Burji La Trek: Deosai to Skardu With K2 Views

The Burji La trek crosses a pass on the northern rim of the Deosai plateau, between 4,700 and 5,000 metres depending on the source, and its reward is a long view of the Karakoram, K2 included, from a point only about 17 km in a straight line from Skardu town. Most itineraries take four to eight days from Skardu: a jeep onto Deosai, two or three days walking the plateau to a base camp, a morning climb to the pass, and a descent on the Skardu side.

Where is Burji La?

Burji La sits on the high ridge that separates the Deosai plateau from the Skardu valley, at about 35.18 N, 75.52 E. The Balti name means simply "Burji pass". Wikipedia's Deosai article lists "Burgy la via Burgy Nala, Skardu" as one of the routes onto the plateau.

Skardu and the pass are only about 17 km apart as the crow flies, but 2,500 metres apart in height. From the top you look north across the Indus valley to the Karakoram. K2 is about 119 km away in a straight line, Masherbrum about 88 km, and Nanga Parbat about 84 km to the west. It is one of the widest Karakoram panoramas you can reach without a permit trek into the Baltoro.

What is the route?

There is no single fixed route. Itineraries differ by operator, but they follow the same broad shape:

1. Skardu to Deosai by jeep. The road climbs past Satpara Lake, about 10 km from town at 2,600 metres, to Ali Malik Mar and onto the plateau. Skardu to Sheosar Lake on the far side is about 70 km by road, but on the plateau track a jeep takes several hours, not the hour a route planner suggests.
2. Walking the plateau. One published itinerary camps at Sheosar Lake, walks four to five hours to Chogo Cho on the plateau's edge, then spends a further day crossing meadows, streams and a string of small lakes to a base camp at the foot of the pass.
3. The pass. From base camp the climb to the top takes about three to four hours over steep, open ground. A small lake sits below the pass.
4. Down to Skardu. Crossing itineraries descend the far side to a camp below the pass, then walk and drive out to Skardu the next day.

Shorter versions skip the long plateau walk. A 2015 student trip from LUMS in Lahore drove onto Deosai, camped at a Burji base camp, climbed the pass and returned towards Satpara. That is quicker but gives your body far less time to adjust to the height, which matters on this trek more than on most.

How many days does it take?

Plan on four days as a minimum and six to eight for a comfortable crossing, plus the travel to and from Skardu. Itineraries we found ranged from four days to a seven or eight day trek, and one operator's full programme from Islamabad runs to 11 days once flights and spare days are added.

We would always keep one day in hand. Skardu flights are cancelled in bad weather, and if yours is, the drive back to Islamabad takes two long days. By road, the UK advises against the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas; in summer the Babusar route avoids that stretch, and foreign-passport holders should check their own advice, since ignoring it can void insurance. Our guide to Gilgit and Skardu flight cancellations explains what happens and how to plan around it.

What changed in Deosai for 2026?

Two decisions affect anyone trekking here this season:

• No hotels or shops inside the park. In December 2025 the Gilgit-Baltistan Forest, Parks and Wildlife Department banned seasonal hotels and other commercial ventures inside Deosai National Park for the coming season, citing pollution and disturbance to wildlife (ProPakistani, 18 December 2025). Do not count on buying tea or meals on the plateau. Carry all your food and fuel.
• Camping restrictions. After the singer Quratulain Balouch was injured by a brown bear while camping in Gilgit-Baltistan on 5 September 2025, camping was prohibited in parts of Deosai. The reports do not say exactly which parts, so ask at the park checkpost and with your operator which campsites are allowed before you set off.

Deosai was made a national park in 1993 to protect the Himalayan brown bear, and the count has risen from 19 bears that year to 78 in 2022. Store food away from tents and follow your guide's camp routine. Our Deosai wildlife guide has more on the bears, and our Deosai entry fee page covers the checkpost.

When can you do the Burji La trek?

June to September is the window operators give. Deosai's name in Balti, Ghbiarsa, means "summer place", because the plateau can only be reached in summer, and the park typically stays open to visitors from June to about November. For a camping trek over a 5,000 metre pass, the middle of that window is the safer choice; ask your operator about snow on the pass if you plan to go in June. See our guides to whether Deosai is open and the Deosai weather before choosing dates.

Altitude and fitness

This is a real high-altitude trek. The plateau averages about 4,114 metres, so you sleep high from the first night, and summit day climbs to near 5,000 metres. Headaches, nausea and breathlessness are common if you arrive on Deosai the day after flying in from Islamabad.

Spend at least one night in Skardu before going up, treat the plateau days as acclimatisation, and turn back if symptoms get worse instead of easing; there is no road or clinic at the pass.

Our guide to altitude sickness in Gilgit-Baltistan explains the signs and what to do.

Operators describe the route as not technical, but the climb is steep and the open plateau has few landmarks in cloud. A guide who has done this exact route is standard practice, both for navigation and for judging the weather at the pass. Our page on hiring guides and porters covers how that works.

Do you need a permit?

Burji La is not one of the restricted-zone treks, such as the Baltoro route to K2, that need a formal trekking permit. The Gilgit-Baltistan tourism portal says an entry permit is required at the Deosai park checkposts, so carry your CNIC and expect to register there. Foreign trekkers should confirm the current rules with a registered operator in Skardu, since requirements for foreigners change. Our trekking permit guide sets out the general system.

Is it worth it?

For a fit trekker with a week to spare, yes. You see most of the great Karakoram peaks from one point and cross Deosai on foot instead of from a jeep window, without the permits, porters and weeks of walking the Baltoro needs. It works well bolted onto a Skardu trip such as our Skardu and Deosai tour.

It does not suit anyone short of time, families with young children, or people who have struggled with altitude before. If you want a K2 view with less height and fewer days, our K2 viewpoints guide covers Machulu La above Khaplu, and our treks near Skardu lists easier options. If you only want Deosai itself, a jeep day trip from Skardu, described in our Skardu to Deosai guide, shows you the plateau without the climb.

Frequently asked questions