Khunjerab is the world's highest paved international border crossing — 4,693 m at the China gate inside a national park that shelters snow leopards, ibex and Marco Polo sheep. Open to visitors roughly May–November; the drive from Karimabad runs ~3 hours each way through Gojal's full highlight reel.
The pass is a pilgrimage of altitude rather than a viewpoint — a broad snow saddle, the incongruous marble gate, yaks with attitude, and the novelty of waving at Chinese border staff. The day's real riches line the road: Passu, Sost's bazaar, the Khunjerab river's ibex slopes.
Altitude is the only serious variable: you gain 2,200 m from Karimabad in a morning. SafarGB paces the ascent, carries oxygen as standard and turns the day around before afternoon weather builds.
~125 km / 3 h from Karimabad via Attabad tunnels, Passu and Sost (park permits at Dih checkpoint — we pre-clear them).
Questions, answered
Do you need a visa to visit Khunjerab Pass?
No — you're not crossing, just reaching Pakistan's gate. Carry your passport/CNIC for the park checkpoint; actual border crossing into China requires full Chinese visas and runs on separate schedules.
Will altitude sickness be a problem?
You'll stand at 4,693 m for under an hour after a paced drive — most guests feel breathless on stairs and nothing worse. We carry oxygen, keep the visit short and descend before lunch settles the matter.