Skardu to Askole, then up the Baltoro through Paiyu, Urdukas and Goro to Concordia and K2 BC — and the long walk back out.
The classic K2 Base Camp trek is an out-and-back along the Baltoro Glacier: you walk up to Concordia and K2 BC and return the same way, unless you exit over the Gondogoro La instead. Counting the drive from Skardu, the loading day at Askole, walking days, rest and weather buffer, and the descent, most parties plan for roughly 18 to 21 days total.
The day-stage names below — Askole, Jhula, Paiyu, Urdukas, Goro, Concordia — are the standard Baltoro camps. Exact stages, overnight points and rest days vary between operators and with conditions, so treat this as a typical shape rather than a fixed schedule.
| Skardu → Askole | Jeep day on rough road to Askole (~3,000m), the last village. Meet porters, sort loads, permits checked. |
| Askole → Jhula | First walking day along the Braldu gorge; river crossings and rocky trail. |
| Jhula → Paiyu | To Paiyu (~3,400m), the last greenery before the glacier. Usually a rest/acclimatisation day here. |
| Paiyu → Urdukas | Step onto the Baltoro Glacier near Khoburtse; camp at Urdukas (~4,050m) with big peak views. |
| Urdukas → Goro | Deeper onto the ice past Goro; Trango Towers and Cathedral group come into view. |
| Goro → Concordia | Arrive Concordia (~4,500m), the glacier junction where K2 stands directly ahead. |
| Concordia → K2 BC | Out across the glacier to K2 Base Camp (~5,150m) and back to Concordia. An extra night at Concordia is common. |
| Return: Concordia → Askole | Retrace the route over several days (often faster downhill) back to Askole. |
| Askole → Skardu | Final jeep day back to Skardu. |
Some parties add a Broad Peak BC or Gasherbrum viewpoint side-trip from Concordia, or exit via the technical Gondogoro La into the Hushe valley for a one-way crossing instead of returning the same way.
Two principles shape a good K2 BC itinerary. First, gain altitude gradually and keep the Paiyu rest day even if you feel strong — the high camps are no place to discover you climbed too fast. Second, carry buffer days for weather; settled spells are common in summer but storms can pin a camp for a day or more.
The walking is long rather than technical on the standard route, but it is weeks of daily effort on glacier moraine at altitude, fully supported by porters. If you want to shorten the commitment, the Concordia trek turns back at the glacier junction without the final push to K2 BC.
For the full overview, route and difficulty, see the K2 Base Camp trek guide; pin your dates with the best-time page; understand pricing on the cost page; and check what's required on the permits page. Compare other routes on the treks hub, find an operator in the agencies directory, or fit it into a wider trip with the trip planner.
Most parties plan roughly 18 to 21 days total, including the Skardu–Askole jeep days, walking days up the Baltoro to Concordia and K2 BC, rest and weather buffer days, and the return. The exact number depends on rest days and conditions.
Skardu to Askole by jeep, then on foot via Jhula, Paiyu, Urdukas and Goro to Concordia, and out across the glacier to K2 Base Camp, before retracing the route back to Askole and Skardu.
Paiyu is the classic rest/acclimatisation stop before stepping onto the glacier, and an extra night at Concordia is common. Build these in and keep buffer days for weather rather than rushing the high section.
The standard route is out-and-back: you return down the Baltoro the way you came. Experienced parties can instead exit over the technical Gondogoro La pass into the Hushe valley for a one-way crossing.
Yes. The Concordia trek follows the same approach but turns back at Concordia without the final push to K2 BC, trimming time at the very highest part of the route.