22 Days Trek to Advance Base Camp on K2 [MC22-02]
Previous Next
22

Trek

DAYS
    Voir les photos
 

Holiday Overview

Highlights

  • K2 (8,611m), the second highest mountain on earth
  • Designed for those who are adventurous in body and spirit
  • Widely regarded as one of the ultimate tests in mountaineering

Brief Itinerary

  • DAY 01 KASHGAR
  • DAY 02 EXPLORING KASHGAR
  • DAY 03 YARKAND / STAY IN YECHENG
  • DAY 04 DRIVE TO RASKEM DADUI
  • DAY 05 BEGIN TREK FROM RASKEM TO SARAK
  • DAY 06 TREK TO KOTAZ
  • DAY 07 AGHIL PASS / SHAKSGAM RIVER / QUINGHONGTAN
  • DAY 08 SARPO LAGGO RIVER CAMP
  • DAY 09 TREK TO SUGHET JANGAL (K2 BASE CAMP)
  • DAY 10 REST DAY AT SUGHET JANGAL (K2 BASE CAMP)
  • DAY 11 K2 GLACIER / LAKE CAMP
  • DAY 12 ITALIAN CAMP (K2 ADVANCE BASE CAMP)
  • DAY 13 EXPLORATION DAY (K2 ADVANCE BASE CAMP)
  • DAY 14 RETURN TO SUGHET JANGAL
  • DAY 15 RETURN TO SUGHET JANGAL
  • DAY 16 RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU
  • DAY 17 RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU
  • DAY 18 RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU
  • DAY 19 RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU
  • DAY 20 RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU
  • DAY 21 YECHENG
  • DAY 22 YECHENG / KASHGAR
 

Map & Itinerary

K2 (8,611m), the second highest mountain on earth, is a magnificent pyramid of rock and ice and a host of granite towers that are formidable summits in their own right. Some of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions flow down from the amazing mountains of the Karakoram, and the entire region is one of sublime, unearthly beauty. While most treks and climbs approach K2 from the south, this special CAT Expedition with veteran Trip Leader takes the remote northern approach by way of China’s great desert province of Xinjiang. Our 15-day trek is an incredibly spectacular journey on a little-traveled route following trails alongside the Yarkand and Shaksgam rivers. As we make our way through dramatic mountain valleys, a caravan of camels carries our gear. After we reach Sughet Jangal (K2 Base Camp) at 3,940m, we leave our camels behind and backpack to the Italian K2 Advance Base Camp (4,700m) on the K2 Glacier. Camped on the glacier beneath this remarkable peak, we enjoy an Exploration Day to trek up through ice seracs toward the sprawling glacial amphitheater that laps the base of K2’s immense North Face. The backpack journey to K2 Advance Base Camp is a 4-day, 3-night journey over rugged glacial terrain, with each member of our group carrying their own clothing, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad (porters carrying our camp gear and food). It’s a strenuous trip but well worth it, and the overall journey is a fantastic cultural odyssey through ancient Silk Route outposts and a rare chance to explore one of the greatest mountain sanctuaries in the world. Please note that this is a long journey in a very remote region and is designed for those who are adventurous in body and spirit. 

Note: All the time and distance etc. shown below are approximate and indicative only, if there is inconsistency, it will depend on the weather, local road conditions and other actual situations. Besides, the duration might be revised according to your physical level.

Holiday Itinerary

  • KASHGAR

    Our guide will meet you at the hotel in Kashgar. Kashgar was once a fabled oasis on the Great Silk Route and this isolated desert city of walled adobe compounds was the launching pad for many Tibet, Pamir, and Karakoram expeditions in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was also a center for the Great Game, a diplomatic jousting match between the British Empire and Czarist Russia for dominance over Central Asia. Although Kashgar is modernizing and the old city walls have been torn down, it still exudes an exotic atmosphere, with its population of Uighurs, Tajiks, Kirghiz, and Uzbek peoples, as well as Han Chinese. After arrival we will have some leisure time to experience the daily life of the old city and all trekkers will have a meal together in the evening.

    • Accommodation basic hotel in Kashgar

    • Meals D

  • EXPLORING KASHGAR

    On day 2 we’ll head for a day trip to Karakul Lake. Situated at an altitude of 3,600m, it is the highest lake of the Pamir Plateau which spans out across the Pamir, Kunlun and Tien Shan ranges. On the shores of this dazzlingly blue and azure green lake you’ll see the three peaks ofMuztagh Ata(7,509m),Kongur Tag(7,649m) and Kongur Tiube. In the afternoon, we will return back to Kashgar to commence our journey in to the heart of the Karakorum range the following day. If the time permits, we can also wander through the old part of Kashgar and visit theId kah Mosqueor the Abakh Khoja Tomb, which dominate the main square. 

