BIAFO - HISPAR & SNOW LA TREK

Biafo Hispar Trek is one of demanding trek among all treks with in Pakistan and that's why this trek is called on another named Karakorum Great Crevasses Biafo Hispar. The name of this trek is actually combination of two last villages of both valleys Shigar & Nagar. In the Shigar valley you lead up to Askole which is last inhabitant settlement and Hispar is last inhabitant village of Nagar Valley. Although this trek is an open zone, it is extremely strenuous, involving long stretches of glacier walking along this 115kms ice corridor. This trek is recommended fully guided along essential trekking tools, likely ropes and crampons. As it take you far from permanent settlement and is rich in wildlife, including Himalayan Brown Bears. Starting at Askole, the route follows the K2 treks for a short way before branching up the Biafo Glacier. The first of this trek, up the lower section of the Biafo glaciers, is particularly difficult. Above the junction of the Sim Gang and Biafo Glaciers, off to the north as you approach Hispar Pass, is the Snow Lake, a huge expense of ice covering around 80 square kilometers. Snow lake named in 1892 by the British explorer Matin Conway. The 5150m Hispar Pass provides stunning views in good weather; west down the Hispar Glacier towards Hunza and east back to the peaks surrounding Snow Lake and Sim Gang Glacier. The trek down to Hispar village along the north edge of Hispar glacier is difficult in places, crossing four side glaciers en route.

Highlights

Daily Walking                    6-8 HRS except Longer Days While Crossing Pass

Grade                               Moderate to Difficult

Best time                         June – End of August

Maximum Altitude            5151m

Duration                          20-23 Days 

Detail Itinerary

Day 01 RAWALPINDI - ISLAMABAD: You will be greeted at airport and transferred to comfortable centrally located hotel. Reminder of the day is free for you to relax and recovered from long flight to Pakistan. In the after noon, for those who desire there will be a tour of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and bustling bazaar of Rawalpindi. In the evening we have a welcome dinner where you will have the opportunity to meet your guide and other member of group. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02 RAWALPINDI – CHILAS:  (Drive & Hotel). Morning after break fast drive 11-12 hrs on famous Karakorum Highway. En route we will stop for photography, toilet break and lunch at Chatar or Besham. O/N stay at hotel.

Day 03: CHILAS – SKARDU: (Drive & Hotel). After Break fast drive 9-10 hrs to Skardu, en route stop at “Junction Point of World great Mountain Ranges” Himalaya, Karakorum & Hindukush and view point of Killer mountain “Nanga Parbat”. O/N Stay in hotel.

Day 04 SKARDU: (Hotel & Sightseeing). Hire porters and purchase supplies in Skardu and free time for sightseeing. O/N stay in hotel.

Day 05: SKARDU – ASKOLI: leave Skardu for a kick-off point at Askoli traveling by jeep and tractor through the beautiful Shigar Valley along with Braldu River. O/N stay in camp.

Day 06: ASKOLI – NAMLA: 5-7 hrs trek to Namla. It is our first day trek from Askoli village and continues our trek at confluence of the Biafo and Biaho rivers. Continue our trek to through the ablation valley, descending to the broken white at the glacier margin. O/N stay in camp.

Day 07: NAMLA - MANGO: 5-6 hrs trek. The trek follows over sandy and we will quickly descend down to glacier. We will further continue straight over broken glacier and cross moraine. Once you will cross the moraine region you will see Askoli villagers with their yaks as far as Mango. There are 2 camp Mango-I and Mango II, but Mango is better camp-site with great views. O/N stay in camp.    

Day 08: MANGO - BAINTHA: 5-6 hrs trek. We will continue our trek toward Mango II which large campsite but less scenic. From Mango II we will again enter on glacier till opposite site of the Biafo glacier with good views of Latok peaks. O/N stay in camp.

Day 09: BAINTHA – MARPOGORO: 6-7 hrs trek to Marpogoro. Continue our trek towards Baintha II a less desirable campsite and take on to Biafo glacier. After few hrs walk we will be on opposite of three rocks named kept on its color of the rocks. O/N stay in camp.

