Porters, Guides and Cooks: How a Trekking Crew Works in Pakistan
Almost every multi-day trek in the Karakoram and Himalaya of Pakistan is run with a crew: a guide who leads, a cook and kitchen team who feed the group, and porters who carry tents, food and much of your luggage between camps. Understanding who does what helps you pack sensibly, set realistic expectations and treat the people who make the trek possible fairly.
This guide describes the roles as they appear in our published trek inclusions, explains luggage allowances and porter welfare, and covers the customs around tipping.
The roles in a trekking crew
The guide
Our trek inclusions list an experienced trekking guide and support staff. The guide sets the pace, chooses campsites, judges the weather and the condition of river crossings and passes, and makes the call when someone needs to rest or descend. On longer routes there may be an assistant guide as well. The guide is also your link to the porters and to people in the villages you pass.
The cook and kitchen team
The inclusions list food during the trek, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served by cook staff, together with a kitchen tent, a dining or mess tent and kitchen utensils. Several programmes also list the wages, food, transport and insurance of the guide, cook and assistant cook. The kitchen team usually rises first and reaches camp ahead of the group, so that hot drinks and a meal are ready at the end of the day. Our guide to food and drinking water on Pakistan trips describes what the meals are like.
Porters
Porters carry the group's tents, kitchen, fuel and food and the members' kit bags from road head to camp and back. On the Baltoro and in valleys such as Hushe and Askole, portering is an important source of income for local families, and many porters have walked these routes for years. Our trek inclusions list porters for personal luggage and camping equipment, and several list porter insurance.
High-altitude porters on expeditions
Climbing expeditions add another role: high-altitude porters who work above base camp, carrying loads and helping to fix ropes on the mountain. This is specialised work. On our Khusar Gang expedition, for example, a high-altitude porter is listed as not included, so it is arranged separately when a team needs one. Our guide to choosing an expedition explains the difference between trekking and expedition support.
Luggage allowances: pack to the limit
Porter loads are limited, so your kit bag has a weight allowance. On several of our treks, including the Mazeno Pass trek and the Nangma Valley climbing programme, the inclusions specify a 16 kg porter facility for each member's gear, with anything above that charged separately on the spot at the porter rate per kilogram. Confirm the allowance for your own trek before you pack.
In practice, keep what you need during the day in your own daypack: water, snacks, a warm layer, waterproofs, sun protection and a camera. Your kit bag travels with the porters and may reach camp after you, or before you, depending on the terrain.
- Use a soft, durable duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase; it is easier and safer to carry.
- Line it with a waterproof bag, because loads are set down on wet ground and may be carried through rain or snow.
- Leave hotel clothes and anything you will not need on the trek in storage in Skardu or wherever the trek starts, if your itinerary allows it.
Porter welfare and why it matters
Carrying loads at altitude is hard, sometimes dangerous work. Porter wages, stages and conditions in Gilgit-Baltistan are set within the region's trekking rules and by local practice, and porters' associations in places such as Askole and Hushe have a voice in how loads and stages work. In 2026 the Gilgit-Baltistan government announced a review of its trekking rules, with porter welfare, insurance and evacuation among the subjects, so details may change.
International guidance, such as that published by the International Porter Protection Group, asks trekkers and operators to make sure porters have adequate clothing and shelter for the altitude, receive the same standard of medical care as trekkers, and are not asked to carry loads beyond their capacity. As a trekker you can help by packing within your allowance, noticing if a crew member seems unwell, and telling your guide.
Tipping customs
Tips for the trek crew are customary in Pakistan and form a meaningful part of crew income. Gratuities for personal services are listed as not included in our programmes, so they come from you. On most treks the group pools tips and hands them over at the end of the trek, often at a small gathering on the last evening, with the amounts shared between the guide, kitchen team and porters.
There is no fixed amount. Ask your guide before the trek what is usual for the length of the trek and the size of the crew, so you can bring suitable cash in Pakistani rupees; there are no cash machines on the trail. Gear you no longer need, such as good socks, gloves or a warm jacket, is also often welcome.
Being a good member of the team
- Learn a few words of greeting and the names of the crew; it is appreciated.
- Respect camp routines: being ready on time helps the porters set off before the heat of the day or before snow softens.
- Keep the kitchen area clear and follow the crew's arrangements for water and waste.
- If you change plans, such as taking an extra rest day, discuss it with the guide, because the porters' stages and food are planned around the itinerary.
- See our responsible travel guide for wider etiquette in the mountain valleys.
Frequently asked questions
How much luggage can a porter carry for me?
Several of our treks list a 16 kg allowance for each member's gear, with extra weight charged at the porter rate per kilogram. The figure for your trek is given in its inclusions; ask us if it is not clear.
Do I carry anything myself?
Yes, a daypack with what you need while walking: water, snacks, layers, waterproofs, sun protection and personal items.
Are porters insured?
Several of our trek inclusions list porters' insurance, and the guide and cook wages listed include their insurance. If this is important to you, ask us to confirm the arrangements for your specific trek.
How much should I tip?
There is no fixed amount. Ask your guide before the trek what is customary for its length and crew size, then pool tips with the group at the end.
Can I hire a personal porter for my daypack?
Ask us when you plan. Extra porters can sometimes be arranged, at an additional cost, depending on the route and availability.
Plan your trek with us
If you would like to know exactly what support comes with a trek, read our comparison of what is included in a trek, browse our trekking programmes, or ask us through the contact form.