The Biafo-Hispar traverse links two of the longest glaciers outside the poles across Snow Lake and the Hispar La (~5,151m) - a serious, committing expedition from Askole to Nagar. Here is who runs it and what they charge in 2026.
I compare only operators with a published price, noting porter allowances and whether staff insurance is included. This is a remote, crevassed route needing a licensed operator and guide.
About the Snow Lake / Hispar La Trek
Plan on 18-22 days. Snow Lake is a vast glacial basin around 4,800m and the Hispar La tops out near 5,151m; expect roped glacier travel and full self-sufficiency for two weeks.
- Askole to Hispar, via Snow Lake
- Hispar La ~5,151m
- ~20-22 days
- Serious / mountaineering
How I compared these packages
I did this the way I'd want a friend to do it for me. I went through every Snow Lake / Hispar La Trek operator I could find, read each itinerary, and lined them up on the things that actually decide your trip - what's included, the porters and meals, the route, and the real 2026 price. 6 of 7 below publish a price you can hold them to; the rest quote per group, and I've said so plainly rather than guess. Prices are per person, usually land-only and group-based, with permits, flights, insurance and tips often on top. Every operator here is judged on the same yardstick. Operator links are nofollow. Where an operator has a genuine public rating I've shown it (Tripadvisor, Trustpilot and similar, with the review count and a link) - Google Maps ratings aren't publicly queryable, so I don't show those; an operator with too few public reviews shows a dash rather than a number.
At a glance - operators compared
| Operator | Length | From (2026) | Reviews | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K2 Base Camp Treks | 22 days | $2,450 | — | link |
| Hunza Guides Pakistan | 21 days | $2,490 | 4.6 ★ Google (29) | link |
| Chogori Adventure | 20 days | $2,700 | 5.0 ★ Google (31) | link |
| Trango Adventure | 22 days | $2,850 | 4.8 ★ Google (79) | link |
| Moving Mountains | 19 days | $4,100 | 5.0 ★ Google (11) | link |
| Epic Expeditions | 21 days | $5,600 | 5.0 ★ Google (156) | link |
| The Mountain Company · United Kingdom | 22 days | Quote only | 5.0 ★ Google (31) | link |
What stood out to me
- 馃挵 Lowest published price - K2 Base Camp Treks (from $2,450)
- 馃Л Most support - Epic Expeditions (from $5,600), the premium, higher-ratio option
Want a second opinion before you book?
I'll sanity-check any quote, plan your route and season, and share vetted guide, porter and jeep contacts - free, with my trip planner or a quick message.
Plan my trek →Every operator, reviewed
Includes: 3-4 star hotels and camping, English licensed guide, all permits/parking/camping fees, private vehicle, domestic flight, airport transfers, full trekking equipment, staff wages (guide, sirdar, porters, cook), staff/porter insurance, emergency gear, first aid
Excludes: International flights, travel insurance, Pakistan visa fee, personal trekking gear/sleeping bag/crampons, and staff tips; helicopter rescue not covered by staff insurance.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrival in Islamabad |
| Day 2 | Mountain-view flight to Skardu |
| Day 3 | Skardu (2,230m) sightseeing and rest |
| Day 4 | Drive Skardu to Askoli (3,040m), ~7 hrs |
| Day 5 | Trek to Namla (3,556m), 6-7 hrs |
| Day 6 | Trek to Mango (3,700m), 6 hrs |
| Day 7 | Trek to Biantha (4,030m), 5 hrs |
| Day 8 | Acclimatisation day |
| Day 9 | Trek to Morfogoro (4,310m), 6 hrs |
| Day 10 | Trek to Karphogoro (4,670m), 6 hrs |
| Day 11 | Trek to Hispar La base camp (4,580m), 6 hrs |
| Day 12 | Cross to Hispar La via Snow Lake (5,155m), 6-7 hrs |
| Day 13-17 | Progressive descent through named camps |
| Day 18 | Drive to Karimabad (2,440m), 4-5 hrs |
| Day 19 | Sightseeing, drive to Gilgit, 3 hrs |
| Day 20 | Fly back to Islamabad |
| Day 21 | Contingency day in Islamabad |
| Day 22 | Departure, fly home |
What's good
- Single dedicated acclimatisation day (Day 8) plus a Skardu rest day before the trek
- Includes insurance for field staff and low-altitude porters
- All meals Day 1-22, all permits/parking/camping fees and domestic flight included
- Group-size, family and couple discounts available; small max group of 6
- Government-licensed English-speaking mountain guide provided
Could be better
- Staff insurance explicitly excludes helicopter rescue
- Personal technical gear (crampons, sleeping bag, walking poles) not supplied
- Itinerary lists no porter weight limit
- Descent days 13-17 are summarised, not individually detailed
Includes: domestic flights, road transfers, twin hotels, all camping lodging & equipment, licensed guides, permits & camping fees, support staff & porters (15kg), waste management, first aid, satellite phone
Excludes: International airfare/taxes, Pakistan visa fee, personal insurance, single supplement, sleeping bag, personal expenses, and tips for drivers/porters/staff.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Islamabad/Rawalpindi arrival, afternoon city tour |
| Day 2 | Fly Islamabad to Skardu, ~1 hr |
| Day 3 | Free/preparation day in Skardu, visit bazaar |
| Day 4 | Drive Skardu to Askoli by jeep, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 5 | Trek Askoli to Namla, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 6 | Trek Namla to Shikonfon, 4-5 hrs, 6.7 km |
| Day 7 | Trek Shikonfon to Baintha, 6-7 hrs, 10.7 km |
| Day 8 | Rest and acclimatization at Baintha |
| Day 9 | Trek Baintha to Morfogoro, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 10 | Trek to Karpogoro |
| Day 11 | Trek to Snow Lake base camp |
| Day 12 | Trek to Hispar La (5,151m), 4-6 hrs, 4.2 km |
| Day 13 | Trek Hispar La to Khani Bassa, 14 km, 4-5 hrs |
| Day 14 | Trek Khani Bassa to Jutmal, 4-5 hrs |
| Day 15 | Trek Jutmal to Red Star, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 16 | Trek Red Star to Bitanmal, 5-6 hrs, 7.9 km |
| Day 17 | Trek Bitanmal to Hispar village, 4-5 hrs |
| Day 18-21 | Return via Karimabad, Naran, Islamabad |
What's good
- Detailed itinerary with per-day distances and walking times
- Includes satellite phone for emergencies and government permit paperwork
- Dedicated acclimatization day at Baintha plus Skardu prep day
- Page gives explicit crevasse guidance: rope up and walk single file on snow
- Porter allowance for personal luggage stated (15 kg)
Could be better
- No group-size, local-vs-foreign, or discount pricing published
- No staff insurance detail published on the page
- Porter limit stated inconsistently (15 kg vs 13-20 kg note)
- Return Days 18-21 are bundled rather than detailed
Includes: domestic flights/jeeps, twin hotels, full camping setup (tents, toilet tent), guides & staff, cook, porters (12kg), permits, satellite phone, boiled water & daily snacks, first aid
Excludes: Not retrievable - the page content could not be rendered; only a marketing summary was available via search.
What's good
- Marketed as a fixed-departure trek with a published fixed price of $2,700 per person
- Page describes crevasse navigation where roping up may be required
- Highlights named landmarks en route (The Ogre 7,813m, Snow Lake/Hispar La confluence)
- Describes Snow Lake as a 16 km glacial basin at the Biafo-Hispar confluence
Could be better
- Page would not render to the fetcher, so inclusions/exclusions could not be verified
- No day-by-day itinerary text was retrievable
- No porter weight limit, staff insurance, or permit detail confirmable
- Pricing structure (group size, local vs foreign) not confirmable from retrievable content
Includes: professional guide, all transfers & internal flights, land transport, hotels and camping, all permits, full camping infrastructure, porter & cook wages, staff insurance, emergency gear, satellite phone, first aid
Excludes: International flights, travel insurance, Pakistan visa fee, tips, miscellaneous expenses, and Islamabad/Skardu sightseeing; staff insurance excludes helicopter rescue.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrival in Islamabad |
| Day 2 | Islamabad to Skardu flight (2,228m), 45 min |
| Day 3 | Sightseeing and preparation day, Skardu |
| Day 4 | Drive Skardu to Askoli (3,000m), 7 hrs |
| Day 8 | Rest/acclimatisation day (~4,035m) |
| Day 12 | Trek to Hispar La crossing Snow Lake (5,150m), 6 hrs |
| Day 18 | Drive to Karimabad (2,440m), 4 hrs |
| Day 22 | Departure, fly home |
What's good
- Full 22-day itinerary with altitudes, durations and a dedicated rest day
- Camping equipment includes solar panels, satellite phone and first-aid kit
- Explicit crevasse guidance: rope up and walk in a queue to avoid hidden crevasses
- Staff insurance covers field crew and low-altitude porters
- Porter-bag weight limit clearly stated (no more than 20 kg)
Could be better
- Staff insurance explicitly excludes helicopter rescue
- Single flat rate ($2,850) with no group-size or local-vs-foreign pricing
- Islamabad/Skardu sightseeing not included
- Travel insurance and personal expenses excluded
Includes: all hotels between trek days, Islamabad transfers, ground transport, experienced guides, trekking & national-park permits, internal flights, porters (20kg), generator & mess tent, visa Letter of Invitation
Excludes: International flights, visa fees, pre/post-tour accommodation, personal gear, travel insurance, staff tips, and porter services exceeding 20 kg.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrival in Islamabad, group meeting and dinner |
| Day 2 | Islamabad to Skardu by flight, hotel, altitude adjustment |
| Day 3 | Preparation/rest day in Skardu |
| Day 4 | Skardu to Askole by jeep, 6-8 hrs |
| Day 5 | Askole to Namla, 7-8 hrs, 12 km (3,570m) |
| Day 6 | Namla to Mango, 5-6 hrs, 7 km (3,715m) |
| Day 7 | Mango to Baintha, 6-7 hrs, 11 km (4,041m) |
| Day 8 | Rest and acclimatization at Baintha (4,041m) |
| Day 9 | Baintha to Morfogoro, 5-6 hrs (acclimatization trek) |
| Day 10 | Morfogoro to Snow Lake & Hispar La base camp, 10 km (4,585m) |
| Day 11 | Hispar La to Kani Basa, 9 hrs, 15 km (pass 5,150m) |
| Day 12 | Kani Basa to Jutmal, 6-7 hrs, 11 km (4,140m) |
| Day 13 | Jutmal to Bitanma, 6-7 hrs, 8 km (3,760m) |
| Day 14 | Bitanma to Falaling Chhish, 4-5 hrs, 5 km (3,600m) |
| Day 15 | Falaling Chhish to Hispar village to Aliabad, 7-8 hrs, 15 km |
| Day 16 | Rest/free day in Aliabad |
| Day 17 | Aliabad to Gilgit |
| Day 18 | Gilgit to Islamabad by flight (KKH drive if cancelled) |
| Day 19 | Departure from Islamabad |
What's good
- Highly detailed itinerary with daily distances, hours and altitudes
- Up to 20 kg porter service per person included, plus group generator and dining setup
- Permits, national park fees and visa invitation letter included
- FAQ honestly frames difficulty (harder than K2 BC) and recommends prior glacier experience
- Internal Pakistan flights included with KKH drive fallback
Could be better
- Most expensive at $4,100 per person with no group-size discount
- Travel insurance mandatory but excluded; staff insurance not mentioned
- Porter services over 20 kg cost extra
- Pre/post-tour accommodation and personal gear excluded
Includes: hotels between trek days, airport transfers, all trek meals, ground transport, experienced guides, permits, internal flights, alpine tents, porters (20kg), group equipment, satellite phone
Excludes: Flights to Pakistan, visa fees, pre/post-tour accommodation, personal gear, mandatory travel/heli-rescue insurance, tips, porter over 20 kg, city lunches/Islamabad dinner, site entry fees, and a $600 single supplement.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Islamabad arrival, hotel check-in |
| Day 2 | Flight to Skardu (50 min), permit finalization, group dinner |
| Day 3 | Food shopping/packing in Skardu, optional Kharpocho Fort |
| Day 4 | Drive Skardu to Askole, 6-8 hrs |
| Day 5 | Trek to Namla (3,571m), 12 km, 7-8 hrs |
| Day 6 | Trek to Mango (3,715m), 7 km, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 7 | Trek to Baintha (4,041m), 11 km, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 8 | Acclimatization/rest day at Baintha |
| Day 9 | Trek to Morfogoro (4,298m), 11 km, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 10 | Trek to Hispar La base camp (4,585m), 10 km, 8 hrs |
| Day 11 | Trek to Hispar La high camp (5,149m), 11 km, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 12 | Trek to Kani Basa (4,468m), 4 km, 5 hrs |
| Day 13 | Trek to Jutmal/Yutmaru (4,138m), 10.5 km, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 14 | Trek to Bitanma (3,765m), 8 km, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 15 | Trek to Falaling Chhish (3,605m), 5 km, 4-6 hrs |
| Day 16 | Trek to Hispar village (2,297m), drive to Aliabad, 15 km |
| Day 17 | Rest/drive day to Aliabad in Hunza (2,440m) |
| Day 18 | Contingency day, Hunza Valley sightseeing |
| Day 19 | Flight Gilgit to Islamabad |
| Day 20 | Contingency day in Islamabad |
| Day 21 | Departure day |
What's good
- Very detailed 21-day plan with daily distances/hours plus two contingency days
- Explicit self-sufficiency framing for a remote glacier route, with crevasse roping noted
- Clear 20 kg porter allowance and handles all permits in advance
- USA-made two-person alpine tents, group generator, mess tent and one-on-one pre-trip support
- Mandatory Global Rescue heli-evac membership enforced for safety
Could be better
- Highest price at $5,600 per person, minimum 5 people required
- Single tent/hotel supplement adds $600
- Many city meals, site entry fees and personal snacks excluded
- Travel and heli-rescue insurance mandatory but not included
Includes: internal Islamabad-Skardu flights (KKH drive if cancelled), twin hotels & trek tents, permits, guides, porters and cooks, weather forecasts, satellite phone, GPS tracking, tree-planting program
Excludes: International flights, travel/trekking insurance, Pakistan visa, Islamabad lunches/dinners, personal equipment and clothing, and tips (~拢140/US$175 group fund).
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrive Islamabad |
| Day 2-4 | Travel to Skardu and drive toward trailhead |
| Day 5-11 | Trek up the Biafo Glacier through named camps |
| Day 8 | Acclimatisation day at Baintha (4,035m) |
| Day 12 | Cross Hispar La (5,151m), highest point |
| Day 13-17 | Descend the Hispar Glacier to Hispar village |
| Day 18-22 | Return travel and fly home |
What's good
- UK financial protection (ATOL/ABTOT) and an International Leader plus Pakistan guides
- Dedicated Baintha acclimatisation day with gradual altitude gain built in
- Includes Thuraya satellite phone, weather forecasts and GPS tracking
- Mandatory technical glacier gear specified (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
- Early-bird discounts and multi-currency pricing offered
Could be better
- Lower porter allowance (15 kg main bag, 5 kg day pack) than rivals' 20 kg
- Tips of ~拢140/US$175 into a group fund expected on top
- Itinerary on page is summarised rather than fully day-labelled with locations
- No staff insurance detail and no local-vs-foreign pricing published
What's usually included - and what's not
On most of these treks the operator price includes guides and support staff, porters, camping equipment, in-trek meals and the trekking permit. It usually excludes international flights, travel insurance, personal climbing or trekking gear, tips for the crew, and on restricted peaks the government royalty fee. Always get the itemised inclusions, porter weight limit and the payment and cancellation terms in writing before you pay.
How to choose your operator
- Published vs quote - a real posted price is easier to compare; for quote-only operators, get it itemised.
- What's bundled - permits, domestic flights and porters are where cheap quotes cut corners.
- Group size - most headline rates assume a group; confirm the solo or small-group rate.
- Crew welfare - porter weight limits, wages and insurance say a lot about an operator.
- Local vs down-country - Baltistan and Hunza-based crews know the routes and logistics best.
Plan this trek deeper
My free local guides go beyond the operators - use them to decide what you want, then book or customise:
Nearby treks, peaks & base towns
Operators - want your trek reviewed here?
If you run this trek and publish real prices, get in touch to have your itinerary assessed and added. Every operator is judged on the same criteria.
Get your trek listed →FAQ
How hard is the Snow Lake trek?
Serious - it is a glaciated, crevassed traverse with no resupply, closer to a mountaineering expedition than a walk-in trek.
What does it cost in 2026?
Local operators run about $2,450-$2,850 per person; Western-led $4,100-$5,600. Confirm porter weight limits and staff insurance.
How many days?
18-22 days point to point, Askole to Hispar/Nagar, including buffer days.
Best time to go?
July to early September.