Adventure Tour- Biafo Hisper Trek

This 21 day tour takes you trekking through some of the most spectacular mountains and glaciers in the world. Together the Biafo and Hispar Glaciers (in the Karakoram) are the second (65 km) and fifth (49km) longest glaciers, forming the Karakoram's longest continuous stretch of glacier (114km) linked by the Hisper la (5151m). Both glaciers have chaotic, debris-covered lower sections and crevasse fields on the risks of serious glacier travel, it shouldn't be anyone's first Karakoram trek.

Day 1: Islamabad - Arrive in Islamabad. Meet and transfer to the hotel. We will begin at the old city of Rawalpindi, at the Raja (King) Bazaar. A stop in the silver and gold bazaars will allow us to catch traditional craftsmen at work. We will then continue on the main street linking the Twin cities - Murree Road - before arriving at the gleaming new capital. We pass shining new buildings and thousands of park areas - a full 50 percent of the 350 square mile site is set aside for parks. We will then stop at the Shakar Parian, "Sweet Hills" to catch a bird's eye view of Islamabad. Our next stop will be Shah Faisal Mosque which is the landmark of Islamabad. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Chilas - After breakfast drive to Chilas. Lunch will be served at a suitable location. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Arriving at Besham we are at the bottom edge of Indus Valley with alluring view of the Lion River and the famous road known as the Karakoram Highway (KKH) which also is dubbed as an eighth wonder of the world. The stretch of our journey from Besham to Thakot is just a little glimpse of the wonders and awe inspiring values that this road has in store for its travellers, who take their journey in the upstream direction. The journey continues from Besham to Chilas or vice versa on Karakoram Highway (KKH), along the narrow gorged Indus formed by the Karakoram Range, providing a scenic wonderland. The landscape changes after almost every mile. Along the road there are scores of sites and scenes which deserve careful study and observation and there are things which cannot be described by words alone. KKH passes through Komila, Dassu and Shatial where a bridge opens the way to the once remote valleys of Darel and Tangir. These valleys hide a wealth of old forts, graves, tombs and mosques with beautiful wood carvings. At Shatial by the roadside, one will see one of the most exquisite rock carvings from 5th century A.D. Chilas was on the ancient caravan trail over the Babusar Pass into India and on the Indus trail of Besham, and many rock engravings were left by travellers in this area. Chilas is standing under the shadow of world famous Nanga Parbat. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 3: Skardu - After breakfast drive to Skardu with a pack lunch, and upon arrival transfer to the Hotel. Perched at a height of 7500 feet, Skardu is located amidst an impressive landscape; towering mountains, deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, creeping glaciers and quiet lakes constitute this rugged beauty. Skardu is in the heart of a dangerous frontier land. To its north lies the Xinjiang province of China; to the south Kashmir, to the West Gilgit, and to the east the district of Ladakh in India. Skardu is a trekker and mountain climbers' paradise. Nowhere in the world can you find such a collection of lofty peaks and glaciers. The Baltoro Glacier, the best known, is the spectacular conjunction of the Godwin Austen and Baltoro glaciers called Concordia, lying in the heart of the most heavily glaciated region outside the polar areas. Within a radius of twelve miles rise six peaks over 20,000 feet. This is the centre of densest concentration of lofty peaks on earth. Some of these magnificent mountains in the Karakoram Range are: Masherbrum 25,600, Mustagh tower 23,690, K2 28741, Broad Peak 26,400, Gasherbrum IV 26,810, Sia Kangir 24,350, Golden Throne 23,989, Mitre Peak 19,718, Chogolisa 25,110 and Hidden Peak 26,470. The PIA flight from Islamabad takes you through this beautiful range of mountains and lands you at 8000 feet in the middle of desert. In Skardu, one is immediately struck by the just a position of sand dunes and snow-capped peaks. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 4: Askole - After breakfast drive to Askole. Askole was founded about 500 years ago. According to local legend, by a prince from Nagar, who, fearing he would be killed by his brother the King, fled across the Hispar Pass and discovered the flat, watered land of the Askole Valley 3,000 metres above sea-level. The people are Shia Muslims and speak Balti. Lunch, dinner and overnight in the tents.

Day 5: Namla - After breakfast trek to Namla (altitude 3488m -Duration 6-7 Hours). After breakfast trek to Namla (Altitude 3400m - 5-6 hours). Trekking further on we come across Biafo Glacier. From now on we will trek on Biafo Glacier. Namla will be our first camp on this glacier. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 6: Mango - After breakfast trek to Mango (3-5 hours). Cross the crevassed area to the highest ridge on the glacier. Climb gently for couple of hours, on unstable boulders all the way, and then angle in across the crevasses to Mango, an ablation valley with grass and willow bushes by a side stream flowing from striated snow ridge and glacier of the 5,355 metres. Looking back across the glacier, you will see the granite northern wall, flecked with snow and rising to over 6,000 metres. The campsite is located at about 3,650 metres. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 7: Biantha - After breakfast trek to Biantha (6-7 hours). This is a lovely, easy day starting with a short walk along the ablation valley past a small lake, then leading out across the lateral crevasses to the smooth, white centre of the Biafo Glacier. Ahead is your first view of the Hispar Pass. The mountain walls on either side rise to 6,000 metres. Biantha is also known as Conway's Camp, as Sir W. Martin Conway camped here in 1892. There are rock shelters for porters. An hour's walk beyond camp, the Baintha Lukper Glacier flows down from the Latok Group, offering interesting side treks to explore those peaks. Viewed across the Biafo Glacier, Tongo (5,904 metres) and Sokha Lumbu form a jagged wall of ice and granite. Meals and overnight in Camp at about 4,020 metres. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 8: Biantha - Full day free at Biantha. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 9: Morfogoro - After breakfast trek to Marfogoro (6-7 Hours at 4410m). This small camp site has six or seven tent platforms and stone shelters, and is just above a side valley with a large icefall. The rock on the north side of the camp site is distinctly red, hence the name. A few flowers bloom and a bit of grass grow at Marpogoro (4410 m). The tent site, on a lateral moraine, are cold and exposed to wind. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 10: Karfogoro - After breakfast trek to Karfogoro (5-6 hours, if you're fit and acclimatised - 4680m). The camp is at the glacier's east margin, at the confluence of the Sim and Biafo glaciers. It's guarded by marginal crevasses, so approach carefully. To the west is the route to the technical Sokha La. If you're not going east to camp at Karpogoro, bear west (left) to avoid crevasses. The glacier broadens as the Sim and Biafo glaciers meet, and the ascent is gradual. Measurements here show the ice to be almost 1.5 km thick and that the glacier's surface moves 300m per year. With permanent snow cover, travelling in roped teams is mandatory and wearing gaiters is helpful. Continue 5 km in 3-4 hours to Hispar La Base Camp. Camp site is near a large pool of water. Meals and overnight in the tents.

