# Khunjerab Pass, Gilgit-Baltistan

> The Khunjerab Pass is the border between Pakistan and China, reached by the Karakoram Highway from Sost, and the centre of a national park that shelters Marco Polo sheep.

- **Page:** https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley/gojal/khunjerab-pass
- **Type:** Pass
- **Province or region:** Gilgit-Baltistan
- **Part of:** Gojal (https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/hunza-valley/gojal)
- **Best season:** May to October
- **Altitude:** 4,693 m

The road climbs from Sost over about 80 kilometres to the pass, at 4,693 metres one of the highest paved border crossings in the world. The Khunjerab National Park around it protects Marco Polo sheep, ibex, snow leopards and many marmots.

The pass is usually open in summer and early autumn, roughly May to October, and the exact dates change from year to year, as does the rule on who may cross. Visitors can normally go to the border gate and return. Allow a full day from Passu, take warm clothes, and remember that at this height even a short walk can leave you out of breath.

## Highlights

- The border gate at the top of the pass
- Marco Polo sheep, ibex and marmots in the national park
- The drive up from Sost

## Seasons in Gilgit-Baltistan

- **Spring (March to April):** Apricot and cherry blossom in the lower valleys, mostly in April. The higher villages are still cold and the high passes are closed.
- **Summer (May to September):** The main season. Every valley is open, and this is the time for trekking, Deosai, the Khunjerab Pass and the K2 approach.
- **Autumn (October to November):** Golden leaves in the orchards and the clearest light of the year. Nights are cold and the first snow reaches the high valleys in November.
- **Winter (December to February):** Cold and quiet. Hunza and Gilgit stay reachable by road, but the high valleys and passes are closed.