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Khunjerab Pass
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Khunjerab Pass in Pakistan reveals high-altitude Karakoram landscapes, the China border, national park wildlife and the historic Karakoram Highway beyond.

A High Mountain Borderland

Khunjerab Pass is Pakistan’s highest international border crossing, rising to approximately 4,693 metres in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan. It lies at the northern end of the Karakoram Highway, where Pakistan meets China’s Xinjiang region, and forms the dramatic culmination of one of Asia’s great road journeys. The pass itself is an austere landscape of broad alpine plateaux, steep brown and grey mountains, snowfields and glacial valleys, with the Khunjerab River draining through the high country towards the Hunza Valley.
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Khunjerab National Park

Much of the surrounding terrain falls within Khunjerab National Park, established to protect high-altitude habitats and wildlife including Marco Polo sheep, Himalayan ibex and the elusive snow leopard. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the immense scale of the terrain can make wildlife difficult to detect, but the park’s open slopes and remote valleys provide an important refuge for species adapted to severe winters and thin mountain air. Visitors should remain on permitted routes and avoid disturbing animals or fragile alpine vegetation.

The Journey from Hunza

Khunjerab Pass is not a conventional resort or settled mountain destination. Most journeys approach from the south through Hunza, passing the settlements of Karimabad, Gulmit, Passu and Sost before the road climbs into the national park. Sost is the principal Pakistani gateway for border and highway formalities, while Hunza’s villages provide more accommodation, food and transport options. The pass is valued for its immense scenery, the engineering of the Karakoram Highway, and its place in modern Pakistan-China relations as much as for the border viewpoint itself. Access is controlled, weather-dependent and subject to changing border regulations.

When is the best time to visit Khunjerab Pass?

Best: June–August · 23–26°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January15
February26
March78
April1112
May1820
June (best)2324
July (best)2628
August (best)2624
September1716
October912
November48
December26

Getting to and around Khunjerab Pass

How to get there

Khunjerab Pass is reached from Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway, which follows the Hunza Valley northwards from Gilgit through Karimabad, Gulmit, Passu and Sost. Gilgit is the principal regional transport hub, with road connections to Islamabad and other parts of northern Pakistan, while flights to Gilgit can be affected by weather and operational conditions. Sost, roughly 80 kilometres south of the pass, is the nearest significant settlement and the usual base for checking border and access arrangements. Travellers should carry valid identification and confirm current requirements before setting out, as the crossing is a controlled international frontier rather than an unrestricted scenic viewpoint.

Transportation

A private vehicle, hired car with driver or locally organised excursion is generally the most practical way to reach Khunjerab Pass, since settlements and services are widely spaced along the highway. Public transport and shared vehicles operate in the wider Hunza region, but onward arrangements from Sost may be limited and should be confirmed locally. The road climbs through exposed high-altitude terrain, and snow, landslides, roadworks or official controls can affect journeys. Walking is suitable only for short, carefully chosen sections and should not be treated as a substitute for transport across the pass corridor.

Best attractions in Khunjerab Pass

The defining attraction is the Khunjerab Pass itself, where the Karakoram Highway reaches a broad, stark saddle on the Pakistan-China frontier at approximately 4,693 metres. The approach through Khunjerab National Park reveals high plateaux, steep mountain walls, snowfields and the Khunjerab River, with occasional opportunities to look for Marco Polo sheep, ibex and other high-altitude wildlife. The road journey is part of the experience, particularly the transition from the cultivated villages and dramatic gorges of upper Hunza into the open, treeless border landscape. Sost, the nearest Pakistani settlement, serves as the practical gateway for supplies and access arrangements rather than as an attraction of the pass itself. Farther south, Passu, Gulmit and other Hunza communities provide cultural and scenic stops along the route, but they lie outside the immediate pass area. Visitors should distinguish the controlled border site from the wider national park and confirm where stopping, photography and walking are permitted.

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Best landmarks in Khunjerab Pass

Khunjerab Pass is the principal landmark, a high natural saddle marking Pakistan’s northern frontier and the final ascent of the Karakoram Highway. Its significance is geographical and political as well as scenic: the road, border infrastructure and surrounding plateaux demonstrate how an international route crosses one of the world’s most demanding mountain systems. Khunjerab National Park forms the wider natural setting, protecting high-altitude valleys and slopes associated with Marco Polo sheep, ibex and snow leopard habitat. The Khunjerab River provides a defining physical thread through the landscape, while the bare mountain walls and snow-covered ridges emphasise the pass’s elevation. The highway itself is a modern engineering landmark, linking the upper Hunza region with China through a corridor once crossed only by arduous mountain travel. Sost, south of the pass, is the nearest important settlement and gateway, but it is distinct from the border landmark and the open park landscape beyond it.

