Rakaposhi is the 25th highest mountain in the world, and one of the most gorgeous peaks in the Karakoram. Two main basecamps have been used in the past mainly by the Germans and British. I prefer the basecamp referred to as Taghaphari by the locals mainly because of the panoramic views of the confluence zone between the Minapin and Hinarche Glaciers. I could have posted a photo but I don’t want to ruin the best part of this trip for you. As breathtaking as the view towards Rakaposhi and Diran is the view in the opposite direction of the Batura Mustagh. Most visitors to the basecamp do not fully realize that from the ridge, right before descending into basecamp, one can see eight 7000 meter peaks: Ultar I and II, Shisper, Sangemarmar Sar, Batura, Hachinder Chish, and Passu Sar. Very few places in the world offer this opportunity – so if you do this trek, be sure to have a super wide angle lens and if the view towards the north is cloudy, it may be worth spending a day or two around basecamp until it clears up.

Itinerary:

Day 1. Flight from Islamabad to Gilgit, Jeep to Minapin Village

Day 2. Hike from Minapin to Hapakun – spend the night camped next to a stream

Day 3. Hike from Hapakun to Taghaphari (basecamp)

Day 4. Exploration around basecamp

Day 5. Hike back to Hapakun, and if you’re not tired, all the way down to Minapin Village

Day 6. Jeep back to Gilgit

Day 7. Flight to Islamabad

Several guide-books and locals will try to convince you to visit Kacheli lake or Diran basecamp. Do this only if 1) your guide knows the way and has been there recently 2) there is no snow covering the glacier. The Minapin is one of the most heavily crevassed glaciers I have ever seen.