- Duration 13 days
Price From Euro 1100 E 1000
Peak Altitude: 6,055 m
Range / Region: Karakoram, Shigar Valley (Skardu)
Grade: Extreme
Best Season: June – September (ideal window July – August, can extend to mid-September depending on weather)
Start / End: Islamabad
Permit Zone: Open zone
Group Size: [set this — your price sheet says 5–20]
Meta Description: Climb Khosar Gang, a 6,055 m peak above Pakistan’s Shigar Valley. A 13-day guided expedition from Islamabad with camps, rest days and a summit day.
Overview
Khosar Gang is a mountaineering peak in the Shigar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, rising to roughly 6,055 metres in the Karakoram. Its name comes from the Balti language and translates as “Ice Pumpkin”, a nod to the rounded, glaciated shape of the mountain. The glacier that descends from it feeds the Shigar side of the Braldu River, and local people have long attached legends and fairy tales to the peak.
For climbers stepping up from trekking peaks, this is an approachable first Karakoram summit. The climbing itself is not technically hard, but the route crosses glacier ice mixed with loose rock, which demands steady footwork, rope-team discipline and good judgement about conditions. That puts it at an intermediate level of difficulty overall.
Our 13-day programme starts and ends in Islamabad. It builds in a rest day in Skardu and another at Base Camp so your body can adjust before you move up through Camp 1 and Camp 2 to the summit. The best weather window is July to August, and the season can stretch into mid-September when conditions allow.
Tour Highlights
- A Karakoram summit in under two weeks. A true 6,000 m objective that fits into a short trip, without the 50 to 60 day commitment of an eight-thousander.
- Shigar Valley setting. Climb above one of Baltistan’s most scenic valleys, with views over the Braldu River basin and surrounding glaciers.
- Planned acclimatization. A rest day in Skardu and a second at Base Camp before the climb begins.
- Glacier mountaineering. Practise ice and mixed-terrain travel on a route that is a good stepping stone toward bigger Karakoram peaks.
- Local mountain culture. A peak with its own Balti name and folklore, approached through villages that have welcomed climbers for generations.
Cost Includes
- All domestic flights with baggage allowance (checked 20 kg, hand carry 7 kg)
- All road transfers including airport transfers
- Hotel accommodation in Pakistan (twin sharing basis)
- Government trekking and climbing permits
- Trekking accommodation in Pakistan (twin sharing dome tent)
- Camping site fees and bridge fees
- Trekking logistics (tents, non-personal equipment and tools)
- All meals in Pakistan, except those listed under exclusions
- Snacks, including dry fruits and tea/coffee, during the trek
- Free refills of boiled drinking water on the trek
- Licensed professional guide (as per government requirement)
- Islamabad and Skardu city tours including entry fees
- Support staff (cook, assistants, etc.)
- Porterage for personal luggage and mountaineering equipment
- Storage service for baggage in Skardu
- Basic first aid medicine kit
- Satellite phone for emergencies only
- Trekking map and trip achievement certificate
Cost Excludes
- International airfare and visa
- Personal travel and high-altitude rescue insurance
- Meals in hotels/restaurants not covered in the plan
- Bottled water and other beverages
- Personal trekking gear (clothing, shoes, poles, etc.)
- Personal mountaineering gear (crampons, boots, ice axe, helmet, etc.)
- Extra hotel nights in Islamabad or Skardu
- Excess baggage during the trek
- Storage service in Islamabad
- Tips and gratuities
- Miscellaneous personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs, etc.)
- Early return costs if leaving the trek midway
- Force majeure costs due to natural events (landslides, floods, etc.)
- Emergency helicopter evacuation
- Rented crampons, sleeping bags, poles, etc.
Day 01 — Arrival in Islamabad
Location: Islamabad · Altitude: 666 m
Arrive at Islamabad International Airport, where our team meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Rest, and meet your guide for a short briefing.
Day 02 — Fly Islamabad to Skardu
Location: Skardu · Altitude: 2,230 m
Take the morning flight to Skardu, with views of the Karakoram and the Nanga Parbat massif on a clear day. Transfer to your hotel and spend the afternoon settling in.
Day 03 — Rest and Preparation Day, Skardu
Location: Skardu · Altitude: 2,230 m
A full rest day to adjust to the altitude. Check your climbing gear, organise any last purchases and go over the plan with your guide.
Day 04 — Skardu to Base Camp
Location: Base Camp · Altitude: [to confirm]
Travel from Skardu by road to the trailhead, then trek to Base Camp, where the crew sets up camp for the climbing phase.
Day 05 — Rest Day at Base Camp
Location: Base Camp · Altitude: [to confirm]
Acclimatization day. Short walks near camp, gear checks and a route briefing before the climb starts.
Day 06 — Base Camp to Camp 1
Location: Camp 1 · Altitude: [to confirm]
Move up to Camp 1, carrying personal equipment. The route begins to cross glacier terrain, so crampons and rope-team travel come into play.
Day 07 — Camp 1 to Camp 2
Location: Camp 2 · Altitude: [to confirm]
Continue higher to Camp 2, the high camp for the summit attempt. Rest, hydrate and prepare for an early start.
Day 08 — Camp 2 to Summit
Location: Khosar Gang Summit · Altitude: 6,055 m
Summit day. Start before dawn to take advantage of firm snow and stable weather, climb the final section and return to Camp 2.
Day 09 — Camp 2 to Base Camp
Location: Base Camp · Altitude: [to confirm]
Descend to Base Camp, where the crew has hot food ready. Pack up and prepare to leave the mountain.
Day 10 — Base Camp to Sildi
Location: Sildi · Altitude: [to confirm]
Trek out to the roadhead at Sildi, ending the mountain portion of the trip.
Day 11 — Sildi to Skardu (inferred, not shown on the reference page)
Location: Skardu · Altitude: 2,230 m
Drive back to Skardu, hotel check-in and a well-earned hot shower.
Day 12 — Fly Skardu to Islamabad (inferred)
Location: Islamabad · Altitude: 666 m
Fly back to Islamabad. Free evening to rest or shop.
Day 13 — Contingency / Departure (inferred)
Location: Islamabad · Altitude: 666 m
Buffer day for weather or flight delays on the Skardu route, or transfer to the airport for your flight home.
FAQs
How fit do I need to be for Khosar Gang?
This is a graded mountaineering objective, so you should be comfortable with multi-day hiking at altitude and have prior experience with crampons and rope travel. Tell us about your recent hill days and previous altitude experience and we will give you an honest assessment before confirming your place.
When is the best time to climb Khosar Gang?
July to August gives the most stable conditions. The season runs from June to September, and in good years it can extend to mid-September.
How technical is the climb?
Technically it is on the easier side for a 6,000 m peak, but crossing glacier ice mixed with rock requires solid footwork, comfort in crampons and good judgement. Treat it as intermediate difficulty.
How many days do I need?
The full programme is 13 days from Islamabad and back, including a rest day in Skardu, a rest day at Base Camp, and a contingency day for weather or flight delays.
Do I need a permit?
Khosar Gang is in an open zone, and we arrange the required climbing permits as part of the package.
Where do we start and finish?
Everything starts and ends in Islamabad. Domestic flights to and from Skardu are included.
Notes for you before publishing (delete this section)
- Duration conflict across your own materials. Your live site lists “Khosar Gang Peak Trekking Expedition” at 15 days, your price sheet says 12 days, and the reference page uses 13. I wrote 13 here; change it to match whichever you actually run.
- Altitude conflict. The reference page gives 6,055 m. Your price sheet lists it as 6,400 m. Please confirm the right figure.
- Days 11 to 13 are my inference. The reference page hides them. Sildi to Skardu, flight to Islamabad and a contingency or departure day is the standard way these trips close, but check it against how you actually operate.
- Altitudes marked [to confirm]. The reference page gave no figures for Base Camp, Camp 1, Camp 2 or Sildi, and I didn’t want to invent them.
- Cost lists use your own standard blocks from your other expedition pages, minus the Central Karakoram National Park waste fee line, which I wasn’t sure applies to this route. Add it back if it does.