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Explore Khunjerab Pass on the map

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Best restaurants in Khunjerab Pass

Khunjerab Pass has no established dining scene, and travellers should carry provisions for the high-altitude road. The most practical meals are found before departure in Hunza’s settlements and in Sost, where local eateries and simple cafés serve regional food according to seasonal availability. Hunza cuisine reflects its mountain environment, with apricots, walnuts, mulberries, wheat, potatoes and other locally grown produce appearing in household and village cooking. In the wider valley, visitors may encounter dishes such as chapshoro, a filled pastry associated with Hunza and neighbouring areas, as well as breads, soups, noodles and simple rice-based meals. Sost and the larger Hunza settlements also provide some Chinese-influenced food because of the highway’s cross-border connections, but choice is limited compared with Pakistan’s cities. Food availability beyond Sost is sparse, so meals, snacks and drinking water should be arranged before heading towards the pass.

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Best shops in Khunjerab Pass

Shopping at Khunjerab Pass is limited to practical purchases and occasional border-area trading activity rather than a developed retail scene. Sost is the nearest Pakistani settlement for basic supplies, while more varied shopping is available farther south in Hunza’s towns and villages. Visitors may find dried apricots, walnuts, mulberries, local honey and other products associated with Hunza’s irrigated mountain agriculture, alongside handicrafts and textiles sold in the wider valley. Traditional woollen goods, caps, carved items and small artworks may be available from local producers, although stock varies and should not be treated as guaranteed. Karimabad and other established Hunza settlements offer more opportunities to purchase regional food products and craft items than the pass corridor. Travellers should buy fuel, snacks, water and essential medicines before heading north, because retail facilities become increasingly scarce beyond Sost and there are no conventional shopping streets at the border.

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Khunjerab Pass essentials

Currency and Payment
Pakistan’s currency is the Pakistani rupee, abbreviated PKR. Cash is particularly important in upper Hunza and on the approach to Khunjerab Pass, where card acceptance and cash-machine access are limited compared with larger towns. Carry sufficient rupees before leaving Gilgit or Hunza, while keeping money secure and retaining smaller notes for local purchases. Sost may provide basic services, but visitors should not rely on finding banking facilities or reliable electronic payment at the pass itself. Chinese currency and border-trade arrangements should not be assumed to be usable on the Pakistani side.
Safety
The principal risks are altitude, cold, intense sunlight, rapidly changing weather, difficult road conditions and the remoteness of the border landscape. Acute mountain sickness can affect visitors at nearly 4,700 metres, so gradual acclimatisation in the Hunza region is prudent; severe symptoms require descent and medical advice. Remain inside vehicles or on authorised ground where officials direct, and never approach unstable slopes, river edges or wildlife. Mobile coverage and emergency response may be limited beyond settlements. Road conditions can change after snowfall, rockfall or landslides, making local advice essential before departure.
Emergency Situations
In Pakistan, police assistance is generally requested on 15, while Rescue 1122 operates in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and may provide emergency response where coverage exists. In a serious incident, contact local authorities, the nearest police post or accommodation provider and give the exact road position, direction of travel and nearest settlement. The high pass is remote, so specialised medical assistance and evacuation may take time. Visitors should carry personal medication, travel insurance details and a charged phone, while remembering that connectivity can be intermittent along the Karakoram Highway.
Do's and Don'ts
Do respect border controls, official instructions, local residents, religious customs and the conservation rules of Khunjerab National Park. Use established roads and permitted stopping areas, take all litter away, and observe wildlife from a distance without feeding or pursuing animals. Do not photograph military, border or security installations unless permission is clearly given. Avoid loud behaviour in villages and ask before photographing people. Do not treat the open landscape as a place for unrestricted camping, fires, off-road driving or collecting plants and stones; access rights and restrictions may vary along the route.
Local Tips
Plan the pass as part of a wider Hunza itinerary rather than as a quick independent outing from low altitude. Karimabad is useful for cultural and accommodation facilities, while Passu and Sost place travellers closer to the northern section of the highway. Start with local confirmation of weather, road conditions and border access, and keep flexibility in the schedule. The clearest views are often associated with stable weather, but high-altitude cloud and snow can arrive quickly. Carry food and water for the road because facilities become sparse after the settled parts of Hunza.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
Helloسلام[salaam]
Goodbyeخدا حافظ[khuda hafiz]
Yesہاں[haan]
Noنہیں[nahin]
Please/You're welcomeبراہ کرم[barah-e-karam]
Thank youشکریہ[shukriya]
Excuse me/Sorryمعذرت چاہتا ہوں[maazrat chahta hoon]
How are you?آپ کیسے ہیں؟[aap kaise hain?]
Fine. And you?ٹھیک ہوں۔ اور آپ؟[theek hoon. aur aap?]
Do you speak English?کیا آپ انگریزی بولتے ہیں؟[kya aap angrezi boltay hain?]
I don't understandمجھے سمجھ نہیں آیا[mujhe samajh nahi aya]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseبراہ کرم مینو دیکھنا ہے[barah-e-karam menu dekhna hai]
I don't eat meatمیں گوشت نہیں کھاتا[main gosht nahi khata]
Cheers!خوش رہئیں![khush rahiye]
I would like to pay, pleaseبراہ کرم ادا کرنا ہے[barah-e-karam ada karna hai]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!مدد![madad!]
Go away!دور ہوجاؤ![door ho jao!]
Call the Police!پولیس کو بلاؤ![police ko bulao!]
Call a doctor!ڈاکٹر کو بلاؤ![doctor ko bulao!]
I'm lostمیں گم ہوگیا ہوں[main gum ho gaya hoon]
I'm illمیں بیمار ہوں[main bemar hoon]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...میں خریدنا چاہتا ہوں...[main kharidna chahta hoon...]
I'm just lookingمیں صرف دیکھ رہا ہوں[main sirf dekh raha hoon]
How much is it?یہ کتنا ہے؟[ye kitna hai?]
That's too expensiveیہ بہت مہنگا ہے[ye bohot mehnga hai]
Can you lower the price?کیا آپ قیمت کم کرسکتے ہیں؟[kya aap qeemat kam kar sakte hain?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?وقت کیا ہوا ہے؟[waqt kya hua hai?]
It's one o'clockایک بجے ہیں[aik bajay hain]
Half past (10)دس بج کر پندرہ منٹ ہوچکے ہیں[das baj kar pandrah minute hochuke hain]
Morningصبح[subah]
Afternoonدوپہر[dopehar]
Eveningشام[shaam]
Yesterdayگزشتہ دن[guzishta din]
Todayآج[aaj]
Tomorrowکل[kal]
1ایک[aik]
2دو[do]
3تین[teen]
4چار[chaar]
5پانچ[paanch]
6چھے[chhe]
7سات[saat]
8آٹھ[aath]
9نو[no]
10دس[das]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?...کہاں ہے؟[kahan hai?]
What's the address?پتہ کیا ہے؟[pata kya hai?]
Can you show me (on the map)?کیا آپ مجھے (نقشے پر) دکھا سکتے ہیں؟[kya aap mujhe (naqsha par) dikhha sakte hain?]
When's the next (bus)?اگلی (بس) کب ہے؟[agli (bus) kab hai?]
A ticket (to ....)ایک ٹکٹ (سے .... تک)[aik ticket (se .... tak)]

