Khunjerab Pass is the Pakistan–China border crossing on the Karakoram Highway. At 4,693 m (15,397 ft) it’s the highest paved international border crossing in the world. It lies in upper Hunza, about 75–86 km beyond Sost, the last town and the customs post, which is a 1.5–2.5 hour drive. Since a December 2024 agreement the border has been open all year for trade and travel. For sightseeing, though, the realistic season is about May to October, and snow or landslides can still close the road. You pay the Khunjerab National Park fee at the park checkpoint past Sost. In 2025–2026 reports it was about PKR 300–500 for Pakistanis and roughly USD 30–40 for foreigners.
Details were checked in October 2026. Fees and road status change often, so confirm them in Sost or Karimabad before you set off.
Khunjerab Pass quick facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 4,693 m (15,397 ft). It’s often rounded to 4,700 m |
| Location | Upper Hunza (Gojal), Hunza District, inside Khunjerab National Park, on the border with Xinjiang |
| Nearest town | Sost: customs, immigration and the last fuel stop |
| Sost to Khunjerab | 75–86 km depending on the source, 1.5–2.5 hrs |
| From Karimabad (Hunza) | About 155–180 km, 3.5–5 hrs each way |
| From Gilgit / Skardu | About 270 km from Gilgit. From Skardu, add the 4–5 hr drive to Gilgit |
| From Islamabad | About 870 km by road; road trips usually take 5–7 days with stops. Or fly to Gilgit (about 1 hr) |
| Best months | June to September. May and October are possible but colder |
| Permits | A CNIC for Pakistanis, a passport and visa for foreigners. No Chinese visa is needed just to visit the Pakistani side |
| Entry fee (2025–2026 reports) | Pakistanis PKR 300–500, GB residents about PKR 100, foreigners about USD 30–40 |
Khunjerab Pass open dates in 2026
Under a 1985 agreement the pass opened only from 1 April to 30 November. In December 2024 Pakistan and China agreed to keep the border open all year, and the change was formally inaugurated on 22 April 2025. The FWO kept the highway clear through the winter, even working at around −20°C in January 2026.
For tourists, “open” doesn’t mean easy. The pass is usually visited from May to October. One 2026 guide reported the road fully cleared by 1 June. On 6 September 2026, landslides closed the KKH between Sost and Khunjerab Top, and authorities advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel. Check the latest status locally on the morning you go.
How to get there: Gilgit to Sost to Khunjerab
- Gilgit to Karimabad: about 100 km, 2.5 hours up the Hunza River.
- Karimabad to Passu: about 65 km, 1.5 hours, past Attabad Lake and through the lakeside tunnels.
- Passu to Sost: about 20 km, 30 minutes. Sost has the last fuel, so fill up there.
- Sost to the pass: 75–86 km, 1.5–2.5 hours. You pass the park checkpoint at Dih, about 42 km before the top, and the road climbs steadily onto the high plateau.
Transport: most visitors hire a car and driver in Gilgit or Hunza, or drive themselves. The road is paved all the way, but rockfall and landslides are common around Attabad and Gulmit in spring and during the monsoon.
Crossing into China: buses leave Sost each morning for Tashkurgan. In May 2025 a NATCO ticket cost PKR 10,000, and you need a Chinese visa. See NATCO and private bus access and Gilgit-Baltistan as the gateway to China.
Best time to visit Khunjerab Pass
- May–June: heavy snow at the top and bitter wind. Early-season closures are possible.
- July–August: the warmest and busiest months. Monsoon cloudbursts are the main risk; Gilgit-Baltistan recorded around 120 floods between June and August 2026.
- September–October: clear, cold days with fewer crowds and the first snowfalls. Autumn colour in Gojal makes the drive worth it.
- November–April: the border stays open for trade, but temperatures and snow make a sightseeing trip a gamble.
What to see and do
- The border gate and marker: the point where traffic switches from driving on the left (Pakistan) to driving on the right (China).
- The world’s highest ATM: run by National Bank of Pakistan near the border. Don’t count on it for cash.
