Karakorum – conditions of participation
BaltiCCycle (BC) is not a commercial tour, all organizers are volunteers, and the registration fee collected goes only for covering organizational expenses. Each route is different; therefore, it is impossible to work out all details in advance. Joining BC, you become a part of the team, and we expect from you a good will and a right understanding of our principles and rules. Your assistance in organizing daily program and solving all difficulties is highly appreciated.
The BaltiCCycle 2025 “Karakorum Highway – at the Top of the World” will happen on the conditions we offer here if not less than 10 participants register for the whole route. We must know it in advance (for booking sleeping places, support car, visas, etc.); therefore, the deadline of registration is fixed on 28th of April, 2025 – 3 months before the ride start. If we do not collect enough participants, the current ride conditions can be changed or the ride will be cancelled. After registering, you will be regularly informed by email about the registration progress.
The expedition is designed for participants with experience in long-distance travel, harsh cycling and camping conditions, and traversing remote, uninhabited terrain with long stretches without access to food, water, or shelter. Cyclists will also face steep ascents and descents at high altitudes, which can lead to fatigue and altitude sickness. The road surface along the KKH varies greatly, ranging from well-paved sections to areas with loose gravel, potholes, and dirt. In some regions, the road may be damaged by landslides or flooding. Weather can be unpredictable, with harsh winds, cold temperatures, and sudden rainfall. While the KKH is a vital trade route between Pakistan and China, traffic is generally light; however, large trucks, buses, and vehicles may still travel along the narrow, winding roads, posing potential hazards. Cycling the entire route is a challenge. Be prepared for adventure, extreme weather conditions, and unexpected obstacles along the way. The ride is open to all, but before signing up, you should carefully consider your mental and physical ability to complete it. BC participants gather for the ride from different countries and continents. We recommend bringing on your bike a national flag or other symbol that local people could see us as an international friendly cycling community.
Note. The section from the Pakistan-China border to Tashkurgan is officially not open to cycling and must be completed by bus. Nevertheless, we are attempting to arrange permits, and the success will depend on our luck.
Organizational rules. We try to keep our organizational principles similar to the previous BC tours.
- The average daily cycling distance for the entire route is approximately 57 km. This is shorter than usually due to the challenging cycling conditions and the many natural wonders along the way. All daily distances are planned to ensure that the total ascent does not exceed 2,000 m.
- The rest days are planned once a week.
- On days 13-15 it is planned a hiking detour to the Nanga Parbat Base Camp.
- The route will go through sparsely populated areas, therefore we will often camp on nature. In towns and villages, we will sleep in official campings, sometimes hostels. Many sleeping places are not arranged in advance, and starting in the morning you do not always know where you will sleep at night. The driver of our supported car will look for sleeping places and help us to find them leaving marking signs or informing by mobile phone if the net is available.
- The maps with a marked day’s route will be available for downloading from internet in ‘pdf’ format as well as description of daily program. If you need you can print them in advance. Instead of printing we recommend to download ‘gpx’ tracks and maps to your GPS devices and descriptions to mobile phones.
- The maps with a marked day’s route and description will be also distributed during a map-meeting every morning as well as the day’s program explained.
- From one sleeping to the next one you can travel individually or in small groups. When according the program some common event is planned, we will cycle in one group wearing T-shirts and other BC symbols.
- Though we will have the support car on the route, you should be ready to carry all your necessary stuff on the bike for a few days (in case of car break or other unexpected circumstances, as well as crossing the border from Pakistan to China. The service of luggage transportation is limited to 25 kg. This service is included in the membership fee.
- In case of a serious emergency, you can call the driver for assistance. However, please note that mobile network coverage is limited to major populated areas and may be weak or unavailable in remote stretches, particularly near the Khunjerab Pass. If a participant is unable to continue cycling due to injury, illness, or other reasons, the organizers can arrange to transport the cyclist and their bike for 2–3 days.
Membership fee. The membership fee is fixed to 35 € per diem. You have to indicate the number of days you plan to travel in the table of the Registration Form, and your membership fee will be counted automatically. To organize the whole event with fewer troubles we ask everybody who has intention to take part in the expedition to register as soon as possible.
If the registration and half of the membership fee is not received until April 28, 2025 (3 months before the start of the ride) available discounts are cancelled, and the whole fee increases by 10 %.
The membership fee includes:
- sleeping places for a tent under simple conditions (drinking water, waste-baskets) in wild campsites or in private land as well as in fully equipped official campsites or hostels when outdoor camping is not available;
- car following the group with first-aid kit and basic bicycle repair instruments and tools; possibility to call the car in case of emergency;
- transportation of 25 kg luggage, better in a few begs than in one heavy;
- copies of maps with the marked route; list of recommended sights as well as a short description and a daily consultation regarding the route and cultural program;
- T-shirt, flag and sticker with BC2025 ride symbols;
- cosy surprises prepared by organizers or local authorities.
Discounts. The discounts are applicable only if the Registration Form and at least the half of membership fee is received before April 28, 2025. Discounts do not accumulate.
- 15% – for pupils and students (until 26 years old), families (3 and more persons) and BC veterans who cycled more than 100 days in the previous BC tours. If the 100th day comes during the ride, the discount will be counted from that day.
- 100% – participants who fully prepare some part of the route (maps, descriptions, camps) will NOT have to pay membership fee for that part of the route and for the same number of days in the same ride or the next BC rides or they receive other gratification agreed with organizers;
- special – participants who obtain potential sponsors or support organizers before or during expedition in another way (preparing the route, driving the support car, medical or bicycle service, etc.) will receive a privilege discount negotiated personally.
