The world's highest ATM sits at Khunjerab Pass, on the Pakistani side of the Pakistan–China border at 4,693 metres. It was installed by the National Bank of Pakistan in September 2016, is solar and wind powered, and was recognised by Guinness World Records as the highest-altitude ATM anywhere. It is a genuine curiosity rather than a reliable place to get cash, so don't build your trip's money plan around it.
This guide covers where the machine is, whether it actually works when you get there, and the other small, unusual stops on the drive up from Hunza worth knowing about.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Khunjerab Pass, Pakistani side of the border, 4,693 m |
| Operator | National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) |
| Installed | September 2016 |
| Power | Solar and wind |
| Network | China UnionPay and Pakistan's 1LINK domestic network |
| Reliability | Not guaranteed; carry cash instead |
| Nearest reliable ATMs | Aliabad, in central Hunza |
Is the Khunjerab ATM real?
Yes. The National Bank of Pakistan installed the machine at the border post at Khunjerab Pass in September 2016, and it holds a Guinness World Records title for the highest-altitude ATM in the world. It runs on solar and wind power rather than a mains connection, which fits the location: there is no permanent grid supply at the top of the pass. It connects to China UnionPay as well as Pakistan's domestic 1LINK network, reflecting the machine's position right on the border.
Does it actually work when you visit?
This is the honest question most visitors want answered, and the honest answer is: don't count on it. A solar and wind-powered machine at close to 4,700 metres, in a location with patchy connectivity and extreme cold for much of the year, is not going to have the uptime of a bank branch in Karimabad or Islamabad. Even when it is functioning, an ATM this remote is not somewhere you want to discover your card has a problem.
Treat the machine as a novelty to see and photograph rather than a source of cash for the day. Withdraw everything you are likely to need in Aliabad, in central Hunza, before you head north: fuel money for Sost, cash for the Khunjerab National Park entry fee at the Dih checkpoint, and money for tea and lunch on the way. Our guide to the Khunjerab National Park entry fee explains what that cash typically covers.
Where exactly is it?
The ATM stands near the border post and gate at the top of the pass, on the Pakistani side, close to where most day visitors stop to take photographs by the stone marker. It is easy to find without asking, since there is very little else built at the summit: a border gate, a customs and immigration post, and in summer a stall or two selling tea. Our Khunjerab Pass guide covers what else is at the top and how the day trip up from Hunza works.
Other unusual stops on the way up
The Khunjerab ATM is one of several small, offbeat things travellers notice on the drive from Hunza to the pass, worth knowing about even though none of them should be the reason you make the trip:
- The Pak-China Friendship Gate at Khunjerab, marking the actual international border, with the flags of both countries.
- Golden marmots standing up beside the road inside Khunjerab National Park, especially common in June and July.
- The change in the road itself, from the ordinary highway traffic of Hunza to a route shared with trucks running goods to and from China, a reminder that this is a working trade corridor as well as a tourist drive.
- The wind chill at the top, which surprises people who left Karimabad on a warm summer morning and did not expect to need a jacket.
Our guide to the drive from Hunza to Khunjerab Pass breaks the route into legs with realistic timings, and our guide to Khunjerab Pass temperatures covers what to expect from the cold at different times of year.
Should you factor the ATM into your plans at all?
No, beyond knowing it exists and being pleasantly surprised if it works. It makes a good photo and a fun fact to tell people afterwards, but plan your cash the same way you would for any remote mountain drive: withdraw what you need before you leave Aliabad, keep some in reserve, and treat the ATM at the top as a curiosity rather than a backup plan.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the world's highest ATM located?
At Khunjerab Pass, on the Pakistani side of the Pakistan–China border, at 4,693 metres. It is run by the National Bank of Pakistan.
Does the Khunjerab Pass ATM actually dispense cash?
It can, but reliability is not guaranteed given its remote, solar and wind-powered setup at extreme altitude. Withdraw the cash you need in Aliabad before heading north rather than relying on it.
When was the Khunjerab ATM installed?
In September 2016, by the National Bank of Pakistan, which was awarded a Guinness World Records title for the highest-altitude ATM.
What cards does the Khunjerab ATM accept?
It connects to China UnionPay and Pakistan's domestic 1LINK network. Availability for other international card networks is not something to assume.
Where is the nearest reliable ATM to Khunjerab Pass?
Aliabad, in central Hunza, has working ATMs and banks. It is the last practical place to withdraw cash before the long drive north to Sost and Khunjerab Pass.
