Laila Peak's impossibly thin, leaning spire (6,096m) is one of the most photographed mountains in the Karakoram, and the base-camp trek through the Hushe valley is a quieter alternative to the Baltoro. Here is who runs it and what they charge in 2026.
Only operators with a published price are compared below, with notes on what each includes.
About the Laila Peak Base Camp Trek
Base camp sits around 4,200-4,535m, reached over roughly 12-13 days door to door via Hushe and the Gondogoro glacier approach. Moderate trekking, no technical climbing.
- ~5-7 days
- ~4,200m
- Moderate
- Jun-Sep
How I compared these packages
I did this the way I'd want a friend to do it for me. I went through every Laila Peak Base Camp 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. 2 of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skardu Trekkers | 13 days | $1,450 | 5.0 ★ Google (56) | link |
| Chogori Adventure | 12 days | $1,500 | 5.0 ★ Google (31) | link |
| Inspire Karakoram | 10-12 days | Quote only | — | link |
| Visit In Pakistan | 14 days | Quote only | 3.9 ★ Trustpilot (6) | link |
What stood out to me
- 馃挵 Lowest published price - Skardu Trekkers (from $1,450)
- 馃帓 Most inclusive - Chogori Adventure, where flights, permits and full board are bundled
- 馃Л Most support - Chogori Adventure (from $1,500), the premium, higher-ratio option
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Plan my trek →Every operator, reviewed
Includes: domestic flights, road transfers & pickups, hotels (twin), dome-tent camping, licensed guide & staff, govt permits & fees, first aid, satellite phone
Excludes: Excludes international flights, visa fees, personal insurance, personal/technical gear (boots, ice axe, crampons), tips, and force-majeure costs.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1-2 | Arrive Islamabad, fly to Skardu |
| Day 3 | Skardu acclimatization day and city tour |
| Day 4 | Drive to Hushe village, final settlement |
| Day 5 | Trek to Saicho (4-5h) along Hushe River |
| Day 6 | Trek to Dalchangpa (4-6h), Masherbrum views |
| Day 7 | Trek to base camp (5-6h) via Gondogoro Glacier |
| Day 8 | Rest day at base camp (4535m) |
| Day 9-10 | Descend to Saicho then to Hushe |
| Day 11 | Drive back to Skardu |
| Day 12-13 | Fly to Islamabad, international departure |
What's good
- Clear tiered pricing: foreign USD and Pakistani PKR rates both published
- Dedicated Skardu acclimatization day (Day 3) plus a base-camp rest day (Day 8)
- Includes satellite phone and first-aid kit in the package
- States group cap of 12 and that no technical climbing experience is required
- Accommodation specified (4-5 star hotels / dome tents) and all domestic flights included
Could be better
- Strict 14kg porter baggage limit, the lowest of the operators here
- Solo price is steep at $2,200, dropping sharply only with larger groups
- BC at 4535m but max point 4900m; acclimatization beyond Skardu is thin
- Exclusions list typos ('Force Majuro') suggest loosely maintained page
Includes: domestic transport, hotel & tent (twin), professional guide & staff, porters (15kg), cooking staff, permits & waste fees, satellite phone, first aid, camping equipment
Excludes: Excludes international flights, personal clothing, and tips to guides, cooks and porters.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrival in Islamabad, airport pickup and hotel |
| Day 2 | Scenic flight to Skardu / Karakoram |
| Day 3 | Rest day Skardu, acclimatization hike to Kharpocho fort |
| Day 4 | Jeep drive to Hushe village (5-7h) |
| Day 5 | Trek to Saicho (4-5h) to pastureland |
| Day 6 | Trek to Dalchangpa (4-6h), slightly steep terrain |
| Day 7 | Trek to Khuspang / base camp (5-6h) on Gondogoro Glacier |
| Day 8 | Rest day at Khuspang, photography and excursions |
| Day 9-10 | Return via Saicho (6-8h) then Hushe (4-6h) |
| Day 11 | Drive back to Skardu |
| Day 12 | Flight or drive to Islamabad |
What's good
- Acclimatization hike to Kharpocho fort on the Skardu rest day
- Built-in base-camp rest day (Day 8) for photography and excursions
- Four-tier group pricing published from solo down to 9-20 persons
- Day 2 flight noted with views; clear 12-day structure
Could be better
- Base camp labelled Khuspang at 4600m (max ~4600m), differs from the standard 4535m BC
- 15kg porter limit for personal luggage
- Highest solo price of the set at $2,500
- Group rates compress slowly ($1,500 down to only $1,300 at 9-20 people)
Group-size pricing: 9-20pax $1,500 路 solo $2,500.
