Patundas Meadows Trek

The trail is 24 kilometers out and back, plus or minus some change depending on the path to cross Passu Glacier. The elevation change measures about 2200 meters from Borith Lake to the meadows’ high point (4,700 meters).

The first stage usually starts at or slightly past Borith Lake and leads with low to moderate steepness up to the glacier’s crossing point. It then descends down and across the glacier, and then back up to the lower camp, Latur (3,500 meters). Shepherds’ huts are available here if you opt not to bring your tent.

The second stage begins from Latur and leads up a steep face to the meadows themselves. The tough ascent eases as you approach the first crest where you’ll be treated to early views of the encircling mountains. You’ll find the entry point to the meadows marked by a shepherd’s hut (4,200 meters). After another few kilometers of more gentle ups and downs, the trail reaches 4,700 meters. You can choose to stay at the hut in the meadows for the night and enjoy sunset and sunrise views, or descend and sleep at a lower and more comfortable elevation at Latur.

The third stage of the Patundas Meadows Trek retraces the trail back to Borith Lake. It’s best not to underestimate the difficulty of this section. You will still have to re-cross the glacier, and it’s possible that the path you took just a few days ago is no longer viable, requiring you and your guide to find an entirely different route.

The best time of the year to hike the Patundas Meadows trail is June to August. Flights from Islamabad to Gilgit, the nearest city, are subject to random cancellation this time of year; expect to wait a few days for the next outbound flight if yours is delayed, or make alternate arrangements to hire a car instead.

Always check trail conditions and local weather forecasts before starting an alpine glacial hike. Make sure to consider your hiking experience, skill level, and comfort when evaluating glaciers. As mentioned, the trail is most safely completed with the support of a guide.

As mentioned, the crossing of Passu Glacier can be quite treacherous. The trail shifts every few days – and sometimes even overnight – according to glacial drift and melt. Taking a guide with you both ensures your safety and supports the locals who maintain the trail, making this hike possible. Your guide will also have updated knowledge about the glacier section; the path across is re-routed and haphazardly remarked frequently. Also note that the surface of the ice can be quite slippery, particularly after rainfall, and ice spikes or crampons are a must for most foreigners. Trekking poles can also be useful to prevent or arrest falls.

The Patundas Meadows Trek is quite remote and requires additional considerations. Carry a well-stocked first aid kit as medications are not always readily available in local pharmacies. Be sure to bring diarrhea and ideally giardia medication, as both are rights of passage for the foreign stomach. Bringing a water filter and purification tablets — and insisting your guide use both when washing pots and cooking – reduces giardia risk. If anything goes awry, local rescue teams and the Pakistani army have experience with expedition rescue efforts, though, of course, these may not arrive as quickly as rescue services in the Western world. Registering with private helicopter rescue services is also possible, though cost-prohibitive if the service is rendered.

It is not a bad idea to check the news and security advisories before one travels to the region. In particular, recent attacks against Chinese nationals have spiked due to tensions surrounding Chinese investment in Pakistan. As a hiker of East Asian descent myself, I felt quite safe in Gilgit Baltistan – no violence of this sort has occurred in G-B, which enjoys a close relationship with China – but East Asian-appearing hikers should stay aware of these risks.

The Patundas Meadows Trek is moderately challenging. It is relatively short and, while steep in parts, considerably easier terrain than most alpine mountaineering treks in Northern Pakistan. This makes it an ideal choice for those pressed for time or simply not interested in week or multi-week expeditions but still in want of a high alpine adventure. Nonetheless, there are still two considerations you should take into account before deciding to hike the trail:

Firstly, the glacier crossing, which is undoubtedly the most challenging section of the hike. Slim cracks in the ice might crack open suddenly, and randomly interspersed gaps and walls in the glacier block forward progress. Your guide should know how to navigate around these obstacles safely, but you must still be comfortable with stepping over deep crevices and maneuvering over slippery, icy surfaces.

You can also expect sections of exposed and unstable scree where rock slides have washed out small sections of the trail. While navigating over the treacherous loose rock below, you’ll also have to keep an eye out for movement on the peaks above, as there remains high potential for avalanches in these areas.