Expeditions (May – Oct)

Pakistan stretches from the Arabian Sea to the high mountains of central Asia and covers an area of 803,944 square kilometers. The distance from southwest to northeast is 1800 kilometers and the southern west to east, Pakistan is bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, China and India.

The country is divided into four provinces: Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). Geographically Pakistan falls into three main regions: the mountainous north where the Hindu Kush, Karakorams and Himalayan ranges meet; the vast but sparsely populated plateau of Baluchistan; and the Punjab and Sindh plains of the Indus River and its five tributaries. The Indus plains apart, Pakistan is mostly mountainous desserts and arid plateau.

Baltistan lies north of Indian-held Kashmir along the Indus River between the Karakoram Mountains and the uninhabited Deosai Plateau. Skardu, its capital, is the starting-point for some of the best trekking and mountains in the world. Baltistan is a high-altitude desert. It rises from 1,500 meters above sea level to 8,616 meters at the submit of K-2, the second-highest mountain in the world. The average rainfall here is less than 100 millimeters a year but whenever possible the stepe mountainside is cut into tiny terraces and irrigated by a network of small water channels from the glacier streams. In summer the melting snows swell the Indus to a ranging torrent sweep away everything in its path, so only the gentler side streams can be used for irrigation.

Trekking (May – Oct)

Trekkign in Pakistan/Karakoram – the northern areas of Pakistan are blessed with some of the worlds most rugged and splendid mountain scenery. This vast land of eternal snow is the abode of five of the worlds major 8, 000 meter peaks. K-2 pronounced as (Chogori) in Balti language is the jewel of the Karakoram range. Towards the western Himalaya lies Nanga Parbat the worlds ninth highest. Even today, these mountains are less well explored and mapped than other comparable mountain regions, and many peaks over 6000 meters remain unnamed and unclimbed. Not only does this region posses lofty mountains but some of the worlds longest glaciers outside the polar region. The Biafo and Hispar together form one of the longest traverses with possibilities of climbing innumerable peaks below 6500 meters. In no other part of the world is there such a large number of high mountains in such a confined space. This form of trekking is unique in itself unlike anything in the Americas, Europe or even elsewhere in Asia. Not only does one encounter mountain scenery in absolute wilderness but as you journey through valleys you come across some of the worlds rarest wildlife species and assemblage of plants. The Markhor, Himalayan Ibex, Shapu and Snow Leopard all survive in close proximity of these high mountain ranges.

Trekking in the karakoram, Western Himalaya and Hindu Kush is a once in a life time adventure.