Expeditions live or die on logistics, and in the Karakoram the logistics are the operation. This page describes what our Skardu team arranges for trekking and climbing expeditions, whether they are ours or an agency’s.

Permits and registration

We handle the permit and registration process for the relevant mountain areas and confirm in advance what each traveller must carry personally. Clients are not left to work this out on arrival.

Approach and transport

  • Vehicle coordination from the arrival airport or city to the valley base.
  • Transfers between valley bases and trailheads, planned with road-condition buffers.
  • Porter and pack animal coordination where the route requires it.
  • Liaison with the road and weather situation at the time of departure, not at booking.

Camp and expedition support

  • Camp set-up and strike by the trekking crew.
  • Food, fuel and resupply planning for the length of the route.
  • High-altitude guides, and additional crew where the route requires it.
  • Base camp logistics for climbing expeditions, including equipment movement.
  • Waste and leave-no-trace practice on the route.

Accommodation

Hotels and guest accommodation are coordinated in Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Chitral and other bases, on a single basis for the whole group where possible, so the group arrives and moves together.

High-altitude safety planning

Our itineraries are built around the acclimatisation profile rather than around a fixed distance. Clients should read altitude and acclimatization before a high route, and agents should note that it is the main driver of itinerary length.

Insurance is the traveller’s own responsibility, and altitude and activity exclusions are the most common failure point. travel insurance for treks in Pakistan explains what to check.

Equipment movement and local supply

Group equipment, expedition freight and group kit are moved by vehicle, porter or pack animal depending on the stage of the route. Where it is more practical to source something in Pakistan rather than carry it in from abroad, we will tell you.

Expeditions we currently operate

Communication during an expedition

You get a named contact in Pakistan for the duration of the trip, with updates while the expedition is running rather than only at the start and end. Where connectivity allows, this includes photographs from camp.

Related services

Travel trade services

Preparation and equipment

Discuss Expedition Logistics

Tell us the route, the dates and the group, and we will describe the logistics plan.

Email info@vepakistan.com, message us on WhatsApp, or call +92 31 555 444 34. Offices in Skardu and Islamabad.