Nangma Valley Trek

The Nangma Valley Trek is a fourteen-day trekking holiday in the Karakoram range of Gilgit-Baltistan, in northern Pakistan. The Nangma Valley is a remote side valley of the Hushe Valley, and it is known for its great granite towers and for close views of the high peaks of K6, K7, Link Sar and Drifika. You will walk from the village of Kande through Khuspang and the Nangma Valley to Mingulo Broq, visit the base camp of the famous Amin Brakk tower, and cross the Nangma La (4,600m) before descending to Zhokchan and returning to Kande.

Holidays GB Tours Pakistan organises the Nangma Valley Trek as a fully supported holiday with a professional English-speaking mountain guide, a full crew of porters and cooks, and complete camping equipment. The trek is graded as Grade 3 (Easy), and it is suitable for trekkers with reasonable fitness who are used to sustained walking on rough mountain terrain. The holiday starts and finishes in Islamabad, and it includes internal flights to Skardu, three-star hotels in the cities, and full-service camps on the trek.

Nangma Valley Trek Pakistan

The Nangma Valley Trek Pakistan takes you into a remote valley of the Karakoram mountain range, which is one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world. The valley lies in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, and the trek typically starts from Kande, which is a small village in the Hushe Valley and is reached by road from Skardu. From Kande the trail follows the Nangma Valley through small settlements and high pastures, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks at every stage of the walk.

The Nangma Valley Trek Pakistan is a journey through some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain in the Karakoram. The valley is home to a number of glaciers, including the Nangma Glacier, and the trail passes beneath great rock towers that attract climbers from all over the world. The trekking portion of the holiday lasts about six days, and it can also be done as part of a longer trekking itinerary that includes the nearby valleys and peaks of the region.

Nangma Valley Trek Package

The Nangma Valley Trek Package is an all-inclusive arrangement that covers internal flights between Islamabad and Skardu with associated airport transfers, all land transport in the itinerary in a private vehicle with a driver, and accommodation in three-star hotels and full-service camps. The package includes the services of an English-speaking and government-licensed mountain guide, together with a full supporting crew of sirdar, porters, cooks and assistants. All meals are provided throughout the trip, three times a day, and all trekking permits and Central Karakoram National Park fees are included.

The Nangma Valley Trek Package includes complete camping equipment, with mess tents, comfortable high-altitude sleeping tents, kitchen tents with chairs, tables and lights, and unlimited water refilling. A satellite phone is carried for emergencies, a generator or solar panels provide light and charging for electronic devices, and a basic first-aid medicine kit travels with the group. International flights, travel insurance, the Pakistan visa fee, tips for guides and porters, and personal expenses are not included in the package.

Nangma Valley Hiking Tour

The Nangma Valley Hiking Tour is graded as Grade 3 (Easy), and it offers spectacular rewards for a reasonable level of effort. The walking days are between four and seven hours, and the trail is a sustained walk on rough and loose mountain terrain, so you should be used to hill hiking and have a reasonable level of fitness. You will be above 3,000 metres for two to four days during the trek, and the simple rules of acclimatisation should be followed at the higher camps.

The Nangma Valley Hiking Tour includes a rest and exploration day at Mingulo Broq, which is situated in the heart of the Nangma Valley and is surrounded by towering peaks. Mingulo Broq is a great spot for photography and exploring, and it is also the base camp for Amin Brakk and other peaks of the valley. From there you will trek to the Amin Brakk Base Camp at 4,300m, which is the highest camp of the journey before the crossing of the Nangma La.

Hushe Valley Trek

The Hushe Valley Trek begins and ends in the Hushe Valley, which is one of the most famous valleys of the Karakoram and is reached by road from Skardu. Kande is a small traditional village at 2,850m in the Hushe Valley, and it is the gateway of the trek, where the walking starts on Day 4 and where the circuit returns on Day 9. The Hushe Valley is known for its traditional Balti villages, its terraced fields and its position at the foot of some of the greatest mountains of the Karakoram.

