Karakoram Highway Biking Tour from the Khunjerab Pass
A 14-day ride down the Karakoram Highway: the ride begins at the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 m and descends through Sost, Passu, Gulmit, Karimabad, Chalt and Nagar to Gilgit.
About the Karakoram Highway Bike Tour
The most remarkable bike trip in the world, the KKH Bike Tour, takes one through an area that inspired James Hilton’s Shangri-La, Hunza. This 14-day bike trip traverses the incredible Gilgit, Hunza, Gulmit, Passu, and Sost valleys through the Karakoram Highway. The KKH connects Pakistan with China and is considered an engineering feat as it winds through the narrow gorges of this remote mountain kingdom. Completed in 1974, this famous highway follows the old Silk Route, entering China at the Khunjerab Pass (16,000 feet), where our ride begins.
To arrive at our starting point (Khunjerab Pass), we fly (weather permitting) from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, to Gilgit at 4,770 feet. We are transported by jeeps to the top of Khujerab Pass in two days with an overnight hotel stay at Gulmit or Sost.
Introduction as published on the Mountain Biking page.
Key facts
- Duration
- 14 days
- Best time
- Mid-June to End-September
- Range / region
- Karakoram
- Highest point
- 4,693 m
- Zone
- Open
- Starts and ends
- Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad
- Tent nights in the itinerary
- 1
Who it suits
Most of the riding is downhill on a paved highway, with hotel nights in the valleys. It suits cyclists who want big scenery without camping for long.
- Best time in the programme: mid-June to the end of September.
- Day 2 travels to Gilgit by air or by road to Chilas.
- A Hunza exploration day and an Islamabad buffer day are built in.
The ride: from the Khunjerab Pass to Gilgit
The route starts high, at the Khunjerab Pass on the border at 4,693 m, and loses altitude as it follows the Karakoram Highway down through Sost, Passu, Gulmit, Karimabad, Chalt and Nagar to Gilgit. Because most of the riding is downhill on a paved road, the challenge is less about climbing and more about managing a long descent, sharing the road with traffic and adjusting to a high-altitude start.
- The programme lists the ride as 14 days, with hotel nights in the valleys rather than camping.
- The published plan includes a Hunza exploration day and an Islamabad buffer day.
Altitude, weather and road conditions
Starting at 4,693 m means the first day can feel harder than the distance suggests, even though the road drops. Give yourself a day or two to adjust and keep the early riding short. The Karakoram Highway is a sealed road but is exposed to rockfall, washouts and sudden weather, so the plan may need to shift around conditions.
- Best time in the programme: mid-June to the end of September.
- Mountain weather changes quickly; be ready for cold starts near the pass and warm afternoons lower in the valleys.
Preparation and support
The bike and personal cycling gear are treated as your own equipment, so confirm exactly what is provided and what you bring. A support arrangement can carry luggage on the longer stages, but check how it works for your dates rather than assuming.
- Bring layers for high-altitude cold, rain protection and sun protection for long descents.
- Spare parts and tools for your own bike are worth carrying even on a supported ride.
Reading the daily stages
The published plan names the places the ride passes - Sost, Passu, Gulmit, Karimabad, Chalt and Nagar - but the exact distance and climb of each day are set by the route sheet, not by the place names alone. Use the names as a sense of the journey: the upper reaches from the pass to Passu are the most exposed and cold, while the valley roads below Karimabad are warmer and busier.
- The first stages drop from the pass and stay high; the later stages are lower and more settled.
- Ask for the day-by-day distances and elevation before you go, so you know which days are the longest.
Contingency planning
A highway ride in the Karakoram is a plan, not a fixed timetable. Rockfall, washouts and weather can close a section of road or force a day to be rescheduled, and the support vehicle is the safety net that makes a change of plan possible.
- Keep some flexibility in your dates around the ride rather than fixing an international flight to the last day.
- Agree with the team what happens if a section of the highway is closed before you set off.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Islamabad
Arrival at Islamabad International Airport. Transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, bike assembly, gear checking, and trip briefing. Overnight stay in hotel at Islamabad.
