K2
K2: the world’s most dangerous mountain, and how to see it yourself
It is only two hundred metres lower than Everest, but far more dangerous. This is the story of K2, the peak climbers call the Savage Mountain, of the Norwegians who have stood on top, and of the trek to its foot for anyone who wants to see it with their own eyes.
From the top of Everest you can see a long way. But climbers who have stood on both summits often agree on one thing: K2 is harder. The mountain rises like an almost perfect pyramid of ice and rock in the Karakoram range, steep on every side, with weather that can turn in minutes. It is not the highest mountain in the world, but many consider it the most difficult.
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Short answer: what is K2?
K2 is the world’s second-highest mountain, 8,611 metres above sea level, on the border between Pakistan and China. It was first climbed in 1954 and is considered one of the most dangerous mountains to climb, because the route is steep, technical and exposed to avalanches and storms.
Why is K2 called the most dangerous mountain?
The nickname the Savage Mountain comes from an American climber who survived an attempt in the 1950s. The route demands climbing on steep ice and rock all the way to the top, and high up, climbers must pass through a narrow gully beneath a hanging glacier, where blocks of ice can break off without warning. The weather can also change very quickly, with storms and cold that make the descent as dangerous as the way up.
Historically, around one climber has died for every four who reached the summit, although the rate has fallen in recent years with better forecasting and more fixed ropes.
A mountain without a name
K2 is one of the few great mountains never to adopt a local name. When British surveyors mapped the Karakoram in the 1850s, they gave the peaks working labels in the order they were measured: K1, K2, K3 and so on. The others gradually took local names, but K2 stayed K2. That plain name has become part of its mystique.
From 1954 to the winter of 2021
An Italian expedition first reached the summit in July 1954. For decades, K2 was the last of the fourteen peaks over 8,000 metres that no one had climbed in winter. That changed on 16 January 2021, when ten Nepali climbers walked the final metres together and stood on the summit side by side.
The Norwegians on top
Cecilie Skog stood on the summit of K2 in 2008, the year her husband Rolf Bae died in one of the worst disasters in the mountain’s history. In 2023, K2 became the final peak of Kristin Harila’s world record, when she and Tenjen Lama Sherpa completed all fourteen peaks over 8,000 metres in 92 days. Read our interview with Kristin Harila.
Can you see K2 yourself?
Yes, without climbing. The trek to the base camp at the foot of K2 is one of the grandest mountain walks in the world. It crosses the Baltoro Glacier, past some of the highest peaks on Earth, to Concordia, where several glaciers meet and K2 suddenly appears before you. The trek takes around two weeks and usually starts from the town of Skardu in northern Pakistan.
This is a demanding high-altitude trek, far from roads and hospitals, and should be done with an experienced agency. Always check the Foreign Office travel advice before planning a trip to Pakistan. Take your time in Skardu before you set off, so your body can adjust to the altitude.
Where to stay before and after
Most travellers fly via Islamabad and continue north to Skardu and the Shigar Valley.
Serena Shigar Fort: an old fort in the Karakoram
A restored fort and palace in the Shigar Valley, one of the classic gateways to K2 and the Baltoro Glacier.
Book your stay: See rooms at Serena Shigar Fort
Islamabad Serena Hotel: before heading north
An established hotel in the capital, a good place to land before flying on towards the mountains.
Book your stay: See rooms at Islamabad Serena Hotel
Prefer the Himalayas?
If K2 is too demanding, Nepal is a more accessible alternative, with treks for anyone in good shape. Read our guide to travelling to Nepal and trekking in the Himalayas.
Frequently asked questions about K2
How high is K2?
K2 is 8,611 metres high and the world’s second-highest mountain, after Mount Everest.
Where is K2?
K2 lies in the Karakoram range on the border between Pakistan and China.
Why is K2 more dangerous than Everest?
The route is steeper and more technical, the weather is more unpredictable, and climbers must pass beneath a hanging glacier high on the mountain.
Which Norwegians have climbed K2?
Among them are Cecilie Skog, who reached the summit in 2008, and Kristin Harila, who completed her world record on K2 in 2023.