Khunjerab Pass

Introduction

Khunjerab Pass, situated at 4,693 metres above sea level on the border between Pakistan and China, holds the distinction of being the highest paved international border crossing in the world. Reached via the Karakoram Highway through the upper reaches of Hunza's Gojal region, the pass sits on a broad, treeless plateau of extraordinary emptiness and beauty, framed by rolling brown hills and distant snowfields under an immense high-altitude sky.

The Karakoram Highway

The road to Khunjerab Pass is itself one of the great reasons to make the journey. The Karakoram Highway, often referred to as the KKH or the Eighth Wonder of the World, was built jointly by Pakistan and China between 1959 and 1979 through some of the most formidable terrain on the planet. The section from Sost to Khunjerab climbs steadily through narrowing gorges and across open high-altitude plateaux, with the landscape becoming increasingly sparse and moon-like as the elevation rises. The engineering achievement represented by this road — blasted and carved through solid rock at the junction of three of the world's greatest mountain ranges — remains staggering.

Khunjerab National Park

The entire upper Gojal region approaching the pass falls within Khunjerab National Park, established in 1975 and covering approximately 2,270 square kilometres. The park was created primarily to protect the snow leopard and the Marco Polo sheep, the latter being the world's largest wild sheep with spectacular curved horns that can reach lengths of over 1.5 metres. Brown bears, wolves, golden eagles, and the Himalayan ibex also inhabit the park. In summer, herds of Marco Polo sheep and even the occasional yak can be spotted from the road, particularly in the broad meadows approaching the pass.

The Pass Itself

The pass area is marked by a simple monument and border post, along with a modest welcome arch. At this altitude, the air is noticeably thin — most visitors feel some degree of breathlessness after even light activity. The plateau landscape is austere and beautiful in equal measure: no trees, no buildings beyond the border infrastructure, and a vast open sky that seems closer here than anywhere else. On a clear day the silence is near-complete, broken only by the wind and the occasional distant call of a bird.

Sost — The Last Pakistani Town

Before reaching the pass, travellers pass through Sost, the last Pakistani town on the KKH and the location of the official dry port and immigration checkpoint for those crossing into China. Sost has basic guesthouses, a small bazaar, and customs and immigration facilities. Cross-border travellers on buses or in private vehicles complete formalities here before proceeding to the pass and onward into Xinjiang, China.

Visiting Without Crossing the Border

Pakistani citizens and tourists visiting on a Pakistan visa (without a Chinese visa) are permitted to drive to the pass and spend time at the border area without crossing into China. This makes the journey to Khunjerab accessible as a scenic day trip or overnight excursion from Passu or Sost, and it is one of the most rewarding drives in the country. The round trip from Passu to the pass and back takes approximately five to six hours by car including stops.

The pass is open to tourists from May to November, with June to September being the most comfortable period. The road is closed to regular traffic from December to April due to heavy snowfall. Even in summer, temperatures at the pass can drop quickly and wind chill is significant, so warm layers are essential.

From Sost (the border town), the pass is approximately 86km by road and takes around 2 hours by car. From Passu, add another 30km and 45 minutes. Shared jeeps and private taxis run from Sost to the pass during the open season. From Karimabad, a round trip to Khunjerab is best done as a full day excursion with a hired vehicle.