Additional paid service (optional):
booked by registration:
- transportation of additional personal luggage up to 15 kg (2 € per diem);
- additional T-shirt with the logo of the ride – 20 €;
booked during the ride:
- possibility to use transport of organizers for arrival/departure to/from the ride in the radius of 50 km (5 € per 10 km).
Arrival/Departure. Costs of the arrival/departure are not included in the participation fee. You can join and finish the ride at any point of the route, and you have to plan yourself how to do it. We can pick you up for the additional fee (5 € per 10 km) in the radius of 50 km (100 km both ways). You should contact the ride organizers at least two days before. Though the ride schedule is fixed but the real dates in some parts of the route can be slightly shifted (plus/minus 2 days) because of unexpected obstacles. Have it in your mind when planning arrival or departure. Click here to find the rough recommendations how to reach us on the route.
Visas. You have to check if you need visas to enter Pakistan and China at your country’s consulates. It is recommended to obtain all necessary visas individually, no group visas available, but if you need assistance, please contact the organisers. Your passport should be valid at least a half of the year ahead from the start of ride. The Pakistan visa is available on-line.
Weather conditions. Theweather in mountain area is unpredictable and you should come well prepared for all conditions.While August is part of the monsoon season, much of the KKH lies in a rain shadow, so heavy rainfall is less common, except in lower areas. Weather conditions vary significantly depending on the altitude and location:
- Low to Mid-Altitude Areas (e.g., Abbottabad, Gilgit, Hunza). Generally dry and sunny, with occasional rainfall, particularly in the lower sections, temperature – warm during the day, ranging from 20–35°C, nights are cooler, around 15–20°C, mild to moderate winds.
- High-Altitude Areas (e.g., the Khunjerab Pass). Clear skies are common, but sudden changes, including rain or snow, are possible, temperature – much cooler, with daytime temperatures around 5–15°C and dropping close to freezing (0–5°C) at night. Strong winds are frequent at higher altitudes, especially near the Khunjerab Pass.
Hiking. We plan to visit most impressive sights accessible only by hiking trails. You should own good shoes, clothes, rucksack, and trekking poles advisable.
Catering. It depends on you, but it is highly recommended to bring along a gas stove for preparing meal in the campsites. There will be long wild parts of the route without bars, cafes, restaurants and shops, supermarkets. Entering unpopulated areas, it will be a possibility to carry some reserve of products as well as drinkable water for necessary number of days in our van. If no drinkable water at the campsite, the driver is responsible for providing it.
Vaccination. You have to bring with you the International Certificate of Vaccination (the yellow booklet) with certifications of vaccination. The vaccination/medicine to be active must be taken a few weeks before your start. Consult with your local vaccination centre. No obligatory vaccinations are required in these parts of Pakistan and China we enter, but it is recommended to vaccinate against: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, poliovirus, diphtheria/tetanus (DT).
Necessary equipment and documents:
- bicycle prepared for long travel (carriers with panniers or saddlebags, safe brakes, reflectors and lights); click here for the recommendations how to prepare the bike;
- good bike wear for different weather conditions, sun protection creams and glasses;
- cyclist first-aid kit (more parts and tools in the support car);
- first-aid kit (more medicines in the support car);
- valid passport with necessary visas (at least a half of the year ahead);
- INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL INSURANCE is obligatory, no group insurance;
- camping gear (windproof-waterproof tent, warm sleeping bag, gas stove, light etc.);
- equipment for hiking, especially shoes;
- money for personal expenses i.e. bicycle repair, food, museums, excursions, permits to national parks, and other expenses);
- mobile phone;
- GPS receiver with off-line maps.
Children until 18. Children can take part in the ride only together with parents (one or both) or another adult who is authorized by notary to take care and is fully responsible for the juvenile.
Luggage transport. We strongly recommend carrying all necessary personal stuff in the panniers on your bike. Neither organizers nor drivers are responsible for safety of your luggage. You should insure your luggage against theft personally. The service of luggage transportation by the support car is limited to 25 kg, you can pack it into a few begs or in one; it is included in the registration fee. You should be ready to carry all your stuff a few days on the bike in case of emergency (car break or some other unexpected circumstances). If you plan to transport any additional bag (not more than 15 kg) in the support car you have to indicate when registering and pay in advance (2 € per diem).
Resignation rules. The date of resignation is fixed up when the resignation letter is received by organizers (before the ride by email sigitas@bicycle.lt or bc2025@bicycle.pl, during the ride it should be delivered to the leaders of expedition and confirmed by them). The date is important, because it determines the amount of refund which is returned in the following manner:
- up to 14 days before the start: – 100 %;
- 5-14 days before the start: – 80 %;
- less than 5 days before the start – no money repaid, however 80 % are deposited in participant’s account for the next years BC tour;
- after 10 and more days of cycling – 80 % of unused money repaid or 90 % deposited in participant’s account for the next years BC tour;
- money is paid back under mentioned above circumstances within 30 days after the end of the expedition;
- money is not paid back for the excluded from the tour participants;
- if you decide to change the sleeping place provided by organizers to another, you will yourself cover a cost for it, the organizers don’t give money back if you don’t sleep with a group;
- if due to some reasons the participant separates from the group for one or more days (nights) no refund for this lost time is applicable.
Organizers:
- route coordinators: Giulia Brotto, Sigitas Kučas;
- ride coordinators: Sigitas Kučas, +370 686 593 75, sigitas@bicycle.lt, Maryla Zielińska, CROTOS – Travellers’ Association, +48 604 255 722, bc2025@bicycle.pl.