    • Accommodation basic hotel in Kashgar

    • Meals BLD

  • YARKAND / STAY IN YECHENG

    A drive of five to six hours on rugged roads takes us south from Kashgar following the ancient trade route that led to the Karakoram Pass and British India. On clear days, the snow-covered peaks of Kongur Tagh and Muztagh Ata can be seen to the west. We skirt the western edge of the Taklamakan Desert, and after an hour’s drive, we can visit the oasis town of Hissar, famous for its local knife makers. We continue on and enjoy our lunch at an outdoor restaurant inYarkand, a former caravan stop along the Southern Silk Road. Tonight we stay at the outpost town ofKargilik (Chinese name: Yecheng)in the rustic and strangely named Electricity Hotel, where power cuts are ironically frequent.

    • Accommodation basic hotel in Yecheng

    • Distance 260km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 5-6hrs 4WD driving

  • DRIVE TO RASKEM DADUI

    We have an early start for today’s long, 10-hour drive. Once we leave the fertile fields of Kargilik, the terrain quickly becomes dry and dusty. Our route climbs a dramatic series of hairpin bends to reach the summit ofAkazu Pass(3,300m), then drops down the other side into the Khudi River valley. After lunch in the outpost town of Khudi, the road initially follows the river valley then climbs to the top of the Kun Lun Mountains to crossMazar Pass(5,000m). Another dramatic descent takes us to thearmy checkpointat Mazar beside theYarkand River. From here, we leave the Xinjiang/Tibet highway and follow a dirt road into the mountains to reach our first camp atRaskem Dadui (Yilik), the small remote Kyrgyz village of our camel men. There is a small army post overlooking a steep sided gorge. A modern bridge crosses the Surakwat River and leads to our camp on a grassy patch at a height of 3,500m.

    • Accommodation Camping at Raskem Dadui

    • Distance 300km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 10hrs 4WD driving

  • BEGIN TREK FROM RASKEM TO SARAK

    We meet with our camel drivers and they load our group’s equipment onto their sturdy, stately beasts.The trek to K2 Advance Base Camp begins!Our route today has us following the valley of the Surakwat Riverpast the junction with the Zug (“false”) Shaksgam River. Much of today’s hike is on smooth river- washed stones in a stunning desert canyon, with high cliffs of river-deposited conglomerate rock rising on either side of the narrow valley. Pinkish-tinged Myricaria bushes along the river and stream beds are the only vegetation in this region. After about six hours, we reachSarak, a small campsite on a terrace overlooking a tributary of the main river.

    • Accommodation Camping at Sarak

    • Ascent 258m

    • Descent 100m

    • Distance 6-8km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 5-6hrs

  • TREK TO KOTAZ

    The valley becomesa narrow gorgein places as we follow the upper Surakwat River into the mountains along a path made by the nomadic herders who visit this area in the summer months. We turn up a side valley to reach several abandoned mud and stone Kyrgyz herder huts at an area called Kotaz, where we camp below theAghil Pass.

    • Accommodation Camping at Kotaz

    • Ascent 550m

    • Distance 15km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 5-6hrs

  • AGHIL PASS / SHAKSGAM RIVER / QUINGHONGTAN

    As pass ascents go, this morning’s hike is a rather pleasant and gradual climb that brings us to ahighalpine lake. Just 30 minutes beyond this lake, we reachAghil Pass, the highest point of our trek to Sughet Jangal (K2 Base Camp). The ascent of the 4,830m Aghil Pass will take approximate 3 hours. If the weather is clear, we have a treat awaiting us! There are only 14 peaks in the world higher than 8,000 meters, and we have an opportunity to feast our eyes on two of them today—Gasherbrum IandGasherbrum II—from the summit of our pass. We also have our first glimpse of the expansive terrain to the south. We now have a big descent on a rugged trail to the silt-ladenShaksgam River, then up onto our camels for an exciting, wide river crossing to reach the far shore. We camp in a grove of willow bushes at an area known as Quinghongtan(3,960m), the only green in this dry landscape.

