The drive from Hunza to Khunjerab Pass is about 175 km from Karimabad, on the paved Karakoram Highway through the Attabad tunnels, Gulmit, Passu and Sost, and it takes three and a half to four hours each way with only short stops. As a day trip, plan on eight to ten hours in all. Fill up in Aliabad and top up in Sost: Sost has the last fuel on the road, and from there it is roughly 150 km to the border and back.
This guide breaks the route into legs, shows how a realistic day runs by the clock, works out the fuel, and covers the road itself. What happens at the top, and how to cope with the altitude, is in our Khunjerab Pass guide.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Distance from Karimabad | About 175 km each way |
| Driving time | 3.5 to 4 hours each way |
| Whole day trip | 8 to 10 hours |
| From Passu | About 2.5 hours each way |
| Last fuel | Sost |
| Park checkpoint | Dih, about 35 km beyond Sost and 42 km below the pass |
| Height gained | From about 2,500 m to 4,693 m |
| Road | Paved all the way |
| Season for visitors | Roughly May to November, snow permitting |
The route, leg by leg
The distances below are approximate road distances, and the times assume a car, daylight, dry weather and a driver who takes the mountain road at a sensible pace.
| Leg | Distance | Time | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karimabad to Gulmit | About 35 km | 45 min to 1 hour | Down to the highway at Ganish, then Attabad Lake and its tunnels |
| Gulmit to Passu | About 15 km | 20 minutes | Past Ghulkin and Hussaini, with the Passu Cones ahead |
| Passu to Sost | About 40 km | 45 min to 1 hour | A wider, emptier valley; Sost has fuel, food and toilets |
| Sost to Dih | About 35 km | 30 to 45 minutes | Into the national park; ID and fee at the checkpoint |
| Dih to the pass | About 42 km | About 1 hour | The climb, in long switchbacks onto open high ground |
That adds up to roughly three and a half hours of driving each way. In practice most people take closer to four going up, once you allow for the checkpoint, fuel at Sost and a stop or two. Coming down is not much faster, because the switchbacks below the pass need low gears and patience.
How the day runs by the clock
A day trip from Karimabad on a clear summer day, leaving early and saving the sightseeing for the way back, looks something like this:
| Time | Where you are |
|---|---|
| 7:00 | Leave Karimabad |
| 7:45 | Through the Attabad tunnels to Gulmit |
| 8:45 | Sost: fuel, tea, toilets |
| 9:30 | Dih checkpoint: ID, register the car, pay the park fee |
| 10:45 | Khunjerab Pass |
| 11:45 | Start down; an hour at the top is plenty |
| 13:30 | Lunch in Sost or Passu |
| 14:30 | Passu Cones, Hussaini bridge |
| 16:00 | Attabad Lake, when the midday crowds have thinned |
| 17:00 to 18:00 | Back in Karimabad |
Leave at 8 instead and everything slides an hour later, which is still fine in June or July. Leave at 10 and you will be rushing the top, skipping the stops, or driving the Attabad stretch after dark. Starting late is the most common mistake on this trip.
In May, October and November the days are shorter and the top is colder, so leave by 7 and aim to be back through Sost by mid-afternoon.
Fuel: where to fill up and how much you need
A round trip from Karimabad to the pass and back is about 350 km, most of it on mountain road, and half of it climbing.
- Fill the tank in Aliabad before you set off, since the pumps there are on your way out of central Hunza.
- Top up again in Sost. It is the last fuel station on the Pakistani side. Beyond it there is no fuel for the roughly 150 km round trip to the pass and back.
- Don't pass Sost below half a tank, even if your gauge says you have enough. You burn more than usual on the climb, and a closure or a queue at the checkpoint can keep you idling.
As a rough guide, a sedan that does 10 to 12 km a litre on these roads will use 30 to 35 litres for the round trip. With petrol at about PKR 390 a litre in September 2026, according to PSO's published prices, that is roughly PKR 12,000 to 14,000 of fuel for the car. Pumps in the north can charge a little more than the listed price because of transport costs, and a heavier four-wheel drive will use more. This is our estimate, not a quote.
