Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Paris · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Home to K2 (8,611 m) and four other 8,000-metre peaks, the Karakoram is the most heavily glaciated region outside the poles. Visible on routes between the Middle East and East Asia.
156Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
⛰️ MountainType
Routes that pass it156
ALA → BOM
Both Sides
BOM → ALA
Both Sides
DOH → PEK
Both Sides
DPS → LHR
Right
LHR → DPS
Left
PEK → DOH
Both Sides
KTM → MBW
Both Sides
DOH → HND
Left
HND → DOH
Right
BLR → IXL
Both Sides
DEL → YKZ
Left
HEL → HKT
Right
HKT → HEL
Left
IXL → BLR
Both Sides
YKZ → DEL
Right
DEL → YYZ
Left
DOH → NRT
Both Sides
NRT → DOH
Both Sides
YYZ → DEL
Right
BLR → SXR
Both Sides
SXR → BLR
Both Sides
BKK → ZRH
Right
ZRH → BKK
Left
BKK → LGW
Both Sides
HYD → SXR
Right
LGW → BKK
Both Sides
SXR → HYD
Left
AMS → DPS
Both Sides
DPS → AMS
Both Sides
LHR → MEL
Both Sides
LHR → SUB
Right
MEL → LHR
Both Sides
SIN → SVO
Both Sides
SUB → LHR
Left
SVO → SIN
Both Sides
LHR → MBW
Both Sides
MAN → XSP
Right
MBW → LHR
Both Sides
XSP → MAN
Left
MAA → SXR
Right
SXR → MAA
Left
BKK → CIT
Both Sides
BKK → VIE
Right
CIT → BKK
Both Sides
VIE → BKK
Left
SYD → MUC
Both Sides
SYD → ZRH
Both Sides
ZRH → SYD
Both Sides
CPH → SIN
Both Sides
DEL → MEX
Both Sides
FRA → SGN
Right
KWI → XIY
Both Sides
MAN → SIN
Both Sides
MEX → DEL
Both Sides
SIN → CPH
Both Sides
SIN → MAN
Both Sides
XIY → KWI
Both Sides
HAN → IST
Both Sides
HKT → SVO
Both Sides
IST → HAN
Both Sides
SVO → HKT
Both Sides
ACH → KTM
Left
KDU → LHE
Right
KTM → ACH
Right
LHE → KDU
Left
CDG → SGN
Right
DOH → PKX
Left
PKX → DOH
Right
SGN → CDG
Left
CPH → XSP
Both Sides
XSP → CPH
Both Sides
BHX → BKK
Right
BKK → BHX
Left
CNS → FCO
Left
DEL → ORD
Both Sides
FCO → CNS
Right
ORD → DEL
Both Sides
BKK → LCY
Both Sides
BKK → MUC
Both Sides
LCY → BKK
Both Sides
MBW → LCY
Both Sides
MUC → BKK
Both Sides
ADL → MAN
Left
MAN → ADL
Right
AMS → BKK
Both Sides
BKK → AMS
Both Sides
BKK → CDG
Both Sides
BKK → LHR
Both Sides
CDG → BKK
Both Sides
LHR → BKK
Both Sides
BKK → FRA
Both Sides
FRA → BKK
Both Sides
ATQ → SEA
Both Sides
SEA → ATQ
Both Sides
DAC → DEB
Right
DEB → DAC
Left
ARN → CCU
Both Sides
CCU → ARN
Both Sides
ALA → DEL
Both Sides
DEL → ALA
Both Sides
BOM → SFO
Left
BOM → SXR
Both Sides
SFO → BOM
Right
SGN → BLQ
Right
SXR → BOM
Both Sides
DEL → YUL
Right
YUL → DEL
Left
DUB → SIN
Both Sides
HYD → ORD
Right
ORD → HYD
Left
SIN → DUB
Both Sides
GIL → ISB
Left
ISB → GIL
Right
DEL → IAD
Right
IAD → DEL
Left
DME → SIN
Both Sides
HKT → MAN
Right
MAN → HKT
Left
SIN → DME
Both Sides
HEL → KBV
Right
KBV → HEL
Left
MAA → ORD
Both Sides
ORD → MAA
Both Sides
BKK → STR
Both Sides
DUS → BKK
Both Sides
STR → BKK
Both Sides
DCA → DEL
Left
DEL → DCA
Right
BHX → DPS
Both Sides
DPS → BHX
Both Sides
AGR → JFK
Right
BKK → BRU
Both Sides
BKK → WAW
Both Sides
BRU → BKK
Both Sides
JFK → AGR
Left
WAW → BKK
Both Sides
DOH → ICN
Left
ICN → DOH
Right
KTM → MXP
Right
MXP → KTM
Left
DEL → EWR
Right
EWR → DEL
Left
NMI → SFO
Left
SFO → NMI
Right
DEL → JFK
Right
JFK → DEL
Left
IXL → NMI
Right
NMI → IXL
Left
BOM → IXL
Left
IXL → BOM
Right
BOS → DEL
Left
DEL → BOS
Right
LUH → MIA
Right
MIA → LUH
Left
BKK → CPH
Left
CPH → BKK
Right
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Karakoram & K2 from a plane?
Yes — 156 flight routes pass within 100 km of Karakoram & K2. The closest routes include Alma-ata to Bombay, Bombay to Alma-ata, Doha to Beijing. The landmark is visible from both sides, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Karakoram & K2?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Karakoram & K2: on a Alma-ata to Bombay flight, visible from both sides; on a Bombay to Alma-ata flight, visible from both sides; on a Doha to Beijing flight, visible from both sides.