    • Accommodation Camping at Quinghongtan

    • Ascent 480m

    • Descent 860m

    • Distance 15km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 6-8hrs

  • SARPO LAGGO RIVER CAMP

    We mostly follow the left side of theShaksgam River Canyontoday, but because the river meanders across a 1.5-mile wide flood plain, it will be necessary for us to climb aboard the camels on several occasions to ford the river. If the level is low we can wade. The Shaksgam River was described as “shut in on both sides by giant limestone cliffs, slashed across with twisted streaks of yellow, red and black streaks which gave them the strange, bizarre appearance of a camouflaged ship.” Our destination is a campsite near the broad junction with theSarpo Laggo River(3,860m), which drains from the glacier of the same name to the south.

    • Accommodation Camping at Sarpo Laggo River

    • Distance 12km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 6-7hrs hiking

  • TREK TO SUGHET JANGAL (K2 BASE CAMP)

    From the Sarpo Laggo junction, our route turns into the hills to ascend a ridge crest at 4,420 m (exactly the same height as Mt. Whitney, the highest point in continental US!). Weather permitting, we have our first view of the impressive rock pyramid of K2’s northern face. We now descend back to the gravel flats, using the K2 massif as our beacon for an easy stroll that eventually brings us to the K2 River, where we usually use the camels for the crossing. Less than an hour farther isK2 Base Camp at Sughet Jangal(3,940m), a sprawling oasis of stunted willow trees in a broad plain adjacent to the terminus of the K2 Glacier.

    • Accommodation Camping at K2 Base

    • Ascent 560m

    • Descent 480m

    • Distance 16km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 6-7hrs

  • REST DAY AT SUGHET JANGAL (K2 BASE CAMP)

    This verdant camp was used by Younghusband in 1887 and was the base camp site of Shipton's “Blank on the Map” expedition in 1937. It was described as “a delightful place of clear springs, shade and soft green turf.” Sughet Jangal is now known as Chinese Base Camp and expeditions attempting K2 from this side use several advance camps on the North K2 glacier. The peak was first climbed in 1954 by Italian mountaineers from the Pakistan side, but it wasn’t until 1982 that a Japanese team climbed K2 from this remote northern approach. Only a handful of mountaineers have tried to repeat their route, and few have succeeded, as the north face and its ridges are considered the most difficult summit routes on the mountain—K2 is the second most dangerous 8000-meter peak to climb, after Annapurna I, with an average of one death per four successful summiteers.

    Today is a day to rest andorganize and preparing for our four-day, three-night glacier trek to the Italian K2 Advance Base Camp. If there’s time, we may go on an optional hike up the valley from camp toward theSaggo Laggo Glacierfor more views of this amazing Karakoram scenery.

    • Accommodation Camping at K2 Base

    • Meals BLD

  • K2 GLACIER / LAKE CAMP

    Note: The camels cannot cross the moraine and ice of the K2 Glacier, so for the next section of our trek porters carry our camping gear and food to Advance Base Camp and we must carry our own personal clothing, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad in a backpack. Everyone will be expected to double up in tents for the three nights we go up the glacier, and each trekker will need to carry all his or her personal clothing, sleeping bag, and a light sleeping pad for the three nights on the glacier.

    From Sughet Jangal, the trail climbs to a high point (4,290m), then drops steeply to a small flat area below the terminus of the K2 Glacier (4,130m). This is where the camels are unloaded and the camel men and our trek staff begin carrying loads to our next two camps. The camels then return to Sughet Jangal. Our route now ascends steadily beside the snout of the glacier, and eventually the soaring summit of K2 comes into view again. We spend the night beside the glacier on a flat area of moraine resembling a dry pond that we’ve come to callLake Camp.

    The name K2 was originally used as part of the Great Trigonometric Survey in the mid-1800s, when British surveyors were mapping the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayan/Karakoram peaks. The head of this survey, Thomas Montgomerie, had sketched the Karakoram from a viewpoint 130m to the south and labeled the two highest peaks he could see as K1 and K2. K1 is now known by its local name Masherbrum (7,793m), but no local name was found for the other peak, and although it has been known as Mount Godwin-Austin, as well as Chogori, the original survey label of K2 seems to have stuck (Gasherbrums IV, II and I were K3, K4 and K5 respectively).

