The Karakoram Highway Motorcycle Tour: Islamabad to Khunjerab is a guided trip lasting 12 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,693 m. It is graded Moderate to demanding — about 1,600 km of mountain road in ten riding days — 10 riding days, about 1,600 km. 3 fixed departures are open from $2,450 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Karakoram Highway Motorcycle Tour — Islamabad to Khunjerab and Home Over Babusar, 12 Days
Ride the Karakoram Highway the way it was meant to be seen: from the plains at Hassan Abdal up the Indus gorge, past Nanga Parbat at Chilas and the junction of three ranges near Jaglot, into Hunza under Rakaposhi, through the Attabad tunnels to Passu, and up the switchbacks to the Khunjerab Pass on the China border at 4,693 m. Then home a different way, off the KKH at Chilas and over Babusar Pass at 4,173 m into the Kaghan valley.
Roughly 1,600 km in ten riding days on a 150cc road bike from our own fleet, the workhorse of Pakistan’s mountain roads. A lead rider-guide rides with you and a support vehicle follows with bags, spares and room for a tired rider. Hotels, all meals, the bike, helmet and fuel are included.
Not a rider? Our Karakoram Highway Tour covers the same road by vehicle. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
- Duration
- 12 Days - 11 Nights
- Max altitude
- 4,693 m
- Grade
- Moderate – Demanding
- Days on foot
- 0
- Best season
- Summer ( June - September )
- Group size
- Max 8
Karakoram Highway Motorcycle Tour Price
From $2,450 per person in a group of four to six riders. That covers your 150cc motorcycle from our own fleet, helmet and fuel, a lead rider-guide, the support vehicle and driver, 11 nights in hotels (twin share), all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 12, the Khunjerab National Park fee and tolls.
Riding gear (jacket, gloves, boots), damage to the motorcycle, international flights, visa, travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included. Ask if you want a bigger bike: availability in Pakistan is limited and we quote it separately.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip.
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $3,800 | Your own lead rider-guide and support vehicle, on your dates. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $2,700 | A small group of riders sharing one support vehicle. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $2,450 | Our most popular group size and the best balance of cost and pace. |
| (7-10 Persons) | $2,250 | Best per-person rate for clubs and larger groups. |
Can you do this trek?
Yes — if you can walk uphill for a few hours, this is well within reach.
Graded Moderate to demanding — about 1,600 km of mountain road in ten riding days.
What to expect
The highest point is 4,693 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Karakoram Highway Motorcycle Tour
Twelve days: four riding north from Islamabad to Hunza, a day off the bike in Karimabad, Passu and the Khunjerab Pass, then south to Gilgit and home over Babusar Pass to Naran and Islamabad. If Babusar is closed we return down the KKH in the same two days.
Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
500 m
Airport pick-up and hotel. Bike handover in the afternoon: fit the bike, check the controls, and a short ride with your lead rider to get used to Pakistani traffic. Night in Islamabad.
Day 2Ride Islamabad to Besham
950 m
Ride about 290 km. Onto the KKH at Hassan Abdal, through Abbottabad and Mansehra, then into the Indus gorge, where the road narrows and the trucks slow everything down. The busiest day of the trip, ridden steady. Night in Besham.
Day 3Ride Besham to Chilas
1,250 m
Ride about 200 km. Karakoram country: the Indus far below, the road cut into the cliff, and Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) filling the view near Chilas. A stop at the rock carvings beside the highway. Night in Chilas.
Day 4Ride Chilas to Gilgit
1,500 m
Ride about 110 km. Past Raikot Bridge and the viewpoint near Jaglot where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush meet. Short day, long lunch, afternoon in Gilgit. Night in Gilgit.
Day 5Ride Gilgit to Karimabad
2,440 m
Ride about 100 km into Nagar and Hunza, stopping at the Rakaposhi viewpoint where the 7,788 m peak rises straight from the road. Night in Karimabad.
Day 6Karimabad: forts and the Eagle’s Nest
2,440 m
The bikes rest. Baltit and Altit forts on foot, and a short ride up to the Eagle’s Nest above Duikar for sunset. Night in Karimabad.
