Adventure Tours Skardu — the full Karakoram playbook

Hispar-Snow Lake is the deep cut. A 12-14 day traverse from Hispar village over the Hispar La (5,151m) to Snow Lake, then down the Biafo Glacier to Askole — roughly 130km on glacier, one of the longest non-polar ice traverses in the world. Best done late July to early September. We rate it harder than K2 base camp.

Nanga Parbat base camp (Fairy Meadows side) is the most beautiful 4-day trek in Pakistan. Start at Raikot, sleep at Fairy Meadows, day-hike to base camp at 3,967m. Easier altitude than K2, dramatic views, family-doable for active groups.

The Khaplu-to-Hushe traverse via Masherbrum La (5,500m) is the elegant 8-day option for trekkers who want a serious pass without the Baltoro logistics. Smaller crew, intimate, technically harder than K2 base camp in places.

We are not an 8,000-metre commercial expedition outfit — we leave that to the specialists. But we organise Karakoram 6,000m peaks (Gondogoro Peak, Khurdopin Sar, K6 base camp) and run a multi-day ice-climbing course on the glacier above Passu in Hunza every January-February for travellers who want to learn the basics in a serious environment.

For all climbing and mountaineering programmes, we work exclusively with certified UIAGM-equivalent guides and full insurance. Briefings, gear check and acclimatisation days are non-negotiable.

The Skardu-to-Khaplu mountain bike ride along the Indus gorge is one of the great underrated rides in Asia — three days, predominantly downhill, on a sealed road with almost no traffic. We provide hardtails, support vehicle and a daily route briefing.

Karakoram jeep expeditions — 7-14 days across Skardu, Deosai, Astore, Naltar, Hunza, Khunjerab — are the way to see the most of Gilgit-Baltistan in a single trip without trekking. Private 4×4 throughout, comfort hotels, daily highlight stops.