Includes: airport transfers & domestic flights, city-to-city transport, hotels in Islamabad & Skardu, local staff wages, insurance, food & equipment, porter support, all camping equipment & tents, camping fees, permits
Excludes: Excludes international flights, personal/high-altitude gear, insurance, helicopter rescue fees ($25,000), and unforeseen expenses.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrival in Islamabad, transfer to hotel |
| Day 2 | Early flight to Skardu, or drive to Skardu |
| Day 3 | Jeep from Skardu to Hushe village |
| Day 4 | Packing and preparation day |
| Day 5 | Begin trek to Saicho, camp at Saicho |
| Day 6 | Trek from Saicho to Dalzampa campsite |
| Day 7 | Reach Laila Peak base camp, set up camp |
| Day 8 | Return to Saicho |
| Day 9 | Saicho to Hushe valley |
| Day 10 | Return to Skardu; fly/drive to Islamabad |
What's good
- Dedicated Day 4 packing/preparation day in Hushe before trekking
- Generous porter allowance: 75kg up, 50kg down per member
- Max altitude clearly stated at 4,535m base camp
- Transparent about helicopter rescue fee ($25,000) being a member cost
Could be better
- No pricing published, listed as 'TBH' / to be discussed
- No group-size or solo-vs-group pricing tiers given
- Compact 10-day plan with only one base-camp night, no BC rest day
- No Skardu acclimatization day; goes Skardu to Hushe directly
Includes: Ministry of Tourism permit processing, hotels in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Chilas, all meals on trek and at BC, porterage, road transfers and airport assistance, camping equipment, certified guide/sirdar/cook/support staff, staff insurance
Excludes: Excludes international airfare, high-altitude porters above BC, helicopter rescue fees, personal gear, high-altitude food, and member insurance.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1-4 | Islamabad arrival, drive via Chilas (480km) to Skardu (2300m), prep day |
| Day 5 | Drive to Hushe valley (5-7h) via Siachen Road, lunch at Khaplu |
| Day 6 | Trek to Saicho (3330m, 4-5h), Masherbrum views |
| Day 7 | Trek to Laila base camp (4535m, 5-6h) |
| Day 8 | Rest day at base camp |
| Day 9-11 | Return trek via Saicho, Machulo, Skardu |
| Day 12-14 | Flight/drive to Islamabad, departure |
What's good
- Longer 12-14 day plan with an overland Chilas leg aiding gradual altitude gain
- Base-camp rest day (Day 8) included
- Generous porter allowance: 75kg up, 50kg down per person
- Scenic-route detail (Siachen Road, Khaplu lunch) shows local route knowledge
Could be better
- Inconsistent altitude figures on page (BC given as '4000-4500m', '4,535m', peak '6096m')
- No pricing published at all, no solo-vs-group or local-vs-foreign tiers
- No explicit Skardu acclimatization day before pushing to Hushe
- High-altitude porters above base camp not included
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 much does the Laila Peak trek cost in 2026?
Published rates run about $1,450-$1,500 per person for group departures; solo and small groups cost more. Several operators are quote-only.
How hard is it?
Moderate - a Hushe-valley approach trek to base camp, not a climb. Laila Peak itself (6,096m) is a serious technical objective for mountaineers only.
How many days?
Around 12-13 days including travel to and from Skardu.
When is the season?
June to September.