Day 7Ride Karimabad to Passu
2,540 m
A short ride with plenty of stops: Attabad Lake and the five Friendship Tunnels, Gulmit, the Hussaini bridge and the Passu Cones. Night in Passu.
Day 8Ride to the Khunjerab Pass
4,693 m
Ride about 250 km there and back. Through Sost and up the switchbacks of the national park to the China border at 4,693 m. Small engines feel the thin air at the top, and so do riders; the support vehicle carries oxygen. Night in Passu.
Day 9Ride Passu to Gilgit
1,500 m
Ride about 160 km back down the highway, with the light the other way. Night in Gilgit.
Day 10Ride over Babusar Pass to Naran
4,173 m
South to Chilas, then off the KKH and up the long loops to Babusar Top at 4,173 m, where Gilgit-Baltistan ends, and down past Lulusar Lake into the Kaghan valley. The best riding day of the trip. Night in Naran.
Day 11Ride Naran to Islamabad
500 m
Down the Kaghan valley through Balakot and back to the capital. Bike return in the evening. Night in Islamabad.
Day 12Depart Islamabad
500 m
Transfer to the airport.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $2,450 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- 150cc motorcycle from our own fleet
- With helmet and fuel
- Lead rider-guide
- Support vehicle and driver
- 11 nights in hotels (twin share)
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 12
- Khunjerab National Park fee
- Tolls and bottled water
- Satellite phone with the team and a real evacuation plan
- The same safety system we run on our expeditions
Not included
- Riding gear (jacket
- Gloves
- Boots)
- Damage to the motorcycle
- International flights
- Pakistan visa
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Single-room supplement
- Drinks and tips
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $2,450 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About the Karakoram Highway Motorcycle Tour
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your place. Balance is due 30 days before departure.
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. We confirm within the hour in season.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 60+ days before departure for a full refund of the deposit. 30-59 days: half the deposit. Under 30 days: the deposit is forfeit.
If we cancel a departure for operational reasons, you receive a full refund or a transfer to another date, your choice. Cancellations for weather or road and flight closures follow our force majeure terms: a free transfer or a credit valid for 24 months, plus a refund of every cost we can recover.
If Babusar Pass is closed, we return down the KKH via Besham at no extra cost.
Permits & Documentation
A standard Pakistan tourist visa covers the route, including the Khunjerab National Park and Babusar Pass. Carry your passport, visa, motorcycle licence and International Driving Permit for the checkpoints, plus photocopies.
Health & Fitness
Moderate to demanding: about 1,600 km of mountain road in ten riding days, with one day to 4,693 m. You must be an experienced rider holding a valid motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit. Minimum age 18.
Travel insurance covering motorcycling is mandatory and arranged by you.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motorcycle do I ride?
A 150cc road bike from our own fleet, the workhorse of Pakistanu2019s mountain roads, with helmet and fuel included. It is light, easy to fix anywhere and enough for the KKH; it slows down at 4,693 m, as everything does. Bigger bikes are scarce in Pakistan: ask if you want one and we will quote what is available.
What licence do I need?
A valid motorcycle licence from your home country plus an International Driving Permit. Carry both with your passport and visa; the highway has police checkpoints.
How hard is the riding?
Moderate to demanding. Roughly 1,600 km in ten riding days on paved mountain road that narrows to one lane in places, with sheer drops, trucks, livestock and the odd landslide. You should already be a confident rider; this is not the place to learn.
What if Babusar Pass is closed?
Babusar is usually open only from about June to September, and snow can close it early or late. If it is shut, we ride home down the KKH via Besham over the same two days, at no extra cost.
Is there a support vehicle?
Yes. It carries your luggage, spares and tools, oxygen for the Khunjerab day, and room for a tired rider or a broken bike. A lead rider-guide rides with the group and a satellite phone travels with the team. Small repairs happen at the roadside; anything bigger goes to a workshop in Chilas, Gilgit or Karimabad.
