KKH Travel & Tours (SMC-Private) Ltd appears on the registered tour operator list published by the Directorate of Tourists Services (DTS) Gilgit-Baltistan. The licence reference printed there is DTS-GB-028. Nothing else about the company sits on that list — no routes, vehicles, prices, office address or history — and we don’t fill those gaps. If you’re thinking of hiring KKH Travel & Tours, contact the company directly and confirm every detail in writing before you pay.
“SMC-Private” is a standard Pakistani company form: a single-member private limited company. It describes how the business is registered, not what it does.
“KKH” is the shorthand everyone here uses for the Karakoram Highway — so this page is about that road. Below we take the highway section by section, from the lower Indus up to the Chinese border at Khunjerab, then cover the two calendars at the top, the landslide stretches and what to ask any operator before a KKH trip.
What the official listing confirms
The listing comes from the Registered Tour Operators list kept by DTS, part of the Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Department of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. We last checked it on 27 August 2026.
- It confirms: the business name as printed, and that it sat on the DTS list with reference DTS-GB-028 when we read it.
- It doesn’t confirm: whether the company is trading today, which routes it runs, its prices, its vehicles or its customer experience.
The tourism department FAQ says operators must hold a tourism department licence, comply with safety standards, provide trained and licensed guides and follow department guidelines. See tour operator regulations. This site doesn’t sell tours, take bookings or endorse operators. A company name doesn’t prove it specialises in the highway either, so ask.
The KKH in one paragraph
Think of the Karakoram Highway as the year-round spine of Gilgit-Baltistan. The tourism department FAQ names it as one of three personal-transport approaches into the region, alongside Babusar Pass and Shandur Pass; see road approaches via the KKH, Babusar and Shandur. It follows an ancient branch of the Silk Road, which historically connected South Asia with Central Asia and China. Our page on the Silk Route legacy in Gilgit covers what the department says about that history. Today the same road is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and its highest point is the border at Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 m.
The highway, section by section
Treat these as geographic notes from this site’s own pages, not an itinerary from any operator. Times are approximate and shift with traffic, roadworks and weather.
Lower Indus: Chilas and the Diamer stretch
The road enters Gilgit-Baltistan through Diamer, in the lower Indus valley. Chilas sits at about 1,265 m, and our seasonal guide says July averages around 28°C there, so this is the hot section. It’s also where the Babusar road drops in from the Kaghan Valley, and where travellers turn off for Fairy Meadows at Raikot Bridge. On 10 March 2026 the tourism department reported landslides closing the highway between Pattan and Bursin at several places while the Chilas–Gilgit section stayed open. Read the KKH landslides alert before you go.
Gilgit
Gilgit City is the main junction. From here, a road branches west to Ghizer. Traffic from Skardu joins the highway south of the city, near Jaglot. The Kargah Buddha rock carving is just outside the city. Gilgit Airport makes it the usual base if you’re flying in — see airports serving Gilgit-Baltistan.
Gilgit to Karimabad
Our Khunjerab page gives this as about 100 km and 2.5 hours up the Hunza River. Across the river lies Nagar. Karimabad is the base for Baltit Fort and Altit Fort, and the Hunza destination guide covers the valley.
Karimabad to Passu: Attabad and the tunnels
About 65 km and 1.5 hours. This stretch is the most dramatic piece of modern road on the KKH. Attabad Lake formed after a landslide on 4 January 2010 dammed the Hunza River and drowned a long stretch of the highway. For five years everything crossed by boat. A realigned 24 km section with five tunnels, totalling about 7 km, opened on 14 September 2015. Some tunnels are dim and open straight onto the lake — drive them slowly the first time, and in daylight.
Passu to Sost
About 20 km and 30 minutes. Passu and Gulmit are quieter bases in Gojal, and the turn-off for Shimshal Valley is near Passu. Sost is the last town, with customs, immigration and the last fuel.
Sost to Khunjerab
About 75–86 km depending on the source, and 1.5–2.5 hours. You pass the national park checkpoint at Dih, then climb onto the high plateau. The road goes from Sost to 4,693 m in about two hours, so our Khunjerab page advises two nights in Hunza first, a slow walk at the top and a short stop.
Two calendars at the top
This is the single most misunderstood thing about the KKH: trade and tourism at Khunjerab don’t share the same calendar.
Our gateway to China page explains that since December 2024 the pass has operated year-round for trade and cargo, while tourists can typically cross or visit from about 1 May to 31 October or early November, weather permitting. A cargo run in January is not a visitor day. The best time to visit guide makes the same point: a winter stay in Hunza doesn’t make a Khunjerab day possible.
