Arrive in Islamabad and spend the day finalizing permit details with the Ministry of Tourism. The evening is free to rest and prepare. Overnight at hotel.

Transfer to Islamabad Airport for the morning flight to Skardu (2,272m). This flight is subject to clear weather. Alternatively, we drive to Skardu along the Karakoram Highway — sometimes referred to as the eighth wonder of the world — with an overnight stay at Chilas on the banks of the Indus River.

A free day in Skardu, the capital of Baltistan, sometimes called Little Tibet due to its geographic location and historic links with Tibet and Ladakh. Stroll through the narrow bazaar, climb up to the historic Kharpocho Fort, and visit the turquoise Satpara Lake just a few kilometres from town. Meals and overnight at motel or resort.

We leave Skardu heading east on a metalled road, drive over a small pass, and enter Shigar — a valley of orchards. After a 6-7 hour jeep ride we arrive at Askoli, where we leave the vehicles for a short walk to the campsite. Meals and overnight at camp.

As porters distribute loads of 25kg each, we begin our trek in the soft morning light. Walking along the Braldu River, we pass Askole — the last permanent settlement along the trek. Three more hours across barren wasteland brings us to the Biafo Glacier, a sea of ice and rocks about two kilometres wide. After crossing the glacier on an established trail over moraine and occasional ice, we reach Korofon (3,108m). 6-7 hours.

A tough day's walk along a cliff face to reach the cable bridge over the Dumordo River. We may wait our turn to cross the newly built wooden bridge that replaced the old swinging pulley. The final two hours are a comparatively easy walk beside the river. This section can be unexpectedly hot and dry — sun protection is essential. Our campsite at Khrobrak (4,242m) sits beside the Braldu River. 7-8 hours.

The trek starts in easy fashion with an occasional scramble over rock. Three hours of walking brings us to where meltwater from Paiju Peak divides into four rushing streams, crossed by hopping over stones. Looking east, the towering summits of Gasherbrum 4, Cathedral Towers, and Broad Peak dominate the horizon. After negotiating scree and sand, we arrive at Paiju (3,560m) — a refreshing campsite in a grove of willows and poplars fed by a clear stream.

We set off across gradually ascending terrain to reach the snout of the Baltoro Glacier — a vast, turbulent sea of rocks and ice more than two miles wide and nearly forty miles long. The Cathedral and Trango Towers rise to over 6,000m on our left. As we walk across boulder-strewn ice the glacier groans and rearranges its icy rivers around us. We arrive at our campsite Khobursay (4,000m) on the lateral moraine. 5-6 hours.

We walk along the lateral moraine for the first two hours, passing the green pastures of Urdukas before crossing crevasses onto the medial moraine. Small streams rushing over clear blue ice and enormous mushroom-like ice towers make for dramatic scenery. Gasherbrum 2 (8,035m) peeks from behind G-4 to the east. Our campsite at Biango (4,030m) offers a stunning view of Mashabrum (7,900m) to the south. 7-8 hours.

We trek along the medial moraine to the incredible sanctuary of Concordia — the meeting point of five glaciers, named after the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Gasherbrum 4 stands guard to the east, while Muztagh Tower (7,200m) rises on the China border to our left. Excitement mounts as K2 (8,611m) comes into full view. Within a 15km radius, 41 peaks rise above 6,500m. Also visible: Broad Peak (8,068m), Gasherbrum 4 (7,900m), Baltoro Kangri (7,245m), Kondus (7,000m), Mitre (6,000m), Paiju (6,610m), Crystal (6,300m), Marble (6,200m), and Angel Peak (6,800m). 4-5 hours.