Every season we watch duffel bags arrive in Skardu stuffed with gear that never leaves the hotel. This list is the opposite: the ten things our own guides pack for every trek, whether it's a week under Nanga Parbat or the full traverse over the Gondogoro La.
The Baltoro treks this list is mostly written for are on our K2 and Baltoro page, and the K2 Base Camp trek is the one most people are packing for. Touring the valleys rather than trekking? Our northern Pakistan packing and dress code guide is the one you want.
The ten that earn their place
One — broken-in boots. Not new ones; the Baltoro is not the place to discover a pressure point. Two — a fleece plus a lightweight down jacket. Even in July, evenings above 3,500 m drop close to freezing. Three — a sun hat and glacier-rated sunglasses; the UV at altitude is fiercer than the temperature suggests. Four — a 2–3 litre water capacity, because the springs marked on maps are seasonal. Five — blister tape, applied at the first hot spot, not the first blister.
Six — a headlamp with spare batteries; camp chores happen in the dark. Seven — a power bank sized for your whole trek, as charging past Skardu is a rumour. Eight — small-denomination rupees for village shops and porter tips. Nine — a light rain shell, even in the 'dry' Karakoram. Ten — a personal medical pouch: your prescriptions, paracetamol, rehydration salts and anything for a sensitive stomach.
The five that never get used
Jeans (they never dry), a second pair of shoes 'for camp' (camp sandals weigh nothing and do the job), full-size toiletries, a laptop, and cotton towels. Leave them in Islamabad — your porters will thank you.
This list is for the trek. For the rest of the trip — what to wear in towns and villages, and how to layer for the drive north — see our northern Pakistan dress code and packing guide.
Every Elham Asia trek includes a detailed, route-specific kit list in the booking pack, and your guide checks critical items — boots, warmth, sun protection — the evening before you walk. If something is missing, the Skardu bazaar can usually fix it for a fraction of home prices.
