Batura Sar is 7,795 metres high, the 25th-highest mountain in the world and the summit of the Batura Muztagh above Passu and Hassanabad in upper Hunza. It was first climbed in 1976, and it has had very few ascents since. It is set well back from the valley, so visitors see the Batura wall and glacier from the Karakoram Highway more than the summit itself.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Height | 7,795 m (25,574 ft), 25th highest in the world |
| Range | Batura Muztagh, the westernmost subrange of the Karakoram |
| First ascent | 30 June 1976, Hubert Bleicher and Herbert Oberhofer (German expedition) |
| Batura Wall | about 11 km of ridge, with sections above 7,000 m |
| Nearest villages | Passu, Hassanabad, Gulmit area in Gojal, Hunza |
How high is Batura Sar?
Batura Sar (also called Batura I) is 7,795 metres, the highest point of a long, continuous wall of high ground known as the Batura Wall. The ridge runs for about 11 kilometres with sections above 7,000 metres. Nothing else in the range rivals it, though Shispare and Ultar Sar rise nearer to the road. See our pages on Shispare and Ultar Sar.
Climbing history
The first ascent was on 30 June 1976 by Hubert Bleicher and Herbert Oberhofer, members of the Goppingen Karakoram-Himalaya Expedition led by Dr Alexander Schlee. Reference sources say fewer than a dozen ascents have been recorded since, which is few for a peak of this height. Its relative obscurity comes from its remoteness, not its ease.
The Batura Muztagh and its glacier
The Batura Muztagh is the westernmost subrange of the Karakoram. It runs from Chalt in the Bar valley in the east to the Kurumbar valley in the west, and it separates the Hindu Raj from the Karakoram proper. Besides Batura Sar the range holds Shispare (7,611 m), Passu Sar (about 7,476 m) and Ultar Sar (7,388 m). Muchu Chhish, in the same range, stayed unclimbed for many years and was reported climbed by a Czech team in 2024.
The Batura glacier, on the north side of Batura Sar and Passu Sar, is about 57 kilometres long, one of the longest outside the polar regions. Its snout once lay only about half a kilometre above the Karakoram Highway, and it has retreated since. The valley is very dry, with only about 10 cm of precipitation a year on the valley floor, which is why the slopes near the road are bare and brown even in summer.
Where can you see Batura Sar?
You cannot pick out Batura Sar easily from the main road, because it sits far up the glacier system behind the ridges. Reference sources describe it as less famous than Rakaposhi because it is set back further from the Hunza valley.
What visitors do see is the Batura range and glacier around Passu and Hassanabad, where the Karakoram Highway runs beneath them.
- Passu. Views of Passu Sar (7,478 m), the Passu and Batura glaciers and the Passu Cones. See Passu Cones and Passu glacier.
- Hassanabad. The start of the track to the Hassanabad glacier snout and the Muchuhar valley.
- On foot. The Batura glacier trek takes you up into the range for a closer look at the wall.
If you want a peak you can identify from the road, Shispare and Ultar Sar are better choices.
Planning a look at the range
Stay a night in Passu or Gulmit rather than passing through, so you can see the wall in morning light. The road from Karimabad to Passu is short by northern standards, and our Hunza itinerary for three days shows how to fit it in. Those with only a day can combine the Passu Cones with the drive to Sost. Bring a jacket, because the valley is dry and the wind off the ice cools the evening quickly, and remember that the glacier trek needs a local guide.
Is it safe to travel there?
Gilgit-Baltistan is not listed in the UK government's advice against travel, and Pakistani visitors travel to upper Hunza throughout the season. The UK does advise against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. Those driving from the south can avoid that stretch by using the Babusar route in summer. Foreign-passport holders should check their own government's advice, because travelling against it can void insurance. Check local news and road conditions before setting out.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Batura Sar?
7,795 metres, the 25th highest mountain on earth.
Who climbed Batura Sar first?
Hubert Bleicher and Herbert Oberhofer, on 30 June 1976, on a German expedition led by Dr Alexander Schlee.
Where is Batura Sar?
In the Batura Muztagh above Passu, in the Gojal valley of upper Hunza.
Can you see Batura Sar from the Karakoram Highway?
Not clearly. It is set back from the valley, so most people see the Batura range and glaciers instead.
Can tourists trek to Batura?
Yes, on the Batura glacier trek from the Passu and Hassanabad side, with a local guide. Ask about conditions and any permits locally.
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