ADMIN Nangma Valley Trek is one of the best short treks in Pakistan. It takes you deep into the Karakoram range in Gilgit-Baltistan. You walk past farms, meadows, glacial streams and yak pastures. At the end you camp beneath granite spires and a huge glacier. This guide covers everything in detail: the exact route, how long each section takes, maps, elevations, costs, where to stay, what to pack and how to stay safe. Read it once and you will not need another guide.
- Region: Ghanche District, Gilgit-Baltistan, inside the Central Karakoram National Park area
- Trailhead: Kanday village (also spelled Khanday), about 2,680–2,750 m
- Camps: Jorti (small), Mingulo Broq (about 3,500 m), Nangma Valley campsite (about 3,730–3,950 m)
- Furthest viewpoint: K6 viewpoint, about 4,300 m. K6 itself is 7,282 m
- Trekking time: about 3 hours (Day 1 to Mingulo Broq), 2 more hours to Nangma camp, about 3 hours round trip to the K6 viewpoint, about 2–3 hours back to Kanday
- Trek length: 2–3 days. Many tour packages are 8–10 days because they include Islamabad, Skardu and Khaplu
- Difficulty: moderate. No technical climbing, but steep sections and altitude
Elevations differ between sources by up to about 200 m. Use them as a guide, not exact survey data.
Where is Nangma Valley?
Nangma Valley sits in the Ghanche District of Gilgit-Baltistan, in the Baltistan region. It is a side valley near the Hushe Valley, close to the historic town of Khaplu. The gateway is Kanday village. Kanday is about 45 km from Khaplu and about 140 km from Skardu by road.
On the drive you pass several villages and follow the river. Masherbrum, the 22nd highest mountain in the world, slowly comes into view. The road ends at Hushe, the last village in the valley. Climbers and K2 Base Camp trekkers start and finish their journeys there.
Nangma is often called the “Yosemite of Pakistan” because of its granite walls. In reality the Karakoram is far higher and wilder. The Nangma campsite alone sits near 4,000 m.
Maps and elevation profile
Route map (schematic)
This simple map shows the order of stops. It is not to scale.
Skardu
Khaplu
Kanday (trailhead)
Mingulo Broq
Nangma camp
K6 viewpoint
about 3 h drive
about 2 h drive
about 3 h walk
about 2 h walk
about 1.5–2 h
Solid grey = road. Dashed green = trek.
Elevation profile (schematic)
2,500 m3,500 m4,500 m
Kanday2,750 m
Mingulo Broq3,500 m
Nangma camp3,950 m
K6 viewpoint4,300 m
Most of the climbing happens in the first 90 minutes to Mingulo Broq. After that the valley floor feels gentler, though it is a long uphill grind at altitude.
Live map
Open Nangma Valley in Google Maps. For a trail map you can follow offline, search “Nangma Valley Trek” on AllTrails. It lists the out-and-back trail at about 12.5 mi (20 km), with about 3,825 ft (1,166 m) of elevation gain.
How to get to Nangma Valley, with times and prices
Prices below are 2026 figures reported by a recent trekker. Rates change, so confirm before you travel.
| Stage | Options | Time | Approx. price (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad or Lahore to Skardu | Flight (AirSial, PIA, AirBlue) | About 45 min | 20,000–30,000, cheaper if booked early |
| Islamabad to Skardu or Khaplu | Bus | About 20 h | About 5,000 |
| Islamabad to Skardu | Shared car (per seat) | Long road trip | 12,000–15,000 |
| Skardu to Khaplu | Shared minibus | About 3 h | Under 1,000 |
| Skardu to Khaplu | Shared car, door to door | About 3 h | About 1,300 per person |
| Skardu to Khaplu | Private car | About 3 h | 12,000–15,000 |
| Khaplu to Kanday | Private jeep | About 2 h (up to 3 h) | About 12,000 each way |
| Khaplu to Kanday | Local government jeep (Khaplu–Hushe) | About 2 h | Very cheap, but seats fill fast |
Flight warning: Skardu flights depend on weather and are often cancelled. Keep one or two spare days in your plan. The government jeep is a lifeline for villagers, so use it only if you do not take seats from locals.