- Wildlife: Khunjerab National Park was set up on 29 April 1975 to protect Marco Polo sheep. It’s also snow leopard country. Himalayan ibex are sometimes seen between Barhon and Koksar, and domestic yaks graze across the park.
- The park itself: Pakistan’s third-largest national park, about 226,913 hectares according to the GB Forest, Wildlife and Environment Department.
- The name: it’s usually explained from Wakhi, the language of Gojal.
Where to stay
Nobody sleeps at the pass. Sost has basic hotels for border travellers. Passu and Gulmit are quieter bases with views of the Passu Cones, and Karimabad has the widest choice, from guesthouses to Eagle’s Nest Hunza. Browse the Hunza destination guide for areas and listings. Rates vary a lot by season, so ask for a current quote.
Costs (as of 2025–2026)
| Item | Reported cost |
|---|---|
| Khunjerab National Park, Pakistanis | PKR 300–500 per person |
| Khunjerab National Park, GB residents | About PKR 100 |
| Khunjerab National Park, foreigners | About USD 30–40 (one 2026 guide quotes PKR 5,000) |
| Khunjerab National Park, Chinese nationals | About RMB 40–60 |
| NATCO bus Sost to Tashkurgan | PKR 10,000 (May 2025) |
Bring cash for the park fee. Hunza Times reported in July 2026 that tickets may be valid for one day only, so if you return through the park on a later day, ask before you pay.
Safety, altitude and practical tips
- Altitude: the road climbs steeply from Sost to 4,693 m in about 2 hours. Spend two nights in Hunza first, walk slowly at the top and keep your stop short. Go back down if a headache or breathlessness gets worse.
- Cold: snow lies near the pass all year and the wind is sharp, so bring a down jacket, a hat and gloves, even in August.
- Fuel and toilets: there’s no fuel after Sost. The only usable toilets are at the park office and at Koksar.
- Photos: follow instructions from border staff. See the photography rules.
- Start early: leave Karimabad by 7–8 am so you’re at the top around midday and back before dark.
Suggested 3-day itinerary
- Day 1: Drive from Gilgit to Karimabad and visit Baltit Fort and Altit Fort. Stay in Karimabad.
- Day 2: Set off early past Attabad Lake and Passu to Sost and Khunjerab. Stay in Passu or Gulmit on the way back.
- Day 3: A slow morning in Gojal: Passu Cones viewpoints, then a boat on Attabad Lake. Return to Karimabad or Gilgit.
Nearby places
- Shimshal Valley: a remote side valley east of Passu
- Attabad Lake: a turquoise lake formed by the 2010 landslide
- Baltit Fort: Karimabad’s historic fort
- Hunza: the main base for the trip
Khunjerab Pass FAQ
Is Khunjerab Pass open in 2026?
Yes. Since a December 2024 agreement, inaugurated in April 2025, the border has been open all year for trade and travel. For tourists the practical season is about May to October, and snow or landslides can still close the road, as happened between Sost and the top on 6 September 2026. Check locally before you go.
What is the height of Khunjerab Pass?
Khunjerab Pass is 4,693 m (15,397 ft) above sea level. It is the highest paved international border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway.
How far is Sost from Khunjerab Pass?
About 75–86 km, depending on where in Sost you start and which source you use. It takes 1.5–2.5 hours on the paved Karakoram Highway, passing the national park checkpoint at Dih.
What is the Khunjerab National Park entry fee?
As reported in 2025–2026, about PKR 300–500 for Pakistanis, about PKR 100 for Gilgit-Baltistan residents and roughly USD 30–40 for foreigners, paid in cash at the park checkpoint past Sost. Rates change, so confirm before you go.
Do I need a Chinese visa to visit Khunjerab Pass?
No, not to visit the Pakistani side up to the border gate. Pakistanis need a CNIC and foreigners a passport and valid Pakistan visa. You only need a Chinese visa if you are crossing into China.
Can I visit Khunjerab Pass as a day trip from Hunza?
Yes. From Karimabad it is about 155–180 km and 3.5–5 hours each way, so expect a 9–12 hour day with stops. Sleeping in Passu, Gulmit or Sost makes it easier.
