GPS Data
Altitude: 2,498 m

Participants on this morning will take the spectacular flight from Islamabad airport to Skardu airport. You will be able to see Nanga Parbat if clouds allow. After arrival in Skardu, the day is free.

GPS Data
Altitude: 2,498 m

After breakfast, the participants will walk to Kharpocho fort in Skardu, which is located up on a mountain. The Kharpocho fort gives a splendid view of the Indus and Skardu town. The participants will also have an option to take a tour to Sadpara Lake followed by free shopping time in Skardu Bazaar.

During sightseeing, our staff will take care of further government documentation required in Skardu. This can sometimes take two days. We have contingency days towards the end of the trek incase of any delays.

GPS Data
Altitude: 3,050 m
Distance: 127 km drive
Time: 6 hours drive

We make a reasonably early start from Skardu, crossing the Shyok River to begin an exciting 6-hour jeep ride up to Hushe, through several small and picturesque villages in the lower Hushe Valley. En route, we must cross a number of 'nullahs' or small tributary valleys. These nullahs are fed by meltwaters from the glaciers high above the valley and can become impassable by the afternoon as the hot sun goes to work. Our early start from Khaplu means that we should not have any problems in this respect. Hushe is the highest village in the area at 3050 meters and we set up our camp in a field just below the village with the huge bulk of Masherbrum (7821m) dominating the valley to the north.

GPS Data
Altitude: 3,348 m
Distance: 10 km
Time: 2.5 hours

Today, we begin our approach to Gondogoro Peak, trekking up above the village on a rocky path through very impressive scenery. Immediately above the village is a farmed area with some bare grazing, fields of corn and turnips, flowering shrubs such as oleander, and a few sparse trees. Towering rocky peaks line both sides of the valley. The valley opens out and splits, as we turn towards the north-east alongside the river that has its source in the Gondogoro Glacier. We cross the tributary Charakusa River on a wooden cantilever bridge to reach the idyllic campsite at Saitcho. This camp lies at the junction of the Charakusa and Gondokoro valleys and is situated on a sandy, tree-shaded area beside a swift-flowing river. There are excellent views of Namika (6325m), the rock spire of K7, and from the trail leading to the camp, there is a sighting of the impressive Charakusa Spire. This is a short and easy day of trekking, good for acclimatization.

GPS Data
Distance: 11.9 km
Time: 5-7 hours
Altitude: 3,350m

Today's short stage to Dalsampa skirts the eastern side of the Gondogoro Glacier. We hike up above our camp with increasingly impressive views of the glacier and of Masherbrum beyond. At a point where the glacier cuts directly into the steep valley side, we are usually obliged to drop down almost onto the glacier itself and for a further hour we scramble along its edge (there is a path above the moraine cliffs and this may be used instead, if it is in good condition).

A final scramble up a rocky gulley leads to the campsite at Dalsampa (4150m) tucked into a grassy ablation valley with a couple of tiny lakes and staggering views of a range of rocky summits, culminating in the snow-plastered summit of Masherbrum.

An impressive icefall sits below the peak and guards the access to the Masherbrum La which (theoretically) links Hushe with the Baltoro system to the north. Snow leopards still inhabit this rarely visited corner of the Karakoram.

GPS Data
Distance: 6.1 km
Time: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 4,590m

Just above our camp the valley turns more towards the east and we have great views up-valley to the Gondogoro La and to Gondogoro Peak itself, although the latter is tough to pick out against the headwall of the valley. Once again, we have to drop down onto the glacier and this time we head out into its centre. At this point the angle of the glacier is not steep and we are walking on a mix of moraine and sometimes on snow or bare expanses of ice.

This is a great glacier experience, walking between ice pinnacles, some of them capped with boulders, and easily avoiding any crevassed areas. This glacial traverse is not technically demanding and there is usually no need to rope-up. We pass beneath the striking spire of Laila Peak (6096m) and amongst a stunning array of mountain scenery. We gradually cut across to the north side of the glacier at the place called Khuispang, a grassy terrace beside a small meltwater lake.

