Snow Lake & Hispar La Traverse

About This Trek

The Snow Lake and Hispar La traverse is one of the great wilderness journeys in the Karakoram. It crosses two of the longest non-polar glaciers on Earth and passes through a landscape so remote that the only way out is over a high pass or back the way you came. The route begins in the Braldu valley at Askole, climbs onto the Biafo Glacier, and reaches Snow Lake, a vast white basin that feels like the roof of the world. From Snow Lake the trail climbs to Hispar La, a pass of roughly 5,150 metres, before descending the Hispar Glacier into the Nagar and Hunza valleys. The final days drop through irrigated villages and apricot orchards, ending in the historic town of Karimabad. The variety of terrain, from raw ice wilderness to cultivated valley life, is extraordinary. This is an expert trek. There are no villages, no rescue roads, and no easy exits for most of the route. Participants need solid experience on glaciers, excellent physical conditioning, and the mental steadiness to handle prolonged remoteness. For those ready, it is unforgettable.