Day 02: Islamabad – Gilgit (or Chilas by road)
Take the mountain flight to Gilgit (4,770 feet). In case of bad weather, drive along the Karakoram Highway via Babusar Pass / Besham to Chilas. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 03: Gilgit – Gulmit / Sost
Transport by vehicles along the KKH through the Hunza Valley up to the high-altitude settlements of Gulmit or Sost. Take in views of Mount Rakaposhi and the Karakoram peaks en route. Overnight in hotel.
Day 04: Sost – Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m) – Sost (Ride Begins)
Drive up to the Pakistan-China border at Khunjerab Pass (16,000 feet), the highest paved international border crossing in the world. Unload bikes and begin the descent—a long, exhilarating downhill ride through Khunjerab National Park down to Sost. Overnight in hotel.
Day 05: Sost – Passu
Pedal down the smooth tarmac of the Karakoram Highway towards Passu. Enjoy close-up views of the dramatic, serrated Passu Cones (Cathedral Ridge) and the Passu Glacier. Overnight in hotel/camp.
Day 06: Passu – Gulmit
A scenic ride passing through Hussaini and crossing along the turquoise waters of Attabad Lake towards the ancient settlement of Gulmit. Explore traditional Wakhi culture, old houses, and local carpet-weaving centers. Overnight in hotel.
Day 07: Gulmit – Karimabad (Hunza Valley)
Cycle south through the Attabad tunnels and enter Central Hunza. A moderate climb leads up to Karimabad, the heart of the legendary Shangri-La valley. Afternoon visit to the historic Baltit Fort. Overnight in hotel.
Day 08: Hunza Exploration Day
Rest and exploration day. Bike or walk up to Altit Fort, the Royal Gardens, and the viewpoint of Eagle's Nest (Duikar) for sunset views over Rakaposhi, Diran, and Golden Peak. Overnight in hotel.
Day 09: Karimabad – Chalt / Nagar Valley
Ride downhill along the KKH past apricot orchards and roadside fruit stands. Cross over into Nagar and continue cycling towards Chalt. Overnight in camp/guest house.
Day 10: Chalt – Gilgit
The final cycling stretch follows the winding Hunza River down to Gilgit town. Stop at the junction of the world's three great mountain ranges (Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush). Overnight in hotel at Gilgit.
Day 11: Gilgit – Besham / Chilas
Begin the return overland journey south along the Karakoram Highway by support vehicle, passing rugged river gorges. Overnight in hotel.
Day 12: Besham / Chilas – Islamabad
Continue the scenic drive back to Islamabad via Hazara Motorway. Check in to the hotel and relax. Overnight in hotel.
Day 13: Buffer Day / Islamabad Sightseeing
Contingency day for road travel or guided sightseeing in Islamabad (Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, and Lok Virsa). Farewell group dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 14: Departure
Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for the return flight home.
Included and not included
Listed as included
- Hotel Accommodation on a sharing basis
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Air-conditioned luxury transport
- English-speaking tour guide
- Entry fees
- toll taxes
- Domestic flights tickets
- Tips for baggage handling at airports & hotels
Listed as not included
- Member international flight tickets
- Member personal insurance and all personal expenses such as telephone calls, fax, email charges, liquor or soft drinks,
- Helicopter emergency rescue fees
- Room service, personal services, items of a purely personal nature, and any unforeseen expenses (like road block extra hotel stay), then members will be paid according to the number of days basses.
As listed in the programme's service details; confirm the current inclusions when you plan your dates.
Places on this route
Destination guides for the places this itinerary passes through:
Compare other biking tours
| Programme | Days | Best time | Highest point | Range / region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hushe valley Biking Tour | 14 | Mid-May to End-August | 2750 m | Karakoram |
| Deosai Biking Tours | 19 | — | — | — |
| HinduKush Mountain Bike | 19 | Mid-May to End-August | 3720 m | HinduKush/Karakoram |
