The Cycling the Karakoram Highway: Raikot Bridge to Khunjerab is a guided trip lasting 15 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,693 m. It is graded Moderate to demanding — seven riding days and a 1,900 m climb to 4,693 m — 7 riding days, about 360 km. 3 fixed departures are open from $2,350 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Cycling the Karakoram Highway — Raikot Bridge to the Khunjerab Pass, 15 Days
Seven riding days and about 360 km, from Raikot Bridge under Nanga Parbat to the Khunjerab Pass on the China border at 4,693 m. On the way: the point near Jaglot where three mountain ranges meet, Rakaposhi standing over the road, the Hunza forts, Attabad Lake and the Passu Cones. The last 85 km climb about 1,900 m, and we split them over two days.
A support vehicle carries your bags and picks you up whenever you want it. We drive the busy, hot lower highway from Islamabad and start riding where the riding is good. Hotels and all meals are included. Bring your own bike or rent one from us.
Rather see the highway from a seat? Our Karakoram Highway Tour drives the same road in twelve days. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
- Duration
- 15 Days - 14 Nights
- Max altitude
- 4,693 m
- Grade
- Moderate – Demanding
- Days on foot
- 0
- Best season
- Late Spring & Autumn ( May - June, September - October )
- Group size
- Max 8
Karakoram Highway Cycling Tour Price
From $2,350 per person in a group of four to six riders. That covers the support vehicle and driver for the whole trip, a licensed Gilgit-Baltistan guide, 14 nights in hotels (twin share), all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 15, the Khunjerab National Park fee, fuel and tolls.
Your bike is not included in this price: bring your own, or rent one from us and we add the rental to your quote when you book. International flights, visa, travel insurance, drinks and tips are extra.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip.
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $4,000 | A private support vehicle, driver and guide for one rider. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $2,600 | One support vehicle shared by a small group of riders. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $2,350 | Our most popular group size and the best balance of cost and pace. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $2,150 | Best per-person rate for clubs and larger groups. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes — if you can walk uphill for a few hours, this is well within reach.
Graded Moderate to demanding — seven riding days and a 1,900 m climb to 4,693 m.
What to expect
The highest point is 4,693 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Cycling the Karakoram Highway
Fifteen days: two days by road from Islamabad to Chilas, seven riding days from Raikot Bridge to the Khunjerab Pass with a rest day in Karimabad, then three days back down the highway by vehicle with your bike on the roof.
Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
500 m
Airport pick-up and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon bike build and a short shakedown ride; tell us about anything missing or broken while you are still in the capital. Night in Islamabad.
Day 2Drive Islamabad to Besham
950 m
About 290 km by vehicle, bikes on board. Up the KKH through Abbottabad and Mansehra into the Indus gorge. This lower stretch is busy with trucks and hot in summer, which is why we drive it. Night in Besham.
Day 3Drive Besham to Chilas
1,250 m
About 200 km by vehicle, deeper into the gorge, with Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) appearing ahead near Chilas. An easy spin by the river in the evening if the heat allows. Night in Chilas.
Day 4Ride Raikot Bridge to Gilgit
1,500 m
Ride about 75 km. A short transfer to Raikot Bridge, then the first real ride: up the Indus with Nanga Parbat behind you, past the viewpoint near Jaglot where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush meet, and up the Gilgit River to town. Mostly gentle, often hot. Night in Gilgit.
Day 5Ride Gilgit to the Rakaposhi viewpoint
Ride about 65 km into Nagar, climbing gradually beside the Hunza River to Ghulmet, where Rakaposhi (7,788 m) stands almost on top of the road. Night at the Rakaposhi viewpoint.
Day 6Ride to Karimabad
2,440 m
Ride about 35 km. Short, but with a steep finish up into Karimabad. Afternoon free. Night in Karimabad.
Day 7Rest day in Karimabad
2,440 m
Baltit and Altit forts on foot, and the Eagle’s Nest at sunset if you want the view. The bikes get a check-over. Night in Karimabad.
Day 8Ride Karimabad to Passu
2,540 m
Ride about 65 km. Past Attabad Lake and through the Friendship Tunnels, where we ride behind the support vehicle or load the bikes, depending on traffic and the tunnel staff that day. Then Gulmit, the Hussaini suspension bridge and the Passu Cones. Night in Passu.
