Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

PRE-MTP: Pakistan to China overland via the Karakoram Highway and the Khunjerab Pass

Let’s go on a REAL adventure folks! Islamabad, then into Gilgit, and then all overland until we hit Urumqi, in Xinjiang, China. Huge culture differences, the food will blow your mind, the views are spectacular. All along, following the Karakoram highway, and the ancient Silk Route. Finally, into China’s least visited region. 10 days of pure adventure.

As a GrandMaster myself, a friend of Charle’s and Luis and a sponsor of the Chengdu MTP conference (October 21-24, 2027), I’m running a series of WILD, EPIC group tours before and after the conference itself. Some of which I’ll be personally leading, and this overland adventure is one of those!

So for those intrepid enough (and you guys are exactly that!) this is how we’re kicking off MTP Chengdu 2027. Ten days, two countries, one of the greatest road trips on Earth.

We meet in Islamabad, fly north into the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan (contested with Indian Kashmir), road trip the Karakoram Highway through Hunza, cross the Khunjerab Pass into Xinjiang province, China (the HIGHEST border crossing in the world at 4,693 meters /15,397 feet). We continue through Xinjiang, home to the Uighur muslim population of China, through Tashkurgan and Kashgar, then take iconic night sleeper train across Xinjiang to Urumqi.

From Urumqi, you can fly straight to Chengdu, have a day to recover, then join the MTP conference.

Who Am I?

My name is Johnny Ward, the first Irish person to visit every country. And recently the first person to complete the Ultimate Explorer’s Grand Slam (every country, 7 summits, both poles). I’ve down a few other things like rowed unsupported across the Atlantic, I created a yearly ultra marathon in the Eye of the Sahara in Mauritania, and a yearly ultra cycle from Ashgabat to the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan.

I’m a full-time professional blogger who runs a lot of group trips (so no excuse for the endless spelling mistakes I make, sorry!) and I’m most happy when I’m running those group trips with like minded people to weird places, from the connections I made doing my 10 year ‘every country’ quest!

I’ve taken thousands of people on group trips to some of the weirdest places on earth – from South Sudan to Niue. And now Luis and I are going to try to focus more on helping MTP have more options to go with friends to far flung destinations. So here we are!

I should also probably add, I’m not your usual ‘tour company’ or ‘tour guide’. I do this because I love it! It’s my passion. So expect a bit of chaos, a lot of laughs, a healthy dose of unpredictability and a trip to tell your grandkids about.

Pakistan to China Overland: What This Trip Is

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• The Khunjerab Pass – The Highest border crossing on Earth!
• 2200km/1350mile roadtrip across the Karakoram Highway
• Check out Islamabad – Gateway to the mountains
• Hunza Valley – Where the Karakoram begins
• Xinjiang – China’s wild western frontier
• Kashgar – Silk Road soul & bazaars
• Ride China’s comfortable Overnight Sleeper Train (maybe we smuggle a bottle or two on there!)

This is a proper overland adventure from Pakistan into western China, timed to finish in Chengdu just before the MTP Chengdu 2027 conference.

We start in Islamabad before flying north to Gilgit and heading straight into Hunza and the Karakoram. From there, we keep pushing north through Passu and Sost before crossing the Khunjerab Pass — one of the highest international border crossings in the world — into China. Then it’s Tashkurgan, Kashgar, an overnight train across Xinjiang to Urumqi, where you’re free to finally board a flight to Chengdu.

The point of this trip is the journey itself. Huge mountain scenery, the Karakoram Highway, remote valleys, the Pakistan–China border crossing, the Silk Road atmosphere of Kashgar, and then the complete contrast of arriving in Urumqi and eventually Chengdu. It’s part of my MTP Chengdu 2027 trip series, but you do not have to attend the conference to join. If you are going to MTP, the timing works perfectly: we finish in Chengdu, you get a day to recover, and then the conference begins.

Ten days, two countries, one massive road trip.

Hunza, the Karakoram Highway & Khunjerab Pass

After using Islamabad as our meeting point, nnce we fly into Gilgit, this trip really starts.

We head straight into Hunza, one of the most spectacular parts of northern Pakistan, surrounded by huge peaks, deep valleys and the kind of scenery that makes the Karakoram Highway one of the great road trips on the planet. We’ll have time to explore Hunza properly, including the old town, the fort and some of the surrounding viewpoints.

From Hunza we continue north towards Passu and Sost, stopping for lakes, suspension bridges and the mountain scenery that makes this whole region so ridiculous. Then comes one of the highlights of the entire trip: crossing the Khunjerab Pass into China.

Khunjerab sits at 4,693 metres above sea level and is one of the highest international border crossings in the world. Crossing from Pakistan into China here, surrounded by the Karakoram, is the kind of travel experience you remember forever. This section is really the heart of the trip: Hunza, the Karakoram Highway, Passu, Sost and then over the mountains into China.

Crossing into China: Tashkurgan, Kashgar & Xinjiang

I LOVE this about this trip. In one day, EVERYTHING changes. Food, languages, culture, infrastructure. After crossing the Khunjerab Pass, we enter China in one of the most remote corners of the country. This isn’t ‘Great Wall of China’ China, this is mosques, and Uighur Muslims, and almost Central Asian Cuisine. Fascinating. Although, there will still be time to share a glass of Baijo or 3 for anyone willing to join me!

Our first stop is Tashkurgan, an old Silk Road town surrounded by huge mountain scenery and a completely different feel from the China most people know. From there, we continue towards Kashgar, stopping along the way for some of the best scenery in western China before arriving in one of the most fascinating cities in Xinjiang.

Kashgar is the real highlight on this side of the border. We’ll explore the old town, visit the mosque, wander through the markets and soak up the mix of Central Asian, Uyghur and Chinese culture that makes this part of the country so unique.

Then we swap road travel for rail and take the overnight train across Xinjiang to Urumqi. After days of mountains, border crossings and remote roads, arriving in Urumqi feels like coming back to civilisation, but it still has that distinctive western China atmosphere, especially around the bazaar and night markets.

From Urumqi, we fly on to Chengdu, finishing the adventure just before MTP Chengdu 2027 begins.

Pakistan to China Overland Itinerary

Day 1 – Islamabad

Arrive in Islamabad and settle into the hotel. We’ll meet at 6pm for a welcome briefing before having dinner together and getting ready for the trip ahead.

Day 2 – Islamabad

A full day exploring Islamabad and getting our first taste of Pakistan. We’ll keep things fairly relaxed before heading north into the mountains the following morning.

Day 3 – Skardu/Gilgit → Hunza

Get ready folks. Kashmir is calling. We’ve got our tickets ready and we’re flying from Islamabad right into Gilgit-Baltistan’s main airport, Skardu (or Gilgit, depending on flight schedules). And so it begins. The roadtrip of all roadtrips. We start on the ancient silk road route, following the Karakoram Highway all the way to China. And it all starts here. We land in Skardu and wind through the mountains to Gilgit, where we overnight.

Day 4 – Hunza

Today’s route sees up slowly make our way from Gilgit to Skardu. Each day on our road-trip, we’ll stop at the small community mountain villages, eat local Pakistani fare and soak it up. The views just don’t get better than this place.

Wind through the majestic Karakoram Range, witness turquoise lakes, and marvel at ancient Buddhist relics. Discover the rich culture of Gilgit-Baltistan while taking in awe-inspiring vistas. This journey promises unforgettable memories.

Day 5 – Hunza → Passu / Sost

We continue north through the Karakoram, with a lake hike and one of the region’s famous suspension bridges along the way. We’ll overnight around Passu or Sost, ready for the border crossing the next morning.

Day 6 – Sost → Khunjerab Pass → Tashkurgan

BUCKET LIST TIME – The most epic border crossing in the world. And the highest.

We’ll cross the border into China through the famous Khunjerab Pass. Now, we’re venturing into the remote Chinese Uyghur autonomous region of Xinjiang, home to China’s large Muslim population. Upon arriving in the Chinese border town of Tashkurgan, we’ll take a leisurely evening stroll after the stress of border guards and paper work, then maybe a few celebatories chinese beers! We’ll rest up for the night in Tashkurgan

Day 7 – Tashkurgan → Kashgar

Deep into China we go.

Tashorgan road trip to Kashgar, it’s about a 5 hour drive. But we make an epic day of it with stops at Karakul Lake, the White sand mountains and gorgeous Oytagh Red Mountain. Overnight Kashgar.

Day 8 – Kashgar → Urumqi

We explore Kashgar, including the mosque, old town and Mao statue, with the goat market included if the timing works. That evening, we board the overnight train across Xinjiang towards Urumqi.

Day 9 – Urumqi

We arrive in Urumqi in the morning and have the rest of the day to explore the city. We’ll take in a viewpoint before heading to the bazaar and night market later on.

Day 10 – Urumqi → Chengdu

After breakfast, we fly from Urumqi to Chengdu (the flight is not included in the trip price but we can help suggest the flights that work if you’d like). That marks the end of the trip, with a full day to recover before the MTP Chengdu 2027 conference begins.

How This Trip Connects With MTP Chengdu 2027

This trip is designed as one of my pre-conference adventures around MTP Chengdu 2027.

