K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La

During Covid we have all had plenty of time to reminisce about trips gone by and the people we met and friendships forged. Its only now that we realise what a great time we actually had out there, while sat back home during lockdown not quite sure when we will be able to plan and book another trip during these uncertain times. I have being fortunate enough to travel to many spectacular remote places around the world, and it has to be said that the Karakoram is right up there with the very best, if not the best place to visit for truly spectacular mountain scenery and friendly people. Breath taking simply does not come close to describing it. No professional photographs or High def tv documentary can come close to the sensory overload that you will be subjected too. We were out there when Nims Purja was also there, completing the Pakistan section of his 14 x 8000mtr peaks in 7 months, so there was naturally a buzz in all the camps we travelled through of will he or wont he. If you are worried about it being Pakistan! then put those worries behind you, as the locals are some of the friendliest people you will meet anywhere in the world despite what you may read or see in the media, and all they want to do is show off their country to you and rightly so. You will witness some truly memorable sights that you simply cannot describe to others who have not being there. The place is just beyond description and has to be seen to appreciate just how vast remote and magnificent it is. I was naturally slightly concerned about the security aspect before going, but having read numerous articles on how things have changed recently and speaking at length to Roland at TMC I was convinced it was safe to visit. HOW GOOD IS TMC. Up there with the very best that I have travelled with and I have travelled extensively. Safety was super high on the agenda ie altitude safety, the medical equipment that the team carried was second to none including Gammow Bag/ Sat Phones/ Full medical kit bag that a paramedic would have being pleased to have. A highly experienced international mountain leader who checked everyone every day for any signs of illness and documented everything so as to spot any trends in anyone feeling rough. The local Guides were absolute top top draw and spoke fluent English and so friendly and funny. All the porters and cooks etc were super friendly and always joking and only too eager to help you if they thought that you were struggling. Roland seemed to be on call 24/7 for weather reports, hints tips and advice while we were out there, food/tents/kit was top draw and well looked after. The whole procedure of booking with TMC and communicating with Roland was effortless, he even responded to enquiries on a sunday. Getting the Pakistan visa upon first reading the process seemed a bit of a pain, but Roland and his team could not of held my hand and guided me through the process any better if they had tried any harder, it turned out to be a smooth simple process. Would I recommend TMC??? Of course without hesitation. Yes you can do it yourself and pick up local guides porters out there or u you can book direct with the local Pakistan Guiding companies. But if you want your family want to have peace of mind that you will be looked after, and they can pick a phone and speak to someone in the UK who is highly experienced and has lots of important contacts in the unlikely event that something should go wrong, Then this is what you pay that little bit extra for. After all, it’s not just about you, it’s also about your family who worry about you as well.

To trek in the Karakorum range is an unforgettable experience and would highly recommend it and would include the GondogoroLa Glacier crossing adding to the experience. Nothing like seeing majestic K2 from Concordia and then arriving at the top of the glacier at sunrise and seeing all four 8000's peaks! The Mountain Company did a great job from beginning to end and works with a very capable local organization.

Fabulous trek, and awesome guides, everything was smooth and trouble free, from the organization to the personnel everything was top notch, not to mention we had an amazing group and fabulous weather, would book again in a heartbeat.

This was a challenging trek to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The Mountain Company made it truly enjoyable. The approach to K2 base camp involves a long trek up the Baltoro glacier, passing by and camping in the shadows of the Trango Towers, Cathedral Peak and the Gasherbrum group. After a week, you finally arrive at Concordia - the confluence of the Baltoro and K2 glaciers - and it is here that you first have views of the massive peak of K2 eight miles in the distance, it's peak 4000m higher. The immensity of the place is breathtaking. There are four 8000m peaks within sight. We moved higher on the K2 Glacier and camped at Broad Peak base camp to make the roundtrip day hike to K2 base camp a pleasureable outing, and returned to Concordia to prepare for the trek over the Gondogoro La. The descent from the pass down the beautiful Hushe valley - a real contrast to the hike up the stark Baltoro glacier - was a great way to round out the trip. I can't say enough good things about The Mountain Company. Pre-booking information was plentiful and spot on. Any questions I had were immediately addressed. The pre-departure information was extremely useful - everything from gear selection to a fitness program, assistance in arranging visas, suggested airline routings... wow. I had several back and forth interactions about what gear to take so I would be properly equipped without exceeding the weight allowance of my kit. My inquiries were always answered promptly. Then there was the trip. Everything on the ground went smoothly from the time I was met after picking up my bags at the airport in Islamabad until I was dropped off again on departure. Our leader, Robert, was exceptional, extremely experienced, good natured with a positive outlook that helped in the difficult days. He was keyed into the needs of each individual in the group and made the logistics trivial for us. The local operator was of high quality and the local guides friendly, funny, helpful and accommodating to us. If there were any problems with porters/muleteers or logistics, they were unseen by the group. The food was plentiful, well-prepared and delicious. We had fresh food for longer than I thought was possible on a trip of this length. I am an experienced traveler and have used a dozen outfitters over the years. This trip with TMC was the best of them, and I will be booking other trips with TMC in the future.