Laila Base Camp and Haramosh La Trek
A 14-day crossing that drives from Skardu to Arandu, walks up to Laila base camp, crosses the Haramosh Pass and descends past Kutwal Lake to Sassi on the Gilgit side.
About the Laila Base Camp & Haramosh La Trek
The Laila Base Camp & Haramosh La Trek is a 14-day crossing of the Haramosh Pass (Haramosh La) in the Karakoram, from the Chogo Lungma Glacier above Arandu to Kutwal Lake and the Haramosh valley. From Skardu, jeeps follow a winding trail to Arandu, the last village on the way to the Chogo Lungma Glacier. The trek follows the northern edge of the glacier to Chogo Brangsa and Bolocho, crosses it to Laila Base Camp, and walks up the Haramosh Glacier to the camp at Sharing. The next day climbs to the Haramosh Pass on glacier terrain where the team watches for avalanches, with views of Haramosh (7409 m) and Laila Peak. A rope is needed to descend the steep snow slope below the pass to Kutwal Lake, and the last trekking day walks down through green pastures to Sassi, from where the group drives to Chilas and on to Islamabad over the Babusar Pass. The first days, from Skardu to Bolocho, follow the same approach as our Spantik Base Camp Trek; where that trek returns the same way, this one crosses the pass and finishes on the far side.
Introduction as published on the Trekking page.
Key facts
- Duration
- 14 days
- Best time
- July to Mid September
- Range / region
- Karakoram
- Highest point
- 4800m
- Zone
- Open
- Starts and ends
- Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad
- Tent nights in the itinerary
- 8
Who it suits
The trek has eight tent nights and a highest point of 4,800 m. With no rest days in the published plan, it suits trekkers who are already used to consecutive days on rough mountain terrain.
- Best time in the programme: July to mid-September.
- Kutwal Lake, below Haramosh, is reached on day 10, straight after the descent from the pass.
- The itinerary says a rope is needed to descend the steep snow slope below the Haramosh Pass.
Laila base camp or Spantik base camp?
This trek and our Spantik Base Camp Trek share their first six days: the flight or drive to Skardu, the jeep ride to Arandu and the walk along the Chogo Lungma Glacier via Chogo Brangsa to Bolocho.
From Bolocho the Spantik trek goes to its base camp, rests there and returns the same way to Arandu. This trek crosses the glacier to Laila base camp, climbs over the Haramosh Pass and descends past Kutwal Lake to Sassi, so it never retraces its steps. It also goes higher (4,800 m against 4,300 m), has no rest day and is published for July to mid-September rather than June to the end of August.
Day-by-day itinerary
01: Islamabad
Arrival in Islamabad and transfer to hotel overnight stay in Islamabad.
02: Islamabad to Skardu (By Air)
Early morning flight to Skardu (flights are subject to weather). If unable to fly, we will depart for Skardu by road with an overnight stay at Chilas. Overnight stay in a hotel at Skardu.
03: Skardu
In case a flight has operated, we will go for a sightseeing tour of Skardu, and in case of no flight, the day will be used for overland travel from Chilas to Skardu. Overnight stay in a hotel at Skardu.
04: Skardu to Arandu
After breakfast, we will embark on jeeps for a full-day ride on a winding jeep trail to Arandu. The last inhabitance on our way to the Chogo lungma Glacier. (Tent)
05: Arandu to Chogo Brangsa
After breakfast, trek to Chogo Brangsa. Today, we will leave the last inhabited village of Arandu. We will rely on our local team, who will carry our food and equipment, for the remaining portion of our journey. The first day of trekking is quite short, following the grassy valley on the northern side of the Chogo lungma Glacier. (Tent)
06: Chogo Brangsa to Bolocho
After breakfast, trek to Bolocho. A longer day of trekking. We continue along the northern edge of the Chogo lungma Glacier, crossing two subsidiary glaciers to the Bolocho. (Tent)
07: Bolucho to Laila Base Camp
After breakfast, trek to Laila Base Camp. Today, we will cross Chogo Lungma Glacier. (Tent)
08: Laila Base Camp to Sharing
After breakfast, trek to Sharing. We will walk up the Haramosh Glacier with views of the pass. (Tent)
09: Sharing to Haramosh Pass
After breakfast, trek to Haramosh Pass. Today, we will walk on the glacier and need to be aware of avalanches. After a short climb up to the right Rakaposhi, we will have a good view of Haramosh 7409m, Laila Peak. (Tent)
10: Haramosh Pass to Kutwal Lake
After breakfast, trek to Kutwal Lake. We will need rope to get down the steep snow slope. (Tent)
11: Kutwal Lake to Sassi (Haramosh)
After breakfast, trek to Sassi. We will walk down from the lake through green pastures to Sassi. (Tent)
12: Sassi to Chilas
After breakfast and drive to Chilas. Overnight stay in a hotel at Chilas.
