Khunjerab Pass ((Image by rizwan saeed from unsplash))
Located at the edge of Pakistan, Khunjerab Pass connects Pakistan with China. No itinerary for Hunza Valley is complete without a visit to this mountain pass, which sits at an altitude of 15,439 feet
The drive to Khunjerab Pass along the Karakoram Highway — one of the world’s highest paved roads — offers some of the best views.
This highway runs 810 miles from Pakistan’s city of Hasan Abdal in Punjab Province to China’s Kashgar in the Xinjiang region and links Gilgit Baltistan to the ancient Silk Road.
The highest point of Khunjerab Pass marks the border between Pakistan and China, notable for being the highest land border between the two countries.
Hunza Valley, the closest settlement to the pass, is one of the best destinations in northern Pakistan.
If you’re wondering how to visit this mountain pass from Hunza Valley, keep reading to find out everything you need to know.
| Location | Hunza-15801, Pakistan – administered Gilgit–Baltistan / Xinjiang, China |
| Elevation | 4693 meters above sea level |
| Road | Karakoram Highway |
| Construction Year (Road across Khunjerab Pass) | 1982 |
| Famous For | World’s highest land border |
| Mountain Range | Karakoram |
| Nearest Airport | Gilgit & Skardu |
| Closest Town | Sost |
| Operating Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Seasonal Closure | Dec 30- Apr 1 (All Vehicles)Nov 30-May 1 (heavy vehicle) |
| Type of Terrain | High altitude |
| Nearest Fuel station | Sost |
| Nearest ATM/Money Exchange | At Khunjerab Pass (ATM), Sost (ATM/money exchange) |
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Khunjerab Pass is the highest mountain pass in the Karakoram mountain range, with an altitude of 15,397 ft. (4,693 meters).
It is the highest point on the Karakoram Highway, so you can expect harsh weather conditions and low oxygen levels.
Visiting Khunjerab Pass involves driving on the Karakoram Highway, and much of which is located above 11,482 feet (3,500 meters).
As the elevation increases, you may experience dizziness. To combat altitude sickness, stay hydrated, walk outside to get fresh air, and snack on dry fruits, especially dried apricots.
Khunjerab Pass weather is extremely harsh due to its high altitude. Temperatures remain at minus degrees most of the year.
It receives heavy snowfall during colder months (November to May), while summer months experience moderate temperatures.
The average temperature in July and August is 15C, making it the best time to visit without experiencing extreme temperatures.
Most tourists tend to visit Khunjerab Pass during this time. To avoid the crowds and high temperatures, consider planning your trip for early June.
Also, check the weather forecast before you go, and bring a few extra layers, as the weather at Khunjerab Pass can be unpredictable even in summer.
Khunjerab Pass, or the Pakistan-China border, is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (Pakistan Standard Time), which is 3 hours behind Beijing Time.
It remains open from April 1 to November 30 and remains closed from November 30 to May 1 for heavy vehicles, and from December 30 to March 31 for all vehicles due to heavy snowfall.
Moreover, it remains closed during public holidays in both China and Pakistan. The Pakistani side of the border also remains closed on Islamic holidays.
Khunjerab Pass is about 95 km from Hunza Valley, and it takes around 4 hours to reach there by car. It is recommended to rent a car with an experienced driver who knows how to navigate the twists and turns of the KKH.
Public Transport can be a great option for crossing the Pakistan-China border. If you don’t have your own vehicle and want to visit Khunjerab Pass or Khunjerab National Park from Hunza, renting a car for the return trip is a great option.
All travelers are required to stop at the entrance to Khunjerab National Park. The entry fee is $20 for foreigners, which they must pay in local currency, while the entry fee for local visitors is 800 rupees.
Find out what to see and do in Skardu with a complete Skardu Valley travel guide.
Khunjerab Pass is located at the edge of the Hunza region and is the final stop on the Hunza Valley itinerary.
The distance from Karimabad town of Hunza Valley is not more than 92 km, but the drive takes around 4 hours.
However, if you make a short stop at the scenic spots along the way to take photographs, it will take more time to reach there. So, it is best to start your journey from Karimabad early in the morning to experience this mountain pass during the daytime.
If you feel adventurous, you can break the trip into two to three days to explore the unspoiled side valleys of Upper Hunza along the way.
Driving through the Khunjerab National Park is the most interesting part of the journey, where you can get a chance to see Himalayan yak, marmots, and ibex.
The journey from Hunza Valley to Khunjerab Pass offers world-class mountain scenery and the opportunity to explore villages and side valleys accessible from the scenic Karakoram Highway.
Here are the key highlights of this road trip to Khunjerab Pass from Hunza Valley.
Karimabad is the capital of Hunza Valley, set against the backdrop of the 7,788-meter-high peak of Rakaposhi and surrounded by glaciers.