The Hushe Valley Trek follows a fine circuit from Kande through Khuspang and the Nangma Valley to Mingulo Broq and the Amin Brakk Base Camp, and then over the Nangma La to Zhokchan and back down to Kande. The drive from Skardu to Kande passes through the Hushe Valley and gives you your first look at the villages and fields of this beautiful region. Because the route starts and finishes at the same village, the trek has the satisfying shape of a true circuit through the heart of the valley.

Baltistan Trekking Tour

The Baltistan Trekking Tour includes the cultural side of Baltistan as well as the mountains of the Nangma Valley. You will spend two nights in Skardu, which is the main town of Baltistan, and you will explore the Skardu Valley, including the historic Kharpocho Fort and the beautiful Satpara Lake. Skardu is also the place where the expedition is organised, and free storage is available at the Skardu office for the items you do not need on the trek.

The Baltistan Trekking Tour ends with a full day of sightseeing in Islamabad, where you will visit the Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument. The local language of the Nangma Valley is Balti, while Urdu is the official language of Pakistan, and your guides and chefs speak good English throughout the holiday. It is a journey that combines the wilderness of the Karakoram with the history and culture of Baltistan and the capital city.

Best Time for the Nangma Valley Trek

The best time to do the Nangma Valley Trek is in the summer, and the season normally runs from the middle of June to the beginning of October, when the weather is most stable and the trails are clear of snow. In the summer the Gilgit-Baltistan region can reach around 30C, while the Nangma Valley itself is much cooler, with average temperatures between 5C and 15C and nights that can fall below 5C. The skies are usually clear with minimal rainfall or snow, but mountain weather is unpredictable at any time of the year, and sudden storms are possible, so warm and waterproof clothing is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

How difficult is the Nangma Valley Trek?

The Nangma Valley Trek is graded as Grade 3 (Easy), and it offers spectacular rewards for a reasonable level of effort. The walking days are between four and seven hours on rough and loose mountain terrain, so you should be used to hill hiking and have a reasonable level of fitness. It is suitable for trekkers with some hill-walking experience who are comfortable with sustained walking.

What is the highest point of the trek?

The highest point is the Nangma La at 4,600m, which is crossed on Day 8 on the way from the Amin Brakk Base Camp to Zhokchan. You will be above 3,000 metres for two to four days during the trek.

Do I need a visa for Pakistan?

Yes, all international tourists must apply for a visa online before arrival, and the fee is approximately USD 50 with a processing time of about four to five working days. You will need a letter of invitation and documents from an approved Pakistan tour operator, which are included in the Nangma Valley Trek Package, and your passport should have at least six months of validity and two blank pages.

Is travel insurance required?

Travel insurance is not included in the Nangma Valley Trek Package, and it is strongly recommended. Your insurance should cover trip cancellation, medical costs and helicopter rescue from high altitude, and you should inform your insurer of the full itinerary before you travel.

What are the meals like on the trek? All meals are included three times a day, with Pakistani, continental and vegetarian cuisines throughout the trip. While trekking, breakfast is normally cereal, eggs, bread or chapattis with jam and honey, lunch is sandwiches with dry fruit and nuts, and the evening meal starts with soups and samosas before a main course of local Pakistani, Western or Chinese dishes. Vegans and vegetarians are regularly catered for.

What happens if the Skardu flight is cancelled?

Skardu Airport is surrounded by tall mountains, and planes land only when the weather is clear. If the flight is cancelled, the journey continues by road on the Karakoram Highway to Naran, which is 281 km and about nine hours from Islamabad, with a night stay in Naran, and then from Naran to Skardu, which is about ten hours along the Gilgit and Indus rivers.

How much luggage can I bring on the trek?

Your packed bag should weigh no more than 20 kg, including your sleeping bag and mattress, because the weight limit is set by the local authorities and bags are weighed before the trek. Items that you do not need on the trek can be left in free storage at the Skardu office.