We finish the overland journey in Chengdu on 19 October, after flying in from Urumqi. That gives everyone 20 October as a full recovery/free day in Chengdu before the MTP conference begins. If you are attending MTP, this is the perfect way to turn the conference into a much bigger trip, instead of just flying straight into Chengdu, you arrive after ten days crossing Pakistan, the Karakoram and western China. So the flow is simple:

• 10–19 October: Pakistan to China overland trip
• 19-24, October: 1 full free day off in Chengdu, then the MTP Chengdu 2027 conference.
• 24th of October onwards? If you’re not fed up with me yet, join me overland through Tibet, Everest Base Camp (no hiking, don’t worry!) onto Kathmandu Nepal. All with no flights! We also have other trips to Mongolia, Bangladesh etc, listed below.

Other MTP Chengdu Trips with us?

• Pre-conference trip 2: If the Karakoram isn’t for you, we’re also running a 8D/7N pre-trip adventure to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. CHECK THAT OUT HERE.
• Post-conference trip 3. Chengdu to Tibet to Nepal OVERLAND, via Everest Base Camp! CHECK THAT OUT HERE.
• Post-conference trip 4. If you don’t want to overland through Tibet, you can fly to Ulaanbaatar and go and see the remote Reindeer Herders in the Northern Mongolian Territories with us. CHECK THAT OUT HERE.
• Mini Pre-conference trip 5: If you’re stuck for time, or don’t want to spend too much, we have a GORGEOUS shorter trip to Gulin + Yanghshou, bringing you back in time for the conference perfectly.
• Mini Post-conference trip 6: Bangladesh. We have a side quest in Dhaka! Then overland deep into the Sundarbans. 5 days, great price, real travel.
• Mini Post-conference trip 7: If you want to hang out with the overlanders to Tibet and Nepal, you can join a short version of that trip to just Chengdu and then onto the now famous ‘Cyberpunk City of China’, Chongqing for just a few days. A great cheap and fun extension to the conference.

Pakistan to China Tour Dates & Cost

October 10 – October 19, 2027

$3,799*

*Based on twin-sharing, single supplement also available.

FAQs About the Trip

Which MTP regions will we hit?

4! Islamabad, Gilgit + Xinjiang West + Xinjiang North. (as well as 2 countries of course, China and Pakistan). More important than that, in my opinion is just how cool this trip is. Overlanding, highest border crossing on earth, Karakoram highway, untouched Xinjiang in China. Epic.

Do I need visas for Pakistan and China?

Yes. You’ll need to make sure you have the correct visas for both Pakistan and China before the trip. We’ll provide the itinerary and supporting information you need for your applications, but ultimately visas are each traveller’s responsibility.

What’s included in the trip?

The trip will include the core logistics from Islamabad through to Chengdu: accommodation, internal transport used as part of the itinerary, local guiding, ALL ACTIVITIES, sightseeing and entrance fees where included in the programme, plus breakfast each morning.

Are lunches and dinners included?

No. Apart from breakfast, lunches and dinners are not included.

I actually prefer doing it this way on trips like this because it gives us much more freedom. Sometimes we’ll eat together, sometimes we’ll grab something quickly on the road, and sometimes people will want to go and find their own food.

What isn’t included?

Your international flights to Pakistan and home from China are not included, nor are visa costs, travel insurance, lunches, dinners, drinks and personal expenses.

The trip is designed to finish in Chengdu, so if you’re staying for the MTP conference, you’re already exactly where you need to be.

Is this a backpacking trip or is it comfortable?

This is an adventure trip, but it’s not a backpacking trip.

Where good hotels are available, we’ll use comfortable hotels. The itinerary includes places like Islamabad, Hunza, Tashkurgan, Kashgar and Urumqi, and the idea is to have a proper adventure during the day while still being able to shower, sleep properly and recover at night. The exception is the overnight train across Xinjiang, which is obviously part of the adventure.

How physically difficult is the trip?

You don’t need to be super fit. There will be some walking, sightseeing and optional hiking, but this is primarily an overland road-trip adventure rather than a trekking expedition.

The bigger challenge is simply the travel itself: long road days, altitude around Khunjerab Pass, an international land border and the overnight train.

Is Pakistan safe?

We’re travelling through established parts of northern Pakistan with experienced local operators and guides. As with any trip to Pakistan, travellers should understand that conditions can change and should check their own government travel advice before booking. We’ll also adapt the itinerary if local conditions ever require it.

Is Xinjiang safe to travel through?

We’ll be travelling through Xinjiang with local support and following the established route through Tashkurgan, Kashgar and Urumqi It is also a politically sensitive region, so people joining should understand that there may be police checks, passport checks and restrictions that you wouldn’t experience on a normal European holiday. That’s part of travelling somewhere genuinely unusual.

What is the accommodation like?

Generally comfortable rather than luxury. We’ll use good hotels wherever possible, including proper hotels in Islamabad, Hunza and the Chinese cities. In some of the more remote parts of the route, the options are naturally more limited, but we’re not deliberately roughing it.

Can I join by myself?

Absolutely. Most people who join my group trips come alone. You’ll be travelling with the group throughout the trip, so you don’t need to find someone to come with you.