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Small-group treks across the KarakoramLocal hosts, real hospitalityFree date changes up to 30 days outLetter of Invitation for Pakistan — under a minutePlan your private or custom tripNew: Kalash Valleys cultural trekBook now, pay later on selected tripsSmall-group treks across the KarakoramLocal hosts, real hospitalityFree date changes up to 30 days outLetter of Invitation for Pakistan — under a minutePlan your private or custom tripNew: Kalash Valleys cultural trekBook now, pay later on selected trips
Wandering Yaks
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TripsPakistanKarakoram

The Great Karakoram Treks

Rakaposhi Base Camp · Patundas · Rush Lake — through mountains and human stories

Hunza Valley, Passu & Gojal, Shimshal Valley, Pakistan
Difficulty 4/5Max altitude 4,700m
The Great Karakoram Treks — image 1 of 11
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Start:Islamabad

End:Islamabad

Country

Pakistan

Cities

Hunza Valley, Passu & Gojal, Shimshal Valley

Duration

19 Days 18 Nights

Group size

4–10

Minimum Age

18+

Style

Expedition

From
$3,600

Next Departure: 29 Sept 2026

Dates and prices

What Makes this Trip special

Some journeys let you look at mountains. This one puts you inside them. Over nineteen days, this itinerary strings together three of the most surreal, rewarding treks the Karakoram has to offer — the closest trekkable approach to a 7,000-metre giant at Rakaposhi Base Camp, the sweeping panorama of the Batura Wall and Shispare from Patundas, and the remote glacier-crossed silence of Rush Lake. Every guesthouse, camp, and fort comes from Wakhi and Burusho families who have called this valley home for generations.

Is this trip right for you?This trip involves sustained daily walking of five to seven hours on uneven mountain, moraine, and glacial terrain across three separate treks. A solid baseline of cardiovascular fitness is required. Prior trekking experience is recommended, particularly for the Rush Lake glacier-crossing section. Not a beginner trek.

Three treks, three worlds

Rakaposhi Base Camp, Patundas, and Rush Lake each reveal a different face of the Karakoram

Real proximity to a 7,000 m peak

walk right up to the foot of Rakaposhi, close enough to hear ice fall from its glaciers

One of the highest alpine lakes on earth

Rush Lake at roughly 4,700 m, ringed by Spantik, Miar, and Diran

Deep cultural access

guesthouses and villages run by families who have lived there for generations

Centuries of living history

Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Ganish, and Gulmit

Map & Itinerary

19 days

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Day 1
Rest Day, Islamabad

Islamabad

Arrive into Islamabad, Pakistan's calm, green capital at the foot of the Margalla Hills. Time to land, settle in, and let the journey ahead sink in. In the evening, meet the Wandering Yaks team for a full briefing and gear check before the long road north begins.

6h walk · 10 km

Day 2
Islamabad to Naran

Naran

Head out by road and start climbing out of the plains. The landscape changes from flat farmland to pine forest to the narrow, river-cut valleys of the Kaghan region. Arrive into Naran by evening.

Day 3
Naran to Karimabad, Hunza

Karimabad

Continue north along the Karakoram Highway, one of the great road journeys of the world. Somewhere along the way Rakaposhi appears on the skyline for the first time. Arrive in Karimabad, Hunza's cultural heart, by evening.

Day 4
Karimabad: The Forts

Karimabad

A full day on foot before the trekking begins. Walk through Baltit Fort, seat of the former Mirs of Hunza, then Altit Fort, perched on a sheer drop above the valley floor. Wander the old lanes of Ganish village and finish at Duiker as Rakaposhi glows gold across the valley.

Day 5
Trek to Rakaposhi

Minapin

Drive to Minapin, the trailhead village sitting directly beneath Rakaposhi's south face, and start walking. The trail climbs through pine forest and open pasture, with the mountain rarely out of sight — 7,788 metres of ice and rock.

Day 6
Stay at Hapakun

Hapakun

A deliberate rest day at Hapakun camp, right below Rakaposhi's south face, built in to let the body adjust to altitude before pushing higher. Short optional walks around camp; otherwise, time to sit, breathe, and watch the mountain change color through the day.

3,800m

Day 7
Rakaposhi Base Camp, Back to Aliabad

Aliabad

An early start for the climb to Rakaposhi Base Camp (Tagafari) — one of the closest trekkable approaches to a 7,000-metre peak anywhere in the world. After time at the base camp, descend all the way back to Minapin and drive to Aliabad.

4,200m

Day 8
Drive to Passu, Borith Lake

Borith Lake area

Head further north through Hunza, stopping at Attabad Lake and crossing the Husseini suspension bridge. Visit Borith Lake, a still, high-altitude lake beneath the Passu Cones, with the Batura Wall and Shispare dominating the horizon.

Day 9
Trek to Patundas: Camp at Luzdur

Luzdur

Climb out of the valley through juniper slopes, with the Passu Glacier below and the jagged wall of the Batura peaks — Shispare (7,611 m) rising among them — filling the skyline. Camp at Luzdur.

