The Karakoram Highway: The World's Greatest Road Trip

There are roads, and then there is the Karakoram Highway. Stretching 1,300 kilometres from Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest engineering feats of the twentieth century — and one of the most spectacular drives on earth.

Built jointly by Pakistan and China between 1959 and 1979, the KKH cost the lives of over 800 Pakistani and Chinese workers. It crosses three of the world's great mountain ranges — the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush — and passes through landscapes that feel genuinely otherworldly: sheer granite walls rising thousands of metres from the valley floor, glaciers spilling down from peaks that scrape the stratosphere, and ancient Silk Road towns that have barely changed in centuries.

Where the Road Begins: Islamabad to Abbottabad

The journey starts in Islamabad, Pakistan's orderly, tree-lined capital. The first stretch south to Abbottabad is unremarkable — a motorway through the Pothohar Plateau — but things change quickly once you turn north into the Hazara region. The road narrows, the hills steepen, and the air begins to cool.

Abbottabad itself is worth a night. It is a pleasant hill station with a strong military heritage and excellent local food. The bazaar near the old cantonment is a good place to stock up on dried fruits and nuts for the journey ahead.

The Indus Gorge: Abbottabad to Gilgit

The most dramatic section of the KKH begins at Thakot, where the road enters the Indus Gorge. For the next 200 kilometres, the highway clings to the side of a canyon so deep and narrow that the sun barely reaches the river below. The rock walls on either side are some of the oldest on earth — geologists come from around the world to study the exposed strata.

This section of road is also the most challenging. Landslides are common, particularly after rain, and the road surface can be unpredictable. A good driver who knows the road is essential — which is why we always use locally employed drivers who have made this journey dozens of times.

Chilas, roughly halfway between Abbottabad and Gilgit, is a good lunch stop. The town sits at the confluence of the Indus and Gilgit rivers and is surrounded by thousands of ancient rock carvings — petroglyphs left by Silk Road travellers over the past two millennia. The Archaeological Museum has a good collection of rubbings and photographs.

Gilgit: The Gateway to the Mountains

Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and the natural base for exploring the surrounding mountains. It is a busy, friendly town with a good bazaar, several decent hotels and restaurants, and a population that reflects the extraordinary ethnic diversity of the region — Shina, Wakhi, Burusho, Khowar and a dozen other groups all call Gilgit home.

From Gilgit, the KKH continues north towards Hunza, but it is also worth making the detour east to Skardu — the gateway to K2 and the Baltoro Glacier. The road to Skardu follows the Indus upstream through some of the most remote terrain in Pakistan, passing the confluence of the Indus and Shyok rivers and the extraordinary Deosai Plains.

Hunza: The Valley That Stopped the World

If the Karakoram Highway has a jewel, it is Hunza. The valley sits at around 2,500 metres, ringed by peaks that include Rakaposhi (7,788m), Ultar Sar (7,388m) and the extraordinary Passu Cones — a row of jagged granite spires that look like something from a fantasy novel.

The main town, Karimabad, is built on a terrace above the valley floor, with Baltit Fort — a 700-year-old royal residence — perched above it. The fort has been beautifully restored and offers extraordinary views across the valley to the Karakoram peaks beyond.

Hunza is also famous for its apricots. In spring, the valley turns white and pink with blossom; in summer, the terraced fields are heavy with fruit. The dried apricots sold in the local bazaar are among the finest in the world.

The Khunjerab Pass: The Roof of the World

The KKH ends — or begins, depending on your direction — at the Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 metres above sea level on the Pakistan-China border. The pass is open to tourists from May to October, and the drive up from Sost is one of the most extraordinary in the world.

The landscape above 4,000 metres is high-altitude steppe — vast, treeless, windswept and utterly silent. Marco Polo sheep graze on the hillsides. Snow leopards hunt in the shadows of the peaks. The sky is a shade of blue you will not see anywhere else.

Standing at the Khunjerab Pass, looking north into China and south into Pakistan, you understand why people have been making this journey for two thousand years. The Silk Road was not just a trade route. It was a thread connecting civilisations — and the Karakoram Highway is its modern incarnation.

Practical Information

Best time to travel: May to October. The pass is closed in winter and the road can be affected by landslides in early spring.

How long does it take? Allow at least 7–10 days for the full journey from Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass and back, with stops in Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu.

Do I need a permit? A No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required for some areas of Gilgit-Baltistan. We arrange all permits as part of our tours.

Is it safe? The KKH is one of Pakistan's most-visited tourist routes and has an excellent safety record. The main hazards are road conditions and altitude — both of which are manageable with good preparation and an experienced local driver.