Field guides / Gilgit-Baltistan / Batura Glacier
Field guide · Nature
Batura Glacier
The Batura Glacier flows 57 km from the Batura Wall above Passu, one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. Its snout pushes close to the Karakoram Highway near Passu village, and the valley it carves takes expeditions toward Batura I (7,795 m), Shispare (7,611 m), and the remote Chapursan Valley toward Afghanistan.
The Batura Glacier flows 57 km from the Batura Wall above Passu, one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. Its snout pushes close to the Karakoram Highway near Passu village, and the valley it carves takes expeditions toward Batura I (7,795 m), Shispare (7,611 m), and the remote Chapursan Valley toward Afghanistan.
Why go
- ✦57 km, world's 7th longest glacier
- ✦Snout visible from KKH near Passu
- ✦Gateway to Batura Wall peaks (7,795 m)
- ✦Chapursan Valley access via upper glacier
Easy Access from the Highway
Unlike most Karakoram glaciers which require days of trekking to reach, the Batura Glacier snout is a short walk from Passu village on the main KKH. Half a day from the road provides dramatic ice scenery without expedition logistics.
Planning tip
When to go, May to September; the glacier snout is accessible year-round from the KKH.
Getting there, Drive the KKH past Attabad Lake to Passu (about 90 km north of Karimabad). The glacier snout and walking approach are a 30-minute walk from Passu village.
Allow, Half a day to walk to the glacier snout from Passu; multi-day treks possible further up the valley.