Inside that window, conditions still change. Our Khunjerab page records landslides closing the road between Sost and the top on 6 September 2026. Check the road status on the morning you go.
Crossing into China
The KKH continues past the border as China’s National Highway 314, roughly 130 km to Tashkurgan and roughly 420 km to Kashgar. Our Khunjerab page notes that buses leave Sost each morning for Tashkurgan and that you need a Chinese visa to cross. You don’t need one just to visit the Pakistani side of the pass. Bus services are covered on NATCO and private bus access. If an operator offers a cross-border trip, ask exactly which parts it handles — and where its responsibility ends.
Landslides, daylight and buffer days
The KKH is paved — but it’s still a mountain road. Our Attabad page says landslides still close stretches now and then, for a few hours or sometimes days, and rockfall is common around Attabad and Gulmit in spring and during the monsoon. The tourism department’s travel smart, stay safe alert and the travel safety guidance both point to official updates.
Three habits make a real difference:
- Drive in daylight. Start early and finish before dark.
- Leave slack. Keep a spare day for every few days on the road.
- Ask locally. Drivers in Gilgit or Karimabad usually know the morning’s road news.
Questions to ask KKH Travel & Tours, or any operator
- Can you confirm your DTS registration and the licence reference DTS-GB-028?
- Which sections of the KKH does the quote cover, and how many hours of driving each day?
- Is the Khunjerab day inside the tourist window for my dates?
- What vehicle will you use, and has the driver worked this road before?
- Which national park or entry fees are included, and which do I pay at the gate?
- Where will we stay in Hunza and Gojal?
- What happens if a landslide closes the road?
- If the trip continues to China, which arrangements do you handle and which don’t you?
- Who do I call during the trip if something goes wrong?
- Can I see the full itinerary, inclusions and cancellation terms in writing before I pay?
The site’s hiring a tour operator guide covers inclusions, vehicles and itineraries in more depth.
On the road: cash, photos and conduct
There’s no fuel after Sost, and cards aren’t widely accepted, so carry rupees — see local currency and cash. A border road isn’t a casual valley viewpoint. Follow instructions from border staff and read the photography restrictions. Dress modestly and remove shoes in mosques and homes, as the visitor customs and dress page explains. The tourist police contact guide covers emergencies.
Where to go next
- Compare other names on the registered tour operators directory.
- Read getting to Gilgit-Baltistan for air and road options.
- Explore the heritage forts of Hunza.
Frequently asked questions
Is KKH Travel & Tours a registered tour operator?
KKH Travel & Tours (SMC-Private) Ltd appears on the DTS Gilgit-Baltistan registered tour operator list with licence reference DTS-GB-028, as checked on 27 August 2026. Ask the company to confirm its registration is current before booking.
What does SMC-Private mean in the company name?
It’s a Pakistani company form: a single-member private limited company. It describes the legal structure, not the services offered.
Does KKH Travel & Tours specialise in the Karakoram Highway?
The official list doesn’t say, and a company name isn’t proof of a specialism. Ask the company directly which routes it runs and get the answer in writing.
What is the KKH?
KKH is short for the Karakoram Highway, the main year-round road through Gilgit-Baltistan. It runs through Chilas, Gilgit and Hunza to the Chinese border at Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 m.
How long does it take to drive from Gilgit to Khunjerab?
Give yourself a full day. This site’s figures are roughly 2.5 hours from Gilgit to Karimabad, 1.5 hours to Passu, 30 minutes to Sost, then 1.5–2.5 hours to the pass. Most people break the trip in Hunza.
Can I visit Khunjerab Pass in winter?
Not as a tourist, as a rule. The pass operates year-round for trade and cargo, but tourist access typically runs from about 1 May to 31 October or early November, weather permitting.
Do I need a Chinese visa to see Khunjerab Pass?
Not to visit the Pakistani side. You need a Chinese visa only if you cross into China. Foreigners need a passport and Pakistani visa; Pakistanis carry a CNIC.
Is the Karakoram Highway safe to drive?
It’s paved, but landslides and rockfall can close sections for hours or days, especially in spring and the monsoon. Drive in daylight, keep spare days and follow official road updates.
What happened at Attabad Lake?
A landslide on 4 January 2010 dammed the Hunza River and created the lake, flooding part of the highway. A realigned section with five tunnels opened on 14 September 2015.
Can I book a KKH trip through this website?
No. This site gives travel information only and has no commercial tie to any operator listed here. Book with the company directly.
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Source: Registered Tour Operators (Directorate of Tourists Services, Gilgit-Baltistan), Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. Accessed 27 August 2026. Road, distance and season details are from this site’s own guides; confirm current conditions before you travel.