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Also known as the Boundary Pass, Khunjerab lies on the Pakistan/China border at a height of approximately 4,693 meters and is the highest paved international border in the world. Tourists take motor coach excursions from Islamabad or Hunza to the Khunjerab Pass. It is the destination, but the trip takes travelers through many spectacular and picturesque locations such as the Attabad Lake and Passu Cathedral.
Tours to the Khunjerab Pass follow almost the same itinerary and cover the same locations. Tourists, however, appreciate the scenic beauty of the Karakoram Highway, and the Pasu, Khoburdan and Gulmit Valleys enroute to the Khunjerab Pass. Tourists from Islamabad usually spend one or two days in Hunza before continuing to the Khunjerab Pass.
A tourist package covers transport from Islamabad, one night's stay in Karimabad and the upper Gojal Valley, and a third night at the Kuhnerjab border. Along the way, the tourists stop at Attabad Lake, Passu and the Cones. The tour operator takes care of the customs documentation and rules that govern the movement of people across the border.
Many tourists also prefer to see other attractions that Hunza has to offer, and, as such, tour operators give them the flexibility of spending 2 or 3 days at Karimabad before moving to the upper Gojal Valley and the Khunjerab Pass.
The Karakoram Highway connects Islamabad and Khunjerab. The highway runs south to north touching the city of Mansehra, Besham and Chilas and following the Indus River. The highway turns northwest at Raikot and reaching Gilgit. The highway further north touches the Hunza Valley and stops at Gulmit and Sost, before reaching Khunjerab Pass.
The total distance between Islamabad and Khunjerab is between 870 to 900 kilometers. Tour operators break this long journey into several smaller trips.
Taking an airplane from Islamabad to Gilgit cuts the road journey between the two cities. The road further north to the Hunza Valley and the Khunjerab Pass is covered by the air route. The Gilgit airport has a short runway and in bad weather, the airport is closed and flights are cancelled. People with strict time constraints should be prepared for the unpredictability of the flights and use the road instead.
There are many attractions in and around the Khunjerab Pass.
A) The pass
The Khunjerab Pass is at an elevation of 4,693 meters (15,397 feet), and is considered one of the world's highest border crossings. It connects the Xinjiang region of China to the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. June through October is considered summer in the region, and the border crossing is open during this time. The climate is extreme, and the region is considered a cold desert.
B) Wildlife and national park
Although it might not seem very large, the Khunjerab National Park covers a large portion of the Upper Hunza region. This park is home to the Marco Polo sheep. These sheep are the second largest species of wild sheep, and have large, curved, first year horns. These sheep are also hunted for sport, which limits their population, and prevents them from migrating to the rest of the world.
Snow leopards are in the park but very hard to find. Other animals, like ibex and wolves, are also found in the park. The animals are usually active in the morning and evening. The best chance to find the Marco Polo Sheep is to take the upper park road from Sost and look along the way.
The Passu Cathedral Cones are south of Sost and are visible from the road and along the bank of the Hunza River. The river and road are below the peaks and create an interesting scene. Photographers capture these scenes along the KKH and the cathedral cones are among the more popular scenes for good reason. The high contrast scene is interesting and easy to reach. The best scene along the KKH is a short hike from the road and offers an alternative view of the peaks. The contrast and interesting lines created by the peaks are easy to capture and are distinctive among the other scenes along the KKH.
D) Attabad Lake
In January 2010, the Hunza River was blocked by a landslide, which formed a large lake, now known as Attabad Lake. The lake flooded several villages and a section of the Karakorum Highway (KKH). The blockage caused by the landslide is approximately 21 kilometers long and provided additional amenities to the valley.
The lake offers beautiful views of changing colors, from shades of green to blue. The KKH that circles the lake provides breathtaking views of the lake and its beautiful colors. Hussaini is a small village on the shores of Attabad Lake. There, visitors can take a boat tour to view the old Karakorum Highway that connects Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Attabad Lake is approximately 2 hours north of Karimabad. Most Khunjerab tours cover this region while en route to and from Khunjerab.
