How many days does the K2 Base Camp trek take?

I walked 12 days from Askole to Hushe with no full rest day. With Islamabad, the flight to Skardu, a jeep day each way and spare days, I was in Pakistan for about 19 days.

Can you trek to K2 Base Camp without a guide?

No. It's a restricted-zone trek. You need a trekking permit, a trekking visa sponsored by a licensed tour operator, and a licensed guide and porters (checked September 2026).

What permits and fees does the K2 Base Camp trek need?

A Gilgit-Baltistan trekking permit, US$150 per person from April to September, and the Central Karakoram National Park fee, US$190 per person (2026). Your operator files the permit, and the visa normally takes about 4 weeks.

When is the best time to trek to K2 Base Camp?

The season is June to September. The Gondogoro La is normally crossed from late June to about the end of August, while the ropes are in place. I walked August 18 to 29, 2025.

How do you get to the start of the K2 Base Camp trek?

Fly to Islamabad, then take a domestic flight to Skardu or drive about two days by road. From Skardu it's about 5 to 6 hours by jeep to Askole, and the same from Hushe back to Skardu at the end.

The K2 Base Camp film: Karakoram, Pakistan

Karakoram, Pakistan · 12 days · 100 miles

K2 Base Camp Hiking Guide

12 days up the Baltoro Glacier and out over the Gondogoro La.

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Real pages from the guide. Tap one to see it big.

A day page
A day map and elevation profile
At a glance
Altitude and camp heights

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The route

My GPS recording of 12 days on a relief map. The numbers are where each day starts; the red dot is the finish. The full GPX files and the day maps come with the guide.

Relief map of the K2 Base Camp route: 12 days drawn in red with numbered day starts, labelled Askole, Hushe, K2, Paiju, K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro La. — Map data: Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, GMTED) on AWS · Glaciers, rivers & lakes © OpenStreetMap contributors

At a glance

Days: 12 days
Distance: 100 miles
Climbing: About 11,150 ft (3,400 m) up
Season: Summer
Nights: 11 in tents on the trek
Route: Askole to Hushe

What's inside

All twelve days. Stats, the time I took, my notes, the trail, where to get off, a map with an elevation profile, and links to that day in both of my films.
My GPX files. My own recordings for each day and the full route, with waypoints for every camp, K2 Base Camp and the Gondogoro La, ready for AllTrails, Gaia GPS, Garmin or Organic Maps.
How this trek works. What my operator arranged, and what you need: a licensed operator, the trekking permit and park fee, the trekking visa, a guide and porters, rescue registration and spare days, with 2026 fees.
Altitude, explained. Every camp height from my GPS, the nightly gains, the rules of thumb for acclimatizing, and the signs of altitude sickness to watch for.
The Gondogoro La. How the night crossing went, hour by hour from my GPS: crampons, harness, fixed ropes and the descent to Khuispang.
Getting there and home. Islamabad, the flight or the road to Skardu, and the jeeps to Askole and back from Hushe, with the current travel advice.
Camp life, costs and gear. What the food and camps were like, what my records show I paid, a budget checklist, and what I carried.
Before you go and a trip sheet. One page of year-to-year checks, including security advice, and a printable one-page summary of the whole trek.

About this trip

In August 2025 I spent twelve days walking about 100 miles through Pakistan's Karakoram to K2 Base Camp, then out over the Gondogoro La, a pass we climbed at night on fixed ropes. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. You can't do this trek alone: it needs a permit, a licensed operator, a guide and porters. This guide has my GPS files, maps and notes for every day, what my operator arranged, and what you'll need to arrange yourself.

Watch the film on YouTube (192K views).

Gear for this route

Paid links: I earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My operator's team carried the tents, the kitchen and the food. Here's the hiking gear I brought in August 2025, what I'd take now, and what I filmed with.

What I carried in 2025

The hiking gear from my film's gear list, which I used and brought on this trip.

PackHyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55 Hyperlite
Tentmy tentThe team provided it.
QuiltHyperlite Mountain Gear 20° Quilt HyperliteNights were below freezing: our water bottles froze at Goro II.
Sleeping padTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT AmazonI slept on two pads.
PillowKlymit Pillow X Amazon
Pad inflatorAlpenBlow Micro Inflator Garage Grown Gear
Sun hoodiePATH Projects Pyrenees T19 Hoodie PATH Projects
FleeceSenchi Designs A90 Half Zip HoodieSimilar: PATH Projects Lomond Hoodie PATH Projects
PuffyArc’teryx Cerium Hoody Arc’teryx
Rain shellArc’teryx Beta AR Jacket Arc’teryx
PantsPATH Projects Killam PX Pant PATH Projects
ShortsTerritory Run Co. Long Haul ShortSimilar: PATH Projects Sykes PX Short PATH Projects
SocksPATH Projects Joyner Crew Sock PATH Projects
Shoestrail runnersThey got holes on the glacier and made it to the end thanks to Aziz's patch.
UmbrellaSix Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon AmazonThe reflective umbrella, the MVP of the trip, for the sun on the glacier and for the rain.
HeadlampNitecore NU20 Classic AmazonFor the midnight start on the pass.
Power bankNitecore NB20000 AmazonThe team ran a generator for a couple of hours each evening. Bring a power bank for the rest of the day.
Water bottleKatadyn BeFree AC · 1L Amazon
Camp shoesa pair of camp shoesThey were essential.
On the passalpine boots, crampons, a helmet and a harness, plus every warm layer I had

What I'd take now

What I'd add for this trek, from my current kit.

Glacier glassesmore protective glacier glassesThe glare off the snow on Day 9 was intense. I wish I'd had them.
Camp shoesCrocs Classic Clog Amazon
ShoesOboz Katabatic LT Low GTX AmazonI wore them on Alta Via 1: lightweight and stable, and no blisters.
PolesBlack Diamond Alpine Carbon Z Poles AmazonFor the rocks and ice of the Baltoro Glacier.
CapPATH Projects Muir Cap 2.0 PATH ProjectsThe days are hot and bright low down and on the glacier.
GlovesUnigear Touchscreen Liner Gloves Amazon
NavigationAllTrails+ AllTrails · 30% offImport my GPX files and download them offline while you still have Wi-Fi. Offline maps need the paid plan.
Phone dataAiralo eSIM Airalo · $3 offData in Islamabad and Skardu. After Askole I don't count on a connection.

Filming kit

What I filmed this trip with in 2025. My setup is smaller now (below). Read the drone note in Weather and safety before you bring one.

CameraSony ZV-E1 AmazonI shot this entire trip on it.
LensSony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G AmazonMy tripod fell over on Day 8 and cracked the lens, but the camera survived.
DroneDJI Air 3 Amazon now the Air 3S
TripodSmallRig Carbon Fiber Tripod Amazon
Tripod headJoby BallHead 3K (now the 3K PRO) Amazon
Wrist strapPeak Design Cuff Wrist Strap Amazon

What I film with now

Since September 2026 I film with a smaller setup: the Pocket 4 and the Mic 3 on the trail, and the Mini 5 Pro in the air.

CameraDJI Osmo Pocket 4 Amazon
MicDJI Mic 3 · 1 TX + 1 RX AmazonIt pairs with the Pocket 4.
DroneDJI Mini 5 Pro Amazon

Everything I carry now: my gear page.

The Day 6, Goro II to Concordia page from the K2 Base Camp Hiking Guide

Free sample + packing list

Try Day 6 free, plus my packing list

Goro II to Concordia

The whole day page from the guide as a PDF, plus my camping packing list: the 42 things I carry, with a note on each. The PDF opens right away and both come by email. You'll also get my emails about new guides and trips, a few a year.

The details

Format: A 74-page PDF sized for a phone (A5, prints fine too) and a folder of GPX files, in one zip download.
Edition: 2027 season edition, updated September 2026.
Delivery: Instant. After you pay you get a private download link. Bookmark it to download again on any device.
Payment: Secure checkout through Stripe, in your own currency. Tax is included in the price, except in the US and Canada, where any sales tax is added at checkout.
Refunds: Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund: kraig@kraigadams.com.
Questions: Email kraig@kraigadams.com.

Questions

How many days does the K2 Base Camp trek take?: I walked 12 days from Askole to Hushe with no full rest day. With Islamabad, the flight to Skardu, a jeep day each way and spare days, I was in Pakistan for about 19 days.
Can you trek to K2 Base Camp without a guide?: No. It's a restricted-zone trek. You need a trekking permit, a trekking visa sponsored by a licensed tour operator, and a licensed guide and porters (checked September 2026).
What permits and fees does the K2 Base Camp trek need?: A Gilgit-Baltistan trekking permit, US$150 per person from April to September, and the Central Karakoram National Park fee, US$190 per person (2026). Your operator files the permit, and the visa normally takes about 4 weeks.
When is the best time to trek to K2 Base Camp?: The season is June to September. The Gondogoro La is normally crossed from late June to about the end of August, while the ropes are in place. I walked August 18 to 29, 2025.
How do you get to the start of the K2 Base Camp trek?: Fly to Islamabad, then take a domestic flight to Skardu or drive about two days by road. From Skardu it's about 5 to 6 hours by jeep to Askole, and the same from Hushe back to Skardu at the end.