The Snow Lake & Hispar La Trek is one of the most remote and spectacular high-altitude adventures on the planet. This 22-day expedition takes you across two of the world’s longest non-polar glaciers — the Biafo Glacier (67km) and the Hispar Glacier (53km) — through the vast, otherworldly basin of Snow Lake (4,800m) and over the legendary Hispar La Pass (5,151m).
Together, the Biafo and Hispar glaciers form a continuous 120km ice highway — the longest glacial system outside the polar regions — linking the ancient mountain kingdoms of Baltistan in the east with Hunza Valley in the west. This historic route was once a trade link connecting the Silk Road to the Indian Subcontinent.
What Makes This Trek Extraordinary?
- Snow Lake: A vast 77 sq km glacial basin at 4,800m — surrounded by untouched Karakoram peaks. Explorers described it as one of the finest mountain views ever witnessed.
- Hispar La Pass (5,151m): The dramatic crossing linking the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, with panoramic views of The Ogre (7,285m) and the peaks of Hunza.
- World’s Longest Glacier Trek: 120km of continuous glacier — the Biafo and Hispar together form the longest non-polar glacier traverse on Earth.
- True Wilderness: You will see almost no other trekkers. The campsites at Namla, Mango, and Baintha are pristine, flower-filled, and utterly remote.
- Wildlife: This region is one of the last strongholds of the snow leopard, Himalayan bear, ibex, and markhor.
Starting from Islamabad via flight to Skardu, the trek begins at Askole (3,000m) — the same village that serves as the gateway to K2. The Biafo Glacier trail leads through Namla, Mango, and Baintha Meadows, then across the upper glacier to Snow Lake before the Hispar La crossing and the beautiful descent through the Hispar Valley into Karimabad, Hunza.
