Pakistan Nanga Parbat - Diamir
July 28, 2025
The Diamir Valley is very different in character from the Rupal side. The Diamir is wilder, narrower and drier. The people, although friendly if you are accompanied by a local (and local is LOCAL), do not welcome outsiders and definitely non guided trekkers. The Diamir side of NP is the site of the 2013 massacre where 11 climbers were killed in their tents at basecamp. All memorials have been removed from the basecamp. The massacre has not been fully solved to this day and nobody seems to know anything.
Having said that, the valley is also very beautiful. The Diamir side is the main climbing side of the mountain. It is where Tomek Markiewicz died and Elizabeth Revol was rescued by Dennis Urubko and Adam Bielecki who were climbing K2 in winter at the same time. It is definitely an interesting and adventurous place to visit.
This map is courtesy of Mat, one of my companions.
Diamir high camp for Mazeno Pass.
The Diamir porters have a lot of character!
Wild and remote
The villages on the Diamir side are simpler and wilder than on the Rupal side.
Diamir Valley is now down below us. We have to descend all the way to Diamir river and then climb back up. The heat was pretty intense! 40C and dry!
Diamir River. The brown glacial melt water was undrinkable and there was a shortage of clean water sources.
Irrigated fields in Diamir Valley.
Local School built with the financial assistance of the Reinhold Messner Foundation to commemorate his brother Gunther who died on Nanga Parbat.
People from Diamir Valley.
Working our way up the Diamir Valley
Narrow and wild trails
The Diamir Glacier
Kutgali, the highest summer pasture of the Diamir Valley. It is 2 hr away from the basecamp proper.
Our camp at Kutgali.
The Diamir Valley and Nanga Parbat.
Diamir Glacier
Nanga Parbat at sunset
Diamir Glacier
Looking at remote mountains to the north east.
Early in the morning we hiked up to Camp 1 on Nanga Parbat.
Metting Dennis Urubko who was climbing a new route on the mountain was definitely interesting. He was instrumental in rescuing Elizabeth Revol on this face in the winter of 2018.
Pakistan Army helicopter looking for a missing climber who fell between camp 1 and 2 during the previous night while descending.
On the Diamir Glacier
Massive Icefall right before camp 1.
This dog followed us from basecamp. It run on the glacier, over boulders, jumped across crevasses and ice outcrops. A perfect outdoor dog!
The dog waiting his turn to get across a large crevasse.
We had to put some effort to get across crevasses and the dog just jumped effortlessly!
Nanga Parbat icefall
Nanga Parbat
Two climbers coming all the way down from Camp 4.
Vicinity of camp 1.
This is the Kinshofer route on Nanga Parbat. When we arrived, everyone complained that it had significant rockfall risk and that it could be climbed only in the night.
Camp 1 and the Kinshofer Wall
Ganalo Peak 6,608m and Diamir Glacier.
The steep Mummery Spur on the Nanga Parbat’s Diamir Face with the summit directly above. This is where Daniele Nardi and Tom Ballard disappeared during their winter attempt.
Looking up to the Mazeno Gap and the Mazeno Ridge on the right.
Diamir Glacier. The basecamp is on the right, on the green patch next to the to the glacier.
Nanga Parbat, Mazeno Gap and the Mazeno Ridge.
Kutgali
Diamir River
The turbulent Diamir River
Diamir Valley - dry and hot!
The village of Diamirol - the end of the Diamir Valley and the end of the Nanga Parbat trek for me.
The view of the Raikot face from the KKH.
The group and the local crew that I joined to do this fantastic trek.
Join the discussion
Share thoughts, tips, or questions about this trip.
Please keep it kind and relevant.
All Trips and Adventures by Year
A chronological archive of trip reports, photo essays, and route notes across decades.
