Through the eyes of our travellers
We will begin our tour in Pakistan’s green capital, Islamabad, nestled between the Margalla hills. It is at once a bustling urban town with restaurants full of foreign diplomats and journalists, and wide boulevards that lead to the mountains beyond the city.
We will explore Islamabad on our motorcycles to get you accustomed to riding in Pakistan and learn some of the local words (and swear words to vent any frustration on the roads!) before we head up to Murree, a famous old hill station that once popular with the British for its close proximity to the city, its tall pines, colonial architecture, and winding roads. It’ll be a short, easy ride the first day so everyone can ease into riding on the “wrong” side of the road and get comfortable on their motorcycles. The next day, it’s a straight shot to Naran, the gateway to the world’s biggest mountain ranges – all within a stone’s throw from the edge of the town.
We’ll make our way across the first high pass- Babusar Pass- and will test our bikes as they climb up to 13,700 ft. It is a breath-taking mountainside ride, with surprises at every turn. Slowly, we’ll make our way through the historical city of Hunza and up the Khunjurab pass, climbing up to 15,400 ft to the China-Pakistan Border. The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world and although it is 100% perfectly paved tarmac, it will prove to be a challenge even for the skilled rider.
It’ll be your first day on the motorcycle in Pakistan so we leave early in the morning to beat the traffic and get into the mountains. Breakfast is going to be one of those hidden gems on the side of the road and you’ll get to ride along the famous Kunhar River, We try our best to stay at a family-run guest houses/hotels for a more personalized experience.
Naran is known to be the entry point to the mountains, you get to cross Babusar Pass 13,700ft one of the most spectacular high passes in the country. You finally get a chance to ride the world-famous Karakoram Highway today!
Gilgit is home to a few ancient buddha sites and we will pay a visit to Karga Buddah before riding up to the jewel of the country, Hunza. A lot of Fruit sellers on the way, don’t shy away from stopping over and picking up some fresh apples or cherries for us! Get to Hunza, relax and go for a stroll around Karimabad.
Hunza has a lot to offer, one of the most vibrant bazaars in GB has to be the Karimabad Bazaar. From old ancient jewels, to hand made handicrafts, silk carpets, and clothes. Karimabad is also home to the famous Walnut cake at Cafe de Hunza. A lot of history too so you’ll be visiting some 1000-year-old forts too. My favorite is the all-women furniture factory, Hunza has a 95% literacy rate, one of the highest in the country
An exhilarating ride up Karakorum highway to the Pakistan/China Border, 15,400ft above sea level is a real treat to experience on 2 wheels. You might also get lucky and see the super rare Markhor, Ibex or even the snow leopard.
Rest up at the hotel or have a fun day off the bike. Swim Borith Lake, walk across the super sketchy suspension bridge, lay in the sun and stare at the Passu Cones, hang with the locals and collect wood for the bonfire tonight.
An easy short day on the road as the next day is going to be a long day! To Gilgit its a 3-hour ride, so you have a chance to visit the Karimabad, Hunza Bazaar one last time or have a coffee at Cafe De Hunza.
Tracing the ride back to Islamabad, we get to cross the spectacular 13,700ft high Babusar Pass from the chillas side this time around. Your bikes will want to give up, you will have to have superb throttle control with a perfect fuel and oxygen mix to push you up the steep road from this side of Babusar. It’s a fun and safe challenge for all the riders, it’ll also help you appreciate your EFI bike back home.
Last day on this familiar road is fun, we’ll stop a few times for snacks and chai. Get ready, it will get hot on this day and you’ll have to control your excitement as most crashes on our tours happen on the last day.
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