13: Chilas to Islamabad
In the early morning, we will depart for Islamabad, vis Babusar pass. Overnight stay in a hotel in Islamabad.
14: Islamabad to Flight out
Transfer to airport for flight back home
Included and not included
Listed as included
- 02 nights hotel in Islamabad (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- 01 nights in hotel Chilas (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- 02 nights in Skardu (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Pick up from group when arrive and drop to airport when group Departure Air-condition van from Islamabad –Skardu-Gilgit-Islamabad
- Flight Tickets Islamabad-Skardu
- Arrange transport on briefing and debriefing occasion
- Sightseeing the capital city of Islamabad
- Jeeps from Skardu to Arandu
- Food (during the Trek (we will serve breakfast, lunch and Dinner)
- Carry on member personal equipment, foods stuffs and camping crew etc. All porters insurance
- 16 Kg porter facility for member’s personal gear. (Above 16 Kg will be separately charged from member on spot, as per porter rate per Kg)
- Guide Cook and assistance cook wages, camp food, transport and their insurance
- Mess tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent mattress, chairs, Tables
- Complete kitchen utensils (crockery)
- Tips for baggage handling at airport & at hotels
- Fess: (CKNP, Bridge crossing, cable crossing, camping)
- International flights tickets re-confirmations
- Custom clearing assistance
Listed as not included
- Member international flight tickets
- Helicopter emergency rescue fees Members any climbing gears
- Member personal insurance
- Sleeping bag and all personal expenses such as telephone calls, fax, email charges, liquor or soft drinks,
- Room service, gratuities for personal services, items of a purely personal nature
- Custom clearing charges (import and export of equipment’s)
- Any unforeseen expenses (just like road block extra hotel stay or if members stay more days at Base Camp) then members will be pay according to the numbers of days bases.
As listed in the programme's service details; confirm the current inclusions when you plan your dates.
Places on this route
Destination guides for the places this itinerary passes through:
Compare other treks
| Programme | Days | Best time | Highest point | Zone | Tent nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairy Meadows Trek & Hunza Tour | 12 | Mid-May to End of November | 3,300 m | Open | 0 |
| Rakaposhi/Diran BC Trek & Hunza Tour | 14 | Mid-May to September | 4,000m | Open | 4 |
| Rush Lake Trek & Hunza Tour | 15 | Mid-May to End-August | 4694 m | Open | 6 |
| Spantik Base camp Trek | 15 | June to End-August | 4300m | Open | 6 |
| Mashabrum Base camp Trek | 16 | June to End-September | 4200m | Permitted | 6 |
| Nanga parbat Mazeno Pass Trek | 17 | June to End-August | 5390 m | Open | 11 |
| K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek | 18 | Late June to End-August | 5,150 m (K2 Base Camp) and the Gondogoro La crossing | Restricted (Permit Required) | 13 |
| K2 Base Camp Trek | 18 | Late June to Early September | 5,150 m (K2 Base Camp) | Restricted (Permit Required) | 9 |
| Snow Lake Trek | 21 | June to September | 5,151 m (Hispar La) | Open | 13 |
| Beautiful Hushe valley Trek | 25 | Mid-June to End-August | 5650m | Permitted | 15 |
| Great Karakoram Traverse | 32 | Mid-June to End-August | 5500m | Permit needed | 23 |