It is home to two medieval forts, i.e., Baltit and Altit Fort that offer an in-depth look into Hunza’s ancient history and stunning views of Karimabad.
Start your journey from Karimabad towards Khunjerab Pass, and after a few kilometers, you’ll reach the 100-year-old Ganish Village, where you can witness the ancient architecture of Hunza.
After a short drive from this village, you’ll catch a glimpse of the stunning Attabad Lake.
About half an hour east of Karimabad, you will reach Attabad Lake, which is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Hunza Valley.
Attabad Lake was formed in early 2010 after a catastrophic landslide that stopped the flow of the neighboring Hunza River, creating a natural dam and burying several villages along with a 19-kilometer stretch of the Karakoram Highway beneath the water.
The narrow part of Attabad Lake starts before the KKH tunnels, so make sure to stop at the Attabad Lake viewpoint just after the first tunnel for stunning views.
Karakoram Highway, or N35, winds through a series of lakeshore tunnels before reaching the centuries-old historic town of Gulmit and the incredibly beautiful Passu village.
The velvety black pointed peaks of the Karakoram Range dominate the skyline on this section of the road.
Gulmit is a must-visit spot in Upper Hunza, offering a unique experience of local culture and stunning mountain views.
Passu Cones can be first spotted from Gulmit as you cross the Gulmit-Shishkat Bridge.
Passu is a small village that is not often frequented by tourists. The traffic is also very low in this area, giving you uninterrupted views of the Passu Cones on both sides of the Karakoram Highway.
It is also home to two glaciers — Passu and Batura Glacier. Passu Glacier can be seen from Karakoram Highway, providing the backdrop for postcard-perfect photos and irresistible selfies.
Don’t forget to check out as well…
After marveling at the majestic views of Passu Cones, make your way to Sost—the last settlement before the Pakistan-China border.
There is a Pakistan customs check post in Sost, where you’ll see many spectacularly painted Bedford trucks carrying goods by road between Pakistan and China, and vice versa.
If you are heading to Khunjerab Pass to cross the border, the immigration process will take place in Sost at the immigration Post.
Khunjerab Pass is a fitting ending to the road trip through Gilgit Baltistan’s otherworldly landscape. It is a broad plateau fringed by meadows, glaciers, and waterfalls.
The most exciting thing about visiting Khunjerab Pass is the scenic drive to get there on the world’s highest paved road, which goes through the snow-capped mountains and offers a plenty of diverse sights to behold along the way.
A 90km twisting road connecting the frontier town of Sost with the Pakistan-China border goes through Pakistan’s famous Khunjerab National Park, situated at an altitude of 4,733 meters.
All travelers must stop at the Khunjerab National Park entry point to purchase an entrance ticket, which helps support the protection of the park’s wildlife. You can only drive through this national park, as it is a nature reserve.
The views are jaw-dropping as you enter the park, and the scenery is out of this world. Here, you’ll see Himalayan yak herds grazing along the roadside, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of snow leopards up close.
The journey from the National Park entry gate to the icy Pakistan-China border takes 2 hours, where you can experience the feeling of being at the highest land border in the world and take as many selfies as you want.
Explore what to see when you are in Hunza Valley with the best things to do in Hunza Valley guide!
Khunjerab Pass is the world’s highest land border, connecting Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan region to China’s Xinjiang through the iconic Karakoram Highway—the world’s eighth wonder.
The famous British historian John Keay described this region as the ‘crow’s nest of Asia,’ as it is wedged between the borders of China, Afghanistan, and India.
The best time to visit Khunjerab Pass is between June and August when the average maximum temperature is 15 degrees.
Yes, you can go to China from Khunjerab Pass. Exist procedures are conducted in the mornings after 9:00 am through Monday to Friday. Keep in mind that the crossing is closed on weekends and public holidays.
Hunza Valley is not very far from Khunjerab Pass, but it takes around 4 hours to reach Khunjerab Pass from Hunza due to road conditions and steep elevation.
Yes, foreigners can enter China from Pakistan via Khunjerab Pass. The Chinese visa must be obtained before arriving at the Pakistan-China border.
Hunza-Xinjiang Transport Co. and government-run Northern Areas Transport Co. (NATCO) operates shuttle buses between Sost (Pakistan) and Tashkurgan (China). The bus ticket costs 3,300 rupees (approximately $38.91), which foreigners must pay in the local currency.
We hope our travel guide to Khunjerab Pass will inspire you to visit this world’s highest border and explore this region with otherworldly landscapes.
If you are planning to visit Hunza Valley, check out our guide on the best places to visit in Hunza Valley to discover other attractions you should include in your itinerary with Khunjerab Pass. Happy Travel!
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