The Burji La Trek is a guided trip lasting 7 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,880 m. It is graded Moderate to demanding — a non-technical 4,880 m pass on loose ground — 5 days on foot including an acclimatisation day. 3 fixed departures are open from $1,150 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Burji La Trek — Skardu to Deosai Over a 4,880 m Pass
Stand in Skardu bazaar and look south: the notch in the ridge is Burji La, about 4,880 m, some 2,600 m above town. Climb it on foot and the ground on the far side stops rising and opens into the Deosai plateau, wildflowers to the horizon in July. On a clear dawn you see K2 and Nanga Parbat from the same spot. Other operators sell this in four days. We do not, because the altitude profile is the whole risk on this trek: we give you a full acclimatisation day at base camp and a dawn start for the pass. It is the fastest honest way in the Karakoram to find out how your body handles altitude before you commit to K2. Local Balti team, sat phone in camp, fair price.
- Duration
- 7 Days - 6 Nights
- Max altitude
- 4,880 m
- Grade
- Moderate – Demanding
- Days on foot
- 5
- Best season
- Summer ( July - September )
- Group size
- Max 10
Burji La Trek Price
From $1,150 per person in a group of four to six, Skardu to Skardu. That covers jeep transfers, a licensed local guide, cook and porters, full camping equipment, all meals on trek, Deosai National Park fees, a satellite phone with the crew and the jeep pick-up at Sheosar Lake. Hotels in Skardu before and after, and flights from Islamabad, are priced separately so you can choose air or road.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip.
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $2,300 | Private guide, cook and porters for one, on your dates. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $1,500 | A small private team for couples and friends. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $1,150 | Our most popular group size and the best balance of cost and pace. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $950 | Best per-person rate for clubs and larger groups. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes — if you can walk uphill for a few hours, this is well within reach.
Graded Moderate to demanding — a non-technical 4,880 m pass on loose ground. No technical climbing and no ropework.
What to expect
The highest point is 4,880 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Burji La Trek
Seven days Skardu to Skardu: an acclimatisation day in town, two days up to base camp, a rest-and-climb day, the pass at dawn, a day across Deosai and the jeep home from Sheosar Lake.
Day 1Skardu — Rest, Gear Check & Acclimatisation Walk
2,230 m
Arrive and sleep at about 2,230 m. Gear check with your guide, then the Kharpocho Fort and Manthal Buddha Rock circuit: a real acclimatisation walk disguised as sightseeing.
Day 2Skardu to First Camp
3,200 m
Short jeep transfer to the trailhead above the Satpara side, then three to five hours on foot up terraced fields and open slope to camp at about 3,200 m. Hot, dry and shadeless; we start early and drink a lot.
Day 3First Camp to Burji Base Camp
4,100 m
Four to six hours on rougher ground with the valley dropping away behind you, to base camp at about 4,100 m. The day the altitude starts to speak, so we keep it short and reach camp by mid-afternoon.
Day 4Acclimatisation Day at Base Camp
4,100 m
Climb high, sleep low: an excursion up towards the pass and back down to camp. This is the day that makes the pass safe; skipping it is how people get into trouble.
Day 5Over Burji La & Down to Deosai
4,880 m
Pre-dawn start, two to three hours to the top for the light on K2 and Nanga Parbat, an hour on the pass, then a long descent onto the Deosai plateau to camp near the lakes at about 4,050 m.
Day 6Across the Deosai Plateau
4,200 m
Plateau walking at around 4,000 to 4,200 m: marmots, wildflowers in July and the long empty quiet that Deosai does better than anywhere in Pakistan. Camp on the plateau.
Day 7Sheosar Lake & Jeep to Skardu
4,250 m
Walk to Sheosar Lake at about 4,250 m, then jeep pick-up and the drive back to Skardu via Sadpara by late afternoon. Onward to Astore instead on request.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $1,150 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Jeep transfers Skardu to trailhead and Sheosar Lake to Skardu
- Licensed local guide
- Cook and porters
- Full camping equipment
- All meals on trek
- Deosai National Park fees
- Satellite phone with the crew and a real evacuation plan
- The same safety system we run on our expeditions
Not included
- Islamabad-Skardu flights or road transfer
- Hotels in Skardu
- Personal trekking gear
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Drinks and tips
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $1,150 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About the Burji La Trek
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your place. Balance is due 30 days before departure.
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. We confirm within the hour in season.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 60+ days before departure for a full refund of the deposit. 30-59 days: half the deposit. Under 30 days: the deposit is forfeit.
If we cancel a departure for operational reasons, you receive a full refund or a transfer to another date, your choice. Cancellations for weather or road and flight closures follow our force majeure terms: a free transfer or a credit valid for 24 months, plus a refund of every cost we can recover.
Permits & Documentation
Burji La and Deosai are in an open zone: no restricted-area NOC is needed and a standard Pakistan visa works. We arrange local registration and Deosai National Park fees.
Health & Fitness
Moderate to demanding: five days on foot, a 4,880 m pass on loose ground and three nights above 4,000 m. No technical climbing. Solid hill fitness required. Minimum age 14.
Travel insurance covering trekking to 5,000 m is mandatory and arranged by you.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is Burji La?
Roughly 4,880 m (about 16,010 ft). Published figures range from about 4,816 m to 5,000 m, so treat it as approximate. Either way it is about 2,600 m above Skardu.
Can you really see K2 from Burji La?
Yes, on a clear morning: a small serrated triangle far to the north-east, with Nanga Parbat to the west, Masherbrum and the Gasherbrum group in between. It needs a clean sky, which is why we camp high and reach the pass at first light.
Why seven days when others sell four?
Because the altitude gain is the real risk here. Our version adds an acclimatisation day in Skardu and a climb-high, sleep-low day at base camp. Cutting those makes the pass day harder and less safe.
How hard is it?
Moderate to demanding. There is no technical climbing and no glacier, but the ground is loose and steep, the days are hot and dry low down and cold at camp, and you sleep above 4,000 m. Solid hill fitness is enough; prior altitude experience helps.
Is Burji La good preparation for K2 Base Camp?
It is one of the best. In a week it tells you how you handle 4,000 to 4,900 m before you commit two to three weeks and real money to the Baltoro.
When can it be trekked?
Roughly July to September. Deosai is snowbound from about November to May, and early June often still holds snow on the pass. July brings the Deosai wildflowers.
