Imagine cycling through a mountain paradise of peaks over 7,000 meters with glaciers almost touching the road and inhabited by people so friendly that it is not unusual to be offered tea as a gesture of hospitality when you stop for a break. Well, this tour offers this and more. The KKH is a dream ride and we aim to make it as easy as possible for you to take in the sights and experience the cultures along the way. Each day is designed for you to enjoy the cycling and to soak in the splendid panoramas.
Tour duration is 16 days. mountain biking through some of the world’s most breathtaking mountain scenery in the Karakoram and Pamir Ranges including, weather permitting, views of: Rakaposhi 7790m, Diran 7270m, Ultar 7388m, Muztagh Ata 7546m, Kongur 7719m, and many other peaks. Encounter the friendly and hospitable Hunzakut and Wakhi Tajik peoples of Gilgit – Baltistan, Pakistan, and the Sarakol Tajik, Kirghiz, Uighur, and Han peoples of Xinjiang, China. Experience the distinctly Central Asian flavor of the famous Kashgar Sunday bazaar.
- DAY 01: ARRIVE AT ISLAMABAD
Arrival at Islamabad airport and transfer to hotel.
- DAY 02: ISLAMABAD-ABBOTABAD
Drive to Abbotabad and then biking to Besham over night in hotel (6 to 7 hour biking).
- DAY 03: BESHAM – CHILAS
Biking to Chilas over night in hotel (8 – 10 hour bike).
- DAY 04: CHILAS-GILGIT
Biking to Gilgit over night in hotel (5-6 hour bike).
- DAY 05: GILGIT
Rest day in Gilgit or Sightseeing in Gilgit over night in hotel.
- DAY 06: GILGIT-MINAPIN
Bike to Minapin over night in hotel (5 to 6 hour Bike).
- DAY 07: MINAPIN-KARIMABAD
Bike to Karimabad over night in hotel (4 to 5 hour bike).
- DAY 08: KARIMABAD-PASSU
Bike to Passu over night in hotel (5-6 hour ).
- DAY 09: PASSU-SUST
Bike to Sust over night in hotel (5 to 6 hours).
- DAY 10: SUST-TASHKURGAN
Drive and Bike to Tashkurgan China over night in hotel.
- DAY 11: TASHKURGAN-KARAKUL LAKE
Bike to Karakul Lake 100 kilometer, over night in Yurt.
- DAY 12
KARAKUL LAKE-KASHGAR
Bike to Kashgar 200 km over night in hotel.
- DAY 13: KASHGAR
Situated at the foot of the impressive Pamir mountains, Kashgar was once the key trading post bridging the East and the West. Largely inhabited by the Uygurs, this ancient city is dotted with Muslin architecture and still retains the exotic feel of the Silk Road era. We will visit Kashgar’s lively markets, which attract thousands of people from the far corners of the region. They come here to sell, bargain, and trade everything ranging from camels to raisins. Our sightseeing tour will also include the Id Kha Mosque and the tomb of Abjak Hoja. Our tour includes the tombs of Abakh Hoja, the famous Eidgah Mosque and the most unique old town with typical Uyghur styled homes. We visit the various shopping alleys full of noodle shops, bakeries, teashops, blacksmiths and carpenters. Time has stood still – try a local taxi, which is a donkey cart.
- DAY 14: KASHGAR-URUMQI
Today we will have a free day, allowing you to explore Kashgar’s old quarter, home to a fascinating mix of ethnicities – Uygurs, Tajiks, Kyrgyz and Uzbeks – or visit one of Kashgar’s many other sights. In the evening we will take a flight back to Urumqi.
- DAY 15: URUMQI-BEIJING
Fly back to Beijing. Rest of the day free at leisure.
- DAY 16: BEIJING DEPARTURE
Transfer to Airport for homebound flight to departure from Beijing.
