CROSSING KHUNJERAB PASS -PAKISTAN & CHINA

Welcome to the highest paved road of the world. Khunjerab pass is 4,693 metres high from sea level.  So if you have high altitude sickness issues, so please do concern your doctor before starting your trip. The other important thing you need is Pakistani and Chinese visas without visa you can’t cross through from both sides.

The overlanders whom are currently traveling in china towards Pakistan. You must be annoyed from Chinese authorises, there is a good news for you, Lots and lots of local Pakistani tourist will be there just on the other side of gate, welcome you in Pakistan, will love to take hundreds of thousands of selfies specially if you are on motorcycle overlanding adventure tour, be ready for some amazing welcome :)

Khunjerab Pass border crossing:

Khunjerab Pass border crossing stay close in winters months between November till April. Mostly the opened it within the first week of April. Border Crossing is only open in week days from Monday to Friday. The Pakistani side open timing is 9am to 5pm and Chinese side open timing is 9am to 6pm (Xinjiang time). Border crossing stay closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on the public holidays of both countries. Do check your dates with the holidays before planning.

Overlanding with Motorcycle or own vehicle:

The Chinese immigration is in Tashkurgan, the border crossing gate is 100kms from there. If you are on a motorcycle you should be must cross border at the same time with buses convey because this is the fastest process doing this border crossing. When you cross the khunjrab pass gate, welcome now you are in Pakistan. There will a big Pakistani police check post on your left hand (The only thing to do there is shake hands and say hi, nothing else) and highest ATM machine of the world (which usually don’t work), if you have visa or MasterCard you can try it, if you need some Pakistani currency. Otherwise you can get some at Pakistan immigration Sost (currency exchange rate is very low in northern Pakistan, only you can get good rates in big cities).

From border crossing gate, the Pakistan immigration which is in Sost is 90 kilometres. In between that there is a entry check point of Khunjrab National Park. If you are coming from China and exiting national park, they don’t care you have to pay entry fee, which is 30 USD, 8,000-9,000PKR (You can pay this with RMB,USD OR PKR).

Now, you have to discuss, Do you want to keep going? Or you want to stay in Sost?

If you are not going to visit Chapursan or Misgar Valleys then we recommend you keep going and stay in Passu with is more 45 kilometres from Sost. There are some budgeted options in the bazaar of Sost to stay like Riveria Sost hotel, Tibet Motel, Park Hotel.the expensive option is Serena hotel, Sost.

Overlanding with Bicycle:

Cyclist are not allowed to do border crossing with bicycle, you have to put your bike on bus or truck. Transport companies working on both sides in Tashkurgan and Sost are NATCO or Hunza-Xinjiang.

Overlanding by Bus:

NATCO and Hunza-Xinjiang are the transport companies provide shutter service between Tashkurgan,China and Sost,Pakistan. Ticket is around 30-35USD and 3000-35OOPKR. You can also hire taxi with is around 25,000PKR.

Immigration:

Khunjerab national park entry check point to  Immigration Sost is 35 kilometres. Every day lot of people cross this border, traders, students, Chinese working in pakistan and travellers. Because of convey start together from Chinese immigration, mostly everybody reach Pakistani immigration on the same time thats why there might be a queue. After doing Immigration with took might be 30 minutes and process is very simple but because now you are in Pakistan and everything is slow and take time so you have to be patience. They will might ask you some questions  but mostly there are very polite.