Trek timings at a glance
| Section | Walking time | Distance / climb | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanday to Jorti (first rest stop) | About 1.5 h | Mix of flat and short steep parts | From about 2,750 m |
| Jorti to Mingulo Broq | About 1.5–2 h | Steepest section, then a long uphill grind | About 3,500 m |
| Total Kanday to Mingulo Broq | 3–4 h | About 6 km and 600 m of ascent (one tour operator’s figures) | About 3,500 m |
| Mingulo Broq to Nangma campsite | About 2 h | Gradual, with glacier views and stream crossings | About 3,730–3,950 m |
| Nangma camp to K6 viewpoint (one way) | Under 2 h | Flat 20 min, then gentle ups and downs along the glacier | About 4,300 m |
| Nangma camp to K6 viewpoint and back | About 3 h (guide estimate: up to 5 h) | Day pack only | Max 4,300 m |
| Nangma camp to Kanday (descent) | About 2–2.5 h at a steady pace, so plan 3–4 h with breaks | Mostly downhill | Down to about 2,750 m |
A fit trekker can reach the Nangma campsite on Day 1, as the trekker in our main source did. Beginners may prefer to sleep at Mingulo Broq first. The meadow is lush and an easy place to adjust to the altitude.
Day 1: Kanday to Nangma Valley campsite
Morning: Khaplu to Kanday (about 2 hours)
Leave Khaplu around 6 AM. The drive takes about two hours. At Kanday you meet your guide and porter, often over tea and breakfast at Nangma Resort Kanday. You may be asked to sign a form saying you were offered a police escort. This is a formality that protects the village from liability. The valley itself is considered safe.
Kanday to Mingulo Broq (3–4 hours)
You start by walking back through the village and down to a bridge. After that the trail alternates between flat sections and short climbs through farms, with steep cliffs on both sides. You may see livestock and, if you are lucky, animal tracks. Jorti campsite appears after about 90 minutes. It is a good shade stop but rarely used for camping.
The next section is the steepest of the whole trek. When your guide says “flat from now on”, expect a long uphill walk rather than a true flat trail. You then reach Mingulo Broq, a big meadow with trees, stone huts, little streams, flowering bushes and cows. It is the most popular first-night camp. Most trekkers stop for lunch here.
Mingulo Broq to Nangma campsite (about 2 hours)
The scenery changes quickly. Glaciers appear, sharp spires get closer and the river grows wider. You leave cow country and enter yak and yak-cow hybrid pastures. Dozens of yaks greet you near camp.
Nangma campsite
The campsite is surrounded by rugged peaks, like an amphitheatre. Facilities are basic:
- A river beside camp, plus smaller spring streams for clearer drinking water
- A wooden bridge over the river, used to reach the natural toilet areas
- A few stone huts and enclosures for cooking or shelter. They fill quickly in peak season, so do not rely on them
Evening rain is common. Bring a waterproof tent or tarp.
Day 2: Hike to the K6 viewpoint
This is a day hike from camp, so you leave your big pack behind. Allow about 3 hours round trip, though some guides estimate up to 5 hours. Start early, because mountain weather usually turns in the afternoon.
- 0–20 minutes: a flat trail out of camp.
- 20 minutes to 1 hour: a steady climb. A large glacier comes into view, and you walk along the ridge beside it with spires on both sides.
- About 1 to 2 hours: gentle ups and downs. You get your first view of K6 (7,282 m), a huge, wide mountain.
- Viewpoint at about 4,300 m: stay as long as the weather allows, then head back.
Rain and hail can arrive in the afternoon, so aim to be back in camp around noon. Pack books, downloaded shows or audiobooks for tent time.
Day 3: Back to Kanday
Start early, ideally by 7 AM. The descent to Kanday took a fast trekker just over two hours. After that, your jeep takes you back to Khaplu (about 2 hours).
Many travelers also visit Hushe, the last village in the valley, either on arrival or while waiting for the road to reopen.
Full cost breakdown
These are rates quoted in Khaplu to a recent independent trekker. Treat them as a guide.
| Item | Approx. price (PKR) |
|---|---|
| Guide | 5,000 per day |
| Porter | 12,000 plus 1,600 per extra day |
| Entrance / community fee | 1,500 foreigners, 1,000 locals |
| Sleeping bag rental | 1,000 per bag |
| Tent rental | 1,000–2,000 per day |
| Food | 2,000–5,000 per day |
| Jeep Khaplu to Kanday | 12,000–15,000 each way |
- Independent via Khaplu: one couple paid 65,000 PKR for the trek, plus 24,000 PKR round-trip transport, for two people.
- Booked in Skardu: the same trip was quoted at about 160,000 PKR for two (around 80,000 PKR per person for 4 days).
- International operators: around US$2,000 (Trango Adventure) to US$3,195 (Intrepid Travel, 10 days from Islamabad).
Booking closer to the trailhead is cheaper, and more of the money reaches local families. Tip your guide and porter generously.
How to book: three options
- Fully organised international tour. Highest price, but includes hotels, meals, transport, guides, porters and often cultural stops. Good if you want zero planning.
