Best Treks in Gilgit-Baltistan: From Fairy Meadows to K2 Base Camp

Gilgit-Baltistan has some of the most spectacular trekking on earth, with routes for every level. Here are the best, from gentle meadow walks to glacier expeditions, with honest guidance on difficulty.

• Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat Base Camp (3 to 5 days, about 4,000 m): jeep from Raikot Bridge to Tato, a 2 to 3 hour hike to Fairy Meadows, then a day walk via Beyal to the base camp under Nanga Parbat's Rakhiot face.
• Rama Lake (2 to 4 days, about 3,300 m): a gentle walk from Rama Meadows near Astore to a glacial lake under Nanga Parbat's eastern side.
• Rakaposhi Base Camp (3 to 5 days, about 3,500 m): from Minapin in Nagar to Tagaphari, facing Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Diran.
• Patundas Meadows (2 to 4 days, about 4,100 m): a steep climb above Passu to a plateau with views of the Batura and Passu glaciers.

• Rush Lake (5 to 7 days, 4,694 m): from Hopar across the Miar Glacier to one of the highest alpine lakes in the world, facing Spantik and Malubiting.
• Shimshal Pass (10 to 14 days, 4,735 m): through Shimshal village and Wakhi yak pastures in the Pamir.
• K2 Base Camp and Concordia (15 to 20 days, about 5,000 m): the classic Baltoro Glacier trek past the Trango Towers to Concordia, where K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums stand together.
• Gondogoro La (18 to 22 days, 5,585 m): Concordia and K2 Base Camp, then a fixed-rope pass crossing to Hushe with views of four 8,000-metre peaks.
• Snow Lake and Hispar La (20 to 24 days, 5,151 m): the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, one of the longest glacier traverses outside the polar regions.

Lower treks such as Fairy Meadows and Rakaposhi Base Camp run from June to September. The high glacier treks are best in July and August, when the passes are open and the weather most settled.