The first peak ever surveyed in the Karakoram — labelled K1 before K2 — a massive, technical 7,800m mountain towering above the Hushe Valley.
Masherbrum rises to 7,821 metres above the Hushe Valley, in the range that bears its name on the south side of the Baltoro. Its place in mountaineering history is unusual: it was the very first peak surveyed in the Karakoram by the Survey of India in 1856 and given the label K1. The "K" designations that followed — most famously K2 — all flow from that first measurement, even though Masherbrum, unlike K2, has a long-standing local name.
It is a huge, complex mountain, with steep ice faces and a remote, heavily glaciated approach. Though it stands below the 8,000m line, its difficulty and seriousness put it firmly among the great Karakoram objectives, and it sees only occasional expeditions.
Masherbrum was first climbed in 1960 by an American-Pakistani expedition. It has been climbed only a handful of times since: the mountain is technically demanding and objectively dangerous, and it lacks the prestige of an eight-thousander, so it draws very little traffic. It remains a peak for committed, experienced alpinists rather than commercial expeditions.
A mountaineering permit is required for any peak of this class; fees vary by peak and season — confirm current rates with operators in Khaplu or Skardu. For most travellers, Masherbrum is best experienced from the valley and trekking routes below it.
| Elevation | 7,821m (originally surveyed as K1) |
| Range | Karakoram (Masherbrum Mountains) |
| First ascent | 1960, American-Pakistani expedition |
| Nearest valley | Hushe Valley, reached from Khaplu / Skardu |
The Hushe Valley is the gateway to Masherbrum. From Hushe village and the trekking routes that lead up toward Masherbrum Base Camp, the mountain dominates the head of the valley — a wall of ice and rock that ranks among the most impressive near-views in the region. The walk in is approachable for fit trekkers with a local guide and passes through summer pastures and traditional Balti villages.
The best season is roughly June to September, when the valley is green and the trails are clear. Earlier or later, snow and cold make the upper valley harder going.
Trek in via our Masherbrum Base Camp trek guide, explore the Hushe Valley and all treks, or plan a route with the trip planner. The same valley sits beneath Laila Peak.
Masherbrum is 7,821 metres high — a major Karakoram peak just below the 8,000m line.
It was the first peak surveyed in the Karakoram by the Survey of India in 1856 and given the label K1. K2 was the second peak measured in that same survey.
It rises above the Hushe Valley in the Masherbrum Mountains, on the south side of the Baltoro, reached from Khaplu and Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan.
It was first summited in 1960 by an American-Pakistani expedition, and has been climbed only a handful of times since because of its technical difficulty.
Yes. A trek up the Hushe Valley toward Masherbrum Base Camp brings you beneath the mountain with no technical climbing required.