Day 11: Hisper La - After breakfast trek to Karfogoro (5-6 hours - 4680 metres). The camp is at the glacier's east margin, at the confluence of the Simand Biafo glaciers. It's guarded by marginal crevasses, so approach carefully. To the west is the route to the technical Sokha La. If you're not going east to camp at Karpogoro, bear west (left) to avoid crevasses. The glacier broadens as the Sim and Biafo glaciers meet, and the ascent is gradual. Measurements here show the ice to be almost 1.5 km thick and that the glacier's surface moves 300m per year. With permanent snow cover, travelling in roped teams is mandatory and wearing gaiters is helpful. Continue 5 km in 3-4 hours to Hispar La Base Camp. Camp site is near a large pool of water. Meals and overnight in the tents.

Day 12: Khani Basa - After breakfast trek to Khani Basa (altitude 5190 m - duration 6-7 hours). Today we will start early morning to cross the famous and historical Hisper Pass (5742). It is a long but study climb. At the highest point of the pass there is quite a big plateau. From here you can have a picturesque view of Snow Lake and the entire Biafo Glacier - you will even have a view of the tip of K-2. After a brief stop on the pass we will descend down to the Hisper Glacier. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 13: Hagurshanaling - Morning trek to Hagurshanaling (5-6 hours). Today we will start early morning, before the snow gets soft. On the way to Hisper, we cross the famous and historical Hisper Pass. It is long, steady and steep. At the highest point of the pass there is a large and long plateau. Here, there are picturesque views of Snow Lake and the entire Biafo Glacier, other peaks, and even a small view of the K-2 summit. After a brief stop on the pass, we will start to descend down to Hisper Glacier. Altitude of Khani Basa is 5190m. Total duration of 7-8 Hours.

Day 14: Yutmaru - Morning trek to Yutmaru (6-7 hours). It takes about 90 minutes to cross the Khanibasa Glacier. It is relatively easy going. There are six possible campsites between the Khanibasa and Yutmaru glaciers, two of which have stone circles used by hunters in winter. Much of the way is along a clear path high on the lateral moraine about 30 metres above the glacier, with magnificent views across to the hanging glaciers and frequent avalanches on the southern ice wall. Camp about an hour before the Yutmaru Glacier at 4330 metres. Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 15: Bitanmal - After breakfast trek to Bitanmal (6-8 hours). We will start our trek for Bitanmal, crossing the Dichiginas Glacier which is quite rough. After crossing the glacier we will walk on the green moraine till Bitanmal. It is very flat and big. Bitan means Shamon, one who can talk and dance with fairies, and Mal means flat ground (altitude 3736m - duration 7.5 hours). Meals and overnight in tents.

Day 16: Hisper Village - Trek to Hisper village (altitude 3620m - duration 9 hours). After breakfast we start our trek to Hisper Village. Walking up the valley we cross Khunjerab Glacier which is quite easy. It will take 40 minutes. On the way to Hisper Village we are able to see Summer Postures with sheep and cattle. The way they make local cheese and butter is quite interesting. We will cross the Hisper River on a cable box into Hisper Village. Hisper Village has 80 houses and the population is around 550. We camp at the Hisper Rest House (altitude 3620m - duration 8 hours). Meals and overnight stay at Hisper Rest House.

Day 17: Karimabad - After breakfast, drive to Karimabad (4-5 hours drive). Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Karimabad is the delightful old capital of the Hunza Kingdom. From Karimabad, with its souvenir shop, post office and tea shop, you can witness a magnificent view of the valley laid out below you and of the peaks behind. The Aliabad/Karimabad area is sprinkled with wild flowers and blossoming fruit orchards. We will spend half our day in these 2 towns enjoying the greenery and delighting in the sound of babbling brooks. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 18: Karimabad - Full day free in Karimabad. Meals and overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 19: Besham - After breakfast drive to Besham (12 hours). Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Lunch at Chilas in a small bazaar strung along the KKH. Besham is cut into the hillside above the Indus 28 kilometres from Thakot Bridge. Besham is a major stopping place for buses and a good overnight place for tourists. There are plenty of local restaurants in the bazaar. A jeep road connects Besham with Thakot along the east bank. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 20: Islamabad - After breakfast drive to Islamabad (6-7 hours). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 21: Islamabad - After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight.