2022 K2 Trekking From China Side
25 Days Ultimate Trek to K2 Advance Base Camp From China side
The North base camp of K2 lies in a remote south western corner of China’s Xinjiang province. Only a handful of people have ever travelled to this isolated mountain wilderness on the north side of the Karakoram Range. Recently opened to foreigners, this is one of the most unspoiled and least visited parts of the entire Himalayas. The mighty Yarkand and Shagskam rivers drain the waters flowing north from the great Karakoram peaks and carve deep channels through the mountainous landscape. The valleys here are at a much lower altitude than those on the Pakistan side of the range, giving a greater vertical height gain to the high summits. Many thousands of trekkers and climbers have seen the majestic Karakoram 8000m peaks from the Pakistan side, but few have ventured on the long trek through China to view K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrum from the north.
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Bishkek-Bishkek ( August 29 – September 26 2022)
Kashgar -Kashgar (August 31 – September 24 2022 )
This expedition takes place in March/April, May, Late August, September and October before and after the intense heat of the summer and the water levels in the Shaksgam Rivers are reduced
Where to Start: you can either join group at Bishkek or in Kashgar,
Best time to do this Expedition: April ，May, until mid-June, September and October
Trip Overview: if have your own planned schedule to start and would like to do this expedition more privately and if you would like to have a detailed price quotation please feel free to contact us, If you let us know what you would like to change we can adjust the Itinerary
The North base camp of K2 lies in a remote south western corner of China’s Xinjiang province. Only a handful of people have ever travelled to this isolated mountain wilderness on the north side of the Karakoram Range. Recently opened to foreigners, this is one of the most unspoiled and least visited parts of the entire Himalayas. The mighty Yarkand and Shagskam rivers drain the waters flowing north from the great Karakoram peaks and carve deep channels through the mountainous landscape. The valleys here are at a much lower altitude than those on the Pakistan side of the range, giving a greater vertical height gain to the high summits. Many thousands of trekkers and climbers have seen the majestic Karakoram 8000m peaks from the Pakistan side, but few have ventured on the long trek through China to view K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrum from the north.
Sir Francis Young husband became the first western explorer to see the north side of K2 during his epic 1887 journey to cross the Old Muztagh Pass.
This trek follows the same route, approaching the mountains along the valleys of the Yarkand and Shagskam rivers. The area was first explored in detail and mapped by members of Eric Shipton’s 1937 ‘Blank on the Map’ expedition. Even a hardened traveler like Shipton was overwhelmed by the scenery. He wrote “The cliffs and ridges of K2 rose out of the glacier in one stupendous sweep to the summit of the mountain 12,000 ft above. The sight was beyond my comprehension and I sat gazing at it with a kind of timid fascination…”The highest point reached on the trek to base camp is the 4,900m Aghil Pass. From here, there is a magnificent view of the high peaks like Gasherbrum 1,2 and hidden peaks. The Shagskam River cannot be forded safely in the summer months; therefore travel in this area is restricted to the spring and autumn.
ABOUT THE TREKKING
Most of the hiking is at altitudes between 12,000 and 15,825 feet en route to the K2 Base Camp, with rough trails winding through long stretches of river rock and soft sand along the rivers, There are occasional fast-moving streams to ford or hop over by wading or jumping from rock to rock, which requires some agility and good sense. For the wide river crossings, we will ride on the camels. During the day, we should have sunny skies and fairly pleasant temperatures from 15-28C. Night time temperatures will rarely drop below freezing, except during the three nights at high elevation in Italian BC when they may be as low as -5C. Rain is unlikely in this high dry desert region, but snow is a possibility while we’re beside the K2 north glaciers,
. We hike on loose screed with no established trails when we ascend beside the glacier on moraine. On trek, the average hiking day will be 6-8 hours, with ascents and descents. There is one 15,800-foot pass to cross. Beyond the Italian Advance Base Camp, there is an optional ascent to 17,075 feet for spectacular views of K2.After the Chinese Base camp, three-night trek onto the K2 north Glacier, you must be fit enough to carry a 8-to 12 kg pack at altitudes of 13,000 to 15,350 feet on the trek up to the Italian BC , This section will be bit strenuous due to the altitude as well as the fact that we are crossing hills of loose glacial moraine and mostly stay beside the mountain rather than walking on the glaciers, if You have previous backpacking experience ,that would be very helpful ,. There is no climbing involved, but glacier side walking involves hiking over jumbled, uneven layers of pebbles and rock debris and sometimes on areas covered with snow. Crampons and ice axes are not necessary but your boots should have excellent tread on them.
ACCLIMATIZATION FOR THE WEATHER IN KARAKORAM
In order to Acclimatize to the altitude for the K2 area and to avoid the altitude sickness , we have arranged three night /four days preparation trekking in Karakoram mountains along the Karakoram highway in Karakul lake and Muztagh Ata before we officially start the trekking ,average altitude in that area would be from 3600m– 4400m with 6hrs trekking per day so that will definitely help to acclimatize the similar altitude in K2 North ,for those who might come from Sea level ,it would be best and important to be in that kind of altitude before the start of the trekking . Please also note that individuals vary widely in both their physical response to high altitude and the ability to acclimatize and, since physical fitness does not confer any protection or facilitate acclimatization, it is impossible to predict how you will adapt to the altitude. The greatest protection is avoiding rapid ascents and allowing time for acclimatization. Your body can adapt to altitude if given time. We feel this itinerary specifically provides that option, but you must individually pace yourself to go slowly and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Do not push too hard regardless of how physically fit you may be or feel. Early symptoms of high altitude sickness include: headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, vomiting, dry cough, irregular breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of ankles and eyelids. It is not uncommon to experience some of these symptoms when you first arrive at high altitude and then to have them decrease in severity within a few days. It is important that you inform your Trip Leader immediately of any symptoms or discomfort, however minor, so that they can help you monitor the situation. Medical conditions that are aggravated or complicated by high altitude include heart diseases, lung diseases, pregnancy, anemia, and sickle cell disease. It is imperative that anyone with any of these Conditions consult their physician in detail before attempting this trekking expedition., however having spent few days in karakul lake area in advance could make sure that you acclimatize the weather and you have very little chance of having altitude sickness during trekking to K2.
China side of the Trip
- Liaison with chinese government for issuance of trekking permits.
- Invitation letters for chinese visa.
- English speaking guide/liaison officer during a whole trip
- Cook, assistant cook, camel man,
- Enough camels to carry luggage from yilik to base camp and back
- All land transfers by four wheel drive,van,buses, truck if needed to transfer the people and equipments to yilik and back to kashgar ,and kashgar –karakul and karakul –kashgar
- All the entrance fees for the sites when visiting kashgar city.
- 5* standard hotels with breakfast in kashgar ,best availiable hotels in other places
- Yurt accomodation in karakul ,koqkaqi and yilik,
- Good quality of tents shared by two people with mattresses,
- Ecological protection fees.
- Porterage of luggage during trek upto Chinese base camp(suget jungal ) and back. and also porterage of important equipments from Chinese bc to karatash
- Insulated mats, cooking and eating utensils, toilet tents, mess tent with table and stools. nest coffe , tea and other daily use of stuff
- All meals while trekking to chinese base camp/ back and hotels (breakfast, lunch and dinner), meals in kashgar
Kyrgyzstan Part of the Trip
- Private transportation with driver from bishkek –torugat and back to bishkek at the end of trip
- Meals ,mentioned as B=breakfast,L=Lunch ,D= dinner
- Hotel accomodations with two bed shared by two people ,
- Yurt accomodation in tashrabat
- English speaking driver or guide
- International flight tickets/ travel for arrival and departure from Kashgar and Bishkek
- Chinese visa fees ,Airport and departure taxes
- Sleeping bags, personal equipment and Personal Travel Insurance.
- Medications ground evacuations and rescue charges of any kind.
- Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks.
- Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, bar bills etc.
- Tips of guide, drivers, porters etc.
- Porterage or shipment of any excess baggage 35kg.
- Any kind of costs in higher altitude part above the Chinese BC
- Extra room charges for earlier check-in and late check-out from the hotels. (check out is 1200 hrs)
- Extra days beyond the specified itinerary.
- Charges incurred as a result of delays ,health issues beyond the control of our company
- Single supplement.
- Your Safety Guaranteed During Trekking
- We are experts on Mountaineering and Local-Run leading company for China's Karakoram and Pamir Expeditions
- Provide world class mountaineering foods during trekking and professional service
- Highly professional Local Guiding Team with Passion of Loving Nature and protecting environment
- We are only Company in China to Collect individuals for fixed date departures for K2 and Gasherbrum,
Daily Itinerary
Start : Kashgar -China
End: Kashgar -China
arrive kashgar airport anad ransfer to the kashgar city to stay in hotel , INCL: BLD , accommodation type: 3* hotel in kashgar
Today we will drive on adventurous famous karakoram highway to karakul lake for 5hrs ,stop[ along the way for photos , this trip would be our acclimatization trip to prepare the high altitude trekking for k2 , some of you might be coming from sea level , so for those , trekking around the karakul lake ,Muztagh ata and kongur mountain range area in Pamir’s would help so much for acclimatize the weather in karakoram ,and you will have chance to explore the Pamir ranges and enjoy the landscape and view of dozens of 7000m peaks including muztagh ata 7546,kongur 7719 and kongur tupe 7200m, we will drive back to kashgar in the afternoon ,
- Today we drive to Karghilik in a four wheel drive taking the Southern Silk Road. This leads us to Karakoram, stopping for lunch in former imperial capital of Yarkand belonging to the Uyghur people few centuries ago. We arrive in yecheng in the afternoon transfer to our hotel. (INCL: BLD),
- Accommodation type: hotel 3*
Drive to Yilik(raskam village) which is the last point that we can reach by vehicle and start our trek with camels from there . first we need to reach Mazar village so that we have to drive on the Xinjiang - Tibet highway, then turn further west direction to go through northern Karakoram to reach Yilik by crossing the Yarkand River ,We will spend the night in Kyrgyz House in Yilik (INCL :BLD) ,
Today we load the all camels with our equipment in the morning and start our breathtaking trekking expedition to K2. After 5hrs trekking we will arrive our campsite at the junction of the Surakwat rivers. Today’s trek is smooth - just walking on the stones in the narrow valleys and walk on the side of the Surukwat River. We will camp overnight in little oasis at the river junction of surukwat . INCL: BLD,
Today we will trek up to small campsite qokur otak (4300m) at the foot of Aghil Pass (4900m). Today's trek will be preparation for higher altitude and our crossing of Aghil pass next day. We will have an overnight camp at the foot of Aghil pass, INCL: BLD
The trek today is very smooth, we will pretty much keep the same elevation for next two days until we arrive Chinese base camp , but slightly downward in altitude following the Shaksgam River downstream and arriving at the overnight campsite in Ottur Jangal(kizil balghun) , but we cross the river quite few times today with camels on the way, when we cross wide streams , we will get on camels , but we will cross the small streams on our own under the instruction of the guide, so that sandals are very useful when we cross the rivers and wet land , so we need to stay with the camels and camel man to be on the camel back when we need to cross wider river , INCL: BLD
After a few hrs trek today we will have our first view of the giant mountain K2 after we start from kizil balghun , , We will make the shortcut walk over the small hill altitude little bit and get back to sarpo lago river side ,from the top of the hill ,we will have first view of K2 , and we need to cross the river few times today before we arrive Chinese base camp ,We arrive in Sughet Jungal by following the Sarpo Lago River. Sughet Jungal (Chinese BC) is one of the greenest parts of Karakoram with grass, trees and bushes on the delta of the K2 Glacier stream and Sarpo Lago glacier stream, as soon as we arrive Chinese BC, K2 is not visible,so that we need to hike three hrs to see it more closer again next day ,Overnight camping in Sughet Jangal, INCL: BLD ,
TODAY WE WILL REST IN CHINESE BC INCL: BLD
after breakfast in camp in chinese bc , we will start trekking for 4 hrs to italian bc to make camp and enjoy k2 from there ,
After breakfast at Italian BC , we will start walking towards K2 along between glacier and mountain to be at Korean BC and to be at last point trekkers could come , we will enjoy the view of K2 and it’s north glacier ,strength of this part of the trekking is very similar to the part from Karatash to Italian BC , lunch would be at Korean BC , guide would have his stove and gas cartridges to provide hot water for drinking and for meals ,last point we could reach would be 500m further towards K2 from Korean BC where the Chongtar glaciers and K2 North Glaciers are connected , from there we will have best view of K2 with white glaciers in front , your best photography will be made on this part ,
After breakfast in Italian BC, we will head back to Chinese BC where our camels men and cook are waiting, we pack up our luggage and will arrive at Karatash within 2 hours and we will meet with Donkey man and give them our backpacks to transport them back to Chinese BC, we will keep out backpack as less weight as possible, and walk another 3hours to the Chinese BC after our four days of explore on the higher altitude, INCL:D
After breakfast, we need to pack up everything load up to the camels, and trek back towards YIlik after our breathtaking adventurous expedition to K2, we will trek along the sarpo Lago River and will arrive Shaksgam River and will camp in oasis with desert trees which camels can feed themselves, INCL: BLD
After the beautiful walk in the Shaksgam river valley, we arrive the junction of the shaksgam and Gasherbrum which has outstanding scenery of landscape ,we will climb little bit up towards GASHIRBRUM side and stay overnight in green spot where we can have clear spring water for cooking , INCL: BLD
After the beautiful walk towards gashirbrum , we will trek further on the way to gashirbrum side , Inlcue ； BLD
After 4-6 Hhrs walk after breakfast , we will arrive gashirbrum north glacier and we will camp there to stay overning , Inlcue ； BLD
We will walk 4-6 Hhrs after breakfast to explore gashirbrum1 ,gashirbrum 2 and broad peak , glaciers are very beautiful there , more beautiful than k2 north , and we will come back to camp in the evening , Inlcue ； BLD
we will return back to durbin jangal and will camp there ,Include BLD ,
we will return again to trek to toshkan bulak at the boot of agel pass and camp there to prepare next day trekking over aghil pass 4900m/ include : BLD ,
We have the experience of crossing aghil pass from other side, but this side takes more time, cross the agel pass 4900m back to our camp site chokur otak on the other side of the pass /SHEEP FOLD INCL: BLD
After breakfast, we will start walk back to kotaz beside the surukwat river, INCL: BLD
Drive 6 hrs back to kashgar, lunch would be in the one of the typical Uyghur restaurant in kashgar, you will have free of time to relax in the afternoon, INCL: BLD
after long trek , you can have rest day in kashgar ,
INCL:
- After the outstanding successful K2 trekking from Chinese side of karakoram, we have to have a day off to visit the historic Silk Road Cultural city Kashgar, Kashgar is fabled as "the best-preserved example of a traditional Islamic city to be found anywhere in Central Asia", although the city is becoming more developed.
- Kashgar has been claimed "the best-preserved example of a traditional city to be found anywhere in china and Central Asia",
- Being the cultural center and one of the ten internationally influential touristic cities of China, Kashgar，now days， is very important western most special economic zone as well as it was also very important hub and oldest cultural center in china's Silk Road.
take you to airport to end your trekking to china side karakoram
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