The Karakoram Highway Tour: Islamabad to Khunjerab is a guided trip lasting 12 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,693 m. It is graded Easy — long road days and one day at 4,693 m — short walks at stops. 4 fixed departures are open from $1,950 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Karakoram Highway Tour — Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass in 12 Days
The Karakoram Highway leaves the plains near Islamabad at about 500 m and ends, for most travellers, at the Khunjerab Pass on the China border at 4,693 m. In between lie the Indus gorge, Nanga Parbat standing over the road at Chilas, the point near Jaglot where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush meet, Rakaposhi from base to summit, the turquoise of Attabad Lake and the Passu Cones.
This is the whole road, driven north at a pace that lets you see it. Twelve days from Islamabad, two nights in Karimabad, three in Passu, the Khunjerab as a day out, and a flight home from Gilgit. Private vehicle, local driver, a Gilgit-Baltistan guide, hotels and all meals.
Want Skardu, Deosai and Fairy Meadows as well? Those belong to our North Pakistan Jeep Safari. This trip stays on the highway. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
- Duration
- 12 Days - 11 Nights
- Max altitude
- 4,693 m
- Grade
- Easy – Moderate
- Days on foot
- 0
- Best season
- Spring to Autumn ( May - October )
- Group size
- Max 10
Karakoram Highway Tour Price
From $1,950 per person in a group of four to six. That covers a private vehicle and local driver for the whole route, a licensed Gilgit-Baltistan guide, 11 nights in hotels (twin share), all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 12, the Gilgit to Islamabad flight, the Khunjerab National Park fee, fuel and tolls.
International flights, your Pakistan visa, travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included. A single room adds a supplement we quote at booking.
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) | $3,200 | Private vehicle, driver and guide for one, on your dates. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $2,300 | One vehicle shared, ideal for couples and friends. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $1,950 | Our most popular group size and the best balance of cost and pace. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $1,750 | Best per-person rate for families and larger groups. |
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — long road days and one day at 4,693 m.
Good to know
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 — Karakoram Highway Tour
Twelve days north from Islamabad: the Indus gorge to Besham and Chilas, the three-ranges junction to Gilgit, two nights in Karimabad, three in Passu with the Khunjerab Pass as a day out, then Gilgit and the flight home.
Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
500 m
Pick-up from Islamabad airport and transfer to the hotel. Evening briefing with your guide: the route, the road, and what the altitude at the top will feel like. Night in Islamabad.
Day 2Islamabad to Besham
950 m
About 290 km. Off the motorway at Hassan Abdal and onto the KKH proper. Abbottabad and Mansehra pass early, then the road narrows and climbs into the Indus gorge. A long day, broken by tea stops. Night in Besham.
Day 3Besham to Chilas
1,250 m
About 200 km. Karakoram country in earnest: the Indus cuts a huge trench below the road. Near Chilas, Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) begins to fill the skyline, and boulders beside the highway carry rock carvings left by traders and pilgrims over thousands of years. Night in Chilas.
Day 4Chilas to Gilgit via Raikot Bridge and Jaglot
1,500 m
About 110 km. A short driving day. Past Raikot Bridge, where the Fairy Meadows jeep track begins, and on to the viewpoint near Jaglot where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush ranges meet. Afternoon in the Gilgit bazaar. Night in Gilgit.
Day 5Gilgit to Karimabad, Hunza
2,440 m
About 100 km. Up into Nagar and Hunza. Stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint, where the 7,788 m peak stands almost on top of the road, base to summit. Into Karimabad by afternoon. Night in Karimabad.
Day 6Karimabad: Baltit, Altit and the Eagle’s Nest
2,440 m
A day off the road. Baltit Fort above the town, Altit Fort and its Shikari tower of around 1,100 years by the river, and the evening at the Eagle’s Nest above Duikar for sunset on Rakaposhi and Ultar. Night in Karimabad.
Day 7Karimabad to Passu via Attabad Lake
2,540 m
Through the five Friendship Tunnels built after the 2010 landslide, with Attabad Lake below in that startling turquoise. Stop at Gulmit and walk out on the Hussaini suspension bridge if you have the nerve. The Passu Cones ahead. Night in Passu.
Day 8Khunjerab Pass day
4,693 m
The big day. North through Sost, the last town, and into Khunjerab National Park, climbing hard to the pass and the China border at 4,693 m. Time at the top, then back down to Passu. The jump from Sost at about 2,800 m can bring on a headache; it passes on the way down. Oxygen rides in the vehicle. Night in Passu.
Day 9Passu: the Batura snout and Borith Lake
2,600 m
A slow day after the altitude. Walk to the Batura glacier snout above the highway and up to Borith Lake at about 2,600 m under the Passu Cones, or just sit with tea and the view. Night in Passu.
Day 10Passu to Gilgit
1,500 m
About 160 km. Back down the highway with the light from the other direction, stopping for the photos you missed on the way up. Night in Gilgit.
Day 11Fly Gilgit to Islamabad
500 m
The morning flight to Islamabad follows the Indus, with Nanga Parbat off the wing on a clear day. It is weather-dependent: when it is cancelled we drive you south on the KKH instead, which takes two days. Night in Islamabad.
Day 12Depart Islamabad
500 m
Transfer to the airport. If the Gilgit flight was cancelled and we drove, you reach Islamabad this evening instead, so book your flight home for day 13 if you can.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $1,950 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Private vehicle with local driver for the whole route
- Licensed Gilgit-Baltistan guide
- 11 nights in hotels (twin share)
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 12
- The Gilgit to Islamabad flight
- 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
- 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 $1,950 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 the Karakoram Highway Tour
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 viewpoint. Carry your passport and visa for the checkpoints along the highway, plus photocopies. Crossing into China is not part of this trip and needs a Chinese visa arranged in advance.
Health & Fitness
Easy on the body: you sit in a vehicle and the walks at stops are short. The hard parts are long road days, narrow sections with no barrier, and one day at 4,693 m. If you have a serious heart or lung condition, talk to your doctor about the Khunjerab day. Minimum age 8.
Travel insurance 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 many days do you need for the Karakoram Highway?
Five to seven days one way is the practical minimum with real overnight stops. This tour takes twelve: five days driving north, time in Hunza and Passu, the Khunjerab as a day trip, and a flight back from Gilgit so you do not drive the whole road twice.
How high is the Khunjerab Pass?
About 4,693 m; some sources give up to 4,714 m. It is the highest paved border crossing on earth and the high point of this tour. The border is open from 1 May to 31 December, which is why we run from May to October.
Do I need a special permit for the Karakoram Highway?
No. A standard Pakistan tourist visa covers the road trip, including the Khunjerab National Park and the pass viewpoint. You show your passport at checkpoints along the way. Only crossing into China needs more: a Chinese visa arranged before you travel.
How is this different from your North Pakistan Jeep Safari?
The jeep safari starts in Skardu and adds Deosai and Fairy Meadows on long jeep tracks. This tour is the highway itself, north from Islamabad: the lower Indus gorge, Chilas, the three-ranges junction, Hunza, Passu and the pass, with a flight home and all meals included. Same team, different road.
Is the Karakoram Highway safe?
The real risks are landslides and rockfall, worst in July and August on the lower Indus stretches, narrow sections with no barrier, and the altitude at Khunjerab. We drive with local drivers who know which stretches to pass at which hour, keep slack in the plan for road closures, and carry a satellite phone.