GPS Data
Altitude: 4,590m

Khuispang is a spectacular place at the heart of the Karakoram. The views of Laila Peak are breathtaking and the huge bulk of Trinity Peak is right across the glacier from camp. Seracs regularly break off high above the complex northwest face of this mountain, causing avalanches that can come right down to the glacier, though, thankfully, not this side of the glacier. This is a day for rest and acclimatization.

The participants will continue hiking down, Since the hike downwards would be comparatively easy the climbing equipment i.e. ropes, and crampons will be packed while descending. The mountainous and rocky terrain will be taken over the lush green landscapes of Hushe Valley.

After lunch, the participants will continue hiking to the edge of the Gondogoro Glacier, upon reaching the edge they will find a trail which will lead them to the beautiful valley of rhubarb and grass.

At the end of the valley, there are 02 different routes to the destination. Our guide with the consent of local porters will decide the trails they are being frequently used.

The trek gets easy when the two trails meet. The members will see the huts made of stones by herders and local settlers. On this day the participants will experience the sign of the settlements in the area and will be able to breathe easily due to big trees and lower altitude. The camp will be set up at Saicho (3,350m), a part of sand with little grass along the flowing glacier water streams.

GPS Data
Altitude: 2,498 m
Distance: 20 km trek + 127 km drive
Time: 5-7 hours trek + 6 hours drive

On this day the participants have to trek down for only 3-4 hours, the river stream of glacier-melted water of Charakusa, Ailling, Masherbrum, and Gondogoro Glaciers. The participants will start to see the signs of residences, shelters, fields, and signs of people living.

The participants will experience the 02 story shelters of the Hushe village, where the ground floor is for cattle and the first floor is for the family to live. After setting up the camp the participants can explore the beautiful hushe valley and interact with the locals. This would be the last camping day of the Gondogoro La Trek.

Upon reaching Hushe, the participants will depart for Skardu town from Hushe and the journey offers a lot of beautiful scenes of the different small villages of the Hushe Valley. The participants will cross a suspension bridge above the Shyok River (which flows from Ladakh, India) to get to the other side.

In the past traditional rafts which were made of goat skin filled with air were used to cross the river. The suspension bridge which is used now to cross was built in the 1990s. Upon crossing the bridge, the participants will then reach Khaplu.

The drive from Khaplu to Skardu becomes smooth and the route to be followed is the paved road along the Shayok River which leads to the confluence with Indus River. Upon driving along the Indus River the Participants will reach Skardu in 4 hours. The participants can have the facilities that they did not have for 02 weeks. The first on that list would be taking a hot shower and secondly having a good meal.

GPS Data
Altitude: 2,400 m

This day is allocated for any potential delays during trekking/climbing. We do not want our guests to miss their return flights/other arrangements due to delays that can be caused by multiple factors including (but not limited to) road blocks.

Note: All expenses in Skardu (e.g. hotel, meals, transportation after hotel drop) on this day will be incurred directly by our climbers/guests and is not part of the adventure package. Your adventure with Apricot Tours ends upon returning in Skardu.

GPS Data
Altitude: 590 m

On this day the participants will take a flight from the airport in Skardu to Islamabad airport. You will have a good time to relax at the hotel in Islamabad.

The domestic flights sometime get cancelled due to weather conditions. Incase of flight cancellation, you will drive to Chilas for overnight. It takes eight to ten hours by a vehicle.

GPS Data
Altitude: 538 m

This day is allocated for any potential delays in case the domestic flight does not operate the previous day. Our guests will depart early morning from Chilas to Islamabad which can take up to ten hours. However, it will be a free day in case the participants make it to Islamabad on the domestic flight. This time can be utilized for sightseeing in Islamabad.

Meals included: Breakfast

Our staff will transfer all our guests to the airport on their respective departure timings. The checkout time of all our partner hotels is 12pm.

Extra nights/time in Islamabad (hotel check in/out is 12pm) - additional USD 59 per night