Snow Lake Trek: Biafo and Hispar Glaciers

Snow Lake, called Lukpe Lawo in Balti, is a wide basin of glacier ice and snow at about 4,700 to 4,900 m, roughly 16 km across, with the ice in places up to about 1,600 m deep. The explorer Martin Conway named it in 1892, and the name stuck even though there is no open water. From it the Biafo Glacier flows south-east towards Askole and, over the Hispar La, the Hispar Glacier flows west towards Nagar.

Together the two glaciers form one of the longest stretches of ice outside the polar regions. The Biafo is about 67 km long, the third-longest glacier outside the poles after the Fedchenko and the Siachen, and the Hispar about 49 km. The Hispar Biafo trek walks most of both.

The usual direction is from Baltistan to Nagar: Skardu, Shigar and the jeep road to Askole, then up the Biafo, across Snow Lake, over the Hispar La and down the Hispar to Hispar village. From there a jeep takes you to Nagar and on to Karimabad in Hunza. It is the classic crossing from Baltistan to Hunza on foot.

The Hispar Glacier and Hispar village

The descent of the Hispar starts on crevassed ice and then turns to long days on moraine, past camps such as Khani Basa, Jutmal and Bitanmal, with side glaciers to cross. Hispar village, about 28 km from Nagar Khas, is the first village since Askole. Our Nagar Valley guide covers the valley you come down into.

This is one sample plan, about 18 days from Lahore by road. Camp names and the number of days on each glacier vary between groups, and we keep a spare day for weather on the high section.

The trek starts in Shigar District, Baltistan, and ends in Nagar District, both in Gilgit-Baltistan. Most of it is on glacier, far from any village.

Snow Lake is always a private trip for one group. From Lahore we handle the road or flights to Skardu, hotels in Skardu and Karimabad, the jeeps at both ends, a licensed guide who has crossed these glaciers before, a cook, porters, tents, ropes, food and the permits. There is not a single hut or teahouse between Askole and Hispar, so every tent peg goes in on a porter's back.

You can also fly from Lahore or Islamabad to Skardu to start, and fly back from Gilgit at the end, if you keep spare days for cancelled flights. A 30% advance confirms the trek and the rest is paid before departure.

• Contact us for dates
• Terms and conditions

June to September is the window, and most groups go in July and August, when the snow on Snow Lake and the Hispar La is firmest and the weather most settled. Early June can still have deep soft snow on the upper Biafo, and by mid September the nights on the high camps are bitter and new snow can close the pass. Driving over Babusar Pass to Skardu works from about June to October.

Hard. It is longer, more remote and rougher underfoot than K2 Base Camp, and it is not for beginners. You need fitness for 6 to 8 hour days, earlier high-altitude treks behind you, and ideally some glacier travel. No technical climbing is needed, but on Snow Lake and the top of the Hispar the group walks roped together because of hidden crevasses, and crampons and an ice axe may be needed. Your guide shows you how to move on the rope before the high section. On top of your usual trekking kit, bring the following.

• ◆A sleeping bag rated well below freezing, and a down jacket
• ◆Stiff trekking boots that take crampons, plus gaiters
• ◆Harness, crampons and ice axe (we confirm what the guide provides)
• ◆Glacier sunglasses, sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
• ◆Waterproof and thermal layers, warm hat and gloves
• ◆Trekking poles, water bottles and purification tablets
• ◆Travel insurance with helicopter rescue cover; without it, a rescue deposit is needed

Snow Lake or K2 Base Camp?

K2 Base Camp has the bigger mountains and more trekkers on the trail. Snow Lake has fewer people, wilder country, the crossing of a high pass, and the satisfaction of walking from Baltistan to Hunza. Both start in Askole. If you have not trekked at altitude before, do the K2 trek first.

The permit status of this route is not clear. Some operators and the Alpine Club of Pakistan list the Biafo and Hispar route as a restricted trek that needs a permit and a licensed guide for foreigners, while others say it is in the open zone. Part of the route also falls inside the Central Karakoram National Park, whose fee for foreigners was about USD 190 in late 2026. Gilgit-Baltistan is revising its trekking rules in 2026.

Before we take a booking, we confirm the current rules with Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism and apply for whatever your group needs. Foreigners also need a visa and should expect a passport check in Skardu. Pakistani trekkers need only their CNIC and pay the park fee at the local rate.

Every Snow Lake quote is worked out for the group. For comparison, Pakistani operators advertise the trek itself, Skardu to Hunza, from around US$2,000 per person, with permits, park fees, flights and hotels extra, and foreign companies charge US$4,000 and more. Budget also for insurance with helicopter cover, tips for the crew, and spare nights if flights or weather cause delays.

The trek ends in Hispar village in Nagar, and a jeep takes you down the Hispar valley to Nagar and across to Karimabad in Hunza. After two weeks on the ice, a day or two in Hunza is the best way to finish: Baltit Fort, Attabad Lake and the Rakaposhi viewpoint are all close. See our Hunza tour packages and the Nagar Valley guide for what to add on the way home.