Motorcycle Touring

Pakistan's Karakoram Highway (KKH) is one of the highest paved roads on Earth, stretching 1,300 km from Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 m on the Chinese border. The route cuts through the junction of three great mountain ranges — the Karakoram, the Himalaya, and the Hindu Kush — climbing from around 500 m in the Punjab plains to the thin air of the Karakoram at Khunjerab. Along the way riders encounter thundering gorges, glacier-fed rivers, and terraced apricot orchards clinging to near-vertical valley walls. The best riding season runs from May through October, when snow has cleared from the high passes but before autumn storms close the road.

Adventure and dual-sport motorcycles (400–800 cc) with strong low-end torque handle the mix of smooth asphalt, chip-seal, and occasional gravel sections best. Fuel stations are spaced every 80–120 km in the main valleys, so carrying a small reserve is prudent beyond Gilgit. Road conditions vary: sections rebuilt after the 2010 Attabad landslide are excellent, while some stretches near Chilas and Raikot remain rougher. A support vehicle carrying luggage and spare parts transforms a tough expedition into a comfortable journey, letting riders focus entirely on the breathtaking scenery rather than mechanical anxiety.