Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek
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Rakaposhi Short Trek (from Minapin)
A five-day trek from Minapin in Nagar to Tagaphari, the Rakaposhi base-camp meadow, with close views of Rakaposhi, Diran and the Minapin Glacier and no technical ground.
- 5 Days
- Moderate
- 3,300 m (Tagaphari)
- May – September
At a glance
Duration5 Days
GradeModerate
Max altitude3,300 m (Tagaphari)
Group size2–14
Best seasonMay – September
Start / endKarimabad (Hunza)
TypeTrekking
RegionHunza
Group pricing
Per person in USD, full-board — the larger your group, the lower the per-person cost. We confirm your exact all-in figure in writing before any deposit.
| Group size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 7–10 people | $750 |
| 4–6 people | $900 |
| 1–3 people | $1,100 |
Excludes international flights, Pakistan visa, insurance, personal equipment and tips.
Fixed 2027 departures
Guaranteed small-group dates for the 2027 season. Prefer your own dates? Every trip can also run privately inside its season window.
| 20 May 2027 → 24 May 2027 | Book this date |
|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2027 → 19 Jun 2027 | Book this date |
| 10 Jul 2027 → 14 Jul 2027 | Book this date |
| 5 Aug 2027 → 9 Aug 2027 | Book this date |
| 5 Sept 2027 → 9 Sept 2027 | Book this date |
Trip highlights
- Tagaphari, the Rakaposhi base-camp meadow, at about 3,300 m
- Close views of Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Diran (7,266 m)
- The Minapin Glacier descending from the ridge between them
- Two days of steady uphill walking on clear paths, with no technical ground
- Tented camps at Hapakun and Tagaphari, with local porters
- A full day at Tagaphari for views and weather
- A shorter, easier alternative to our 13-day Rakaposhi and Diran Base Camp trek
Overview
This five-day trek climbs from Minapin, a village in Nagar, to Tagaphari, the Rakaposhi base-camp meadow at about 3,300 m, with a night at Hapakun on the way up. It rewards two days of steady uphill walking with close views of Rakaposhi and Diran, and is a good first Karakoram trek for anyone with reasonable fitness.
Minapin is a village on the Nagar side of the Hunza valley. Nagar was a princely state in its own right, a rival of Hunza across the river. Above Minapin the Minapin Glacier descends from the ridge that links Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Diran (7,266 m), and a path from the village leads up into that landscape.
The first walk, from Minapin to Hapakun, is about 5.8 km with roughly 800 m of climbing, and takes between three and five hours depending on pace. Hapakun is a grassy campsite at about 2,800 m with clean water. The second walk is shorter and steeper, about 3 km and 450 m in two to four hours, before the path eases and contours the slope into the green bowl of Tagaphari, where Rakaposhi and Diran come into full view. Camps are tented, and porters from Minapin carry the camp gear and food while you carry a day pack.
This is the short Minapin version of the walk, not our full Rakaposhi and Diran Base Camp trek. That 13-day trip starts in Islamabad and goes on from Tagaphari across a glacier to Diran Base Camp, which takes it higher and adds days in camp. This one stops at Tagaphari, starts and ends in Hunza, and keeps a full day at the camp for views and weather. We grade it Moderate: the paths are clear and nothing is technical, but at about 3,300 m some people notice headaches or poor sleep, and the first climb is hard going in the heat.
When to come
The trek runs from May to September, when the path is usually clear of snow and the camps can be used. Mornings are normally the clearest time for the peaks and cloud often builds in the afternoon, so we start early each day, and nights at Tagaphari are cold even in summer.
- May: cool and fresh, with snow possibly still lying near Tagaphari.
- June to August: warm in the village and cooler above; afternoon cloud often covers the peaks, and heavy rain or a landslide can occasionally delay the road transfers.
- September: the weather is often settled and the skies clear, with cool days and cold nights at Tagaphari.
- October to April: not run; snow covers the upper path and the camps.
Itinerary
5 stages over 5 days, starting and finishing in Karimabad (Hunza). Routes can be shortened, extended or privately dated.
A short drive down the valley to Minapin (about 2,000 m), where we meet the porters and check kit. If time allows there is an easy walk through the terraced fields above the village, with a first look at the mountains. We spend the night in a guesthouse in the village.
An early start, to avoid the heat on the lower slopes, for the first climb: about 5.8 km and 800 m of ascent to the grassy campsite at Hapakun (about 2,800 m). It takes between three and five hours depending on pace, with stops for water and views as the village falls away below. We camp at Hapakun, where there is clean water and the porters pitch the tents.
A shorter but steeper climb of about 3 km and 450 m, taking two to four hours, then the path eases and contours the rocky slope into the green bowl of Tagaphari (about 3,300 m). Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Diran (7,266 m) stand above camp, with the Minapin Glacier descending from the ridge between them. The afternoon is free to sit, eat and watch the light on the peaks; nights here are cold even in summer.
A full day in camp, with nothing to pack. The main outing is the optional walk up the ridge behind camp, which gives a wider view over the Hunza valley, and we go only as far as everyone is comfortable. We start early, when the peaks are usually clearest, and if they were in cloud yesterday this day gives a second chance.
We walk down the same path to Minapin, which takes three to four hours and is harder on the knees than the climb. Our vehicle meets us at the village for the drive back to Karimabad, where the trip ends.
What’s included
Included
- All ground transport in Pakistan as per itinerary
- Experienced native English-speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation on the road sections
- Full camping equipment and kitchen crew on trek
- All meals during the trekking / climbing period
- Porters for group and personal equipment (within weight limit)
- Trekking / climbing permits and national park fees
- Government liaison officer where required
Not included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- Pakistan visa fee
- Personal travel and high-altitude rescue insurance
- Personal climbing and trekking equipment
- Tips for guides, cooks and porters
- Any expenses of a personal nature
These are the standard inclusions for our trekking programmes and are confirmed in writing on your final itinerary before any payment is taken.
Questions about this trip
Both reach Tagaphari from Minapin by the same path. The 13-day trip starts in Islamabad and goes on across a glacier to Diran Base Camp, which takes it higher and adds days in camp. This five-day version stops at Tagaphari, starts and ends in Hunza, and is shorter and easier.
It is graded Moderate: two climbs of three to five hours and two to four hours on clear paths, with about 800 m of ascent on the first and 450 m on the second, and no ropes, crampons or technical ground. If you can walk uphill for several hours with a light pack and have done some hill walking, you should manage; the porters carry the camp gear.
The high point is about 3,300 m, and Karimabad is already at about 2,500 m, so you start partly adjusted. Even so, some people get a headache or sleep badly at that height; we climb slowly, spend two nights at Tagaphari, and if symptoms persist you can walk down to Minapin in a day.
Yes. The five days run from Karimabad, so from Islamabad you add the journey up the Karakoram Highway, either a flight to Gilgit followed by a drive, or two long days on the road with a night at Chilas, and the same again on the way back. Our 13-day Rakaposhi and Diran trek already includes those drive days.
This is graded moderate. You should be comfortable walking for several hours a day, on rough ground, across 5 Days. Porters carry the main loads; you carry a light daypack. If you tell us a little about yourself we will give you an honest answer.
The reliable window is May – September. Outside that, conditions on the route make it either unsafe or not worth the money. We can run private departures on any dates inside that window.
2–14. Smaller and private groups are available and often cost less per head than you would expect — ask us for a quote on your own dates.
The headline is the per-person rate for a standard group of 7–10; smaller groups pay a little more per head because fixed costs — guide, permits, liaison officer and transport — are shared across fewer people. Prices are full-board, and we confirm your exact all-in total in writing before any deposit.
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