Nangma Valley: Pakistan's Yosemite (Trek Guide)
Granite big walls, a three-day trek to 3,950 m, and the one corner of the Karakoram that needs no permit.
Nangma Valley is a granite-walled side valley of the Hushe Valley in Baltistan, reached on a two- to three-day trek from Kanday village. Climbers call it the Yosemite of Pakistan because of towers like Amin Brakk, whose face runs roughly 1,200 m of near-vertical granite. It sits in an open zone, so no NOC and no trekking permit are required.
Where is Nangma Valley?
Nangma opens off the eastern side of the Hushe Valley in Ghanche district, Gilgit-Baltistan, above the village of Kanday at about 2,680 m. Hushe is the same valley that feeds the southern approaches to Masherbrum and K6, so you are in serious Karakoram country the moment you turn off the Shyok road.
From Skardu it is roughly three hours to Khaplu on sealed road, then about two hours by jeep up the Hushe valley to Kanday. Most people break the journey in Khaplu, which is worth a night anyway for the restored fort.
Why they call it Pakistan's Yosemite
The comparison is about rock, not scale. Nangma is a short, steep-sided valley ringed by clean granite towers that rise straight out of the meadow floor: the Great Tower, Grey Tower, Changi Tower, and the one that made the valley's name, Amin Brakk.
Amin Brakk stands at roughly 5,850 m, and its wall is the point. Around 1,200 m of it runs close to vertical, which puts it among the bigger granite faces anywhere. Spanish climbers Silvia Vidal, Pep Masip and Miguel Puigdomenech made the first ascent in August 1999 after weeks on the wall. Climbers who have done both often rate it harder than the Trango Towers.
You do not need to climb any of it. The trek walks you into the middle of the amphitheatre and lets you camp under it, which is why the valley works for ordinary walkers as well as big-wall teams.
The trek, day by day
Nangma is short. Two nights is the common shape; three gives you a spare day for the high viewpoint and for weather.
- Day 1, Kanday to Mingulo Broq (3,500 m). Cross the Hushe River on a wooden bridge below the village, then climb into the narrowing valley over two suspension bridges. Four to six hours depending on load and pace. Camp on grass.
- Day 2, Mingulo Broq to the Nangma meadows (3,950 m), then the K6 viewpoint (4,300 m). A shorter morning to the upper meadow under the towers, then a roughly three-hour round trip up to the viewpoint for the K6 panorama. K6 is 7,282 m, the 22nd highest mountain in the world.
- Day 3, back to Kanday. Downhill and quick, often a little over two hours to the road.
Total walking is modest. The valley is compact, and the payoff per hour of effort is unusually high for the Karakoram, where most trophies cost you a week of glacier travel. If you want the long glacier version instead, the Gondogoro La crossing starts from this same Hushe side and finishes on the Baltoro under K2.
Permits: you almost certainly need none
This is the part most write-ups get wrong or skip. Nangma sits in an open zone. There is no No Objection Certificate to chase, no Alpine Club of Pakistan trekking permit, and no peak royalty for anything under 6,000 m, which covers Amin Brakk and its neighbours.
That is a real difference from the Baltoro side. A trek to K2 Base Camp or Concordia sits in a restricted zone and needs an NOC, a permit and a per-person fee. Nangma needs your passport and a guide who knows the bridges. You may be offered a police escort at Khaplu; treat it as a formality rather than a warning.
Best time to trek Nangma Valley
Late June to mid-September is the window. July and August are the most reliable: the meadows are green, the bridges are in, and the towers are dry enough for the climbing teams, which is worth seeing even if you never rope up.
Late September can be beautiful and cold, with the risk that porters have already moved stock down. Before June there is snow on the upper meadow and the river crossings run high with meltwater. Winter is not a trekking season here. For the wider regional picture, our guide to the best time to visit Skardu covers how the Baltistan seasons stack up.
What it costs
Nangma is one of the cheapest real Karakoram treks, because it is short and needs no permit machinery. Recent independent trip reports put a two-person, three-day trip in the region of 65,000 PKR all in. Typical component rates:
| Item | Typical rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Guide | ~5,000 PKR / day | Essential for the bridges and river crossings |
| Porter | ~12,000 PKR, then ~1,600 / extra day | One porter covers two light trekkers |
| Valley entry fee | ~1,500 PKR | Foreign nationals |
| Tent hire | 1,000-2,000 PKR / day | Bring your own if you have it |
| Jeep, Khaplu to Kanday | ~12,000 PKR | Per vehicle, not per head |
| Skardu to Khaplu | under 1,000 PKR | Shared minibus, about 3 hours |
Rates move with fuel and season, and foreigners are quoted differently from Pakistani nationals. Treat these as a sense of scale rather than a quote.
How hard is it?
Moderate, and genuinely accessible. There is no technical ground, no glacier travel and no altitude high enough to be dangerous for a healthy walker: the highest point most people reach is the 4,300 m viewpoint, and you sleep 350 m below that.
What it does ask for is steady uphill fitness on rough ground, comfort on suspension bridges, and tolerance for cold nights. If you have walked to Barah Broq or done any two-day Hunza trek, Nangma is within reach.
Practical notes
- Getting to Skardu: fly from Islamabad in about 45 minutes when the weather cooperates, or drive the Karakoram Highway and Skardu road over two days. Flights cancel often; keep a buffer.
- Cash: carry rupees from Skardu. Kanday has no ATM and no reliable card payment.
- Water: the side streams are drinkable with treatment. Filter or boil.
- Sleeping bag: the upper meadow drops below freezing even in August. A comfort rating around -5 C is sensible.
- Leave no trace: the meadows are grazing land as well as campsites. Carry your rubbish out to Kanday.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nangma Valley located?
Nangma Valley is in Ghanche district, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It branches off the Hushe Valley above Kanday village, about five hours from Skardu by road via Khaplu.
Do you need a permit to trek Nangma Valley?
No. Nangma is an open zone, so no NOC and no trekking permit are needed, and peaks under 6,000 m carry no royalty fee. Bring your passport for the checkpoints.
How long is the Nangma Valley trek?
Two to three days of walking from Kanday, with camps at Mingulo Broq (3,500 m) and the Nangma meadows (3,950 m). Allow around a week from Islamabad including travel to Skardu and back.
How high is Amin Brakk?
Amin Brakk is about 5,850 m, with a granite face of roughly 1,200 m. It was first climbed in August 1999 by Silvia Vidal, Pep Masip and Miguel Puigdomenech.
Is Nangma Valley good for beginners?
Yes, for fit beginners. There is no technical climbing or glacier travel, and the highest point is a 4,300 m day viewpoint. You need hill fitness and a head for suspension bridges.
Worth going?
Nangma gives you the thing most Karakoram treks make you earn over a fortnight: enormous granite, close up, with a meadow to sleep on underneath it. Three days, no permit, and a jeep at both ends. For a first Baltistan trek it is hard to beat, and for anyone who has already done the Baltoro it is the obvious short second act.
We run Nangma as a private trip from Skardu with local Balti guides from Hushe. Tell us your dates and we will build the itinerary around your flights.
Ready for Your Next Adventure?
Join our community of explorers and discover the journey of a lifetime. Our expert team is ready to help you plan your perfect expedition.