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5 Star Hotel
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Islamabad
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Yes
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Available
Overview
Experience the adventure of a lifetime with the Batura Glacier Trek, a remarkable journey through the Karakoram mountain range. The Batura Glacier, stretching 56 kilometers in the west of the Karakoram Highway and north of Passu, offers an unparalleled trekking experience that combines cultural, geographical, and local heritage. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty of Batura Valley and rejuvenate your body and soul amidst nature’s vibrant colors. Skardu Trekkers is here to turn your dream adventure into reality.
Your journey begins in Islamabad, Pakistan’s modern capital, from where we drive along the awe-inspiring Karakoram Highway. This engineering marvel offers stunning views of towering peaks including Rakaposhi, Diran Peak, Shisper Peak (7611 meters), Ultar Peak (7388 meters), Passu Peak (7478 meters), Karon Koh (7200 meters), and the Batura Massif (7500-7785 meters). Each day of the trip promises a new and fascinating experience, making this trek an unforgettable adventure.
The Batura Glacier, one of the fourth longest glaciers in the Karakoram, spans 65 kilometers from the Karakoram Highway. This trek features incredible scenery, including 14 peaks over 7000 meters and massive ice flows descending over 4000 meters from the Batura Wall to the glacier. The trek mainly traverses ablation valleys and streams, offering gradual acclimatization with no major difficulties. Even the two glacier crossings are relatively easy. Along the way, trekkers will witness the unique lifestyle of Passu villagers, who manage livestock in the summer pastures along the glacier’s northern edge.
Services Included:
- • Accommodation with breakfast for 10 nights (twin sharing)
- • Transportation for the entire trip (Tourist Class Transport)
- • Experienced guide
- • Boating in Attabad Lake
- • Site entrance and National Park fees
- • Trekking equipment
- • Kitchen crockery
- • Porters during the trek
- • Kitchen staff during the trek
- • Camping fees
- • Trekking food
- • Porters' food
- • Airport pick-up and drop-off
- • Portage at hotels and airport
- • Toll taxes and parking fees
- • Letter of Invitation for obtaining Pakistan Tourist Visit Visa
Services Not Included:
- • Early check-in and late check-out at hotels
- • Hotel meals (lunch and dinner)
- • Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
- • Personal items such as phone calls, laundry, crampons, and harnesses
- • Tips for guides, drivers, and porters
- • Charges due to delays beyond the control of Skardu Trekkers
- • Extra days beyond the specified itinerary
- • Single supplement
- • International flights, airport and departure taxes, visa fee, and personal travel insurance
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Islamabad International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by the Skardu Trekkers team and transferred to a centrally located hotel in Islamabad.
• Distance: 30 km
• Driving Hours: 1 hr
• Altitude: 540m
• Activities: Sightseeing
After breakfast, we'll embark on a scenic drive to Chilas, with stops for photography, lunch, and rest breaks. We'll traverse the stunning Babusar Pass before reaching our hotel in Chilas for an overnight stay.
• Distance: 460 km
• Driving Hours: 11-12 hrs
• Altitude: 1265m
• Activities: Sightseeing
From Chilas, we will drive to Karimabad in Hunza Valley. We'll stop at the junction point of three major mountain ranges and enjoy a lunch break at the Rakaposhi viewpoint. Upon arrival in Karimabad, we'll check into our hotel and head out for a sunset safari at Eagle's Nest.
• Distance: 220 km
• Driving Hours: 6 hrs
• Altitude: 2400m
• Activities: Sightseeing
In Karimabad, we'll visit the historic Baltit Fort, explore the local bazaar, tour Altit Fort, and take a picturesque walk along the water channel.
• Activities: Sightseeing
From Karimabad, we'll drive to Hopper Valley. After lunch, we'll visit Attabad Lake for a boating experience and then continue our drive to Gulmit for an overnight stay.
• Distance: 85 km
• Driving Hours: 4 hrs
• Altitude: 2500m
• Activities: Sightseeing
From Gulmit, we'll drive to Hussaini Village to explore the suspension bridges, then proceed to Upper Borith for a hike to the Passu White Glacier viewpoint. Afterward, we'll visit Passu Village before returning to Gulmit.
• Distance: 85 km
• Driving Hours: 4 hrs
• Altitude: 2500m
• Activities: Sightseeing
We start our trek from Gulmit on the dusty trails at the snout of the Batura Glacier, one of the longest in the region. We'll camp overnight at Yunzben.
• Trekking Hours: 3-4 hrs
• Altitude: 2880m
• Activities: Trekking
From Yunzben, we continue our trek to Yashpirt, crossing the Batura Glacier. Yashpirt offers beautiful high meadows with shepherd huts and fantastic views of the Batura peaks and ice fall.
• Trekking Hours: 7-8 hrs
• Altitude: 3300m
• Activities: Trekking
Starting from Yashpirt, we'll trek for about 5 to 6 hours, crossing mountain streams and encountering Passu villagers with their livestock. We'll camp overnight at Guehesm.
• Trekking Hours: 5-6 hrs
• Altitude: 3500m
• Activities: Trekking
From Guehesm, we'll embark on a full-day excursion to Lupdor, exploring a valley full of flowers. Lupdor ends where the glacier begins, and there is a technical trek northwards from Lupdor over a 5200m pass to Chapursan Valley. We'll camp overnight at Guehesm.
• Activities: Trekking, Exploration
In Guehesm, enjoy a rest day to wash, read, or explore the beautiful surroundings. Optional day hikes are available for those interested. We'll camp overnight at Guehesm.
From Guehesm, we'll retrace our steps and trek back down the valley to Yashpirt. We'll camp overnight at Yashpirt.
• Trekking Hours: 5-6 hrs
• Altitude: 3300m
• Activities: Trekking
Following the trail from Yashpirt, we'll cross the glacier to Yunzben and then drive back to Gulmit. We'll camp overnight at Yashpirt.
• Trekking Hours: 7-8 hrs
• Altitude: 2880m
• Activities: Trekking
We'll embark on a full-day excursion from Gulmit to Khunjerab Pass, the highest point on the Karakoram Highway and the border between Pakistan and China. Here, we'll have the chance to see Marco Polo sheep, snow leopards, and Himalayan ibexes. We'll return to our hotel in the evening.
• Distance: 272 km
• Driving Hours: 7 hrs
• Altitude: 4733m
• Activities: Sightseeing
After breakfast in Gulmit, we'll explore the area, visiting a 700-year-old house, a cultural museum, the old town, and a community-based school. In the evening, we'll enjoy a traditional local dinner at a house in Upper Hunza. Overnight stay in Gulmit.
• Activities: Cultural Exploration, Local Dinner
We'll drive from Gulmit to Gilgit, stopping at the Rakaposhi viewpoint for photos. In Gilgit, we'll visit local bazaars and cross Asia's longest suspension bridge. We'll check into our hotel and explore more of Gilgit.
• Distance: 145 km
• Driving Hours: 3 hrs
• Altitude: 1500m
• Activities: Sightseeing
After breakfast in Gilgit, we'll drive to Besham, enjoying sightseeing along the way. We'll check into our hotel in Besham for an overnight stay.
• Distance: 335 km
• Driving Hours: 9 hrs
• Altitude: 615m
• Activities: Sightseeing
Our final day involves driving back to Islamabad from Besham, with a visit to the Taxila Museum en route. Once in Islamabad, we'll visit Faisal Mosque, Lok Virsa Museum, Saidpur Village, and Daman-e-Koh. We'll conclude with a farewell dinner before dropping you at the airport.
• Distance: 376 km
• Driving Hours: 4-5 hrs
• Altitude: 540m
• Activities: Sightseeing
FAQs
Our trip costs more for a few reasons, but here are a few of the main points:
- We offer our staff and porters wages that are higher than average.
- Our cooks are dedicated to preparing high-quality meals that go beyond the typical Baltoro fare, adding our unique twist to hearty trekking food.
- Comfortable camp setup: After a long day of hiking, we aim to make our campsites as comfortable as possible, focusing on the little details. Our camps include tables, comfy chairs, a spacious mess/dining tent, a proper toilet tent for privacy, a generator for charging electronics, and endless pots of French press coffee, tea, and plates of cookies upon your arrival at camp. These details create an unparalleled camp-life experience.
- Each trek has a minimum of two trip leaders – one Western leader and one local leader.
- Group size: You will NEVER see a Skardu Trekkers Expeditions team with more than 12 people.
- Safety plans and protocols: A major difference between Skardu Trekkers and our competitors is our professional and comprehensive safety plan, along with the necessary tools to handle any emergency situation. All of our guides are trained in wilderness first aid and risk management.
The Baltura Glacier Trek involves a certain amount of risk as we venture deep into the mountains of a developing country.
However, member safety is EBT’s top priority. Our experienced ground team does everything possible to ensure a safe adventure, focusing on safety first and injury prevention.
Skardu Trekkers goes above and beyond to be fully prepared for emergencies, bringing all necessary tools to manage any situation.
The reality on the ground in Pakistan is that other local (budget) tour operators often forgo bringing a satellite phone due to its high cost. For us, being unprepared for emergencies is unacceptable. This commitment to safety is a significant reason why clients choose us and continue to return for different adventures year after year.
All guests joining the Batura Glacier Trek must apply for a Pakistani Trekking and Mountaineering Visa. This visa is different from the standard tourist visa, so you will not be applying for a tourist visa.
Skardu Trekkers provides all the necessary documentation for the visa application, including the Letter of Invitation (LOI).
Roughly 50% of our clients on the K2 Base Camp Trek are female, hailing primarily from the USA, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Over the years, we have had solo women from more than 20 different nationalities join us on this expedition.
You will always be paired with another solo woman as hotel/tent mates. If there is no other female to pair you with due to odd numbers, you will not be required to share a tent.
As a solo woman, you can feel safe joining the Baltura Glacier Trek. We prioritize the safety and well-being of all our trekkers, and our experienced team is dedicated to ensuring a secure and supportive environment throughout the journey. We have successfully guided many solo female travelers on this trek, and our staff is trained to provide the highest level of care and attention to all participants. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities.
Northern Pakistan is a very safe part of the world. We often say that you are safer traveling in Northern Pakistan as a woman than walking alone at night in Paris or New York City.
