Pakistan karakoram hiking as solo female traveler

[satika]

Hi all! Since more than one decade I would love to visit the karakoram. But only since September I realised I can as female solo hiker/backpacker.

I would like to know if any of you have experiences. Of course the hotpots are great like the icelake, k2 BC, the high passes, but I'm not very interested in a group tour. I hope there are people here who have experience in this region and can give me advice about reliable contacts, useful routes, maps, etc. And all other stuff. I'm planning to go in August, run my first marathon in April so I'm well trained, have my backpacking experience in remote areas since 2013(also high altitude) and spend last September in Tadjikistan and Afghanistan.

Thanks all lot! Saskia

[Lovetheworld]

Hi Saskia, we have not been to Afghanistan (by a few meters), but we have been to Tajikistan and Pakistan. I think Tajikistan is very safe in general, and I would not be surprised if some parts in Afghanistan (wakhan valley) are pretty safe with friendly people.
While having many many friendly people in Pakistan, I must say it is probably much less safe than Tajikistan for example.
Do you intend to travel with a guide all the time, once you leave the big cities? Islamabad is quite modern and safe and there you will see more women in the street. Outside Islamabad you will see much less women on the street.

At that time (2011) we were in contact with Lost Horizon in Gilgit and did a small hike in one of the valleys with a guide they knew.
I don't know if Lost Horizon is still the place to go.

[nabeelfarid]

You can find alot of help and info on this fb group https://web.facebook.com/groups/thekarakoramclub/
Also get in touch with Anis at https://web.facebook.com/anisguide

[markpelle]

Hi Satika,

I m Marco from Italy (39 years old) and this august I ll go to pakistan alone.
I m sure ,90%, that I want rent a motorbike in Gilgit from this company 2000 pkr for day:

https://www.karakorambikers.com
https://www.facebook.com/pg/karakorambi ... e_internal

I like travel by bus and by train during my travel but I think this is good idea because i ll be more free and I ll be in remote areas faster.

Ciao
M

[satika]

Wow Thanks for all your reactions! I didn't get updates in my mailbox so I'm sorry I didn't react until now! For sure I'll check the links. I've no motor driving license so I don't feel safe riding a motor bike and I definitely want to go hiking. Preferably high altitude so I'm pleased with the agency-links. I'll check them. Thank you!

[wanderlust2]

Hiking in Afghanistan can be done in the Wakhan. The Little Pamirs, High Pamirs and if you've enough time, the Hindu Kush. Doing it solo, IMO is difficult b/c of lack of infrastructure. There is no public transport, no guesthouses, no shops etc. Check Afghanistan on my blog if you like to get an idea of the countryside. I was there in 2015.

Wakhan valley in Afghanistan

But if you plan well, get some local help and info, I think it can be done. Safety for a lone female is always iffy - depends on your comfort zone - in this area, people are mostly very welcoming but not familiar with foreigners. I still have some contact info if you need them.

[satika]

I've already hiked in the afghan wakhan. But now I'll go organized to Pakistan Karakoram because of the crevasses in the numerous glaciers towards Gondogoro La an K2bc.

[jacoblab1]

I'm in Skardu right now - any long treks around here require permits, a guide, and porters. It's quite expensive to do solo, but with a group of 4-5 people you can reduce costs by quite a bit.

I was told $2000 USD per person for the K2 trek, if there are 4 people going.

July & August are the best times to go trekking around here, so you're good on that front.

I'm staying at the Dewanekhas hotel in Skardu, and the dude working here has recommended me a 3-day trek beginning in Barah, that doesn't require any permits. Might do it, but not sure yet as it's still early in the season and I don't want to deal with snow higher up.

[jfdesfosses]

My GF and I were solo travellers in Pakistan last year. We hiked without guides in Hunza, did the Nanga Parbat's base camp solo, in Karimabad, as well as a few places around Gilgit, Kalash Valley, and fairy valley.

All in all, we had no issues being alone, besides having to fend off the ''mandatory'' army escorts in some areas. We did hire guides for a summit (Rupal peak), which required a few ropes and was a bit more technical, as my GF at the time had no summitting experience, though a good trekker. Let me know if you need more info !

Cheers

JF