Day 10
Patundas Meadows, Back to Borith

Borith

Climb to the high meadows of Patundas for one of the most complete mountain panoramas in Hunza — the full sweep of the Passu Glacier, the Batura Wall, and Shispare all visible at once. Descend back down to the valley by afternoon.

Day 11
Passu Village and Gulmit

Gulmit

A relaxed cultural day around Passu and Gulmit, one of the oldest settlements in upper Hunza, with old fort ruins, apricot orchards, and Wakhi households. Time to sit with local families, share tea, and hear the history of the region firsthand.

Day 12
Drive to Hopar, Start Trek: Camp at Bericho Kor

Bericho Kor

Drive to Hopar in Nagar valley and begin the Rush Lake trek, climbing through forest and pasture to Bericho Kor. Golden Peak — Spantik, 7,027 m — and Diran begin to appear on the skyline as the trail gains height.

Day 13
Trek to Rush Lake

Rush Lake

Climb from Bericho Kor to Rush Lake — one of the highest alpine lakes in the world at roughly 4,700 metres, held in a wide amphitheater of unnamed peaks, with Spantik and Miar standing above the ridgeline.

4,700m

Day 14
Descend to Phari, Cross the Glacier: Camp at Hamdar Meadows

Hamdar Meadows

Descend from Rush Lake toward Phari, then cross the glacier en route to Hamdar Meadows — the most demanding and dramatic day of the trip, moving through high glacial terrain that most travelers in Hunza never see.

4,200m

Day 15
Reach Hopar, Drive to Aliabad

Aliabad

Final descent from Hamdar Meadows back down to Hopar, closing the loop on the Rush Lake trek. Drive back to Aliabad.

Day 16
Rest Day: Aliabad and Karimabad, Final Dinner

Karimabad

A full day to recover and unwind between Aliabad and Karimabad. In the evening, a final dinner with the local Wandering Yaks team — marking the end of three treks and eleven days on the trail.

Day 17
Drive to Islamabad

Islamabad

A long drive south along the Karakoram Highway, retracing the route back through Hunza, Kohistan, and the Kaghan approach into Islamabad.

Day 18
Rest Day, Islamabad

Islamabad

A free day to rest, shop, or explore the capital before departure.

Day 19
Departure

Islamabad

Transfer to the airport for international departure.

Dates & Availability

View Dates and Prices

2026
All

What is Included

  • ✓ All ground transportation in a private vehicle, Islamabad to Islamabad, including the full Karakoram Highway route
  • ✓ 18 nights' accommodation (guesthouses/resorts in the valley, camping on all three treks)
  • ✓ All meals while trekking (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and daily breakfast at guesthouses/resorts
  • ✓ Experienced local trekking guide and support team throughout
  • ✓ Porters and camping crew for the Rakaposhi Base Camp, Patundas, and Rush Lake treks
  • ✓ Camping equipment for all trekking sections (tents, sleeping mats, kitchen and dining tent)
  • ✓ All valley, trekking, and park entry permits and fees
  • ✓ Baltit Fort and Altit Fort entry fees
  • ✓ Airport pickup and drop-off in Islamabad

Not Included

  • ✗ Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag (rental can be arranged on request)
  • ✗ Meals in Islamabad on rest days not specified in the itinerary
  • ✗ Costs arising from itinerary changes due to weather, route conditions, or early descent
  • ✗ International flights to/from Pakistan
  • ✗ Pakistan visa fees
  • ✗ Tips for guides, drivers, porters, and hotel staff
  • ✗ Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs, snacks)
  • ✗ Alcoholic beverages
  • ✗ Travel insurance, including high-altitude and emergency evacuation coverage (required)

Permits

  • Valley and trekking permits

    Issued by Local administration / tourism department · Handled by WanderingYaks

Kit list

clothing

  • ●Layered clothing for 500 m to 4,700 m
  • ●Waterproof jacket and trousers

gear

  • ●Sturdy trekking boots, well broken in
  • ●Sleeping bag rated to -10°C (or arrange rental)
  • ●Trekking poles

documents

  • ●Travel insurance certificate (trekking cover to 4,700 m)

health

  • ○Personal altitude medication if prescribed by your doctor

Frequently asked questions

What fitness level is required?

This trip involves sustained daily walking of five to seven hours on uneven mountain, moraine, and glacial terrain. We recommend regular hiking, running, or equivalent training for at least two to three months before departure.

What about altitude sickness?

Rush Lake reaches approximately 4,700 m. Acclimatisation is built in — including a rest day at Hapakun — but tell your guide immediately if you feel unwell. Speak with a doctor before booking if you have heart, lung, or blood pressure conditions.

Is travel insurance mandatory?

Yes — covering high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation above 4,000 m. You will need to provide proof before departure.

Important notes

Rush Lake trek reaches approximately 4,700 m. Travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation above 4,000 m is required. Weather and route conditions in the Karakoram can change quickly — treat this itinerary as a strong guide rather than a fixed schedule.

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From

$3,600

Dates & prices