Set amid the towering peaks of the Karakoram range, the border between China and Pakistan is home to the highest paved international crossing in the world. The journey over the 596-kilometer frontier is less about the formalities and more about the immense, breathtaking mountain landscape. Your trip here is an adventure defined by extreme altitude and remarkable feats of engineering.
You will use the one and only crossing point: the Khunjerab Pass. At an elevation of over 4,700 meters, it is the highest point on the famed Karakoram Highway, which connects Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region with China’s Xinjiang province. This is a place of raw, high-altitude beauty, surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped mountains.
The pass is not open year-round. Heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions mean you can only cross between May and November, and even then, temporary closures are possible. You must plan accordingly. Altitude sickness is a serious concern, and you should allow time to acclimatize before ascending to the pass.
The border formalities take place in the towns of Sost on the Pakistani side and Tashkurgan on the Chinese side, not at the pass itself. The procedures, particularly on the Chinese side, are thorough. The pass itself is a starkly beautiful, windswept location, marked by a ceremonial gate that has become a popular photo spot for those who make the long journey.