2026
2025
2024
- Mon - Bhutan
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 1
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 2
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 3
- North of 60º - Polar Adventures
- East Greenland 66º North
- On the Trail of Teutonic Order Castles in Northern Poland
- Wolfsschanze Hitler's HQ, Ketrzyn Poland and Peenemunde WW2 V1/V2 Research Centre in North Germany
- Central Mexico - Mexico City, Puebla and Teotihuacan
- Venezuela - Orinoco River Delta
- Venezuela - Mount Roraima Trek 2810m
- Venezuela - Angel Falls
2023
2022
- Nepal Solukhumbu - Sumna Pass and Lobuche East trip summary
- Nepal Khumbu and Kangchendzonga from the Air
- Nepal Solukhumbu Sundar Peak 5000m and Sumna Pass 5400m
- Nepal Solukhumbu Chola Pass 5450m Lobuche East Ridge 6090m
- Renjola La 5360m Gokyo Ri 5450m, and Cho Oyu BC Photos
- Iceland - Hellismannaleid, Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals Trails
- The Yukon and the Alaska Highway
- Mount Robson
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks
2021
- The Rockies of Alberta, Western BC and the Yukon
- Columbia Icefield from the Air
- Waterton Lakes National Park
- Colombia
- Los Nevados National Park Colombia
- Colombia Tayrona National Park
- Colombia Teyuna - Ciudad Perdida Trek (The Lost City)
- Mexico Pico de Orizaba 5,630m
- Mexico - Sierra Negra 4,650m and Izaccihuatl 5,350m
- Chitwan National Park Nepal
2020
2019
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 1: Chame to Kagbeni via Thorong La Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 2: Kagbeni to Lo Mantang
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 3: Lo Mantang to TeriLa Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 4: Terila Pass to Chame via Naar and Kangla Pass
- Kamchatka Trip Report
- Камча́тка, Russia - The Mutnowski and Gorely Volcanoes
- Камча́тка, Russia - The Tolbachik Volcano Circuit and Volcano Bezimienny
- Russia Far East - Sakhalin, Vladivostok, Petropawlowsk-Kamchatsky
- Taiwan
- Ancohuma 6,427M Bolivia
- Huayna Potosi 6,088m Bolivia
- Ausangate Trek Peru
- Yellowstone National Park in Winter 2019
2018
- Calgary Mountain Film Festival
- Langtang, Tilman Pass and Ganjala Trip Report
- Langtang Trek - Tilman Pass
- Langtang Trek - Ganjala Pass
- Paria River Wilderness - USA, Utah
- Slot Canyons - USA, Arizona
- Bryce National Park - USA, Utah
- Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks - USA, Utah
- Norway
- Poland - The Slav and Viking Festival in Wolin
- Iceland
- Bolivia Cordillera Real and Sajama National Park
- Bolivia - Tiwanaku and La Paz
- Togo and Benin
- Benin - Egungun Masquerade
- Benin - Voodoo Festival
- Ghana - The Gold Coast and the Land of the Ashanti
2017
- Annapurna Basecamp and Annapurna Sanctuary Photos
- Annapurna Sanctuary Trip Summary
- Dhaulagiri Basecamp Trek, Dhampus Pass - Trip Summary
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Photos - Nepal
- Peru Central - Huaraz, Cordillera Blanca and Chavin de Hauntar
- Peru South, Sacred Valley - the Land of the Incas, Rainbow Mountain and Lima
- Mt. Brazeau and Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada
- China Shanghai Beijing Wuhan
- Papua New Guinea
2016
- China Far West - Kashgar and Shiphton Arch
- China Far West - Pamir and The Tajik Games
- K2 Basecamp North, Shaksgam Valley Trip Summary
- Chinese K2 (BC North), Shaksgam Valley - Chinese Karakoram
- North Peru Chachapoyas Trip Report
- Peru North - Kuelap, Chachapoyas and Royal Tombs of Sipan
- Wapta Icefiled Area, Alberta, Canada
- The Caribbean and the Panama Canal
- China Far West - Ancient Silk Road Trip Summary
- China Far West - Ancient Silk Road
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2004
2002
2001
1996
Get new trip reports when they land
One email when a new story is published. No noise. Just the trail.