- Local operator in Skardu or Khaplu. Mid price. Ask for a written list of what is included, such as food, tent, sleeping bag and transport.
- Independent. Reach Khaplu or Kanday yourself and hire a guide and porter locally. Cheapest option. Your hotel manager in Khaplu can often arrange everything within a few hours.
Where to stay
- Khaplu: Alpine Resort (recommended by a recent trekker for arranging the trek), and the historic Khaplu Palace / Fort area.
- Kanday: Nangma Resort Kanday, a useful meeting point with the guide and porter.
- On the trek: Mingulo Broq and Nangma campsite. Tents can be rented, and stone huts are available at times.
Best time to go and weather
The main trekking window is summer, roughly June to September, when the meadows are green and flowers are in bloom. Weather is still unpredictable. Recent trekkers had steady rain and hail at camp, fresh snow on the peaks and blocked roads in the same trip. Check forecasts, ask your operator for current conditions and keep spare days. Mountain forecasts are not guaranteed.
Packing list
- Broken-in waterproof hiking boots, trekking poles, gaiters
- Layers: thermal base layer, fleece, down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, gloves, sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 50 sunscreen, lip balm
- Sleeping bag rated for freezing nights, sleeping mat
- Waterproof tent or tarp. Water gets in at the corners in heavy rain
- Dry bags or rain cover for gear
- Headlamp, power bank, offline maps, camera and spare batteries
- Electrolyte powder, snacks, nuts and dried fruit
- Water bottles and purification tablets or a filter
- Personal first-aid kit, blister plasters and any regular medication
- Cash in rupees. ATMs are scarce near the trailhead
- Entertainment for rainy tent days: downloaded shows, books or audiobooks
Safety, permits and altitude
- Altitude: camps sit between about 3,500 and 4,000 m. Walk slowly, drink plenty and watch for headache, nausea or dizziness. If symptoms worsen, descend.
- Guide: hiring a local guide is strongly recommended. The trail is mostly clear, but streams, weather and landslides make local knowledge valuable.
- Police escort form: expect to sign a paper at the trailhead. It is a formality.
- Permits and rules: requirements for Gilgit-Baltistan can change. Ask your operator and check your own government’s travel advice before you go.
- Insurance: take travel insurance that covers trekking at altitude and evacuation.
- Mobile signal: very limited. Download offline maps first.
- Respect local culture: dress modestly in villages, ask before photographing people and take your rubbish with you.
Videos and photo guide
Watch real trekker videos before you go. These search links show current videos of the route:
- YouTube: Nangma Valley trek videos
- YouTube: K6 viewpoint, Nangma Valley
- YouTube: Khaplu to Kanday road
Photo spots not to miss: the bridge near Kanday, the Mingulo Broq meadow, yaks at Nangma camp, the glacier ridge on the way to K6, and K6 at sunrise if the sky is clear.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Nangma Valley Trek?
The trek itself takes 2–3 days. The walk from Kanday to the Nangma campsite is about 5–6 hours in total. Packages that include Skardu, Khaplu and Islamabad run 8–10 days.
How hard is it?
It is moderate. The first climb is steep, and the altitude makes the long uphill sections tiring. No ropes or climbing skills are needed.
How far is Nangma Valley from Skardu?
The Kanday trailhead is about 140 km from Skardu. Expect about 3 hours to Khaplu, then about 2 hours to Kanday.
What is the highest point?
The K6 viewpoint, at about 4,300 m. The campsite itself is about 3,730–3,950 m, depending on the source.
Do I need a guide?
Yes, it is strongly recommended. Guides also arrange porters, tents and food.
Can I do it independently and cheaply?
Yes. Hire locally in Khaplu or Kanday instead of Skardu. Last season’s quotes were far lower than Skardu agency prices.
What if it rains?
Rain is common. Keep gear in dry bags, bring a proper tent and plan a spare day in case roads close.
Sources and useful links
- The Partying Traveler: Complete Guide to the Nangma Valley Trek (timings, costs, day-by-day experience)
- Intrepid Travel: Nangma Valley and Karakoram trek (10-day guided itinerary)
- Trango Adventure: Nangma Valley Trek
- TourRadar: Nangma Valley itinerary
- AllTrails: trail map and stats
Final thoughts
For its length, the Nangma Valley Trek is one of the most rewarding walks in Pakistan. You get meadows, glaciers, yaks, granite spires and a close view of a 7,000 m peak in just a few days. Plan your timings, carry waterproof gear, hire a local guide and keep a spare day. Then the trek is straightforward and unforgettable.
Prices, road conditions and permit rules change often. Confirm all details locally before you travel.