Day 9Ride Passu to Sost
2,800 m
Ride about 40 km up the valley to Sost, the last town before the border. Rest in the afternoon: the next two days climb about 1,900 m. Night in Sost.
Day 10Ride into Khunjerab National Park
Ride about 40 km. The first half of the pass road, into the national park and steadily up. The vehicle brings you back down to Sost so you sleep low. Night in Sost.
Day 11Ride to the Khunjerab Pass
4,693 m
Ride about 45 km. Back up by vehicle to yesterday’s finish, then the final climb to the pass and the China border at 4,693 m. Thin air and long switchbacks, and anyone can climb into the vehicle at any point; there is oxygen on board. Photos at the top, then down by vehicle to Passu. Night in Passu.
Day 12Drive Passu to Gilgit
1,500 m
About 160 km by vehicle, bikes on the roof, back down the highway you rode. Night in Gilgit.
Day 13Drive Gilgit to Besham
950 m
About 320 km by vehicle, a long day down the Indus past Chilas. Night in Besham.
Day 14Drive Besham to Islamabad
500 m
About 290 km by vehicle, back to the capital by afternoon. Time to box the bikes. Night in Islamabad.
Day 15Depart Islamabad
500 m
Transfer to the airport.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $2,350 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Support vehicle and driver for the whole trip
- Licensed Gilgit-Baltistan guide
- 14 nights in hotels (twin share)
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 15
- Khunjerab National Park fee
- Fuel
- Tolls and bottled water
- Satellite phone with the guide and a real evacuation plan
- The same safety system we run on our expeditions
Not included
- Your bike and cycling gear (bike rental available from us
- Added to your quote)
- International flights
- Pakistan visa
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Single-room supplement
- Drinks and tips
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $2,350 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About Cycling the Karakoram Highway
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your place. Balance is due 30 days before departure.
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. We confirm within the hour in season.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 60+ days before departure for a full refund of the deposit. 30-59 days: half the deposit. Under 30 days: the deposit is forfeit.
If we cancel a departure for operational reasons, you receive a full refund or a transfer to another date, your choice. Cancellations for weather or road and flight closures follow our force majeure terms: a free transfer or a credit valid for 24 months, plus a refund of every cost we can recover.
Permits & Documentation
A standard Pakistan tourist visa covers the whole trip, including the Khunjerab National Park and the pass. Carry your passport and visa for the checkpoints along the highway, plus photocopies. Crossing into China is not part of this trip.
Health & Fitness
Moderate to demanding: seven riding days of 35 to 75 km, ending with a climb of about 1,900 m to 4,693 m over two days. You should be riding regularly before you come. Minimum age 16.
Travel insurance covering cycling at altitude is mandatory and arranged by you.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is cycling the Karakoram Highway?
Moderate to demanding. About 360 km over seven riding days on paved road, most of it climbing gently, then the big one: Sost at about 2,800 m to the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 m, which we split over two days. You need to be comfortable riding 60 to 75 km on consecutive days. The support vehicle is always close behind.
Do I need to bring my own bike?
Either works. If you bring your own, a touring, gravel or hardtail mountain bike with low gears and sturdy tyres suits the road. If you would rather not fly with a bike, rent one from us: tell us your height and riding style when you book and we add the rental to your quote.
Why not ride all the way from Islamabad?
The lower highway between Islamabad and Chilas is busy with trucks, hot in summer and prone to rockfall in the monsoon. We drive it and start riding at Raikot Bridge, where the road opens up under Nanga Parbat and the riding gets good.
When is the best time to cycle the KKH?
Late May to June, and September to October. The Khunjerab border opens on 1 May and closes on 31 December; July and August bring heat on the lower Indus and the highest landslide risk. October has the clearest skies and cold nights.
What does the support vehicle do?
It carries your luggage, water, food and spares (tubes, a track pump, basic tools), drives behind the group on the busier stretches, and picks up anyone who is done for the day, no questions asked. It carries oxygen for the Khunjerab climb, and a satellite phone travels with the guide.
