Extreme Travels In Russia

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The journey to the second highest mountain in the world begins with an overseas flight to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. One night is spent in Islamabad to obtain trekking permits and then it's off to Skardu. Weather permitting, we will fly to Skardu; otherwise, we will travel by road. The mountain flight offers fantastic views as the plane follows the Indus River Valley and brushes past the ninth highest mountain in the world, Nanga Parbat. Looking out the aircraft window one sees a vast ocean of peaks stretching endlessly into the horizon. This area exemplifies "continents in collision" with four of the world's greatest mountain ranges (Himalaya, Karakoram, Hindukush and Pamir) emerging below.

If bad weather bars this magnificent plane ride, the drive to Skardu over the famous Karakoram Highway (KKH, the old silk route) is just as spectacular. The drive takes two days with an overnight near Gilgit.

 

Skardu (2500 m.) is the capital of Baltistan and gateway to the high peaks of Northern Pakistan. After purchasing supplies and an overnight rest in Skardu we will proceed by jeeps as far as the track is passable towards Askolie. Askolie is located at 3300 m and is the last village before reaching K2. Beyond Askolie is complete wilderness consisting of glaciers spouting the beginnings of rivers with mountain guards of unimaginable heights lining their beds. From Askolie we begin the walk taking two to three days to reach Paiyu Campsite (3666 m) situated under the majestic Paiyu Peak (6660 m) with the tip of the 58 km long Baltoro Glacier visible in the distance.  The next stage of our journey takes us over the Baltoro Glacier to our destination, Concordia. The walk on the Baltoro provides one with ultimate mountain scenery with such well known mountains as Masherbrum (7852 m), Uli Biaho Tower (6190 m), Trango Towers (6300 m), the Grand Cathedral (5228 m) and Muztagh Tower (7273 m) shooting up from this immense highway with sheer vertical lines that defy reality.  After four to five days we will reach 4691 m at Concordia. Here one is encircled by Marble Peak, K2 (8611 m), Broad Peak (8047 m), Gasherbrum Group, Golden Throne (7312 m), Chogolisa (7654 m) and Mitre Peak (6038 m). Indeed, this is "Throne room of the mountain gods." We will spend two to three days at Concordia and then we turn South and begin our return through the famous Gondogoro glacier to Hushe village.

 

 

It is a camping style trek.

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$2900 per person for a group of minimum 6 tourists

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Detailed Itinerary - Concordia - K2 base camp - Gondogoro-La Trek

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Day 1. Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Hotel, trek briefing. We will have ample time for sightseeing and shopping in colorful old bazaars of Rawalpindi and new markets of Islamabad. We may also drive to the huge modern Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

Day 2.  Skardu ( 2,500 m, 8,200 ft): Hotel, flight. We will be on the most fantastic commercial flight in the world taking us from Islamabad to Skardu. If the weather is bad, we will drive in two days on the famous KKH to Skardu.

Day 3. Askolie (3,300 m, 10,800 ft): Camp, jeep drive. It takes about six hours to drive from Skardu to Askolie or near Askolie. The drive through the Braldu Gorge is guaranteed to knock your socks off!

Day 4. Korofong (3,500 m, 11,480 ft): Camp, trek begins. The walk from Askolie to Korofong is on an easy gentle plain and can be done in 6 to 8 hours. We cross the snout of the Biafo Glacier on the way. The first sight of the pinnacles of the Paiyu Group is stunning.

Day 5. Bardumal (3,550 m, 12,000 ft): Camp, trek, river crossing. We follow the Braldu and the Biaho rivers to a river’s edge campsite. On the way we have to cross the Domurda River coming out of Choktoi and Panmah Glaciers. This crossing is done on a ‘garari’ or on a bridge upstream. Depending upon the time it takes for the crossing, the walk can take 8 hours or more.

Day 6. Paiyu (3,666 m, 12,024 ft): Camp, trek. This takes about 6 hours of walking and will give us our first sight of the mighty Baltoro Glacier and the Trango and Cathedral Groups. Paiyu is the last campsite before the Baltoro. Efforts are underway to clear out the pollution and there has also been a recent plantation of many trees in the area. The walk follows the Biaho River all the way to Paiyu. The campsite is perched high above the valley with excellent views.

Day 7. Khoburse (3,800 m, 12,460 ft): Camp, trek on Baltoro Glacier. Six to eight hours of walking. A tough day as we climb on the rocky moraines of the Baltoro, but the sight of Baltoro pinnacles and Paiyu Peak is astounding! An earlier alternative campsite is Liligo, but there is no water there. We will cross some gushing streams on the way.

Day 8. Urdukas (3,950 m, 12,960 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. A short 4 hour plus walk on the rocky moraines and ablation valley of the Baltoro. We will cross couple of icy side glaciers on the way and may have our first sight of Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums. The historical campsite is located on a grassy slope high above the Baltoro and commands one of the most intense mountain views in this world. The campsite was prepared by the Duke of Abruzzi in the beginning of this century.

