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Also known as K2, Khunjerab Pass sits at 15,340 feet on the border of Pakistan and China. There is no lodging available at the pass. The last towns in Pakistan before the border, Sost and the villages of Passu and Gulmit offer the only places to stay in the area. Further south in the Hunza Valley at Karimabad, offers more options and better services, but requires a longer drive to the pass.
The motels and guesthouses in the Gojal valley and Karimabad offer varied levels of services and comforts to travelers. Although the quality of the motels improves the further you travel from Khunjerab Pass, the trade off is a longer drive to the area.
The last motels before the Khunjerab Pass are in Sost. Travelers have to drive about two hours from Karachi to reach Sost and the Khunjerab Pass. The Motels in Sost are not considered to be comfortable and provide basic services. Many of the patrons of Sost are travelers and traders staying for the night before continuing on to China.
The Guest houses in the Gojal Valley are considered to be more scenic than that of Sost. The valley provides travelers better options and services than motels of Sost. The Guest houses of Gojal Valley are about a 2.5 hour drive from the Khunjerab Pass.
The Hunza Valley has a range of accommodation options. The lower valley around Karimabad is the most developed, and has something to suit most budgets. Hunza Serena and the Eagles Nest at Duikar are probably the most well known of the higher end options.
A. Services at Accommodation in Sost
Like most border towns, Sost has a range of accommodation options that caters for people working on the border. The rooms and other facilities are basic, and food and other services are provided to meet the needs of people transit staying. For some people this may include a hot shower.
Sost is a border town, so it does have a bazar and restaurants. Compared to the upper Hunza Valley, it is well resourced. Like other border towns, accommodation is functional and designed for transit staying. This means many of the facilities are shared.
Relying on online booking platforms to find accommodation in Sost is not recommended. Booking through a local service or agent is more assured.
A stay in Sost always includes an overnight break, but there is a good reason to use it. That reason is to time your visit to the pass to catch the Marco Polo Sheep before the day trippers from Karimabad head up there. To ensure you've beaten the day tripper traffic and to give yourself the best possible chance of wildlife sightings, you need to depart Sost no later than 6 AM.
Of course, not everyone is focused on the comfort of their accommodation, and for wildlife photographers, making the best possible use of their time is a better consideration. Using that logic, spending the night in Sost to time your departure to the wildlife area of the National Park is better than wasting time sitting in a comfortable accommodation in Karimabad.
Sost's elevation is approximately 2,790 meters above sea level, so it is warmer than the Khunjerab Pass. The town is quiet outside of business hours. While mobile phone signals are available, they are spotty.
Passu lies 15 km south of Sost on the KKH. It is known for the Cathedral Peaks or Cones, which rise above the Karakoram Highway. Passu Cones are very popular among travelers and trekkers. There are only a few small guesthouses in Passu, which offer basic accommodation to the travelers driving KKH and trekkers going to Cones and to the suspension bridge.
Passu offers quiet and cleaner accommodation as compared to Sost. Taking a break at Passu offers a chance to relax and recharge, as the less number of traders and vehicles provide a very calm and peaceful environment. Passu's main draw is the Cones and the Hunza River, which flow through Passu.
The guesthouses change their management every year; this creates inconsistency and makes it hard to find reliable information about the guesthouses. Using a reliable travel operator to make reservation is the best way to ensure accommodation at Passu guesthouses.
The main village in the Gojal Valley is Gulmit. There is more cultivable land in Gojal as compared to the villages located south of Attabad. Compared to Passu, Gulmit has a small museum and the ruins of a fort. There is more guest accommodation in Gulmit. Guest houses in Gulmit are a convenient location for people traveling from Islamabad to Khunjerab and wanted to visit some of the glaciers in the Gojal Valley.
From Gulmit, the Ghulkin and Passu glaciers can be reached by relatively easy walks. Guest houses can make bookings for the walks. A good itinerary is to spend a night in Gulmit and a night in Sust, at the Pakistani side of the Khunjerab Pass.
The Hunza Serena is approximately 130 kilometers from the Khunjerab Pass. The hotel takes approximately 4-5 hours to reach from the border. Many tourists use the hotel as a base to visit the Khunjerab Pass. This excursion takes approximately 8-10 hours as the pass is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes away and visitors also make stops at Attabad and Passu.
Eagle's Nest Hotel, in Duikar Village above Karimabad, offers scenic views of the mountains and valleys of Hunza. From Eagle's Nest, visitors can see Rakaposhi and Ultar Sar. Northern part of the Karakoram range is also visible from the hotel, if the weather is clear. Eagle's Nest offers guest rooms as well as cottages. Compared to the hotels located in Karimabad, Eagle's Nest offers a panoramic view of the valley from its location, above the main valley.
Eagle's Nest is a good option for travelers who wish to photograph the valley from various locations and also visit the Khunjerab Pass. The hotel offers a view of the valley from its terrace, which guests can enjoy while the sun is still rising. From Eagle's Nest, guests can enjoy the view before heading to the Khunjerab Pass, while guests staying in hotels located in Karimabad, must take a long drive to the pass.
