The K2 base camp trek uses a fixed string of campsites: Askole, Jhola, Paiju, Khoburtse, Urdukas, Goro I and II, Concordia and finally K2 base camp. Most itineraries sleep at Jhola, Paiju, Khoburtse or Urdukas, Goro II and Concordia, and all of the camps sit between roughly 3,000 and 5,150 metres. Paiju and Urdukas are the two with the most built facilities. Past Urdukas you are camping on moraine and ice with very little provided.
This guide takes the camps one by one, with the altitude and walking time between them, what is actually there, and which ones suit a rest day. For the route as a whole, see our K2 base camp trek guide. For the ice itself, read about the Baltoro glacier.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Start | Askole, about 3,000 m, the last village |
| Camps to Concordia | Jhola, Paiju, Khoburtse, Urdukas, Goro I or II, Concordia |
| Highest camp | K2 base camp, roughly 5,100 to 5,150 m |
| Developed camps | Paiju and Urdukas (toilets, washing water, bins), Concordia (toilets reported) |
| Best months | Mid-June to late September; July and August are the usual peak |
| Who arranges camps | Your trekking operator: tents, mess tent and cooks go with you |
A note on altitudes and times
Every operator quotes slightly different figures. Altitudes for the same camp vary by 50 to 150 metres between sources, and walking times depend on how fast the group moves and what the glacier is doing that season. The numbers below are ranges drawn from several published itineraries, not survey data. Treat them as a guide to how the profile feels, and trust your guide's daily plan over any table.
Askole to Jhola
Askole (about 3,000 to 3,040 m) is where the jeep road ends, after a rough drive from Skardu covered in our Skardu to Askole guide. It is the last place to buy basics and the usual place where porters are weighed in and loads are sorted.
Jhola (about 3,170 to 3,200 m) is the first night on the trail, beside the Braldu River. Published itineraries put the stage at roughly 18 to 21 km and 5 to 8 hours, which makes it long for a first day, mostly on a dry, exposed riverbed trail. There are no built facilities, so this is the first night of basic camping. Make the most of the chance to settle your pack, because the rest of the trek is harder going.
Paiju: the camp that matters most
Paiju (about 3,400 to 3,450 m) is usually the third camp, 12 to 20 km on from Jhola depending on the source, and it is the last place with grass and a few trees. The slope above the river is terraced into platforms for tents and porters' shelters. Itineraries describe it as one of the better-managed camps, with toilets, washing water and bins.
Most good itineraries build a second night here as an acclimatisation and rest day. It is a sensible place to stop: it is the last comfortable camp, and the next section takes you onto the glacier. Granite spires including the Trango group show from near the camp, although how much you see depends on the weather. Use the rest day to wash clothes, dry kit and check your feet, not to push on to save a day.
Khoburtse: onto the ice
Khoburtse (also spelt Khuburse or Khuburdun; about 3,900 to 4,000 m) is the first night after you step onto the Baltoro. Itineraries put the day at about 5 to 6 hours. The landscape changes to bare moraine and ice, and views of Trango Cathedral and Uli Biaho open up. Camping is on rubble platforms and there is little shelter from the wind.
Some operators skip Khoburtse and go from Paiju straight to Urdukas in one long day of 6 to 8 hours. Ask which version your operator uses, because the second is a much bigger day than the first.
Urdukas: boulders and a view
Urdukas (about 4,050 to 4,130 m) sits on a grassy ridge-side terrace above the glacier, among very large boulders. Many trekkers call it the most scenic camp before Concordia. It is the last of the developed camps, with washbasins, toilets and litter bins. One complaint recorded in trek accounts is that the permanent toilets are a long way from some tent spots, so a headtorch matters at night.
Altitude is now past 4,000 metres. This is the point where headaches, poor sleep and loss of appetite become common, so treat Urdukas as a checkpoint for how everyone in the group is feeling.
Goro I and Goro II
Goro I (about 4,150 m) is mostly a lunch stop on the glacier. Goro II (about 4,270 to 4,380 m) is the usual camp, and itineraries describe it as windy, especially at night, with views of Masherbrum, Gasherbrum IV and Mustagh Tower in clear weather.
There are no developed facilities here. Water comes from glacier run-off, which is a reason to insist that anything you drink is treated or properly boiled. Sanitation along the Baltoro has been a long-standing problem, and stomach illness is a common reason trekkers turn back, so be strict about hygiene.
Concordia
Concordia (about 4,500 to 4,690 m, depending on the source) is the meeting of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers, with K2 straight ahead and Broad Peak, the Gasherbrums and Mitre Peak around it. Reports mention toilets at the camp, but conditions are basic. Our Concordia guide covers what you see from here.
Wind, cold and altitude make nights harsh. Most itineraries give a spare day here, either for K2 base camp or in case the weather closes in.
Beyond Concordia: K2 and Broad Peak base camps
K2 base camp is reached on the Godwin-Austen glacier, about 8 to 12 km from Concordia depending on the source, as a long day out and back or with a night at the camp. Altitude is about 5,100 to 5,150 m. The Gilkey Memorial, for climbers who died on K2, is at the base camp area. Broad Peak base camp is closer, roughly 5 to 8 km from Concordia, and some groups sleep there instead.
Itineraries that cross the Gondogoro La continue to Ali Camp, which is a separate and much more demanding route; see our Gondogoro La trek guide.
What is provided, and what you carry
You do not choose camps on this trek. Your operator and its guide set the daily stages, and cooks, tents and a mess tent are part of the standard package. You carry a day pack, and porters carry the rest.
- Bring a good sleeping bag; nights at Goro and Concordia are well below freezing even in summer.
- Carry your own water treatment, whatever your cook provides.
- Expect to pack out your rubbish; bins exist only at the developed camps.
- Pack a headtorch, spare batteries and warm layers for camp. Our K2 base camp packing list covers the full kit.
Which camps for rest days?
If you can choose where to rest, Paiju is the best option: it is lower, sheltered and has the best facilities, and it comes before the hardest ground. A second useful spot is Concordia, where a spare day lets you reach K2 base camp in good weather. Resting at Goro II is less pleasant because of wind and altitude.
Plan the dates around the season. Our guide to the best time for the K2 base camp trek explains why mid-June to September is the window, and trekking permits in Gilgit-Baltistan covers what paperwork your operator will arrange. If you are weighing up whether you are fit enough, start with the training guide. For other ways to experience the region, see our experiences.
Frequently asked questions
How many campsites are there on the K2 base camp trek?
The standard route has about eight overnight camps from Jhola to K2 base camp: Jhola, Paiju, Khoburtse, Urdukas, Goro II, Concordia and K2 base camp, with Askole as the starting village. Exact stops vary by operator, and some add a second night at Paiju or Concordia.
Which campsite has the best facilities?
Paiju and Urdukas are described as the most developed, with toilets, washing water and bins. After Urdukas, facilities are minimal.
How high is Concordia compared with Jhola?
Jhola is about 3,200 m and Concordia is roughly 4,500 to 4,690 m, depending on the source, a gain of around 1,300 to 1,500 m over several days. K2 base camp is higher still at about 5,100 to 5,150 m.
Can you choose your own campsites?
Not in practice. Operators, guides and porters work to set stages, and foreign visitors need an approved operator in any case. Ask about rest days when you book.
Is drinking water safe on the Baltoro?
Not untreated. Glacier run-off is contaminated, so water must be boiled or treated. Stomach illness is one of the most common problems on this trek.