Day 9. Goro (4,300 m, 14,100 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. This is a tough day’s walk on the undulating Baltoro. However, the footing becomes easy as the rocks become smaller and smaller as we move up the Baltoro. It takes about 8 hours to get to Goro. We walk right smack up the center moraine of the Baltoro. As Masherbrum emerges on the right, it takes our breath away and so does Gasherbrum 4 right in front of us. Goro is a cold campsite! It has a great view of the Muztagh Tower.

Day 10. Concordia (4,550 m, 14,925 ft): Camp, Baltoro Glacier. An easy 4 hour plus walk. As we enter the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods and see K2 emerging on our left, we feel that we have arrived at a very special place on the planet. For many, it is lifelong goal and a pilgrimage to come here. A place of superlatives and without any parallels!

Day 11. K2 base camp. Walk to K2 base camp. Concordia (4,550 m 14,925 ft): Camp, rest, explore base camps. You can just sit and watch K2 all day long and sip tea; which many have done and have still not been able to fully get K2 in their system! Or you can go on a long whole day tiring trip to K2 Base Camp (4,800 m.); or go the other way towards the Gasherbrum peaks.

Day 12. Walking back to Concordia.

Day 13. Trek to Ali Camp (5,000m)

Day 14. Cross the Gondogoro pass (5,560m), trek to Khuspang

Day 15. Buffer/ spare trek days in case of delays

Day 16. Buffer/ spare trek days in case of delays

Day 17. Trek to Shaisho

Day 18.Trek to Hushe, jeeps to Skardu

Skardu ( 2,500 m, 8,200 ft): Hotel, jeep drive. We return to a hot shower and a warm comfortable bed!

Day 19. Flight or drive from Skardu to Islamabad

Day 20. Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Hotel, flight, trek debriefing.

Day 21. Rawalpindi/Islamabad: Extra ‘cushion’ day!

Note: Day 21 will be used as a ‘cushion’ day in case of delays in travel due to weather, route change, health, acclimatization issues during the trek, etc

This is a tentative itinerary.  For the enjoyment of your trip a ‘go with the flow’ attitude is necessary.  Many factors will influence your trip, such as weather conditions, health, route conditions, etc.

Day 22. SIghseeing in Islamabad: Jinnah Super Market, Blue Area, View Poiint hill, Faisal Masjeed.

Day 23. Flight home

 

Important information.

Islamabad is a very clean and comfortable city. The trek itself is in Gilgit-Baltistan province of Northern Pakistan, it is a completely safe region on the border with China. Balti people are Shia muslims and their language is of Tibetan group. Karakorum has a very dry climate. During the trek, you do not need to set up the camps and prepare food – our porters and cook do all the work. You also don't need to carry any luggage apart of 3-5 kg of personal things. Porters and horses carry all the equipment and food.

 

The cost includes:

• experienced English speaking Russian guide, porters, cook

• cargo horses

• hotels in Islamabad and Skardu

• breakfasts in Islamabad and Skardu

• all camping equipment (tents, kitchen etc). Optionally you can use your own tent.

• 3 meals a day during the trek prepared by our cook

• transfers according to the program

• all necessary permits for the entrance to the national park and border area

• internal flights or private jeeps from Islamabad to Skardu and from Skardu to Islamabad

• invitation letter for applying for Pakistanian visa

 

The costs doesn't include:

• international flight to Pakistan

• visa to Pakistan ($35) applied online

• lunches and dinners in Islamabad and Skardu ($30-40 a day)

• personal sleeping bag

• tips to porters ($50 per porter)

• insurance covering helicopter evacuation from the elevation up to 6000 m. About $80.

• other costs not mentioned above

 

 

Necessary clothes and equipment:

• personal cup, plate and spoon

• thermos

• sleeping bag for comfort temperature -30 C

• CareMat

• forehead torch

• trekking boots

• light sandals

• sneakers

• jacket made of breathable membrane fabric (for ex. Gore-Tex)

• trousers made of breathable membrane fabric (for ex. Gore-Tex)

• down sleeveless jacket

• fleece jacket

• fleece trousers

• thermal underwear (trousers and a long sleeve T-shirt)

• long sleeve shirts and T-shirts

• light and warm socks

• light comfortable trousers and shorts

• sun protection hat

• warm gloves

• warm/fleece hat

 

Additional equipment:

• 75-90 liters backpack or any big bag for transportation which you can give to a porter to carry

• light small backpack for carrying valuables and other personal items which you carry yourself all the way on the trek

• a cover for a bag to protect from rain

• sun glasses in a hard box

• walking poles (optional)

• personal medical kit

• sunscreen cream SPF 45+

• trekking towel

• toothpaste, toothbrush, soap

• wet tissues

 

Information about Pakistanian visa:

The visa can be obtained on-line. We will send you the link to the website where you can apply for it. In order to submit your application form you need to pay $35 and to attach the visa invitation which we provide you with. Usually it takes 3-4 working days to process your application. The electronic tourist visa is sent to your email. Pakistanian visa can be granted for up to 3 months stay, the exact period of stay indicated on the visa depends on the dates of visit requested in visa application.

 

Insurance:

The insurance is not included in the cost of the tour. If you do not have one we can provide you with the insurance for the additional fee. The insurance must cover all kinds of incidents during mountain trekking, specifically it has to cover a helicopter evacuation from the elevation up to 6000 meters.