General
Iqbal Top Trek (2024-25)
The Iqbal Top Trek, discovered by Iqbal Qadri in 1998, is a thrilling journey that draws nature lovers and mountaineers to the mesmerizing realm of the Karakoram Mountains. Given below are the details of this trek.
Dates & Cost – Iqbal Top Trek – (12 Days)
Summers are ideal for the Iqbal Top Trek. The start and end dates in the table below are your dates of arrival and departure from Pakistan. These months mentioned below are the ideal months for trekking in the Karakoram region of Pakistan. We have guaranteed departures every year. Our dates and costs for Iqbal Top Trek are given below.
| Start Dates | End Dates | Price (USD) | Availability | Deposit | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-Jun-2024 | 01-Jul-2024 | US$ 1,600 | Limited Space | US$ 260 | BOOK NOW |
| 20-Jun-2025 | 01-Jul-2025 | US$ 1,700 | Available | US$ 260 | BOOK NOW |
| Start Dates | End Dates | Price (USD) | Availability | Deposit | Registration |
Holiday Information
- Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
- Airport transfers on the first and last day
- All road transport in Pakistan
- Hotel accommodation in Pakistan (twin sharing rooms)
- Trekking accommodation in Pakistan (twin sharing tents)
- Hotel meals in Pakistan (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trekking meals in Pakistan (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trekking logistics (tents, non-personal equipments and tools)
- Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc)
- Porters for trekking equipments, kitchen (supplies, tools, equipments, crockery, gas) and personal luggage
- Travel Insurance (recommendations only)
- Visa to Pakistan (supporting documents offered)
- International airfare
- Personal equipments (list provided on registration or request)
- Tips for guides, porters, staff etc
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)
Highlights – Iqbal Top Trek
Iqbal Top Trek has a lot to offer. Given below are the main highlights of Iqbal Top Trek
- Spectacular Views Witness towering giants of the Karakoram Mountains, including K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II, with elevations exceeding 8,000 meters.
- Immersive Cultural Experience Connect with local communities along the route, experiencing their rich traditions and daily life.
- Diverse Landscape Explore lush meadows, rugged terrains, glaciers, and streams, offering a sensory experience of nature.
- Spiritual Journey Develop a deep connection with nature's grandeur, fostering humility and awe in the face of the Karakoram's beauty.
- Adventure and Challenge Encounter thrilling challenges such as river crossings and ascending to Iqbal Top, adding excitement to the journey.
- Meet mountaineers at base camps
- Sightseeing in Skardu and Islamabad
Itinerary – Iqbal Top Trek
The itinerary for Iqbal Top Trek is given below.
Day 02: Fly to Skardu, if canceled drive KKH to Chilas
This morning, participants will travel from the Islamabad airport to the Skardu airport. Nanga Parbat will be visible if the clouds cooperate. Once at Skardu, the day is yours. Should there be a flight cancellation (13–14 hours), drive 480 km on the Karakoram Highway to Chilas. Travel over the 4173-meter Babusar Pass to Chilas. Babusar Pass is a high alpine pass rising 13,691 feet (4.173 metres) above sea level. The pass marks the highest point in the Kaghan Valley in Pakistan. Through the Thak Nala, the pass links Chilas and the Kaghan Valley on the Karakoram Highway. It's one of the most well-known hairpin roads in the entire globe.
Day 03: Skardu Sightseeing Day
The group will visit the mountaintop Kharpocho fort in Skardu after breakfast. A breathtaking view of Skardu town and the Indus River can be seen from the Kharpocho fort. In addition, participants can choose to go on a tour of Sadpara Lake, which will be followed by free time in Skardu Bazaar.
Day 04: Drive to Kanday Village
After driving from Skardu to Kanday village (2900m), we will continue our excursion along the Indus and Shyok rivers in comfortable Jeeps and Toyotas. We travelled through many communities in our jeep, each with its own distinct culture and language. We travel past several Nallahs that receive their water from melts and occasionally from springs.
Day 05: Trek to Khotid
The journey today starts with an hour-long stroll down a long Chanel, a summertime agricultural water canal. Next, we cross Daltit, where an ancient hut beneath a big rock was constructed more than 30 years ago by the native people for animal housing. However, they moved to Khotid because of negligible odours. We touch and wash dust in spring water before crossing a walking bridge close to the Khotid valley. People would climb up and down the antic tree to hang small lockets for future tributes. The walk, which included an overnight stay in a tent, was straightforward but difficult.
Day 06: Trek to Bondit Base Camp
After breakfast, we resumed our last journey to base camp. The first point we reached was called Lawab, which translates to "completely steep," and the ascent took us almost 45 minutes. From the top, we have a view of the Bondit Peak and the Gamba Bondit area, which is quite long and striking and has spring water originating from a short distance. We travel alongside the melting river, which is best crossed before dusk. Eventually, we reach base camp, where we pitch our tent, and pass by a local resident cabin where people reside in the summer along with their milking animals.
Day 07: Trek to Iqbal Top
The trek from Bondit Base Camp to Iqbal Top begins on this day.
Day 08: Trek back to Laa Valley
Return trek from Iqbal Top to Laa Valley
Day 09: Trek back to Kanday/Skardu
Drive to Skardu after returning to Kanday Valley. Seeing the Scene in Skardu
Day 10: Drive from Skardu to Chilas
Drive from Skardu to Chilas.
Day 11: Drive from Chilas to Islamabad
Drive from Chilas to Islamabad
Day 12: Fly back home
All of our clients will be driven to the airport by our staff at the hours specified for their departure. Check-out time for all of our partner hotels is 12 p.m.
