Snow Lake Hispar La Trek

Overview

Traverse two of the world's longest non-polar glaciers—Biafo and Hispar—connected by the breathtaking 16km-wide ice basin of Snow Lake (Lukpe Lawo) and cross the high-altitude Hispar La pass (5,151m).

Highlights

• Walk across the massive Biafo Glacier and Hispar Glacier highway
• Camp at the legendary Snow Lake (Lukpe Lawo), a colossal high-altitude ice basin
• Cross the challenging Hispar La pass at 5,151 meters
• Traverse directly from the Shigar Valley in Baltistan to Hunza Valley/Nagar
• Enjoy spectacular views of the Latok Group, Ogre (Baintha Brakk), and Karakoram peaks

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Islamabad

   Airport pickup, transfer to hotel, and official expedition briefing.

2. Day 2

   Fly to Skardu or Drive via KHH

   Scenic 45-minute flight to Skardu (or drive along Karakoram Highway in case of flight cancellation).

3. Day 3

   Rest & Preparation in Skardu

   Final briefing, official paperwork, porter organization, and equipment check.

4. Day 4

   Jeep Drive to Askole / Korofon

   Exhilarating 4x4 jeep drive along the Braldu Gorge to Askole village (3,000m), gateway to the Karakoram wilderness.

5. Day 5

   Trek to Jhola / Namla

   Begin the trek moving along the river and stepping onto the snout of the Biafo Glacier to reach Namla Camp.

6. Day 6

   Trek to Mango

   Hike across lateral moraine along the edge of Biafo Glacier to the green campsite at Mango (3,650m).

7. Day 7

   Trek to Baintha

   Continue along the ablation valley and glacier lateral moraine to Baintha (3,990m), a grassy campsite with wild alpine flowers.

8. Day 8

   Rest & Acclimatization Day at Baintha

   Day for rest, gear checking, and short hikes to higher slopes for acclimatization.

9. Day 9

   Trek to Sim Gang / Karfogoro

   Navigate onto the white surface of Biafo Glacier, trekking surrounded by granite towers to Karfogoro Camp (4,380m).

10. Day 10

    Trek to Snow Lake (Lukpe Lawo)

    Hike into the center of Snow Lake (4,780m), a grand 16km wide basin of snow and ice under the shadow of dramatic peaks.

11. Day 11

    Trek to Hispar La Base Camp

    Move across snow fields to establish high camp at the foot of Hispar La (4,900m).

12. Day 12

    Cross Hispar La Pass (5,151m) to Hispar High Camp

    Early morning climb to the top of Hispar La (5,151m) for panoramic Karakoram views, then descend onto Hispar Glacier.

13. Day 13

    Trek to Kani Basa

    Descend Hispar Glacier across moraines and side stream crossings to reach Kani Basa (4,510m).

14. Day 14

    Trek to Yutmaru

    Traverse past side glaciers with sweeping views of the Hispar valley peaks to reach Yutmaru Camp.

15. Day 15

    Trek to Dachigan / Bitanmal

    Hike through summer pastures used by Nagar shepherds to Bitanmal campsite.

16. Day 16

    Trek to Hispar Village & Drive to Karimabad (Hunza)

    Final trek leg to Hispar Village, meet jeeps, and drive to the lush Hunza Valley (Karimabad).

17. Day 17

    Explore Hunza Valley

    Visit historic Baltit & Altit Forts, explore local markets, and celebrate completed trek.

18. Day 18

    Drive to Chilas / Naran

    Return journey along the Karakoram Highway towards Chilas or Naran.

19. Day 19

    Drive to Islamabad

    Arrive in Islamabad for evening debriefing, shopping, and farewell dinner.

20. Day 20

    Departure

    Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for outbound flights.