Booked a Trekking tour K2 and Gondogoro La Pass in August

I have booked the tour, purchased non refundable flights to Islamabad and got my Pakistani visa ready. After the tragic incidents in Nanda Parbat, Im not sure what to do. I contacted the tour operator and he says that the area around K2 is "safe"? and just to wait for 2 weeks to check if the KKH opens, before I make the decision of cancelling. I really don't know what to do. Any advise????

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If you have time at to wait for an Islamabad-Gilgit/Skardu flight then that would help (warning: there are frequent cancellations of flights from ISB to Gilgit or Skardu due to adverse weather conditions and people on previously cancelled flights will get seats ahead of you, even for the day you've actually booked your flight).

KKH will always be subject to problems and closures every time there's a security alert. Flying up to Gilgit or Skardu would get you past the 'problem' areas but you do need to allow several days at either end of your trip to be sure of getting a flight unless you're exceptionally lucky - I wasn't, and had to travel by road up KKH each way for late May/late June 2013 trip.

It's true, lightning never strikes twice in exactly the same place and quite honestly who knows where the Taliban will strike next? (But if anyone has inside info, please post here a.s.a.p.)

Meantime, bear in mind the tour operator obviously is going to say your destination is "safe" but I guess you already realised that! Their livelihood is at stake and I wish them all good luck.

You are not alone.

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The largest German trekking tour operators Summit Club and Hauser cancelled all this years treks to Pakistan, because they cannot guarantee the safety of participants. According to press releases the Pakistani Taliban are perfectly satisfied with the international publicity they got and announced further specific attacks on tourists. In this respect the proverb of "Lightening rarely strikes in the same place twice" may be somewhat optimistic (although I agree that the individual probability to be at the wrong place at the wrong time may be still small).

We also wanted to walk the Gondogoro La trek in August, and we already booked our flights. However, due to the unsafe situation we will probably cancel within the next few days after having observed the reaction of further large trekking tour operators.

The Talibans are certainly totally unwelcome in the Shia district of Skardu (contrary to the fundamentalist Sunni area of Chilas eg Nanga Parbat))..

Thank you everyone for your responses...I might end up going anyway " Lightening rarely strikes in the same place twice" I like that! lol

what makes you think that there may be more of a "substantial threat of terrorism against tourists" in Pakistan than exists elsewhere? I really would like to understand your comment, but unfortunately I can't.

Do you believe we should we all stay home and not travel anywhere because this situation exists?

The attack at Nanga parbat was horrific, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families who were killed. But I would no more cancel my trip to K2 trek than I would cancel a trip to New York. I figure my chances of being affected by a terrorist attack on KKH are a heck of a lot less than being affected by one here in the U.S. or in other places I sometimes visit.

I just returned from Pakistan and I am really questioning some of the responses here. Although the attack happened after I had left Pakistan, I sent my condolences to the families involved.
This attack was clearly well planned since it is quite a hike up there. The government evacuated the remaining climbers still on the mountain. Since the Taliban has warned that further attacks on tourists will be done I think to ignore this is dumb.
Even though some groups may say the taliban is not welcome here (baltistan valleys) I saw signs stating " death to America and Israel" there so infiltration is possible no matter what some locals and tour operators say.
So my advise at present is postpone your trip unless you want to be a martyr and give the taliban more fuel.
edited by dadima

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agree with Willemspie, Taliban is enemy of Shia muslim. no way can reach there..or attack..death to America and Israel signs in Iran, Turkey and where it not, do the tourist do not visit there? this signs are there over 20 years but people serving tourist there.

I'm in a similar position...

Do you ...or Don't you?

To the rational, the answer would seem obvious...Don't go.

Its probably not the place to discuss philosophical question as to why ...

However, examining the situation a little more thoroughly, the probability of an unsatisfactory outcome is probably no greater than it was before NP murders.

In an attempt to quantify the risk, I am enquiring of operators how many groups have cancelled ...so far significantly more groups are proceeding than cancelling.

I have also received a copy of a statement from the Gilgit-Baltistan Government categorically stating that protection of foreigners is paramount and has been significantly enhanced by the local police and special branch departments.

A 24/7 information cell is also being set up which may provide more information when it is established.

I shall continue to make plans, albeit a little more pedestrian than usual, and if it appears more people are going than cancelling, I shall go, taking a few more precautions than I normally would in risky areas.

May I suggest the more people go, the safer it will be...rather like the wildebeest migration......

Yes, I might have agreed with the 'wildebeest' analogy if I hadn't just read a blog on the website of three climbers from the Polish Alpine Club who fortunately were higher up Nanga Parbat when the attack occurred (nanga2013.blogspot) saying:

"Our expedition is over. Currently we are trying to get our equipment, which remained at Base Camp, to return to Poland. Unfortunately, it is not easy because of Pakistani support agencies leave much to be desired. Also the support of the government is very weak. Everybody who plans to climb a mountain in Pakistan should rethink their plans, because the Taliban officially informed that tourists will be targeted in further attacks. It should also be noted that it is a complete change in their terrorist activities, because so far no attack was done against foreign tourists. Prosecution of the murderers is very difficult, because the current Pakistani government is sympathetic to the Taliban."

Just quoting the opinion of some of the climbers who narrowly missed being attacked that night. Having been in the area myself earlier that week, I'd tend to agree that 'support of the government is very weak' - the frequent check-points where police/military personnel delayed innocent tourists in possession of valid passports and visas for up to half an hour while they 'phoned their superior officers for permission' just seemed like ticking boxes, rather than a serious attempt to intercept terrorist activities. I think I'd rather be a wildebeest taking my chance of being shot in a crowd, than a tourist in Northern Pakistan.

A new U.S. drone attack that killed 16 people doesn't bode well for the nearest future.

Yes, is it worth it? Non-refundable flights is one thing, but do you seriously want to risk your life?

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Even after the tragic incident at Nanga Parbat BC,many foreign travelers still visiting Pakistan as well as K2 BC.

Edited by: k2_heights

I've just read an interview in a Polish weekly with those who survived the massacre only because they were higher up on the mountain of Nanga Parbat. They are very experienced people, more than any of us. The man who led the Polish group had been in about 90 expeditions to Pakistan's mountains before it happened.
They've cancelled their plans for winter climb to the summit of NP as well as a few 6000m peaks in Hunza region that they planned to climb later this summer/autumn. Furthermore, he says anyone who's planned to climb or trek in the region should revise their plans. No trekking agents can guarantee security for activities of any kind in the area.

Ahmet Marwat, the spokesment of Jundallah, the local terrorist fraction, informed in a telephone interview with Reuters that there will be more such incidents in the nearest future, like the recent one at NP. He added, that all foreigners will be treated as their enemies.

I've already dropped all the speculations and made up my mind to cancel my trip. This post is for others who are still in doubt.

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seen daily dozens of foregners traveling on KKH in public and privete trasnport going Skard, Gilgit and Hunza. can any body gurantee safety in NY, London, wahington etc.. but in Hunza and Skardu every one can gurantee of safety of traveler.

In Askoli shortage of porters for K2 trekers because too many trekkers to go with and people here sitting on internet says it is dangerus and canceling, not knowng geogrphy, culutrual and religios difference of peple there. one ? here
Why they dont have a single security guard or report the police, knowing that the BC close to Swat and Kohistan and going to stay for months.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/islamabad/02-Jul-2013/nanga-parbat-attack-fails-to-deter-slovakians

If insurance companies refuse to insure tour operators that organize treks or ascents in Pakistan, all international tour operators will have no choice than to stop their tours to Pakistan. Individuals, however, can still decide to go there without insurance.

I to am in the same predicament as several of you and I to am suppose to be taking this trip of a lifetime next month.

The tour company that I'm going through seem very unsure of themselves and I find it hard at get a straight answer out of them. I definitely don't blame them for their indecisiveness as I am sure that this resent turn of tragic events has had a huge impact on their livelihood.

I am not sure how this will play out in the next couple of weeks but I am definitely going to keep all of you up-to-date on my scenario.

Also from my experience I know that those of you who did plan this trip have put a lot of time, effort and money into making this happen and I'm sure it is discouraging. This is the type of trip that takes a good year in the planning.

In closing to those of you who are committed have a safe trip and make sure you keep in touch upon your safe return.

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I just left Pakistan after doing k2 basecamp. Safety was never an issue. People were great. Anything can happen of course but that's true anywhere. I am from us and told people I was. Never had bad vibes. I hitched, ate w families in houses and walked dark streets at night. Avoid known trouble spots. Your safe in northern areas and islamabad

thanks for safety update.

Thanks for the update, avsfan. Any news re Godogoro La? I'm assumining it's still closed to trekkers, but what was the reason?
btw - I should've been in Islamabad since yesterday, if I hadn't cancelled my trip.

Godogoro La is still closed due to unknown reasons.

La is open bot now a liaison officer is required to accompany all groups over pass.my tour operator said this will add approx 2000$ to the cost for the group and add another 30 days to get a permit. So no last minute treks seem likely. This will prob change however. Good luck

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That's true johnney.

I was suppose to start my trek yesterday to K2 then Gondogoro la pass but for some unknown reason the Consulate General of Pakistan in Canada would not provide me with a travel Visa. They have also not provided me with a reason. Now I have been informed that Gondogoro la pass is closed for the remainder of 2013.

Does anyone really know if it is closed or not?

Till today the La is closed due to unknown reasons.

Thank you. That may be the first straight answer that I have received since my obsession with Gondogoro. Now thee interesting thing about this is when I did cancel my trek to Gondogoro because of a travel Visa issue I learned that the Trekking Company in Pakistan that I had booked through were still leaving on August 4th with a small group.

Not giving up I learned that the pass can still be traveled in Sept so I contacted the same Trekking Company this week wanting to know if they would be visiting Gondogoro again in Sept. They replied to me by email that the "pass was closed".

I now believe that the group I was to travel with to Gondogoro is only going as far as the base camp at K2.

It now appears to me that the Consulate General of Pakistan's office in Canada maybe did me a favour by not providing me with a travel Visa after all.

Yeah maybe the Consulate did you a favor while not granting you the visa,who knows?

http://pamirtimes.net/2013/07/19/gilgit-baltistan-council-secretariat-lifts-ban-on-trekking-in-baltoro-gandoro-la-hushe/

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The Liason officer will cost the group another $2400 for a group of 8. I went despite the fact I would have to backtrack and am glad I did. Heres some pics from the trek
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8482199@N07/sets/72157634993735558/

The Liason officer will cost the group another $2400 for a group of 8

That's much more than I was going to pay per person in a group of two.

Stunning photographs avsfan and it looks like you had some great weather. If you don't mind me asking who did you book through?

I booked through Snowland Treks and Tours. Overall a very good experience. I will be posting a review soon....

Good to know that you had great time/ experience with Kamal (Snow Land Treks & Tours.
Keep on having fun.

Thx. Kamal was very honest You can trust him. I have to say that looking back on the pictures, this was one of the most amazing treks Ive ever done. if you are looking for adventure, willing to rough it, this trek really gets you into the domain of the most serious mountain climbers in the world. I really miss the Pakistani people. I hope for the best for them..

Thanks avsfan for kind comments about Pakistani people.

Keep on having fun.