablation valley to reach our next camp at Jutanmal.

Today begins with an easy walk of around an hour, following the trail through the ablation valley. Now we arrive at the tributary Yutmaru Glacier which comes in from the north blocking our progress and as before we must climb down onto the glacier and cross to the other side. This one is usually easier than the last although we are talking here about moving objects and great forces, so every season is slightly different. It should take us around an hour to cross and once again there are excellent views up valley. The peaks revealed today as we cross are Kanjut Sar, Pumari Chhish and Kunjang Chhish. As with yesterday, we will take our lunch at the first available water in the ablation valley beyond the Jutmal Glacier. The rest of the day is again a pleasant walk following the trail through the ablation valley with the sensational and ever present view of the mighty Hispar snaking down the valley, lined with peak after peak. Our next camp is located about 20 minutes above the next major tributary (the PumariChhish Glacier). In 1990, a team of Canadian glacial hydrologists measured the depth of the ice on the main Hispar glacier at this point to be 500 metres.

We continue down the valley for 20 minutes and after a short section of difficult moraine, we reach the confluence of the Hispar and Pumari Chhish glaciers. In what has now become a daily routine, we drop down to the glacier to begin its crossing with more excellent views looking up the glacier to its mountain heart. At the other side, a very steep path leads up through the moraine cliffs at the west side of the glacier. Once back in the ablation valley running parallel with the main Hispar Glacier we continue to a lunch spot at the meadow known as Dachigan. Now below 4000 metres everything seems much easier and also warmer. The rest of the walk today is again a pleasant stroll in the ablation valley which descends gradually to an expansive meadow where there is a group of huts, sometimes used by shepherds from Hispar, but usually deserted. This is Bitenmal (3718m) and the first signs of civilisation we have seen since leaving the fields of Askole ten days ago.

Today will be our last day of trekking and as with every day since we started following the Hispar Glacier down, we must first negotiate a side glacier. Today it is the Kiang Glacier, which is usually one of the easier ones although following the crossing there is a steep climb to regain the trail. This now leads through the grazing grounds of Daltanas and Falolingkish. One particularly large stream has to be crossed just before Falolingkish, but early in the day this should present no problem. We now descend past the snout of the Hispar where the Hispar River issues as a torrent from its maw. Just beyond, a footbridge leads across the river and a steep path cut into the cliff opposite winds its way up to the fields of Hispar Village. This is a large village by Nagar standards and its cultivated lands stretch for miles along a huge alluvial fan. We will take lunch here and depending upon the state of the road, we may meet our jeeps here or we may have a further hour’s trek to Down Hispar. Once we have reached the vehicles, we drive for 1 hour to our last campsite which is no less idyllic than the previous. A veritable lawn of grass beside a large man-made pond provides the perfect place to say thank you and goodbye to our Balti and Hunza porters whose jolly company we are sure to remember as much as the spectacular scenery of the past two weeks.

We travel by jeep on a rough road down the Hispar Valley for 2 hours to Nagar and where we reach the Hunza River and the Karakoram Highway. During this part of the drive we have a tremendous view of Rakaposhi, which at 7788 metres is number 29 in the world rank of highest mountains. It was was first climbed in 1958 by a British expedition which included Mike Banks and Tom Patey. The glacier spilling down from its flanks reaches almost to the road and for many years, this was the principle source
of ice used for food storage and preservation by the people who live in the area. Once past the bulk of Rakaposhi the Hunza River and our road turn south toward Hunza Valley arrival in Karimabad Hunza valley check in at hotel. Overnight stay in Karimabad Hunza valley.

In the morning after breakfast then we will drive to Hopper Valley hike up to Hopper glacier then drive toward Attabad Lake boating at Attabad Lake then further drive to Gulmit arrival in Gulmit check in at hotel. Overnight stay in Gulmit Upper Hunza Valley.

Full day excursions to Khunjerab pass (The border between Pakistan and China). In the olden days there were few highs passes leading from China those were suitable for travel. Today the Khunjerab Pass, which at an altitude of 4733 m the highest point in the world on the Karakorum highway, provides an easy all weather entry from Pakistan to the famous Sinkiang province of the people‟s Republic of China. This route is a beautiful drive, with views of the high mountains of the Karakoram & the distant Pamir mountain ranges. At Khunjerab, now declared a national park, one can see Marcopolo Sheep, Snow leopard, Himalayan Ibexes. In the evening return back to the hotel.Overnight stay in Gulmit.

After breakfast drive to Gilgit en-route short stop at Rakaposhi view point for photography then further drive to Gilgit, we will visit the bazaar in order to familiarize ourselves with the customs of the Gilgit’s, a stop at the cooperative store, where Chinese goods are bought on the barter system will allow us to glance at Chinese treasure, we will then take a hair raising drive across Asia’s longest suspension bridge – 600 feet long and wide enough only for one car at a time arrival in Gilgit check in at hotel after a short rest then we will visit Gilgit local bazzars .Overnight stay in Gilgit

In the morning after breakfast we will drive to Islamabad en route we will visit the Taxila Museum then further drive to Islamabad arrival in Islamabad then we will drop you at you location.