History of Khunjerab Pass

An Ancient High-Mountain Route

The Khunjerab corridor belongs to a wider network of movement through the Karakoram that linked communities in the upper Hunza region with routes towards Central Asia and the Tarim Basin. The high pass was not an urban centre or a continuously settled trade town; its severe climate limited permanent habitation. Instead, its importance lay in the possibility of crossing a formidable mountain frontier through seasonal travel, pastoral movement and long-distance exchange. The wider Hunza area developed distinctive languages, customs and settlement patterns shaped by its position between South and Central Asian cultural worlds.

Hunza and the Northern Frontier

For centuries, the Hunza Valley was governed by the hereditary rulers known as the Mirs of Hunza, whose territory extended through a difficult landscape of valleys, side valleys and mountain passes. Local communities combined irrigated agriculture in the lower valleys with pastoral practices suited to high elevations. Political authority, trade and relations with neighbouring valleys were shaped by the terrain, while the northern routes connected Hunza to wider regional networks. Khunjerab’s modern significance developed from this older frontier history rather than from a large settlement at the pass itself.

The Karakoram Highway

The modern road transformed the Khunjerab corridor. Constructed through Pakistan and China from the 1960s and opened for regular public use in the late 1970s, the Karakoram Highway links the plains of Pakistan with Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang. Its construction was a major engineering undertaking across one of the world’s highest mountain systems, involving steep valleys, unstable slopes and severe weather. At Khunjerab Pass, the highway became both an international transport route and a powerful symbol of cooperation between Pakistan and China.

National Park and Conservation

Khunjerab National Park was established in 1975 to conserve the high-altitude ecosystems and wildlife of the border region. Its broad valleys and mountain slopes provide habitat for species such as Marco Polo sheep, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep and snow leopards, although the remoteness and scale of the park make encounters uncertain. Conservation has had to coexist with transport, border administration and the needs of communities in the wider Hunza region. Today, the pass is understood both as a controlled international frontier and as part of a protected mountain landscape.

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