At the far northern end of the Karakoram Highway, where Pakistan's mountains finally give way to the Chinese border, sits Khunjerab Pass, one of the highest paved border crossings in the world. At an elevation of roughly 4,693 metres, the pass marks the end of a journey that has climbed steadily from the plains of Punjab through Hunza and Gojal, and standing at the border marker, with prayer flags and stone monuments on either side, feels like reaching the edge of something enormous.
For most travellers, Khunjerab is not simply a border crossing but a destination in its own right, the natural conclusion to a trip through upper Hunza and one of the most memorable short excursions available anywhere in Pakistan.
The drive up
The road from Sost, the last major town on the Pakistani side, climbs steadily through Khunjerab National Park, gaining altitude with every switchback. The landscape changes noticeably along the way, from the green fields and orchards of lower Hunza to a bare, high-altitude terrain of rock, sparse grass and, in season, patches of snow even in summer. The final stretch to the pass is dramatic, with wide valleys opening up on either side and the road itself among the highest paved routes in the world.
Khunjerab National Park
The pass sits within Khunjerab National Park, a protected area established to safeguard the region's high-altitude wildlife. Marco Polo sheep, ibex, blue sheep and, more elusively, the snow leopard all inhabit this landscape, along with golden marmots that are a common and charming sight along the roadside in summer. Sightings of the larger mammals require patience and often binoculars, but marmots are frequently visible from the car window, popping in and out of burrows as vehicles pass.
The border itself
At the pass, a formal gate and a cluster of monuments mark the border between Pakistan and China, with signage, flags and a small area where visitors typically stop for photographs. On clear days the views stretch across bare, rounded peaks in every direction, utterly different from the sharp granite spires further south in Hunza. The thin air and biting wind at this altitude make it a brief stop for most visitors rather than a place to linger long, but the sense of having reached a genuine geographic extreme is hard to match elsewhere in the country.
Altitude and how to prepare
At close to 4,700 metres, altitude effects are a real consideration. Most visitors travel up from Sost or Karimabad in a single day, spending only a short time at the pass itself, which limits exposure and reduces risk for those without time to acclimatise properly. Even so, headaches, breathlessness and light dizziness are common, and moving slowly, staying hydrated and avoiding sudden exertion at the top all help. Anyone with a history of altitude sickness should approach the trip cautiously and consider spending a night in Sost beforehand to adjust.
Access and current conditions
Khunjerab Pass is generally open to visitors during the warmer months, roughly from late spring through early autumn, though exact dates depend on weather, snowfall and border arrangements between the two countries, and these can change from year to year. Since the pass functions as an active international border, conditions and permitted access can shift with little notice, so it is worth confirming current status before building a full day's plan around reaching it.
Sost and the final stretch
Sost serves as the last significant settlement before the pass and functions as Pakistan's border town, with basic hotels, a customs post and services for travellers and traders moving along this historic branch of the old Silk Road. Many visitors stay a night here before the drive to Khunjerab, both to break up the journey and to allow a small measure of acclimatisation before reaching the highest point of the trip.
Best time to visit
Summer, from June through September, offers the most reliable access and the mildest conditions at altitude, though even in the warmest months, temperatures at the pass remain cold and winds are strong. Early autumn can bring exceptionally clear skies, ideal for photography, though nights turn cold quickly as the season advances.
Getting there
The drive from Karimabad to Khunjerab Pass and back is a long day, typically eight to ten hours round trip including stops, and is usually done as a dedicated excursion rather than combined with much else. Breaking the journey with a night in Sost makes for a more comfortable pace and reduces the strain of a single long day at altitude.
What the journey teaches you
Beyond the pass itself, the drive up from Hunza to Khunjerab offers a kind of geography lesson in real time, as lush irrigated fields give way gradually to bare, wind-scoured slopes over the course of a few hours. Watching this transition unfold from the window of a moving vehicle is, for many travellers, as memorable as reaching the border marker itself. Along the way, small settlements and roadside chai stalls offer glimpses of the communities who live and work at these extreme altitudes year-round, a useful reminder that the pass is not simply a tourist attraction but a working border crossing with real economic significance for trade between Pakistan and China. Truck convoys are a common sight on this stretch of highway, and patience is often required when sharing the narrow mountain road with slower-moving freight traffic, particularly on tighter switchback sections closer to the pass.
Khunjerab Pass is the natural finale to a Hunza itinerary. Browse our tour packages or contact us to include it in your route north.