12-Day Karakoram Highway Motorbike Tour in Pakistan via Hunza

The driving time is approximately 45 minutes.

• Arrive at Islamabad and be greeted by your guide, then transfer to your hotel to rest before starting your tour of North Pakistan. The drive from the new airport via Kashmir Highway takes about 45 minutes.

• Rest at the hotel. Your guide will arrange the next day's wake-up call and breakfast time.

The approximate driving distance is 380 km, and the journey takes about 12-13 hours.

• After an early breakfast, begin your journey by Saloon Coaster on the Grand Trunk Road (GTR) and continue onto the engineering marvel of the Karakoram Highway (KKH). At Hasanabdal, leave the ancient GTR and turn right onto the KKH. Pass fruit groves of lychee, orange, and tobacco, along with small crop fields, before heading to Abbottabad, a garrison city and hill station known as a summer escape. The winding route climbs over a high plain and then descends to follow the mighty Indus River, surrounded by mountains and the foothills of the Himalayas.

• Lunch will be at Besham. Afterwards, continue through the frontier-like towns of Besham, Dassu, and Chilas. It is a full-day journey on the KKH, and the approximate driving time may extend to 13-14 hours.

The approximate driving distance is 80 km, and the driving time is 2 hours.

• Today, after breakfast, take the motorbikes and ride to Gahkuch Valley.

• En route, visit Karga Bhuda, located near Kargah Nallah, a ravine about 10 kilometres from Gilgit Town. This rocky cliff site is one of the area's most admired short outing places.

• Have lunch in Gilgit at Paradise Restaurant. After lunch, drive to Gahkuch on the Gilgit and Shandur roads along the Ghizer River. Along the way, see many fabulous places offering amazing views for photography. Pass Sherote Valley, Sher Qila, Bargo, Dalnaty, Gulapur Valley, and other lush green valleys famous for producing apricots, walnuts, grapes, pears, pomi, apples, and cherries.

• Arrive in Gahkuch Valley.

The approximate driving distance is 150 km, and the driving time is 5-6 hours.

• Today, ride the motorbikes toward Gupis Valley and Khalti Lake.

• On the way, stop for photo sessions before entering Gupis and Khalti villages.

• Have lunch at Gupis PTDC Motel. After lunch, walk around Khalti Lake. During blossom and autumn seasons, this valley offers splendid views for photography.

• After lunch, continue riding uphill to Phunder Valley. Visit Phunder Lake and later drive back to Gupis Valley for an overnight stay. Your staff will serve the meal.

The approximate distance is 120 km, and the driving time is 4-5 hours.

• In the morning, after breakfast, depart for Gilgit town.

• En route, make short stops at scenic and beautiful landscape areas.

• Stop for lunch in Gahkuch Valley. After lunch, ride back to Gilgit.

• Upon arrival in Gilgit, transfer to the hotel.

• After a short rest at the hotel, walk around Gilgit city and visit important shops and markets.

• In the evening, walk back to the hotel. Your camp staff will serve the meals.

The approximate distance is 110 km, and the driving time is about 2-3 hours.

• After breakfast, depart for Hunza Valley. You will fly to Gilgit from Islamabad and then drive to Hunza on the KKH by car.

• Upon arrival in Gilgit, drive to Rakaposhi for lunch.

• After lunch, continue to Hunza Valley, about two hours away on the Karakoram Highway, passing through the lower Nagar hamlets and along the Hunza River. On the way to Hunza, see many beautiful cherry, apricot, and grape gardens.

• Reach Hunza Karimabad. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel.

• After a brief rest, walk around the colourful Hunza Karimabad Bazaar. Karimabad is the capital of Hunza Valley and is home to two historical forts, Altit and Baltit, which are about 700 and 900 years old. You will also visit the highest point for panoramic views of the 7000 m tall mountains.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

The approximate distance is 83 km, and the driving time is 2 hours, excluding sightseeing.

• Get up early for sunrise photo sessions of the high mountains at Duiker Top.

• Have breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, leave for Sost via the Atta Abad tunnel, built by Chinese engineers with the help of Pakistani labourers between 2012 and 2015. Stop at a photography point to take pictures of this natural landslide lake and enjoy boating for 40 minutes.

• After boating, drive to Gulmet and Passu villages. See the Husseni Suspension Bridge and continue to Passu for lunch.

• After lunch, drive to Sost. En route, see Passu Glacier, the Batura Wall, and Batura Glacier, then pass by Kyber village to one of the dramatic and remarkable villages of Gujal before transferring to Hotel Sost. Your staff will serve the meals.

• After breakfast, drive to the world's highest jeep-paved road, Khunerab Pass.

• Stop at Passu Glacier and the Passu Peak viewpoint for photographs. You will also have fine views of Shishper Peak and Batura Glacier. Batura Glacier is the fifth-longest glacier outside the polar region.

• Continue driving to Khunjerab National Park. On the way, see plenty of mountain ibex, yaks, and marmots. This is the highest overland pass, at an elevation of 4,794 m, marking the border between China and Pakistan and connecting to Central Asia. At the pass, you can also see the world's highest ATM. Walk around the Friendship border at the Pakistan-China immigration check post.

• Stop for lunch at the Sost Immigration Border area, then drive back to Passu for an overnight stay.

Driving time is about two hours.

• In the morning, drive to Nagar Valley across the Hunza River. After a 5 km drive, stop at the small junction where the Hunza and Nagar Rivers meet.

• Continue to Nagar Khas, passing through beautiful orchards of apricots, apples, and cherries. This valley also offers lovely views during blossom and autumn seasons.

• Stop near the main bazaar of Nagar for a magnificent view of the Ultar Mountains, the Golden Peak, and other impressive mountains.

• Continue driving to Hoper Valley. Enjoy time meeting the locals and observing their unique culture. Hoper Valley is a lush green valley surrounded by high mountains and some of the largest glaciers outside the polar regions. As a tourist destination, it attracts many visitors each year for trekking and climbing.

• Drive to Hoper Inn for lunch.

• After lunch, take a short walk to Hoper Glacier. After spending quality time here, drive back to Hunza for an overnight stay.

The approximate distance is 180 km, and the driving time is 2-3 hours.

• Today, ride back to Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway. After about an hour's ride, take the left-south route to Minapin Valley, a lush green plain that is ideal for a pleasant walk through the village.

• Lunch will be at a hotel. After lunch, drive through the enchanting valleys of lower Nagar. Stop for toilet breaks along the way.

• Upon arrival in Gilgit, transfer to the hotel. Then take time to rest and prepare your motorbike kits and pack them so you can fly from Gilgit to Islamabad.

The driving time is about 10-11 hours.

• Today, transfer overland from Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway to Besham Valley along the Indus River.

• Have lunch at Chilas. After lunch, continue driving towards Besham, stopping en route for tea and toilet breaks. The entire journey follows the mighty Indus River.

• Reach Besham for an overnight stay at the hotel. The approximate driving time will be about 9-10 hours.

The driving time is about 6-7 hours.

After breakfast, depart for Islamabad. En route, stop at Abbottabad for lunch at Usmania Restaurant.

• Visit the Taxila Museum.

• After this, visit Faisal Mosque and see the major shopping markets.

• Have dinner at a local restaurant.

• After dinner, you may opt for an airport transfer, taking with you many good memories of the colourful cultures and high mountain region of Pakistan.