June 2026 · 7 min · By Zain Karim
The Patundas Trek: A Quiet Alternative to Rakaposhi BC
Patundas is the trek we suggest when clients want what Rakaposhi base camp offers but with one fewer person on the trail and a 360-degree summit-plateau finish.
The patundas trek sits above Passu in upper Hunza and tops out on a grassy plateau at around 4,200 m wedged between the Passu and Batura glaciers. The summit hour delivers a 360-degree wall of seven-thousanders, Passu Sar, Shispare, Batura, that genuinely rivals the views from Concordia, in four days instead of fourteen.
Overview
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | Passu village (2,400 m) |
| High point | Patundas plateau, ~4,200 m |
| Days on trail | 4 (3 camps) |
| Total ascent | ~1,800 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate-plus |
Day by day
Day 1, Passu to Yunzben
Climb out of Passu through apricot terraces onto the lateral moraine of the Passu glacier. Four to five hours to Yunzben camp at around 3,300 m.
Day 2, Yunzben to Patundas camp
Steady climb onto the high meadow at 3,900 m. Short day, intentional rest for the altitude.
Day 3, Plateau morning, descend to Borith
Pre-dawn climb to the plateau top for sunrise on the Batura wall. Descend the other side past Ghulkin glacier to Borith Lake, where vehicles meet us.
Optional Borith day or drive back to Karimabad
Most clients add a slow morning at Borith Lake before the 2-hour drive back to Karimabad.
Difficulty
Harder than Rakaposhi base camp because the high day is at 4,200 m and the descent past the glacier is steep. No technical ground but two long days on uneven terrain. Trekking poles essential.
Best months
Mid-June through end of September. Earlier and there is snow on the plateau; later and the upper meadows freeze.
Q. Is acclimatisation built in?
Yes, we keep day 2 short specifically to let the body catch up before the 4,200 m morning.
Q. Can it be combined with the rest of Hunza?
Yes, it slots neatly into a 10-day Hunza trip as the second half.
Q. Is there phone signal?
SCOM works in Passu village. None on the route. We carry a satellite phone.
Written by
Zain Karim
Head of mountain operations
Zain has run private trips through Hunza, Skardu and the Karakoram since 2019. He spends about 120 nights a year above 2,500 m and writes about the routes he guides.
Has guided the Hunza-Skardu loop more than forty times.
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