In the beautiful Northern Areas of Pakistan, there are serene glaciers, blue water lakes, attractive scenery, gorgeous mountains, renowned summits, streams, and mountain treks. Tourists and adventurists around the globe aspire to visit this tourism-rich region and indeed, they visit it in countless numbers every year. Snow lake trek, also known as Snow Lake Hispar La trek, is one of these sought-after destinations in Northern Pakistan. It is located amongst the Biafo and Hispar la pass. The place is a high-altitude glacier basin, almost 16 kilometers in width.
The total diameter of Biafo Glacier, Snow Lake, and Hispar Glacier is around 120 kilometers, so it becomes the World’s second-longest glacier outside the polar region. The mountain-rich region of Gilgit Baltistan, Snow Lake, Biafo Glacier, Hispar La, Hunza Valley, and the Karakoram Range are the most popular destinations for hikers, tourists, mountaineers, adventurists and trekkers. Heart throbbing scenery, refreshing cool breeze, and natural aura attract visitors from every nook and cranny of the world.
This trek starts from the K2 Basecamp Trek Trail and culminates in Hispar on the Hunza side. It is important to mention that the Snow Lake trek is the remotest, most challenging, and most difficult trek in Pakistan. The successful trekking ratio is too low. The crossing is so challenging that one may cross paths with Ibex, Himalayan Bears, Markhor, and in worst cases, even Snow Leopards.
General Information and Precautions:
- The distance of the Snow Lake Trek is 120 km through hiking.
- 12-14 days are required to cover this trek. However, the itinerary is 21 days.
- The total incline of Snow Lake Trek is 4,000 m.
- The highest point on the trek is 5,200 m.
- It provides a trekking opportunity on the Ancient Highway, Biafo, and Hisper Glacier.
- A chance of travelling on the Silk Route (Karakoram Highway)
- The trekkers and hikers on the Snow lake trek can explore the Medieval Forts hidden amidst the gorgeous mountains of Northern Pakistan.
- The snow lake trek is not an easy task to accomplish. The main reasons are less commercial activities, rocky places, glacial ice thickness, remoteness, and the tough sphere of the spot. The trekkers have to spend every night in camps instead of tea houses. The icy and rocky stuff gives a tough time to trekkers.
- Snow lake trek is remote if one rarely sees the other trekkers passing nearby.
- Hikers have to get a permit from the concerned body. The tour operator will manage it, however. It is nearly impossible to hike individually and without a tour guide and tour operator. The visitors should arrange it before arrival.
- As mentioned before, a tour guide is essential on Snow Lake Trek. The guide will take care of destinations, logistics, distances, directions, and camping sites.
- The hikers have to stay in campsites every night. This is not fearful. People staying at these camps enjoy the awesome views of 7,000 m peaks; visible from the camps. One looks out of his tent window and surely, he gets enchanted by the scenic views.
- Snow Lake is a scenic but quite difficult trek. One has to ensure the availability of a helicopter in case of an emergency. In Pakistan, the government does not provide this facility. Then it, a concerned trekking company, could avail by depositing almost 5,000 US Dollars or more than it, the helicopter rescue service.
- Wi-Fi is not available on Snow lake Trek. However, satellite internet connection may be provided by some tour operators.
- Generators arranged electricity. As trekkers and hikers have to charge their cameras, power banks, mobile phones, headlamps, and drone batteries. Some hikers take small solar panels with them, it too is quite helpful. Importantly, the hikers should confirm the generator facility in advance.
Peaks viewed from Snow Lake Trek:
We can view multiple peaks from this trek. For instance:
- Distaghil Sar : 7,885 m
- Kanjut Sar: 7,760 m
- Makrong Chhish: 6,607 m
- Baintha Brakk/ The Ogre: 7,285 m
- Latock group which includes: Latok I (7,145 m), Latok II (7,108 m), Latok III (6,949 m), Latok IV (6,456 m)
Route of the Snow Lake Trek:
- Islamabad to Skardu: 45 minutes’ flight
- Skardu to Askoli (3,000 m) 7 hours’ drive
- Trek to Namla (3,566 m) 6 to 7 hours walk
- Trek to Mango (3,720 m) 5 to 6 hours walk
- Trek to Biantha (4,035 m) 5 to 6 hours walk
- A day for rest and relaxation
- Trek to Marfogoro (4,300 m) 6 hour walk
- Trek to Karphogoro (4,680 m) 6-hour walk
- Trek to Hispar La Base Camp (4,590 m) 6-hour walk
- Trek to Hispar la by Crossing Snow lake (5,150 m) 6 hour’s walk
- Cross Snow lake and Trek to Kani Basa (4,510 m) 4 hour’s walk
- Trek to Bakhtur Baig (4,470 m) 6-hour walk
- Trek to Shigham Baris (4,170 m) 7-hour walk
- Trek to Bitenmal (3,760 m) 6 hours walk
- Trek to Hidpar Village (2,300 m) 4-hour walk
Skardu to Askole’s journey is covered by jeeps. A night camp is arranged there, before trekking the next day. From Askole, the route starts from the same path as of the K2 Base Camp, but in the blink of an eye diverts towards the Biafo Glacier. Dusty paths and rocky mounds on the way up to Snow Lake. Heat and tough terrain make it challenging for the trekkers to cover the distance. Starting days become the survival and adaptation days for most trekkers.
In a nutshell, Snow lake Trek is a challenging, yet demanding adventure. Those who explore it, gain a momentous lifetime experience of thrill and joy. On this trek, the visitors embrace themselves with crystal water lakes, snowcapped mountains, grassy landscapes, awesome meadows, culturally rich habitats, superb gorges, wonderful mountain ranges, and marvelous scenery. Hospitality and courtesy of the local inhabitants instill a thankful joy in the trekkers. Delicious foods, song competitions, cracking jokes, fun and dancing with friends, poetry contests, bone fires, and barbeques at camps are not forgetful.
