The Snow Lake Hisper la Trek is a guided trip lasting 22 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 5,000 m. It is graded Strenuous — remote glacier trek — 12–14 days on foot. 5 fixed departures are open from $2,800 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Snow Lake & Hispar La Trek — 2027 All-Inclusive
The Snow Lake & Hispar La Trek is one of the most remote and spectacular high-altitude adventures on the planet. This 22-day expedition takes you across two of the world's longest non-polar glaciers — the Biafo Glacier (67km) and the Hispar Glacier (53km) — through the vast, otherworldly basin of Snow Lake (4,800 m) and over the legendary Hispar La Pass (5,151 m).
Together, the Biafo and Hispar glaciers form a continuous 120km ice highway — the longest glacial system outside the polar regions — linking the ancient mountain kingdoms of Baltistan in the east with Hunza Valley in the west. This historic route was once a trade link connecting the Silk Road to the Indian Subcontinent.
What Makes This Trek Extraordinary?
- Snow Lake: A vast 77 sq km glacial basin at 4,800 m — surrounded by untouched Karakoram peaks. Explorers described it as one of the finest mountain views ever witnessed.
- Hispar La Pass (5,151 m): The dramatic crossing linking the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, with panoramic views of The Ogre (7,285 m) and the peaks of Hunza.
- World's Longest Glacier Trek: 120km of continuous glacier — the Biafo and Hispar together form the longest non-polar glacier traverse on Earth.
- True Wilderness: You will see almost no other trekkers. The campsites at Namla, Mango, and Baintha are pristine, flower-filled, and utterly remote.
- Wildlife: This region is one of the last strongholds of the snow leopard, Himalayan bear, ibex, and markhor.
Starting from Islamabad via flight to Skardu, the trek begins at Askole (3,000 m) — the same village that serves as the gateway to K2. The Biafo Glacier trail leads through Namla, Mango, and Baintha Meadows, then across the upper glacier to Snow Lake before the Hispar La crossing and the beautiful descent through the Hispar Valley into Karimabad, Hunza.
Related Treks: Great Karakoram Traverse | K2 & Gondogoro La | Four 8,000 m Base Camps
- Duration
- 22 Days - 21 Nights
- Max altitude
- 5,000 m
- Grade
- Strenuous
- Days on foot
- 12–14
- Best season
- Summer ( June - September )
- Group size
- Max 10
Snow Lake & Hispar La Trek — 2027 Fixed Departures
One of the great glacier crossings on earth: up the Biafo Glacier to Snow Lake (Lukpe Lawo), over the Hispar La at 5,151 m, and down the Hispar Glacier into Nagar and Hunza. Twenty-two days from Islamabad to Hunza, all-inclusive at $2,800 per person on a fixed departure. This is remote, committing ice travel — days on the glacier with no village in sight. You’ll cross it with Balti guides who know these passes, a sat phone in camp and a real rescue plan. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 5 dates are currently open, each capped at 10 people. Every date is the same price, $2,800 per person. A $280 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
| Departure | Dates | Price | Availability | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 02 | 1 Jun – 22 Jun | $2,800/person | 6 of 10 places | $280 | Book now |
| Group 03 | 20 Jun – 11 Jul | $2,800/person | 9 of 10 places | $280 | Book now |
| Group 04 | 27 Jun – 18 Jul | $2,800/person | 7 of 10 places | $280 | Book now |
| Group 05 | 16 Jul – 6 Aug | $2,800/person | 5 of 10 places | $280 | Book now |
| Group 06 | 11 Aug – 1 Sep | $2,800/person | 8 of 10 places | $280 | Book now |
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 4 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $6,200 for Solo (1 Person) down to $2,800/pp for 7-10 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $6,200 | Private departure, one trekker. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $4,400/pp | Small group, shared crew. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $3,200/pp | Best value mid-size group. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $2,800/pp | Largest group, lowest per-person price. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes, with some training behind you. Plenty of first-timers do this one and finish strong.
Graded Strenuous — remote glacier trek.
What to expect
The highest point is 5,000 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 Experience
Itinerary — Snow Lake Hisper la Trek
The Snow Lake & Hispar La Trek is one of the most remote and spectacular high-altitude adventures on the planet. This 22-day expedition takes you across two of the world’s longest non-polar glaciers — the Biafo Glacier (67km) and the Hispar Glacier (53km) — through the vast, otherworldly basin of Snow Lake...
Day 1Arrive Islamabad
500 m
Touch down in Islamabad. Our team meets you, runs through the route, and checks your gear before the flight north.
Day 2To Skardu
2,230 m
Fly or drive to Skardu (2,230 m), the gateway to the Karakoram. Settle in and rest after the journey.
Day 3Skardu Prep
2,230 m
A full day for permits, NOC paperwork and a final gear check before we head into the wilderness.
Day 4Drive to Askole
3,000 m
By 4x4 jeep up the Braldu valley to Askole (3,000 m), the last village before the glaciers.
Day 5Onto the Biafo
3,500 m
Step onto the Biafo Glacier and trek to Namla camp (3,500 m). The ice world begins.
Day 6Namla to Mango
4,000 m
Continue up the Biafo to Mango camp (4,000 m), gaining height steadily on the ice.
Day 7Mango to Baintha
3,900 m
Cross to Baintha (3,900 m), a green oasis on the glacier and a fine spot to recover.
