K2 in 3D

The Abruzzi Spur shoulder

Karakoram, on the border of Pakistan and China

K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, 8,611 m. Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni of an Italian expedition first reached the top on 31 July 1954 by the Abruzzi Spur, where this walk starts. Above you is the Bottleneck, a narrow gully at about 8,200 m under a hanging wall of ice.

Where: Karakoram, on the border of Pakistan and China
Height: 8,611 m, the second-highest mountain on Earth
First climbed: 31 July 1954, by Lacedelli and Compagnoni
First winter ascent: January 2021, by ten Nepali climbers

Walk K2 in 3D

A real-time 3D model, built from open elevation data and published measurements. Loads 2.1 MB when you start.

Works in VR on Meta Quest and other WebXR headsets: open this page in the headset's browser, start the 3D walk, then choose View in VR.

Walk it yourself. Works on this phone.

Part of the Seven Summits pack: a one-time unlock in this browser.

Terrain from open elevation data · a 3D reconstruction, not a photograph · tags as in the app

Hear the guide

The narrator from the app reads each tour stop. Transcripts below.

K2 · 8,611 m
Known0:18

The second-highest mountain on Earth. First climbed on 31 July 1954 by Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni of an Italian expedition, by this spur.
The Bottleneck
Known0:15

A narrow gully at about 8,200 m, directly under a hanging wall of ice. An ice fall here in 2008 was part of the disaster in which eleven climbers died.
The Abruzzi Spur
Known0:17

Named after the Duke of the Abruzzi, whose 1909 expedition tried this ridge first. The first winter ascent came in January 2021, by a team of ten Nepali climbers.

How to visit K2

Trekkers see K2 from Concordia and K2 base camp on the Baltoro glacier, a long trek in Pakistan's Karakoram that needs permits. A summit attempt is among the most dangerous climbs in the world.

Access, seasons and permits change: check locally before you go.

Open K2 in Farstep

The full site on your phone: a narrated guided tour, passport stamps, offline, and smoother graphics than a browser can give.

Narrated guided tour, stop by stop, in nine languages
Passport stamps for every hotspot and finished tour
Works offline once installed
Stonehenge free; other sites are one-time packs. No ads, no subscription.

Open in Farstep

Get it onGoogle Play Download on theApp Store

On iPhone the button opens the App Store.

K2: questions and answers

How high is K2?

8,611 m, the second-highest mountain on Earth, on the border of Pakistan and China.

Who first climbed K2?

Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni, on 31 July 1954, by the Abruzzi Spur. Ten Nepali climbers made the first winter ascent in January 2021.

Can I walk around K2 in 3D?

Yes, in your browser. Everything on this page is free to read. Walking K2 in 3D is part of the Seven Summits pack: a one-time purchase with no subscription, and signing in with the same account unlocks it in the Farstep app too.

Can I walk K2 in VR?

Yes, on a Meta Quest or another WebXR headset: open this page in the headset's browser, start the 3D walk, then choose View in VR. The left stick walks, the right stick turns and the trigger opens the fact cards.