TREK · GUIDE

06 JUN 2026

The Baltoro Glacier:
Trekking the Longest Glacier Outside the Poles

Sixty kilometres of ice, a wall of eight-thousanders, and the road to the throne room of the mountain gods.

Every great journey to the highest mountains on Earth begins the same way: on the Baltoro Glacier. This is the highway of the Karakoram — one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions, and the approach route to K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums.

The Road to the Ice

It starts in Skardu, the gateway to Baltistan. From there a jeep ride carries you to Askole, the last village in the Karakoram, where the road ends and the mountain world begins. Then the glacier takes over — and for the next week you walk on ice the size of a small nation, surrounded by peaks that don't seem possible.

Concordia: The Throne Room

The heart of the trek is Concordia, where the Baltoro meets the Godwin-Austen Glacier. From this single spot you can see four eight-thousanders — K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II — standing in one unbroken horizon. No view on Earth concentrates so much altitude into a single glance. It is called the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods for a reason.

Practical Notes

The trek runs roughly 7–9 days up and 5–7 back, best done in June–August. It lies in a restricted zone, so you need a licensed operator and permits arranged through Pakistani authorities. Budget around $1,500–$3,500 for a guided trek. Fitness matters; experience on crevassed glacier travel matters more. The full K2 Base Camp trek guide →

“To those who have struggled with them, the mountains reveal beauties they will not disclose to those who make no effort.” — Sir Francis Younghusband