Why Register Early?
1. Early Bird Discount: The given prices for the holiday are limited-time discount offers and are subject to change. Service providers including (but not limited) to airlines and hotels increase prices in peak-season. Early reservations cost less than peak-season.
2. Limited Flight Seats: Domestic flight seats to the Karakorams and Himalayas are sold out way ahead of time because there are only two daily flights during peak season. Among other things, the deposit is used to book domestic flights for you in advance.
3. Pay Balance after arrival in Pakistan: In these unusual times, we appreciate that paying the final balance for your trip may cause concern. Our policy is to only receive your final balance once you arrive in Pakistan. The only payment before arrival is the deposit.
4. Deposit valid for 3 years: We understand the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic (Covid-19). As part of our relaxed booking conditions following Covid-19, deposits are valid for 2 years.
6. Pay Minimum Deposit: The deposits for the holiday are also early-bird discounts and automatically change accordingly:
- 1st October: USD 190
- 1st November: USD 290
- 1st January: USD 350
- 15th February: USD 400
- 1st March: USD 450
- 1st May: USD 490
Note: The same dates above apply to next season's deposits.
Refund Policy for All
Deposit: Once paid, the deposit is non-refundable (but valid for 2 years) as it will be spent on making in-country arrangements.
Balance: Pay the balance only after arrival in Pakistan on the first day. Payment guidelines will be shared timely.
Currency
All international travelers can pay in US Dollars (USD) or equivalent in Euros (EUR) or Pound Sterling (GBP). Pakistani travelers are charged the equivalent in Pakistani Rupees (PKR).
Single Supplement
Separate hotel rooms (single supplement) will cost an additional USD 290. This includes all hotel nights. This payment should be made with the balance upon arrival.
Separate tents (single tent) will cost an additional USD 180. This includes the cost of additional porterage. This payment should also be made with the balance in Pakistan.
As Featured In:
| Apricot Tours' Social Responsibility |
| 1 foreign trekker = 5 trees |
| Apricot Tours will plant five trees for every foreign trekker who visits Pakistan for trekking to Nanga Parbat. The trees will be planted in the northern areas of Pakistan starting from 2019 as part of our CSR initiative. We aim to contribute to "Goal 13: Climate Action" of UN's Sustainable Development Goals by taking part in the massive government campaign to plant 10 billion trees during the next five years to tackle climate change. Pakistan's adverse climate impacts are very much visible through changing temperatures, prolonged droughts, increased floods and extreme weather conditions especially in Pakistan's mountain regions. Pakistan stands 7th on the list of countries that are mostly likely to be affected by global warming and has one of the highest deforestation rates in Asia. Decades of tree felling have reduced the country's forests to less than 3 percent of its total land area. How planting trees will make a difference? Planting trees will help save energy and money, cool our cities, reduce carbon emissions, reduce soil erosion, provide habitat for species of many kinds, provide clean water and add to the beauty of Pakistan's mountain region by simply being there. Our participants can also donate separately. Details on this initiative can be requested. |
Iqbal Top Trek – Overview
The exciting Iqbal Top Trek, founded by Iqbal Qadri in 1998, transports mountaineers and environment enthusiasts to the enthralling Karakoram Mountains. For those seeking to appreciate the breathtaking majesty of the area fully, this trip offers an incredible vantage point with a breathtaking perspective of some of the most famous peaks in the Karakoram range.
The main goal of the Iqbal Top Trek is to witness the four imposing giants of the Karakoram, each of which rises above 8,000 meters. Broad Mountain is a towering massif that rises to an astounding 8,047 meters, while K2, the second-highest mountain in the world, rises beautifully to 8,611 meters. Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II complete the group of four breathtaking eight-thousanders with elevations of 8,068 and 8,035 meters, respectively. For those fortunate enough to see them, seeing these famous peaks, each with its unique personality leaves a lasting impression.
The numerous other notable peaks that adorn the landscape—several of which rise above 7,000 meters—also contribute to the allure of this journey. Among them are K6, K7, GIV, GV, Chongolingsa, Amin Brakk, Drifeka, and numerous other snow-capped peaks. In addition to adding a sense of mystery and adventure to the landscape, the fact that many of these summits are still unclimbed presents mountaineers and adventurers with exciting challenges.
But the Iqbal Top Trek offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fully immerse oneself in the vibrant cultural fabric of the region, which makes it about more than just the breathtaking mountain scenery. Trekkers pass through the summer settlement of Kanday village on their three-day journey to the viewpoint. Through this immersive experience, one can establish meaningful connections with the locals and learn about their ancient customs, traditions, and daily routines. It’s a chance to interact with the friendly and welcoming locals and discover more about their deep ties to the land.
You wander through this stunning valley as the surroundings present themselves to you in a succession of visual feasts. The journey is a sensory exploration of the natural world, taking you from verdant meadows covered in wildflowers to untamed landscapes carved out by streams and glaciers. This is a chance to escape the bustle of the city and spend time in the pristine, untainted wilderness of the Karakoram.
The Iqbal Top Trek, at last, transcends the domain of actual physical adventure. It becomes a spiritual journey where one bows in modest reverence before the most astounding works of nature. This trip takes you deep into the heart of the Karakoram, an area that never ceases to astound and awe, as well as to foster a strong bond with nature. The allure of the mountains and the never-ending spirit of adventure will captivate everyone embarking on this expedition.
Website Last Updated: February 15th, 2024
