Visit Guide to Pasu Glacier

Passu Glacier is located in climatically temperate region of the Himalayas and meet desired data availability. It lies in Hunza river basin some 15 km from Gulmit, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It is about 150 km upriver from Gilgit and 15 km upstream of Ata-abad Lake. This is a valley type glacier having length of 26 km and covers area of 63 sq. km with ice reserves nearly 10.89 cu. km.

Getting There

If you have your own transport drive up, it takes around 15 minutes from the Passu valley. If you don’t have your own car you have to take local transport e.g Jeep from the passu valley to the passu Glacier.

What to Expect

Passu Gllacier is geographically situated at 36°27′ to 36°28′N and 74°38′ to 74°52′E in the south of Batura glacier. The elevation of Passu glacier rises from 1,200 m at the base to 7,500 m high peak above the mean sea level and contains steep slopes.

You can easily go to Passu Glacier by yourself and hike along the side of it but if you plan to get on the glacier it’s best to take a guide for the day.

The guide will know the best way to get on the glacier and cross the more dangerous precipes that are on the side of the glacier.

To get up there to the start of the hike by the glacier you have 2 options. 

  1. Walk up from the main Karakorum Highway road on the dirt road passing villages with fresh fruit gardens and the scenic Borith Lake. The walk will take 1-2 hours depending on fitness.
  2. If you have your own transport drive up, it takes around 15 minutes. If you don’t have your own car you have to take local transport.

History

Passu glacier was chosen as a study site to perform this modeling test by analyzing melt and runoff.  It feeds river Hunza, a tributary of the Indus river, in northern Pakistan which flows west to east.

Facilities Available

  • Local Guides are available for the guidance of the Tourist/ Visitors
  • People of this area are very hospitable, Peaceful and helpful
  • Hotels are available at Borit lake
  • Passu Glacier is at walking distance of at 1- 2 hour trekking and can be accessible through local jeeps.
  • There is no Wi-Fi connection available at Passu glacier
  • Tourism Department helps the Tourist/ Visitors through providing broachers in both Urdu and English languages. As well as the local People and local Police of the area can also speak local, national and International languages (i.e. English Chinese)
  • The local transports from Pasu valley to Pasu glacier is Jeep
  • Filling stations are available at Gulmit, Pasu and Sost
  • Local cars are available at daily base rent
  • Shops are available