Stops worth making
On the way up, keep stops short: Sost for fuel and a break, and the checkpoint at Dih. Save the rest for the way down, when the light is better and you are not racing the clock.
- Attabad Lake: the tunnels and the lakeside pull-offs, or a boat from the main landing in the late afternoon.
- Gulmit: a walk in the old village or tea on the way home.
- The Hussaini suspension bridge and Borith Lake: an hour for the bridge, another for the lake.
- The Passu Cones: the classic view is from the highway just south of Passu, best in the afternoon light.
- Glacier Breeze in Passu, for apricot cake with a view of the glacier and the Cones.
- The slopes above Dih: golden marmots sit up beside the road in June and July, and ibex are sometimes seen early and late in the day.
If you want more than a glimpse of Gojal, don't try to fit it all into the Khunjerab day. Our guide to things to do in Passu suggests how to spend a night or two there instead.
Starting from Gulmit or Passu
Staying in Gulmit or Passu the night before takes about an hour off each end of the day. From Passu the pass is about two and a half hours away, so you can leave at 8, be at the top by late morning, and have the afternoon free.
It also breaks up a long day for children and older passengers, and it means the drive home at the end is short. If you have three or more nights in Hunza, this is the way we would do it.
Driving the road: what to expect
The road is paved all the way from Hunza to the border, and a normal car in good order manages it in summer. What makes it demanding is the combination of distance, altitude and traffic.
- Tunnels. The five Attabad tunnels run for about 7 km in all. Headlights on, no overtaking, and don't stop at the mouths for photos.
- Trucks. This is the main trade road to China, and goods lorries use it through the day. Give them room on the bends, and don't overtake on blind corners.
- The climb above Dih. Long switchbacks with steep drops. Take them slowly, and on the way down use a low gear rather than riding the brakes.
- The altitude. Engines lose power near the top, and so do drivers. A driver who feels headachy or dizzy at the pass should not be the one driving down.
- Weather. Snow can close the top for a day or two in May, October and November. In July and August, meltwater and rain can bring debris across the highway between Gulmit and Passu: in August 2025 and again in August 2026, floods near Gulmit blocked the road for a time.
- Signal. Coverage is patchy beyond Sost and often absent near the top. Tell someone your plans and your expected time back.
If the road is closed
Ask at your hotel the evening before, and again in Sost on the day. Our guide to Karakoram Highway road status explains how to check before you set out.
If the top is closed, the day is not lost. Turn it into a slow day in Gojal: Passu glacier, Borith Lake, the Hussaini bridge and Attabad on the way back. If you have a spare day, try again tomorrow.
Should you drive yourself?
If you are used to mountain roads and the car is in good condition, driving yourself is straightforward in summer. The catch is fatigue: eight to ten hours of driving, a big climb and a long descent, often the day after two long days on the road from Islamabad.
A car with a local driver from Karimabad or Aliabad removes that problem, and local drivers know where the road is likely to be blocked. For a longer trip, our nine-day Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour includes an experienced mountain driver and puts a night in Gulmit or Passu before the pass. The national park fee is included in the tour; if you go independently, our guide to the Khunjerab National Park entry fee covers what to pay at Dih.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Khunjerab Pass from Hunza?
About 175 km from Karimabad along the Karakoram Highway, via Gulmit, Passu and Sost. From Passu it is roughly 125 km, and from Sost about 75 to 80 km.
How long does it take to drive from Karimabad to Khunjerab Pass?
About three and a half to four hours each way with short stops. Plan on eight to ten hours for the whole day, including an hour at the top and stops on the way back.
Where is the last petrol pump before Khunjerab?
Sost is the last place to buy fuel. Fill up fully there, and don't pass Sost with less than half a tank.
Can you do Khunjerab Pass in half a day?
Not from Karimabad. From Sost the round trip takes about four hours with an hour at the top, and from Passu about six, but that leaves little time for stops.
What time should I leave Karimabad for Khunjerab?
By 7 or 8 in the morning. That gets you to the top before midday and back through the Attabad tunnels before dark.
