Trekking
Gondogoro La trek
The traverse that crosses a 5,585 metre pass from Concordia into the Hushe valley, with fixed ropes, a midnight start and the finest mountain panorama in the Karakoram.
Trek at a glance
- Duration
- 16 to 21 days from Skardu
- Max altitude
- 5,585 m at the Gondogoro La pass
- Difficulty
- Very strenuous, a fixed rope pass crossing with crampons
- Season
- Mid July to late August, when the pass is roped
- Start point
- Askole in, Hushe out, both reached by jeep from Skardu
- Permits
- CKNP fee, trekking registration and pass crossing charges
- Guide needed
- Yes, plus a pass guide with ropes and technical kit
- Typical cost
- PKR 450,000 to 750,000 per person
The Gondogoro La route from Askole to Hushe
Gondogoro La is the high pass that links the Baltoro glacier system with the Hushe valley, turning the out and back walk to Concordia into a full traverse. Groups follow the standard Baltoro route to Concordia, climb to Ali Camp, cross the 5,585 metre pass on fixed ropes in the dark, then descend the Gondogoro glacier into Hushe village. It is the single most rewarding way to see the Karakoram, and also the most demanding trek regularly sold from Skardu.
| Day | Stage | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skardu to Askole by jeep | 3,050 m | Long rough drive |
| 2 to 8 | Askole to Concordia via Paiju and Urdukas | 4,650 m | Standard Baltoro stages |
| 9 | K2 Base Camp day walk | 5,150 m | Return to Concordia |
| 10 | Concordia to Ali Camp | 5,000 m | Short but exposed |
| 11 | Ali Camp to Khuispang over Gondogoro La | 5,585 m | Midnight start, roped pass |
| 12 | Khuispang to Saicho | 3,400 m | Long descent |
| 13 | Saicho to Hushe, jeep to Khaplu | 3,050 m | Trek ends |
| 14 | Khaplu to Skardu | 2,230 m | 3 to 4 hours driving |
The pass crossing itself starts around midnight so the snow bridges are frozen and the descent is finished before the afternoon melt. Expect 10 to 14 hours of movement on that day, with fixed ropes on both sides, crampons on hard ice and a genuine need to move steadily in the dark.
What the pass demands
- Crampons, a harness, a helmet and a jumar or prusik, usually supplied by the pass crew but confirm this in writing
- Comfort walking on a fixed line in the dark on a 40 degree snow slope
- Full acclimatisation, the pass is crossed after nine days above 3,000 m for good reason
- A pass guide employed specifically to fix and maintain the ropes
- A willingness to abandon the crossing and return via Askole if the snow or weather turns
The pass is only roped and staffed during the core season, roughly mid July to late August. Outside that window the ropes come down and the crossing becomes a mountaineering objective rather than a trek. If your dates fall in June or September, plan the Concordia out and back instead and treat Hushe as a separate short trip.
Hushe, Charakusa and shorter alternatives
Hushe is the last village in the Ghanche valley and the base for some of the finest short treks in Pakistan. If Gondogoro La is beyond your time or experience, the Charakusa valley trek reaches meadows under Nameless Tower and K7 in three to four days from Hushe, and the walk to Masherbrum Base Camp takes four to five. Both start at around 3,050 m, need far less logistics than the Baltoro and can be organised from Skardu at short notice.
| Trek from Hushe | Days | Max altitude | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charakusa valley | 3 to 5 | 4,200 m | Moderate |
| Masherbrum Base Camp | 4 to 6 | 4,500 m | Moderate to strenuous |
| Gondogoro Base Camp | 3 to 4 | 4,600 m | Moderate |
| Full Gondogoro La traverse | 16 to 21 | 5,585 m | Very strenuous |
Costs, permits and booking
A Gondogoro La traverse costs PKR 450,000 to 750,000 per person from a Skardu operator, more than the Concordia return because of the pass crew, technical equipment and the extra days. Permits are the same Central Karakoram National Park fee and trekking registration used for K2 Base Camp, with an additional charge for the pass. Insurance must explicitly cover trekking to 6,000 metres and helicopter evacuation; standard travel policies rarely do.
Book six to nine months ahead for July and August dates. The pass crews are small, the good guides are committed early in the season, and Hushe jeep transport is tight during the apricot harvest when local vehicles are busy.
Book a guided Skardu tour
Jeep days to Deosai, multi-day Baltistan loops and full trekking logistics run by licensed local operators.
Compare with other treks
- K2 Base Camp trek covers the same Baltoro stages without the pass crossing.
- Deosai plateau trek is a gentle three to four day alternative at lower risk.
Gondogoro La: common questions
- How hard is the Gondogoro La crossing?
- It is the hardest day of any commercial trek in Pakistan: a midnight start, 700 metres of climbing on snow and ice with fixed ropes and crampons, then a long steep descent, all at 5,000 to 5,585 metres. You need to be fully acclimatised and confident on a fixed line.
- When is Gondogoro La open?
- Roughly mid July to late August, when a pass crew fixes and maintains the ropes. Outside that window the ropes are removed and the crossing becomes a technical mountaineering route rather than a trek.
- Is there a shorter trek from Hushe instead?
- Yes. The Charakusa valley trek takes three to five days and reaches meadows below K7 and Nameless Tower, and Masherbrum Base Camp takes four to six days. Both are moderate and far easier to organise than the full traverse.
- How much does the Gondogoro La trek cost?
- Typically PKR 450,000 to 750,000 per person from a Skardu based operator, which covers the standard Baltoro logistics plus the pass crew, ropes, harnesses and crampons and the extra traverse days.
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