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Concordia panorama at the junction of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers
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Concordia: The Complete Guide to K2’s Throne Room

Concordia is the glacier junction at the heart of the Karakoram, where K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums rise around a camp at roughly 4,700 m.

Updated October 2026By The Golden Adventure team
Photo: Shikari7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)

Concordia at a Glance

Concordia is where the Baltoro Glacier meets the Godwin-Austen Glacier, about a week’s walk from the last village. There is no road and no village, only a seasonal camp surrounded by some of the highest mountains on Earth. Reaching it is the goal of the K2 Base Camp trek and the starting point for the Gondogoro La crossing.

LocationBaltoro Glacier, Central Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
AltitudeAbout 4,600–4,700 m (Wikipedia: 4,691 m)
Best time to visitLate June to August
Getting thereFly to Skardu, jeep to Askole, then about 6–7 trekking days
Top sightsK2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV, Mitre Peak, Chogolisa
Known forThe ‘Throne Room of the Mountain Gods’, K2 Base Camp, Gondogoro La

Where Is Concordia?

Concordia lies in Baltistan, in the Central Karakoram of Gilgit-Baltistan, at the confluence of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers. Wikipedia gives its altitude as 4,691 m, though trekking operators quote anything from about 4,600 to 4,720 m because the camp moves with the glacier.

It sits deep inside the 63 km Baltoro Glacier system, north-east of Skardu. The nearest village, Askole, is about a week’s walk away. From the junction, K2 stands at the head of the Godwin-Austen Glacier to the north, Broad Peak to the north-east and the Gasherbrums to the east, while the Vigne Glacier leads south-east towards Ali Camp and the Gondogoro La.

History of Concordia

Roberto Lerco is the first person reported to have reached the glacier junction, in 1890, followed by Martin Conway’s expedition in 1892. The name came from Aleister Crowley during the 1902 Eckenstein–Crowley attempt on K2; he thought it resembled the Konkordiaplatz, a similar glacial confluence in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland.

Since then it has been the crossroads of Karakoram mountaineering, used as a staging camp for K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums. The American photographer Galen Rowell made its surroundings famous as the “Throne Room of the Mountain Gods”, the title of his 1977 book on the Baltoro. There are no permanent residents; porters from Baltistan villages such as Askole and Hushe carry the loads that make every expedition possible.

MUST-SEE EXPERIENCES

Top 8 Things to Do in Concordia

There is nowhere else on Earth quite like it; these are the experiences that make the long walk worthwhile.

  1. 01
    Viewpoint

    Watch sunrise light up K2

    At 8,611 m, K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world, and from camp its pyramid fills the head of the Godwin-Austen Glacier. Get up before dawn to see the summit turn gold.

  2. 02
    Adventure

    Walk to K2 Base Camp

    Most groups spend a rest day here and make the return walk to K2 Base Camp at about 5,000 m. Expect around four hours up and three back on rough glacier.

  3. 03
    Viewpoint

    Count the 8,000-metre peaks

    Broad Peak (8,047 m) and the Gasherbrums, including Gasherbrum IV (7,932 m), surround the junction. Wikipedia notes that three other 8,000 m summits lie within 20 km of K2.

  4. 04
    Adventure

    Visit Broad Peak Base Camp

    Broad Peak Base Camp sits on the way to K2 Base Camp, at roughly 4,850 m. In July you may meet expedition teams preparing for the summit.

  5. 05
    Nature

    Walk the Baltoro Glacier

    The approach passes the Trango Towers (6,286 m), whose vertical faces are among the tallest cliffs in the world, and Masherbrum (7,821 m) above Urdukas.

  6. 06
    Viewpoint

    Photograph Mitre Peak and Chogolisa

    Mitre Peak (6,010 m) and Chogolisa (7,665 m) frame the southern side of the junction. Even these ‘smaller’ peaks would be giants in most mountain ranges.

  7. 07
    Adventure

    Cross the Gondogoro La to Hushe

    Instead of retracing your steps, you can continue over the 5,585 m Gondogoro La into the Hushe Valley. It is a serious, roped crossing, explained in our <a href=”/gondogoro-la-trek/”>Gondogoro La trek guide</a>.

  8. 08
    Nature

    See the night sky from 4,700 m

    With no settlements for days, the stars above the glacier are extraordinary on a clear night. Wrap up warmly; temperatures fall well below freezing.

Best Time to Trek to Concordia

The trekking season is short. Most groups walk in from late June to August, when the lower trail is clear and the glacier camps are usable. June and July often give the most stable weather, while August can be warmer on the lower glacier but is still busy with expeditions.

Nights are cold even in midsummer. One operator’s trip notes give daytime temperatures of roughly 5–15°C and night-time lows of about -5 to -10°C at the junction, and recommend a sleeping bag rated to at least -15°C. Outside the summer window, snow, cold and the lack of porter support make the trek impractical for most visitors.

How to Get to Concordia

Everyone starts in Skardu. Flights from Islamabad are weather-dependent, so itineraries include spare days; see our Skardu guide for the town itself. From Skardu a jeep takes about seven hours to Askole on a road prone to landslides. Then you walk.

