Trek

Rakaposhi Base Camp

Minapin to Tagafari, under one of the great walls of the Karakoram

Region: Minapin & Nagar
Length: 7 days
Group size: Maximum 8
Effort: Moderate
Season: June to September

Rakaposhi rises 7,788 metres straight out of the Hunza river valley, and the vertical distance from the road to the summit is one of the largest uninterrupted rises on earth. You feel it from the first hour of the walk.

The route goes up from Minapin in Nagar through birch and juniper to the shepherd camp at Hapakun, then out onto the moraine at Tagafari, where the Minapin glacier turns the corner and the whole south face stands in front of you. No technical ground, no ropes, no summit ambitions.

We build in days at either end in Hunza and Nagar, because the point is not only the mountain. The people who guide and carry for us are from these villages, the pastures we walk through are theirs, and the trek makes a good deal more sense once you have spent a couple of days understanding whose land it is.

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 1Arrive Gilgit or Hunza
Travel in, settle, and an evening briefing on the route, the altitude and what the days will actually feel like.
Day 2Karimabad and Nagar
A slow day on the valley floor to let the altitude settle. Time in Karimabad, then across to the Nagar side and up to Minapin.
Day 3Minapin to Hapakun
Steady climbing through terraced fields and then forest, roughly five to six hours, to the shepherd huts at Hapakun. Camp.
Day 4Hapakun to Tagafari
A shorter morning out onto the moraine, arriving at the base camp meadow in time to watch the face for the rest of the day. Camp.
Day 5Tagafari
A full day at base camp. An optional walk further along the moraine towards the Diran side, or simply staying put, which nobody regrets.
Day 6Descent to Minapin
All the way back down in one day, then hot water and a bed in the valley.
Day 7Hunza and departure
A last morning in the valley before onward travel.

The practical part

What is and is not included

Included

Six nights: guesthouses in the valley and full service camping on the trek
All ground transport from Gilgit
All meals from dinner on day one
Local guide, cook and porters from Minapin and Nagar
Camping equipment, tents and group kit
A contribution to the documentation fund for every booking

Not included

International flights and Pakistan visa
Domestic flights to Gilgit
Personal trekking equipment and sleeping bag
Travel insurance, which is required and must cover trekking to 4,000 metres

Before you commit

Fitness, beds and kit

How hard is it

Moderate. Two long ascent days of five to seven hours on rough paths and loose moraine, gaining around 1,500 metres from Minapin to base camp. You should be walking regularly at home and comfortable with a full day on your feet. No previous altitude experience is required.

Where you sleep

Locally owned guesthouses in Hunza and Minapin, and two nights camping on the mountain. Tents, mats and a cook are provided. There is no lodge at Tagafari and there are no facilities beyond what we carry.

What to bring

Walking boots already broken in, with ankle support
A sleeping bag rated to at least minus five
Trekking poles, which matter more on the way down
Warm layers and a windproof shell: base camp is cold after sunset in any month
Sun protection, including for the back of your neck
A head torch and any medication you need, in original packaging

Responsible travel

Who benefits

Guides, cooks and porters are hired in Minapin and Nagar and paid at agreed rates rather than whatever the season will bear. Grazing and camping fees go to the village. A fixed share of every booking funds the recording work.

Cultures on this route

Hunza

Questions

Asked often

How high does the trek go?: Base camp at Tagafari sits at roughly 3,500 metres. That is high enough to notice and low enough that serious altitude problems are unusual, though we still walk in slowly rather than driving straight up.
Do I need trekking experience?: No, but you do need to be fit. This is a walking trip with two demanding days rather than a technical climb.
Is there phone signal?: In the valley yes, on the mountain no. Plan on being out of contact for three days.
Can porters carry my bag?: Yes. You carry a day pack and a porter carries the rest. Weight limits are agreed in advance and we do not exceed them.