Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
The Khunjerab Pass & China Border Day Tour is a 1 day guided trip in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,693 m. It is graded Easy on foot, demanding on altitude — 4,693 m by road — short walks at the pass. 3 fixed departures are open from $70 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
The Karakoram Highway ends its climb at the Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 m, the highest paved international border crossing on earth, where the Pakistan–China boundary runs across a high, cold saddle in the snow. The drive is the trip: past Passu’s cathedral spires and the Batura glacier snout, through the Sost checkpoint at about 2,800 m, then into Khunjerab National Park, where marmots stand on the roadside and more than half the land lies above 4,000 m. It is about twelve hours from Karimabad and back, and it climbs nearly 2,000 m in a few hours, so we pace it properly and keep the time at the top short. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
Duration
1 day
Max altitude
4,693 mhighest point
Grade
Easy on foot, demanding on altitude — 4,693 m by road
Days on foot
short walks at the passthe rest is travel
Group size
Max 1min age 8
Best season
May – Octoberopen May – October
Departures open
3next 1 May 2027
Khunjerab Pass Day Price
From $70 per person in a group of four to six. That covers a private vehicle from your Hunza hotel to the pass and back, a local guide, the Khunjerab National Park entry fee, bottled water and an emergency oxygen cylinder in the vehicle. Meals are at your own cost; we stop for lunch in Sost or Passu. Bring your passport: it is checked at Sost.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 3 dates are currently open, each capped at 6 people. Every date is the same price, $70 per person. A $20 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 3 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $150 for Solo (1 Person) down to $70/pp for 4-6 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
Group size
Price
What it includes
Solo (1 Person)
$150
Private vehicle and guide to yourself for the long day.
(2-3 Persons)
$95/pp
One vehicle, shared, ideal for couples.
(4-6 Persons)
$70/pp
Best per-person rate for families and small groups.
Can you do this trek?
Yes — if you can walk uphill for a few hours, this is well within reach.
Graded Easy on foot, demanding on altitude — 4,693 m by road.
short walks at the passDays on footthe rest is travel
4,693 mhighest pointWe build in time to acclimatise.
8minimum age
What to expect
The highest point is 4,693 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
You’re ready ifyou walk or hike now and then and can manage a few hours uphill with a day pack.
Give yourself a little longer ifit has been a while since a long walk. A few hill walks beforehand and you will enjoy it far more.
This might not be your trip ifyou would rather not sleep in a tent, or you want a glacier crossing or a high pass. Tell us and we will match you to the right one.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Khunjerab Pass
An early start up the Karakoram Highway through Gojal, the Sost checkpoint and Khunjerab National Park to the 4,693 m border, a short time on top, then back to Hunza by evening.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $70 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
Private transport Hunza to Khunjerab and back
Local English-speaking guide
Khunjerab National Park entry fee
Bottled water
Oxygen in the vehicle
Not included
Meals
A Chinese visa or any border crossing
Personal spending
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them is certified by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, holds Wilderness First Aid, and has between five and twenty years on high-altitude ground.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $70 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
Four steps from here to the mountains
1Pick your dateA fixed departure above, or private dates you choose.
2Send the requestThe form on this page, or WhatsApp. Name, party size, date.
3Pay $20 per personThat holds your place. We reply within 24 hours.
4Balance 30 days beforeThen we take over: flights, hotels, permits, crew.
No card details on this page. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
More About the Khunjerab Pass
Booking & Payment
A deposit of $20 per person confirms your date. Balance is payable on the day in Hunza
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. We confirm within the hour in season
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 2+ days before the tour for a full refund of the deposit. Within 2 days the deposit is forfeit. If we cancel for weather or a closed road
You get a full refund
Transportation Details
Private vehicle with driver on the paved Karakoram Highway
With an emergency oxygen cylinder on board
Permits & Documents
Bring your original passport and visa
They are checked at Sost. No separate permit is needed to visit the pass on the Pakistan side
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is the Khunjerab Pass?
4,693 m (15,397 ft). It is the highest paved international border crossing on earth and the highest point of the Karakoram Highway.
Will the altitude affect me?
It can. You go from Karimabad at about 2,440 m to 4,693 m in a few hours by road, and a headache or breathlessness at the top is common. We keep the time at the pass to about an hour, carry oxygen in the vehicle, and turn back early if anyone feels unwell. If you have a heart or lung condition, check with your doctor first.
Can I cross into China?
Not on this tour. Foreign visitors can drive to the border area at the top of the pass and see the boundary, but crossing requires a Chinese visa and onward arrangements. We stay on the Pakistan side.
How long is the day?
About twelve hours from Karimabad and back, with the passport check at Sost on the way up and a lunch stop on the way down. There is no fuel above Sost, so the day is planned around that.
When is the road open?
Usually from May to October for visitors; snow and border schedules close it in winter. The road through the national park is paved, but snow can linger at the top into early summer.
Top-Notch Service, Excellent Reviews
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