Karakoram Highway — Kashgar to Gilgit via Khunjerab Pass
Highest international highway on earth.
They built this road through some of the most violent terrain on the planet — thousands of Pakistani and Chinese workers died doing it — and driving it still feels audacious. The KKH runs from Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang region south through Tashkurgan, crosses Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 meters with a Chinese border post on one side and a Pakistani post on the other, then descends through Sost, past Passu’s famous cathedral spires, along the edge of Attabad Lake (formed in 2010 when a landslide buried an entire village), and down through the Hunza Valley to Gilgit. The scenery is relentless: K2, Rakaposhi, and Nanga Parbat form the walls you drive between.
The road is mostly paved but do not mistake paved for easy. Sections near Attabad and Chilas are regularly buried by rockfall, washed out by seasonal floods, or narrowed to single-lane gaps with a thousand-foot drop on one side. A capable high-clearance vehicle handles most conditions; a 4WD becomes essential if the route is wet or sections have deteriorated. Border formalities at Khunjerab require advance planning — Pakistani visas and carnet de passages are mandatory. The pass closes to civilian traffic November through April due to snow. Fuel up in Tashkurgan and Sost; between those towns, options are limited. Cell service is almost nonexistent through the Khunjerab zone and patchy in the Hunza Valley despite Pakistani carriers improving coverage.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 807 mi / 1300 km |
| Duration | 5-9 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 15397 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Gilgit, Pakistan |
| Land manager | Pakistan NHMP / China MPS (joint border) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Pakistan NHMP highway authority Gilgit-Baltistan government |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can I drive this in a stock Land Cruiser or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Land Cruiser or Patrol handles most of the KKH, but the gravel sections, washed-out shoulders, and rocky bypasses around landslide debris demand real ground clearance and all-terrain tires. Lifted rigs aren't required, but skid plates and a reliable spare (carry two) are non-negotiable on an 807-mile route this remote.
When is Khunjerab Pass actually open, and what closes it?
The pass is generally open May through October — heavy snowfall closes it from November through April, sometimes later into May depending on the year. Check current status directly with Pakistan's NHMP (nhmp.gov.pk) before you commit to a crossing date, as closures can happen fast and without much warning.
What permits do I need to drive this route as a foreign traveler?
You need a valid Pakistan visa and a Chinese visa to cross at Khunjerab — no visa on arrival for either side at this border. Foreign nationals driving private vehicles into Xinjiang face additional Chinese restrictions and may be required to travel with a licensed guide; confirm current entry rules with both embassies well before your trip, as regulations shift frequently.
What's the hardest section of the route and what makes it ugly?
The stretch between Gilgit and the Hunza Valley through Kohistan is the gnarliest — frequent landslides, crumbling road edges, one-lane cliff-face sections with no guardrails, and river crossings that vary wildly by season. Factor in that oncoming trucks don't slow down and rockfall is a real hazard, not a footnote.
How far apart are fuel stations, and can I count on resupply?
Fuel stations exist in Kashgar, Tashkurgan, Sost, Gilgit, and a handful of towns in between, but gaps can exceed 200 miles and stock is unreliable at smaller stops. Carry a minimum 50-liter auxiliary fuel supply and top off every time you see a pump — don't gamble on the next one being open or having diesel.
Trail track
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