Day 10: MARPPGORO – SNOW LAKE: 6 to 7 hours over ice and snow. Once again we are careful to avoid crevasses along the way. Snow Lake is a magical place. Be sure to get out of the tent to experience the stars in the night. It is an unforgettable experience. O/N stay in camp.

Day 11: SNOW LAKE – HISPAR LA: after 6-8 hrs trek we will be on slope top of Pass Hispar La (5151m). Once again we have to careful for crevasses. Once you will be on top you have great opportunity to explore the two glaciers Biafo lays and on the other side Hispar Glacier. O/N stay in camp.

Day 12: HISPAR LA – KHANI BASA: This is a long day’s trek walk and can take more than 8 hours. We want to make sure that we leave the pass early before the snow becomes soft, on the way down; once again, we are careful to avoid crevasses. We will have to cross the Kani Basa Glacier before we can camp on a green campsite, which is a welcome sight and site after being on snow for the last few days. On the way we can see the famous Kanjut Sar ( 7, 760 Mt) towering high above the Kani Basa. O/N stay in camp.

Day 13: KHANI BASA – JUTMAL: This will take about 7 hours and on the way we will cross the Jutmal Glacier. It is tricky here as the route through the glacier is like maize with high ice walls. After crossing it, another hurdle that we face is the camp up on a loose cliff face. Once up the face, we now enter a beautiful campsite with lovely views across the Hispar Glacier. O/N stay in camp.

Day 14: JUTMAL – SHIGAM BARIS: 6-7 hrs trek to Shiqam Baris. Descend steeply to the ablation valley along the northern margin of Hispar Glacier. The largest camp Shiqam Baris is at the end of grassy hill. O/N stay in camp.

Day 15: SHIQAM BARIS – DACHIGAN: 7 hrs trek down to Dachigan. Cross Pumori Chhish Glacier and continue trek to Dachigan. Dachiqan is nice place with green grass and beautiful view of 6000m peaks. O/N stay in camp.

Day 16: DACHIGAN – BITANMAL: 4-5 hrs trek to Bitanmal. Our camp is in a shepherd’s meadow where villagers from Hispar bring their yaks for the summer. The view of Makrong Chhish (6,607Mt), on the campsite. This is an exhaustive process. O/N stay in camp.

Day 17: BITANMAL – HISPAR VILLAGE: Another 4-5 hrs short trek will take us to Hispar village. Some stream has to be cross on the way, but the trek is relatively gentle. There is bridge on Hispar stream and then climb Hispar path brings us to Hispar village. O/N stay in camp.

Day 18: HISPAR VILLAGE – KARIMABAD (HUNZA): Morning after break fast drive 4-5 hrs by jeeps to Karimabad. In the evening visit Baltit fort, local bazaar of Karimabad or optional hike up to Duikar top village. O/N stay in hotel.

Day 19: KARIMABAD – CHILAS: In the morning after Breakfast leave for Chilas. En route visit Gilgit town, after lunch in Gilgit continue our drive to Chilas. O/N stay in hotel.

Day 20- 21: Commence return journey via same route to Islamabad, in the evening transfer to airport for onward journey to their sweet home. End of services. 

ADDITIONAL SIDE TRIPS:

If you have enough days and looking forward to adjust somewhere on the way, following side trips we recommend you.

• Shorter Treks of Ultar Meadows, Rush Lake, Rakaposhi BC, Patondas, Shimshal Pamir and Hopar Glacier.

• Excursion of world highest border Khunjerab Pass (PAK-CHINA).

• Naltar village Excursion 

• Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat on the way back to Chilas.

• Peshawar city tour and Khyber Pass Excursion on the way back to Islamabad.

• Visit to Murree and Muzafarabad (Azad Kashmir) from Islamabad.

• Tour of famous Mughul City Lahore & Wagha border (PAK-INDIA) flag down ceremony.                                 

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