Re: Visas for entry into China via Karakoram highway

Hi all. I will be heading to Pakistan on a whitewater kayaking trip this coming summer. We are looking into the possibility of crossing over the border into Xinjiang to explore around there as we have heard reports of good rivers in that region.

Does anyone know how easy it will be to get a visa into China? We all have British passports. I have heard that it's better not to mention that you are travelling to Xinjiang if applying for a visa but this will not really be possible if we enter from Pakistan.
Cheers,

Jamie

There is no visa on arrival in to China,you have to obtain visa for China either in your home country or in Islamabad (which takes 5 days to a week in ISB).

And also you can ONLY get your Pakistani visa in the the country of origin.

There re also some good rivers for whitewater rafting in the mountains of Pakistan like Hunza river,Gilgit river,Ghizer river and the river from Mustuj to Chitral valley.

Ok thanks, will do.

k2_heights Sorry I should have specified that we are definitely going to get visas for both Pakistan and China before we leave if possible.
I just wasn't sure whether we would be able to get visas at all for China, considering they don't like tourists going to Xinjiang as it is and that will be our entry point.

Thanks for responses

Bonjour from Islamabad,

For white water Kayaking, neither river Gilgit, nor Hunza, because they don't look feasible for kayaking due to muddy water, the flow is fast so please keep that in mind.

River Ghizer near Phandar, Yasin river near Darkhote, river Bamborate , river Rumbur (Kalash valleys) and river Garamchasma, are the best spots for white kayaking.

Ciao,

As stated earlier,please arrange your Pakistan visa in your home town.

Bon voyage ..

When applying for your Chinese visa don't list Xinjiang. If you do there's a good chance you'll be denied or need to use an organized tour service. Just list normal tourist destinations like Beijng, Shanghai, etc.

Travel Walji's organizes whitewater rafting every year on Gilgit river & Hunaza river.

Bonjour from Islamabad,

The post is about white water Kayaking not rafting, these 2 sports are different.

For a Chinese visa, I'd go with # 7, there are better suggestions .

Have a nice trip .