Trekking in Pakistan

K2 Basecamp Trek

Pakistan is a fascinating and changeable country and trekking there reflects that. It is a true adventure travel destination… wild, untamed and very demanding.

If you’ve decided that a hike to K2 Basecamp (or beyond) is for you, then read on for my top tips for getting the most from your trek.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Pakistan is a young and changeable country. Its landscape is the same. Rocks fall. Glaciers change. Rivers flood. There is no shade and the sun beats down relentlessly. It rains, a lot too. Detours around gnarly crevasses are required. It is not for the faint of heart.

In July 2022 almost all of the key bridges on our trek had been washed away. This is not uncommon. Our trek was still possible but things took more time. An extra day in our itinerary made all the difference. Instead of using it as a prep day in Skardu we rearranged our transport and set off a day early. Without this flexibility we’d have had to make the tough decision to miss something out or to do some very long days to make the time up.

AIM TO DRINK 3-4 LITRES OF WATER A DAY

This is standard good advice when trekking at altitude and will also keep you hydrated in the high temperatures you may experience. I take a tube of SIS electrolyte tabs with me. One of those at the end of the day in a bottle of water makes it much easier to finish up my water quota. I try and taper my hydration by late afternoon/early evening so I’m not waking up too often to pee in the night.

I recommend carrying at least 2 x 1 litre bottles, the clear Nalgene ones are best… you can see what’s in them and they are robust enough that you can fill them with hot water to act as a hot water bottle at night once you get higher up and colder. There are a few outdoor shops in Skardu where you can pick up some basic essentials.

TAKE A WATER FILTER WITH YOU

There is a lot of water around but not a lot that’s easily drinkable. And it can get incredibly hot on the glacier. By taking a water filter you can top up when you reach streams and trickles.

USE TREKKING POLES

Consider taking trekking poles on this trek. The ground on the glacier is very loose and poles can help aid stability as well as increasing your efficiency and comfort. They are proven to lessen fatigue and strain on your joints. They can also help with obstacles, for example when negotiating small streams you can easily check the water depth and gain extra support.

SUN PROTECTION

When it’s hot it is hot! Take a factor 50 suncream and use it. Plus Cat 4 sunglasses to protect from the glare and UV. Also take a good covering for your head and upper body. I wore a long sleeved shirt for most of the trip. Honestly, it was so hot that it was impossible to actually get any hotter but my body was very grateful for the protection from the sun.

LADIES… GET USED TO PEEING OUT AND ABOUT

There is not a huge amount of cover on the glacier – I mean, yes there are tens of thousands of rocks around but a lot of the ground away from the trail is very unstable and the trail can get busy too. I keep my eyes peeled for good spots and enlist the help of others if I think I might get sprung. I also trialled a pee cloth for the first time and really liked it.

BE RESPECTFUL

In the village of Askole at the start of the trek, wearing shorts, even knee length ones was frowned on by the locals. That applied for both men and women. I saw folk in all sorts of attire and it really made me wonder about the balance of cultural values and life for the local folk who just happened to be born under the gaze of these rocky giants… and now have to endure thousands of visitors every year.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Please endeavor to leave no trace of your visit. That means packing rubbish out and encouraging your crew to do the same. Toileting is a particular issue on this trip – campsites are busy and some are dirty. Use the long drop toilets provided where possible and protect water from contamination. Nobody wants to see unsightly messes on the trail and be on the receiving end of illness as a result.

Ladies – see my comment and link to the pee cloth above. If you’re prepared it’s easy enough to pack sanitary waste out in a ziplock bag or small plastic tub. Moon cups and period pants are good alternatives to tampons and sanitary towels and much more environmentally friendly.

LOOK AFTER YOUR CREW

You will likely be on a trip with men carrying your luggage and tents or you may be using animals. Either way, your crew need rest, hydration and to be looked after too.

The cost to get a horse to take you down off the glacier is very high. I asked why it was so high and the answer from several local guides was that the horses usually die after carrying such a heavy load up or down the glacier, so it’s not an option to be taken lightly.

DO THE PREP

If you haven’t trekked long distance for a while, get your training in. Break your boots in, test your kit and get hiking fit. You don’t need to be a racing snake but you do need to be able to walk for several consecutive days, in the heat and at altitude on some pretty tough terrain. It’s the best thing you can do to give yourself every chance of completing your dream trek.

GET A HEALTH CHECK

It’s a good idea to check your jabs and vaccines in plenty of time before you go. You can have a look yourself at the Fit for Travel website to see what travel jabs you may need. Last year there was a shortage of some vaccines so the more time you allow the better.

You may also want to visit the dentist well before your trip away – once you are out trekking there is no easy way out to resolve a tooth problem.

SORT A SLEEP SYSTEM

If you don’t sleep well it will impact your whole trip. The temperatures on this trek vary widely overnight. Expect anything from plus 20 deg C to potentially minus 10 deg C. I always take a sleeping bag liner so I can sleep covered on hot nights but stay cool.

You might have a 3 or 4 season sleeping bag for this trek, which will be fine. You’ll just have to accept being a bit too warm sometimes. Over the years I’ve learnt that some trips benefit from taking 2 bags. A thinner 1 season sleeping bag and a thicker 3 season down bag. This way I can be more comfortable at different stages and I can double them up when it’s really cold.

Some trek providers will provide a comfy sleeping mattress. If not, a tough sleeping mat like a thermarest is a good choice. The ground is very rough and stony so I’d recommend something robust.

For a more in depth look at this trek, see my article in UK Hillwalking and UK Climbing:

UKH Articles – Trekking to K2 Basecamp – Top Tips (ukhillwalking.com)

I led this private trek to K2 and Broad Peak basecamps, in July 2022 for The Mountain Company