Snow Lake Trek
When: June- October
Duration: 21 days
Highlights: Walking on Biafo and Hisper Glacier
Snow Lake Trek is one of the most remote and pure nature adventures in the world. The trail is unparallelly to any other trails in the world. Before reading any further, please see snow lake trek itinerary.
Snow Lake is a high altitude glacial over 16km wide located at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers. Snow Lake and Hispar La Trek starts from Skardu- Askoli, which lies on the right bank of Biafo Glacier. Biafo Glacier is 68 Kilometers on the Karakorum Range and south of Baltoro glacier leads to Hispar glacier.
This is a strenuous trek for strong trekkers where you get to cross peaks in the range of 5500m to 7300 meters. The famous snow lake is lying on 500 meters behind the Hispar La pass, this is the one of the best place for skiers and small peak climbers. After crossing Hispar La at an altitude of 5151 meters it gives a beautiful panoramic view of Mountains around Hispar glacier. We cross the summer pastures and we get into Hisper village, from there we meet the Jeeps to drive to Karimabad Valley and Gilgit.
Highlights – Snow Lake Trek
Snow Lake trek has a lot to offers. Given below are main highlights of snow lake trek:
- The crossing of Hisper La 5151 m
- Hisper Pass is one of the longest glacial systems outside the polar regions. This highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms;
- Hunza in west with Baltistan in the east
- Walking on Biafo and Hisper Glacier
- One of the world`s top 5 trekking adventures
- Trek up to Biafo Glacier (Longest and world’s largest outside the polar region)
- Views of peaks between 5,000 m to 7,000 m Peaks
Itinerary – Snow Lake Trek
Day-01: Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Day-02: Fly from Islamabad to Skardu
Day-03: Free day in Skardu
Day-04: Drive from Skardu to Askoli
Day-05: Trek from Askoli to Namla
Day-06: Trek from Namla to Shikonfon
Day-07: Trek from Shikonfon to Baintha
Day-08: Rest and acclimatization in Baintha
Day-09: Trek from Baintha to Morfogoro
Day-10: Trek from Marfogoro to Karpogoro
Day-11: Trek from Karpogoro to Snow Lake BC
Day-12: Trek from Snow Lake BC to Hisper LA
Day-13: Trek from Hisper LA to Khani Bassa
Day-14: Trek from Khani Bassa to Jutmal
Day-15: Trek from Jutmal to Red Star
Day-16: Trek from Red Star to Bitanmal
Day-17: Trek from Bitanmal to Hisper village
Day-18: Trek from Hisper village to Karimabad
Day-19: Drive from Karimabad to Naran
Day-20: Drive from Naran to Islamabad
- All domestic flights and road transfers
- All hotel accommodation (twin sharing room)
- All trekking accommodation
- All camping site and bridge fees
- All trekking logistics (all tents, non-personal equipment and tools etc)
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
- Government trekking permit fees and paperwork
- Waste management fees (government requirement)
- Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc)
- Porter for personal luggage (15 kgs)
- First aid medicine kit (basic)
- Satellite phone for emergencies
- D3V sleeping tent, Toilet Tent, Shower Tent.
- Personal travel insurance (suggestions only)
- Visa to Pakistan (five supporting documents will be offered)
- International airfare
- Personal equipment (e.g. trekking shoes, down jacket, walking sticks etc)
- Personal mountain equipment (crampon, mountaineering boot, ice axe, harness, two carabiners, helmet etc)
- Extra nights in Islamabad (hotel check in/out is 12pm) - additional USD 49 per night
- Tips/gratuities for guides, porters, staff etc
- Miscellaneous (minibar, bottled water, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)