Day 8Rest at Baintha
3,900 m
An acclimatisation day at Baintha. Short walks, rest, and letting the altitude settle.
Day 9Baintha to Marpogo
4,300 m
Push deeper into the range to Marpogo (4,300 m) as the glacier opens out.
Day 10Snow Lake
4,800 m
Reach Lukpe Lawo, the legendary Snow Lake (4,800 m) — a vast basin of ice ringed by peaks.
Day 11Snow Lake Basin
4,800 m
A day to explore and acclimatise in the Snow Lake basin before the high pass.
Day 12Hispar La Camp
5,000 m
Climb to high camp below Hispar La (5,000 m), positioned for an early start.
Day 13Cross Hispar La
4,600 m
Cross Hispar La (5,151 m), the high point of the traverse, and descend to Khani Basa (4,600 m).
Day 14Khani Basa to Yutmaru
4,200 m
Trek down the Hispar Glacier to Yutmaru camp (4,200 m).
Day 15Yutmaru to Bitanmal
4,000 m
Continue along the glacier to Bitanmal (4,000 m).
Day 16Down to Hispar
3,200 m
Leave the ice for Hispar village (3,200 m), the first settlement on the Nagar side.
Day 17Hispar to Hunza
2,400 m
Drive through Nagar to Hunza (2,400 m). Hot food and a real bed.
Day 18Rest in Hunza
2,400 m
Recover in Karimabad. Visit Baltit Fort and take in the Hunza valley.
Day 19Weather Buffer
2,400 m
A spare day held in reserve for weather or delays on the high route.
Day 20Down the KKH
1,200 m
Drive the Karakoram Highway south (1,200 m), descending out of the mountains.
Day 21Toward Islamabad
500 m
Complete the journey back to Islamabad. A reserve day in case of road delays.
Day 22Departure
500 m
Final breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $2,800 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Local Balti guides and porters
- All camping and kitchen crew
- All meals on trek
- Tents
- Mess and toilet tents
- Cooking gear
- Skardu transfers by 4×4 jeep to Askole
- Hotel nights in Skardu
- Permits and NOC fees
- Satellite phone in camp and an emergency rescue plan with established helicopter contacts
Not included
- International flights and Pakistan visa fees
- Personal trekking gear (boots
- Sleeping bag
- Down jacket)
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Tips for crew
- Any cost arising from early descent
- Weather delays or evacuation
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
- Trek brochure
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 $2,800 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 Snow Lake & Hispar La Trek
Booking & Payment
A 10% deposit confirms your seat on a fixed departure; the balance is due 30 days before the trek starts.
Payment by bank transfer or Wise. Card payment can be arranged on request.
Your seat is held only once the deposit clears.
Cancellation Policy
More than 45 days out: deposit refunded less bank charges.
30-45 days: 50% of total retained.
Under 30 days: no refund — the permit, porters and logistics are already committed.
Travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation is mandatory, and we verify your policy before departure. We also strongly recommend trip-cancellation cover.
Permits & Documentation
This trek enters a restricted glacier zone and requires a Trekking & Mountaineering visa (not a tourist visa) plus an NOC — we guide you through both.
A valid passport (6+ months) and trekking insurance covering high altitude and helicopter rescue are mandatory.
We handle the GB permit and NOC paperwork; you provide passport copies and photos in advance.
Health & Fitness Requirements
This is a long, cold, high-altitude glacier trek — you must be fit and comfortable with multi-day walking on moraine and ice.
No technical climbing skills are needed, but good cardio fitness and prior multi-day trekking are expected.
A doctor’s clearance is advised if you have any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition.
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 much does the Snow Lake Hisper la Trek cost?
$2,800 per person on our scheduled departures. The package page lists exactly what is included; private and custom-group pricing is available on request — just ask.
How long is the trip?
22 Days - 21 Nights, start to finish.
When is the best time to go?
Summer (June - September). We will help you pick the best window for your dates.
How hard is the Snow Lake Hisper la Trek? Do I need climbing skills?
This is a serious high-altitude trek, though not a technical climb — no general mountaineering skills are needed on the route. Expect long days on glacier and moraine, cold camps, and real altitude with no road access once you are in. Come with strong cardio fitness and ideally some prior multi-day trekking.
How high do you go?
The high point is Hispar La at 5,151 m.
What permits or visa do I need?
Trekking here needs a Pakistan Trekking & Mountaineering visa, which is different from a standard tourist visa, plus trekking permits and an NOC for the national park. We arrange the permits and guide you through the visa paperwork before you travel.
What about insurance, safety and rescue?
We require mountaineering or adventure travel insurance that includes high-altitude helicopter-evacuation cover, valid to this trek’s maximum altitude. Out here heli-evacuation is the emergency option and its cost falls to the client and their insurer, so sort it before you travel. Every expedition carries a satellite phone, and we maintain helicopter-rescue contacts for the region.
Who guides the trek?
Your team is 100% local Balti — guides and porters from the valleys themselves, our own staff, never handed to a third-party broker.
How do I get to the start?
Fly Islamabad to Skardu (about an hour, weather permitting) or drive the Karakoram Highway, then 4x4 jeep to the trailhead. We arrange pickup and all ground transport.
Can I do this as a private or custom trip?
Yes — every itinerary can run as a private departure and be tailored to your dates, pace and group size. Tell us what you have in mind and we will build it around you.