A number of glaciers can be viewed from various points along the Gojal Valley. The Passu and Ghulkin glaciers originate from peaks on the valley wall and come down almost to the road. The end of the glaciers is about an hour's walk from the road. Because the position of the end of the glaciers can change each year, it is best to hire a local guide to assist you.
The upper KKH is usually open from June to September, with the best conditions from late June to early September. The lower parts of the valley (Sost and Kerind beg) get very hot in July. Temperatures at the pass are cold in July, but begin to improve in August. August is the most crowded month and most areas filled with tourists over the weekends and holidays.
Wildlife along the upper KKH is most active and easiest to spot in June through September. The best time to travel for wildlife spotting is in the morning before 9 AM from Sost.
All Pakistani citizens are free to visit the border monument and other areas controlled by Pakistani authorities. Khunjerab Pass is the only border crossing between China and Pakistan, and is controlled by Chinese and Pakistani authorities respectively. Visas are processed in Islamabad and must be secured prior to travel.
Foreign nationals need a valid Pakistan Tourist Visa to enter Gilgit-Baltistan, including Hunza and the Khunjerab area, from the Pakistan side. Currently, Pakistani governed areas of Gilgit-Baltistan are open for foreign tourists. Foreign nationals wishing to enter China from Pakistan need to have previously obtained a valid Chinese Visa. Since, the control of this border is shared between Pakistani and Chinese authorities, the procedures for cross border control are different on each side and keep on changing. You should check the latest procedures from the Chinese Embassy or your tour operator, if you wish to cross the border. Do not take procedures reported by other tourists as trustworthy, since they keep on changing.
See what altitude sickness mitigation plans are in place. The pass is at 4,693 meters. Many travelers who do not acclimatize at Karimabad or Gilgit report symptoms of altitude sickness upon arrival. Contact your tour operator to see what is in your itinerary to assist with acclimatization.
Conventional wisdom says that travelers should not book tours across international borders without the necessary visas. Visas, and especially Chinese visas, can take a long time to process. The Chinese embassy has strict requirements and may not be able to process your visa on time, especially if your travel date is approaching.
Many travelers feel that the KKH drive is long and unenjoyable. Many consider the best parts of the Naltar and Gilgit areas to be Attabad lake, the villages of Passu and the Gojal valley, and the various glaciers and valleys leading up to Khunjerab. If you rush through or miss these, many feel it takes away from the overall experience.
D) What wildlife is there at Khunjerab?
Sheep from the flocks of Marco Polo, named after the famous traveler, are indigenous to the Khunjerab area and can be found in the summers on the pastures of the Khunjerab Pass. Snow leopards are also found in the area but are rarely spotted. Other mountain goats and wildlife can also be found in the area.
E) How long does it take to get from Hunza to Khunjerab?
It takes around 4-5 hours to get from Karimabad (located in the main Hunza Valley) to Khunjerab Pass. The first 3 hours of this journey is through the beautiful Hunza Valley. After that, you will go through the man-made Attabad Lake (which is now divided into two by a dam). The final section to the pass takes you through the Wakhan corridor. Sost, which is located at the base of the pass, is at an elevation of 2,260 m/ 7,415 ft and is the last stop before you reach Khunjerab.
F) Is Khunjerab good for families?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you are taking kids to Khunjerab. Khunjerab Pass is at an elevation of 4,700m/ 15,420ft. Children and other family members who are not used to high elevations should be monitored for altitude sickness. The lowest elevation in the area, Passu, is easy for all ages to enjoy.
A common itinerary allows 4-5 days from Islamabad: 1-2 days each way on the KKH with an overnight stay at Chilas, 1-2 days in Karimabad for acclimatization with tour of Hunza Valley, 1 day for tour of Attabad and Passu with overnight stay at Sost or Gulmit, the pass day, and back to Islamabad. A 7-8 day itinerary gives more time for a Gojal Valley glacier hike.
Hospitality Tours is operated by local entrepreneurs with a passion for tourism and a first-hand understanding of the challenges visitors face when exploring Pakistan. They offer tours, transport, accommodation and border crossing services.
With your travel dates and how many people in your party, let them know if you want a stay in Hunza Valley and/or a tour of the Gojal glaciers. They will send you an itinerary to review and confirm all the arrangements including passes and transport. They do not charge until you confirm the itinerary.
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