    • Accommodation Camping at the Lake Camp

    • Ascent 540m

    • Descent 160m

    • Distance 14km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 5-6hrs hiking

  • ITALIAN CAMP (K2 ADVANCE BASE CAMP)

    Although today is not a long day and we have lunch at our next camp, negotiating the trail can be rather difficult due to steep gravel scree slopes. With the K2 massif in sight for most of the day, we continue trekking higher beside the K2 Glacier to establish our camp on the gravel-covered glacial ice at a location known asItalian Camp(4,700m), one of several Advance Base Camps used by expeditions attempting the north side of K2.

    • Accommodation Camping at Italian Camp

    • Ascent 720m

    • Descent 500m

    • Distance Day 12/13: approximate 16km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 6-8hrs

  • EXPLORATION DAY (K2 ADVANCE BASE CAMP)

    We have set aside today for an exploratory hike onto the upper glacier, and into a breathtaking region of ice seracs rising up from the glacier’s surface. Depending on weather and trail conditions, it may be possible to continue on toanother Advance Base Camp(5,030m) and possibly further into an immenseglacial amphitheater(5,200m) that be called the K2 Sanctuary, for outstanding views of K2's near vertical North Face. This is an optional all-day hike, with return to Italian Camp.Note: For those who are professional and with rich hiking experience and good physical strength, they could absolutely merge the Day13/14 into one day tour.

    The 1982 Japanese route approached the summit to the east (right) of the huge North Ridge that separates the North Face from the Northwest Face, then angled across to access the North Ridge about half way up to reach the summit. In 1990, a joint American-Australian expedition followed the North Ridge from the bottom, then angled left to join the Japanese route into a couloir to put three climbers on the summit, including Greg Childs and Greg Mortimer, the first two Australians up K2.

    • Accommodation Camping at Italian Camp

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TO SUGHET JANGAL

    We make the return hike back to Sughet Jangal.­­

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TO SUGHET JANGAL

    We make the return hike back to Sughet Jangal.­­

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU

    We spend these five days retracing our trek route over Aghil Pass and back to the trailhead at Raskem Dadu, the village of our camel men, where our vehicles await us.

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU

    We spend these five days retracing our trek route over Aghil Pass and back to the trailhead at Raskem Dadu, the village of our camel men, where our vehicles await us.

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU

    We spend these five days retracing our trek route over Aghil Pass and back to the trailhead at Raskem Dadu, the village of our camel men, where our vehicles await us.

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU

    We spend these five days retracing our trek route over Aghil Pass and back to the trailhead at Raskem Dadu, the village of our camel men, where our vehicles await us.

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • RETURN TREK TO RASKEM DADU

    We spend these five days retracing our trek route over Aghil Pass and back to the trailhead at Raskem Dadu, the village of our camel men, where our vehicles await us.

    • Accommodation Camping

    • Meals BLD

  • YECHENG

    From Yilik we follow dirt roads out of the mountains, crossing two high passes to reach the town of Kargilik (Yecheng) on the plains.

    • Accommodation basic hotel in Yecheng

    • Meals BLD

  • KASHGAR / BEIJING

    An early morning take our 4WD jeep to Kashgar with 5-6 hours. After arriving, reorganizing and outfitting equipment. Board an evening flight to Beijing (via Urumqi). On arrival, transfer to the hotel.

    • Accommodation 4* hotel in Beijing

    • Meals BLD

 

Additional details

1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.

2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.

3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.


The price includes

1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary

2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;

3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.

4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.

5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available

6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast

7. Internal flights
** Day 11/   Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/   High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/   High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/   High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)

9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges

10. Travel Agency Liability insurance


The price does not include

1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China

2. China entry visa fees

3. Excess baggage charges

4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way

5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary

6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary

7. Single room supplement

8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival

9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).

10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.


Payment conditions

To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.


Terms and conditions for cancelation

i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):

CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period

of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.

ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:

Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:

   ·  More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost

All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.

No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.

 

Holiday Information

 

Reviews & Blogs

You may also be interested in...

18 Days Trek to Advance Base Camp Everest [MC18-01]

13 Days Journey to Everest [MC13-01]

9 Days Mt. Muztagh Ata Base Camp Trekking [MC09-02]

25 Days Trek to Advance Base Camp on K2 [MC25-01]

 
 
 

CAT-China Adventure Tours  wholly owned business of China CYTS Tours Holding Co., Ltd.(CYTS)
Address: 19F CYTS Plaza, #5, Dongzhimen South Rd., Dongcheng Dist., Beijing, China PC100007
Tel: +8610 5815 8216 or +86 135 2240 1569
Email: wendyxp@chinadventuretours.com

© 2018 ChinAdventureTours.com All rights reserved.
    Follow Us: