Who has been to K2/Concordia (Karakoram) -and- Everest/Goyko Ri (Himalayas)

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qwimjim
qwimjim

I've visited EBC in Tibet but obviously that was an overland 4x4 trip with no trekking involved. I'd like to go on a two week trek either in the Himalayas or the Karakoram but am having trouble deciding between the two. Is there someone that has experienced both that could compare them? From what I've read (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong):

Everest Base Camp, Gokyko Ri, Kala Patthar: 14 days of actual trekking
Can be done independantly, cheap, sleep and eat in tea huts
But very crowded, lots of tourists

Baltoro Glacier, Concordia, Trango/K2/Gasherbrum BC's, Gondogoro La Pass: 14 days actual trekking
No tea huts, all camping, but need guide/porters so more expensive
Much less tourists, more remote feeling, lots of time trekking on glaciers
Possibly more difficult trekking
More impressive mountains than Nepal, more spectacular views, more base camps, closer to mountains
Get to travel Karakoram Highway, can be combined with trip to Fairy Meadows/Nanga Parbat BC
Get to visit a seldom visited part of the world these days (Northern Pakistan)

May and October seem to be the best time to trek in Nepal, whereas June/July/August for K2. So if you only do one two week trek in your life, which should it be? Is K2 that much better than EBC area or is the difference in experience negligible and not worth the added effort and cost for first timer?

Thanks!

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qwimjim
qwimjim

No one?

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pedro555
pedro555

Many people probably but there is no requirement for them to respond within 12 hrs.
I have visited both Himalayas ( 3 times but not Everest region) and Karakoram ( 2 times but not K2 area) so cannot comment on particular routes from experience. However your assessments are correct. If you want easy walking in a popular area with good views go for Everest. If you want more challenging walking in more rugged country go for K2. Most people go for the Everest trek not for the quality of trekking but to see Everest which you have already seen. If you can afford it go for K2.

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willemspie
willemspie

I've trekked both. Your study is correst, It's up to you yo choose what you would prefer. Personally I shouldn't recommend Everest in October or begin November, it's too crowded. Rather end november/December. Also you can add the Jiri - Lukla section instead of flying, as it's much quieter there.

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qwimjim
qwimjim

Thanks everyone will try for K2 this July!

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dztang
dztang

I did EBC independently long time ago, Kalar Patar is fantastic, crowded indeed, but the locals are very friendly. I am going for K2BC in the middle(toward the end) of June this year and am still looking for trekking partners to low the cost.

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ironman224
ironman224

Bump to see if more people can weigh in on which of the two treks is a better experience, I'm thinking of doing one of them but not sure wether to do the Three Passes trek in Nepal or the Baltoro trek in Pakistan. The comforts of the tea houses might be welcome for 14 days of hiking, and the ability to do it unguide. But the camping and relative lack of other hikers on the Baltoro/K2BC trek seems like much more of an adventure, albeit having to hire a guide, porters, etc..

Is it foolish to think about heading to Northern Pakistan these days?

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saramaca
saramaca

It also depends on when you can travel. Summer -> Pakistan (monsoon time in nepal). October to December + Spring time -> Nepal (too cold in Pakistan).

Hard to say how safe it is and will be. There hasn't been any problem in the Skardu area so far (but everyone was saying the same about the Nanga Parbat area until last summer...). We trekked further north (Karimabad / Shimshal area) in 2012 and never felt any danger (beside those mountain-related), and we had a fantastic time (trekking independently). However, we did feel some tension on the way back to Islamabad after the Babusar attack. I probably wouldn't feel 100% safe travelling in Pakistan nowadays, except in the very north entering from China. I know this is purely judgmental, but if I was to choose now, I would opt for another place (Nepal, Ladakh etc), or as I just said, I would enter from China and stick to the North, which rules out going to the K2 area.

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