C) Mid-Range and Budget Options in Karimabad
There are a good number of mid-range hotels and guesthouses in Karimabad that cater to the majority of visitors. Those at this price range generally have attached bathrooms and offer in-house meals. Some provide partial views of the Karakoram Valley. The mid-range options vary and the quality of a particular place can’t always be evaluated by reviews on online platforms. It is better to check with the tour operators with whom the traveler is touring or traveling.
Budget options in Karimabad and Altit are adequate for the majority of the domestic and international (via KKH) visitors. Expect basic, no-frill options with very basic meals. Travelers are recommended to stay at Budget options in Karimabad, if they want to experience the famed Khunjerab Pass without burning a big hole in their pocket, than worrying about a nice hotel room.
B) Accommodation Options in Gojal Valley
Passu and Gulmit villages are convenient for travelers wishing to spend more days in the upper Gojal Valley to visit the cones and explore other surrounding areas. The accommodation options in both villages are basic, but the area offers scenic walks to nearby glaciers. From Karimabad, the base of Hunza Valley, travelers can organize a day trip to the Khunjerab Pass, but the drive time both ways is tiresome and long.
C) Accommodation Options in Karimabad
Most travelers wishing to visit the Khunjerab Pass prefer to stay in Karimabad, the main town of Hunza Valley. The drive both ways from Karimabad to the Khunjerab Pass is long and tiresome, but from there travelers can visit other parts of the valley, like the attractions in Duik Sandal area and Baltit and Altit forts. Accommodation in Karimabad is of better standard compared to other areas.
A) Travel time to the Pass
Sost is the most convenient location at 2 hours from the pass. Karimabad is 4-5 hours. The drive times from both Passu and Gulmit to the pass are approximately 2-2.5 hours.
Altitude and acclimatization
Karimabad is approximately 2,400 meters above sea level. Sost is at approximately 2,790 meters. The pass is at 4,693 meters. Travelers going from Karimabad to the pass in one day climb approximately 2,300 meters. To reduce the risk of altitude sickness, stay for at least 2 nights in Karimabad and/or spend a night in the Gojal Valley before the day you go to the pass. Ask your operator about time set aside in your itinerary to acclimatize.
Meal arrangements and supplies
There are restaurants in Sost and guesthouses in Passu and Gulmit with meal services. There are no food services between Sost and the pass. Take food and drink for the journey with you.
Peak season booking
July and August are the most crowded months. The same is true for the weekend and public holidays for hotels in Karimabad including the Hunza Serena and Eagle's Nest. For these times, especially at short notice, you will not be able to find alternative accommodations. A reputable operator with a local presence in the area will be able to assist you.
What is the meal plan for the pass day? Are there any planned food stops on the drive beyond Sost? Check with the guesthouse/driver regarding meal plans and stops for the day.
Does the guide have a current license from the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department? Ask to see the license.
Check the status of Khunjerab Pass within 2 weeks of your planned travel date. The pass can close suddenly due to various reasons.
Check the condition of the KKH north of Attabad within the off-season, if you are planning to travel during that period.
Avoid using out-of-date guesthouse listings to make reservations in Sost. Use an reliable operator for your reservations.
Avoid going to the Eagles Nest or the Hunza Serena Inn without reservations during July and August.
Avoid thinking you can do the whole pass drive out of and back to Karimabad in a day. It takes at least 8-9 hours just to do the drive each way, and you will want to make other stops along the way. Plan your day accordingly.
The only hotel options for many miles are found in Sost, which is about a two hour drive and 90 kilometers from the pass. Sost has very basic hotels, which are more of a road side rest stop, and offer very little in the way of comfort. There are no hotels or other forms of lodging near Khunjerab Pass.
Hunza Serena Inn is located in Karimabad in the main Hunza Valley, which is about a four to five hour drive and 130 kilometers from Khunjerab Pass. As the only 'nicer' hotel in the greater Hunza region, many travelers staying there also make the venture to Khunjerab Pass part of their itinerary.
Eagle's Nest Hotel is located in Duikar, a village above and to the west of Karimabad. It is known for excellent views of the valley and the surrounding peaks of the Karakoram. Like many hotels in the region, it is a popular place for travelers to spend the night to get pictures of the valley. From there, many travelers also venture to Khunjerab Pass as part of their itinerary.
D) Where should I stay, Sost or Karimabad?
Sost has more appealing accommodations in the area for travelers wishing to see the wildlife near the national park. Although, Karimabad has better and more comfortable accommodations. Gulmit is considered a better choice compared to Sost and Karimabad, as it is a more scenic and picturesque area.
E) Where can I stay in Passu to see the Cathedral Cones?
Passu has basic accommodations that cater to tourists via the KKH as well as tourists wishing to visit the Cathedral Cones and the nearby suspension bridge. Book a tour to help you find a better place to stay.
F) Is Khunjerab area cold in the summer?
Yes.
Sost sits at about 2,790 meters and has cool nights even in July. Passu and Gulmit are at similar heights. All over the Gojal Valley, even in the height of summer, travelers will need to wear extra layers in the night. At about 2,400 meters, Karimabad is still up in the mountains and has cool evenings. Do not let the day time temperatures lull you into thinking that you won't need warmer clothes at night.
As of now, the Hospitality team has confirmed that they have availability for travelers heading to Khunjerab via:
Sost
The Gojal Valley
Karimabad
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Website: www.hospitalitytours.com.pk