- Expeditions
By Region
By Month
By Grade
By Height
- Treks
By Region
By Month
By Grade
By Height
- UK & Alpine
By Category
By Grade
- Schools
- Hire
- News
- Shop
K2 North Base Camp Trek China
From £5,575 Altitude 5,200m Grade: T6
K2 North Base Camp Trek China
A remote lesser-travelled trek to the world's second highest peak base camp.
K2 (8,611m): the second highest mountain on earth. While most treks and climbs approach K2 from the south, this special Adventure Peaks Expedition to K2 North Base Camp takes the remote northern approach by way of China’s great desert province of Xinjiang.
It is a unique trek and a spectacular journey on a little-travelled route following trails alongside the Yarkand and Shaksgam rivers. As we make our way through dramatic mountain valleys, a caravan of camels carry our gear. After we reach Sughet Jangal (K2 Base Camp) at 3,940m, we leave our camels behind and backpack to the Italian K2 Advance Base Camp (4,700m) on the K2 Glacier. Camped on the glacier beneath this remarkable peak, we enjoy an acclimatisation day trekking through ice seracs toward the sprawling glacial amphitheatre that laps the base of K2’s immense North Face. The optional trek to K2 Advance Base Camp is a 4-day, 3-night journey over rugged glacial terrain. Each member of our group carries their own clothing, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad (porters carry our camp gear and food). The K2 North Base Camp trek is a strenuous trip but well worth it. The overall journey is a fantastic cultural odyssey through ancient Silk Route outposts and a rare chance to explore one of the greatest mountain sanctuaries in the world.
To compare this with the traditional southern approach trek to K2 Base Camp via Pakistan, please see this page.
You may also like:
£3,495
5,050m
Grade: T5
23 Days With Flight
£3,100
5,050m
Grade: T5
22 Days With Flight
Dates & Prices
Availability
* A deposit of £400 will be required at checkout.
What's Included
- Estimated International flights from London (flight inclusive package)
- Accommodation - 4 nights hotels, 16 nights camping
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Park fees as appropriate
- All road transfers in country (unless indicated in 'exclusions')
- Qualified UK group tour leader (subject to minimum numbers)
- Local guides
- Local trekking staff to assist (cook and porters)
- Trekking permit
- All camping equipment (excl. personal kit)
- Adventure Peaks gift
- 24hr back-up and support from our UK staff
- 15% discount from the RRP on clothing and equipment from Adventure Peaks shop
What's Excluded
- Meals if not indicated in 'inclusions'
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks and personal spending
- Personal equipment
- Tips for local staff
- Visas
- Museum and monument entry fees
- Cost of extra hotel nights if required due to flight delays or bad weather
- Costs associated with an expedition/trek finishing early, or you leaving an expedition/trek early
- Costs associated with extending a trip due to bad weather or other circumstances including the cost of extra nights accommodation.
Itinerary
Day 1/2: Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a place well known as it is the launching point for all our Tien Shan expeditions. Arrive in the morning with time to repal before completing our final preperations in Bishkek. Overnight hotel.
Day 3: We take a remote and quite rough journey of around 350km to Nairn.
Day 4: We start out early for the border post of Torugart (200km) where we meet our chinese agent and cross into China for a further 180km to Kashgar. Kashgar is an interesting city surrounded by the huge Taklimakan desert. Predominantly a Uighur city, mosques rise above mud-thatched houses and donkey carts trundle down small alleys.
Day 5: Final preperations and double-check the equipment and if time a city tour of kashgar.
Day 6: Drive to Yilik, the last village on route.
Day 7: Drive to Kirqun Bulak, where the group will begin the trek and gear is hauled by Bactrian Camels. The trek will end in Kirqin.
Day 8: Kirqin/ Kizil Bagun
Day 9: Kizil Balgun/K2 basecamp (Chinese basecamp)
Day 10-14: Trek to advanced basecamp or exploration around Sughet Jungle.
Day 15-16: Return trek to Kirqin Baluk.
Day 17: Drive Yecheng.
Day 18: Yecheng to Kashgar,
Day 19: Transfer Kashgar to Nairn.
Day 20: transfer Nairn to Bishkek.
Day 21: Fly home
Insurance
It is essential for a trip of this type that you are adequately insured. When researching insurance options, please ensure the policy covers you for the following:
- Cancellation or curtailment
- Helicopter rescue (most insurance companies will no longer cover for ‘search and rescue’ but providing you stay with the group, they will assist with ‘rescue’)
- Repatriation
- The altitude that you are expected to attain
- The location especially when travelling to Antarctica
- Grade of trek/climb/expedition
- Medical cover
Adventure Peaks partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading travel protection services. Medical and security emergencies happen. When they do, we rely on Global Rescue to provide our clients with medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services. Without a membership, an emergency evacuation could cost over $100,000. More than one million members trust Global Rescue to get them home safely when the unexpected happens. We highly recommend our clients enroll with Global Rescue, in particular for peaks over 7000m:
https://partner.globalrescue.com/adventurepeaks/
We are aware the following provide insurance:
For UK based clients:
Expeditions and Treks under 7000m - Campbell Irvine Direct : http://www.campbellirvine.com/AdventurePeaks
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK) www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
Rothwell & Towler: www.world-first.co.uk Tel: 0345 908 0161 (under 6400m)
J S Insurance: www.jsinsurance.co.uk Tel: 0844 848 1500
Snowcard: www.snowcard.co.uk Tel: 01295 660836
The B.M.C.: www.thebmc.co.uk Tel: 0161 445 6111 (call and speak to Jim. Please note the BMC cannot cover Mt Damavand)
Dogtag: www.dogtag.co.uk Tel: 0800 036 4824 (Check excess etc)
For non-UK based clients:
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK): www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
AXA Worldwide Travel Ins: www.axainsurance.com Tel: +44 (0)844 874 0360
Ingle International: www.ingleinternational.com Tel: (USA) 1.800.360.3234
Insure for Less: www.insure4less.com.au (Australian clients)
You do not have to use any of the above, but if you make your own insurance arrangements documentary evidence of your own policy is required.
Please forward the details of your Insurance as soon as you have it: we need the insurance company’s name, their 24 hour emergency telephone number and your insurance policy number – admin@adventurepeaks.com