StageApprox. altitudeTypical time
Skardu – Askole (jeep)Askole ~3,000 mAbout 7 hours
Askole – Jhola~3,150–3,200 mMost of a day
Jhola – Paiju (+ rest day)~3,450–3,600 mMost of a day
Paiju – Khoburtse or Urdukas~3,800–4,200 m3–7 hours
Urdukas – Goro II~4,500 mAbout 7 hours
Goro II – camp at the junction~4,690 m5–6 hours
Return day to K2 Base Camp~5,000 mAbout 7 hours

Altitudes and times are approximate and vary between sources and seasons. A full trip from Islamabad usually takes about 18–22 days.

Life on the Glacier

You trek with a licensed guide, cook team and porters who carry tents, food and fuel. Camps are on moraine, so tents are pitched on rock and ice. Days start early, before the sun softens the snow, and afternoons are for rest and acclimatisation. Toilets are basic, and all waste should be carried out.

Where to Stay

There are no lodges or teahouses beyond Askole. Every night on the trek is in tents set up by your crew, usually with a dining tent and a kitchen tent. Skardu has a wide choice of hotels before and after the trek, and our Skardu page lists the best areas to stay.

Suggested Itineraries

K2 Base Camp out and back (about 18–21 days)

Islamabad to Skardu, jeep to Askole, trek up the Baltoro to the junction with a rest day at Paiju, visit K2 and Broad Peak base camps, then return the same way. Our K2 Base Camp trek follows this plan.

K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro La (about 20–22 days)

As above, but exit via Ali Camp and the Gondogoro La to Hushe and Khaplu. See our Gondogoro La trek.

Expeditions

Climbers heading for K2 itself pass this way to base camp; see our K2 expedition.

What to Pack

  • Sleeping bag rated to -15°C or lower
  • Stiff, waterproof trekking boots and gaiters
  • Down jacket, thermal layers and waterproof shell
  • Glacier glasses (category 4) and high-SPF sunscreen
  • Trekking poles
  • Crampons, harness and helmet if crossing the Gondogoro La
  • Water purification and insulated bottles
  • Personal first-aid kit and any medication your doctor advises

Combine Concordia with Nearby Destinations

Many trekkers add a few days in Skardu, the Shigar Valley or Deosai to recover. If you cross the Gondogoro La you finish in the Hushe Valley, with Khaplu a short drive away. Those with more time often fly to Gilgit afterwards for Hunza.

Culture & Etiquette

The people who make the trek possible are Balti porters, cooks and guides. Treat them as part of the team: share the trail, learn a few words of Balti or Urdu, and tip fairly at the end. Respect prayer times, dress modestly in villages such as Askole, and ask before photographing people.

Practical Tips for Trekking to Concordia

Permits

The Baltoro lies in a restricted zone inside Central Karakoram National Park. Foreigners need a trekking permit arranged through a licensed Pakistani operator, plus park fees and insurance. A 2022 Dawn report said online applications made before arrival could be processed in about three days, while applications after arrival could take up to 28 days, so apply early. Current costs are explained in our K2 Base Camp trek cost guide.

Safety and travel advice

The US State Department rates Pakistan overall at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, with no separate higher warning for Gilgit-Baltistan. The UK FCDO advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, one reason to fly to Skardu. Read the FCDO advice and the US advisory, and make sure your insurance covers trekking to 5,000 m and helicopter rescue.

Altitude and health

Acclimatise slowly and know the warning signs; our altitude sickness guide covers AMS, HAPE and HACE.

Communications

There is no mobile signal on the Baltoro. Guides carry satellite communication, and you should expect to be out of contact for two weeks.

CONCORDIA TREK

Concordia Highlights at a Glance

Few places put so many giants in one view. From the glacier junction you can see K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV, Mitre Peak and Chogolisa without moving your feet.

Getting there takes commitment: a week of walking on rock and ice, cold nights and careful acclimatisation. It is the classic Karakoram trek, and for most people it is a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

For the mountains along the route, see Wikipedia’s Baltoro Glacier entry.

Plan your Concordia trek

Concordia Treks with The Golden Adventure

Our team in Gilgit runs the K2 Base Camp trek and the Gondogoro La trek, both of which pass through the junction, and supports climbers on our K2 expedition. We arrange restricted-zone permits, licensed guides, porters and Skardu logistics.

Plan your trek

Tell us your dates and interests and our team in Gilgit will design a private trip and send your free Letter of Invitation.

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Concordia FAQs

Where is Concordia?

It is the junction of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers in the Central Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan, about a week’s trek from Askole near Skardu.

How high is Concordia?

Wikipedia gives 4,691 m. Operators quote between about 4,600 and 4,720 m, as the camp is on a moving glacier.

How many days does it take to reach it?

Typically six to seven trekking days from Askole, including a rest day. A full trip from Islamabad is usually 18–22 days.

Do I need a permit?

Yes. The Baltoro is a restricted zone in Central Karakoram National Park, so foreigners need a trekking permit through a licensed operator, plus park fees and insurance.

Is the trek safe?

The main risks are altitude, cold, glacier terrain and remoteness. Gilgit-Baltistan has no separate higher warning from the US State Department, which rates Pakistan overall at Level 3. Check the latest US and UK advice and trek with a licensed operator.

Which mountains can you see?

K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV, Chogolisa and Mitre Peak are visible from camp, with Masherbrum and the Trango Towers seen on the approach.

Why is it called Concordia?

Aleister Crowley named it in 1902 after the Konkordiaplatz, a similar glacier junction in the Swiss Alps.

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