Pakistan's north is stitched together by a handful of high mountain passes, and which one you cross says a lot about the trip you are on. Khunjerab is the highest paved border crossing in the world. Babusar is the short cut between the Kaghan valley and Hunza. Shandur links Chitral to Gilgit over a polo ground at 3,720 metres. Lowari is now mostly a tunnel. Burzil is the old route to Kashmir that almost nobody drives any more.
This guide covers what each pass is like to drive, when it is open, and what vehicle you actually need, so you can work out which ones fit your route.
| Pass | Altitude | Connects | Typically open | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khunjerab | 4,693 m | Hunza to the China border | Early May to November | Any car, paved road |
| Babusar | 4,173 m | Kaghan valley (KP) to Chilas (GB) | Mid-June to late October | Any car in summer; care needed |
| Shandur | About 3,720 m | Chitral to Gilgit/Ghizer | June to October | High-clearance 4x4 recommended |
| Lowari | 3,118 m (old pass); tunnel bypasses it | Dir to Chitral | Tunnel: all year. Old pass: late May to early October | Any car via the tunnel |
| Burzil | 4,100 m | Astore to the Deosai plateau | June to September, and even then little used for through traffic | 4x4 or jeep |
Khunjerab: the highest of them all
At 4,693 metres, Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan–China border is the highest point the Karakoram Highway reaches, and one of the highest paved roads anywhere. It sits inside Khunjerab National Park, above Sost in upper Hunza, and it is paved the whole way, so an ordinary car can make the climb in summer. The road generally opens to visitors in early May and stays open into November, weather permitting; a December 2024 decision to keep the border open year-round for trade did not change that, since winter snow still closes the road to tourist traffic. See our full Khunjerab Pass guide for the day-trip logistics and altitude advice.
Babusar: the quick way into Hunza from the Kaghan side
Babusar Pass, at 4,173 metres, is the shortcut from the Kaghan valley over to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway, avoiding a much longer loop through Besham. The road is unpaved in stretches and narrow in places, but manageable for a careful driver in a normal car once it opens, usually in the second week of June, until snow closes it again around late October. It is a slower, rougher drive than Khunjerab, with switchbacks and a real drop-off in places, so this is not a pass to rush.
Shandur: the polo ground at 3,720 metres
Shandur Pass sits on the boundary between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, about 212 km from Gilgit and 147 km from Chitral, and is best known for the wide, flat polo ground beside the road that hosts the annual Shandur Polo Festival. The road over it is largely unpaved and rough in sections on both approaches, and a high-clearance 4x4 is the sensible choice rather than a saloon car. It is open roughly June to October, closing earlier than the lower passes once snow arrives.
Lowari: a pass you can now mostly skip
Lowari, at 3,118 metres, used to be the only way from Dir into Chitral, and for over half the year it was snowbound and dangerous. The Lowari Tunnel, which opened in 2017 and runs for about 10.4 km, now carries traffic under the pass all year, so a normal car can reach Chitral in any season without touching the old road. The scenic pass itself is still driveable from roughly late May to early October for those who want the views rather than the shortcut.
Burzil: the pass almost nobody drives now
Burzil Pass, at 4,100 metres, was once the main road from Gilgit and Astore to Srinagar via the Deosai plateau, and the oldest known route linking Gilgit to Kashmir. It has been effectively closed to through traffic since 1978, when the Karakoram Highway opened a better route north, and today it sees little more than local and seasonal use from the Astore side. It is not a practical route for a visitor's itinerary, but it explains why Astore and Deosai were connected to Kashmir long before the KKH existed.
A note on route safety
If your plan to Khunjerab or Babusar starts from Islamabad on the Karakoram Highway, note that the UK government's Pakistan travel advice currently advises against all travel on the stretch of the KKH between Mansehra and Chilas (via Battagram, Besham and Dasu). Babusar Pass avoids this stretch entirely in summer, which is one reason it is a popular alternative route north. Separately, the UK advises against all travel on the N45 from Mardan to Chitral city, which is relevant if you are approaching Shandur or Lowari from the Chitral side. Foreign-passport holders should check their own government's current advice before planning a route through either area, since it can affect travel insurance. Check the latest position before you travel; conditions change.
Which pass suits your trip?
If you have a normal car and one day to spare from Hunza, Khunjerab is the easiest high pass in the country to add to a trip, and our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour builds it in. Babusar suits a road trip that wants to link Naran and Hunza without a long detour, in a well-maintained vehicle. Shandur is for travellers heading to or from Chitral, ideally timed around the July polo festival, and Lowari is now barely a decision at all, since the tunnel does the work. Burzil is for history rather than a drive.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest driveable pass in Pakistan?
Khunjerab Pass, at 4,693 metres, is the highest and also the best maintained, being a paved section of the Karakoram Highway.
Do I need a 4x4 for these mountain passes?
Khunjerab and, via the tunnel, Lowari can be done in an ordinary car. Babusar is manageable in a normal car with a careful driver in summer. Shandur's rough, partly unpaved road is better suited to a high-clearance 4x4.
When do Pakistan's mountain passes open each year?
Most open between May and June, once snow clearance is complete, and close again from October to November. Exact dates vary every year with the snowfall, so check locally before you travel.
Is Babusar Pass a shortcut to Hunza?
Yes. It links the Kaghan valley directly to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway, and in summer it also avoids the KKH stretch between Mansehra and Chilas that the UK currently advises against.
Can I still drive over the old Lowari Pass?
Yes, in season, roughly late May to early October, but there is no need to: the Lowari Tunnel below it is open all year and is the route almost everyone uses now.
