Passing through the majestic Karakoram mountains at a staggering 15,000 feet above sea level, a journey marked as much by treacherous turns as it is by awe-inspiring vistas – especially if one happens to be on a motorbike – this haunting verse by J.R.R Tolkein has a strangely reassuring effect.

At least that’s what kept Ali Azmat focused during his recent 15-day motorbike adventure across Pakistan’s north into the Chinese city of Kashgar. “This line kept popping in my head as I rode and it kept me single-minded enough to concentrate on roads where a tiny pebble under the wheelcan mean instant death,” he discloses in an exclusive conversation with DESTINATIONS, anchored firmly at ground level in the safety of the home he shares with his wife and two young daughters.

For a generation that has grown up listening to Ali Azmat’s music, he will always remain Pakistan’s original rockstar, the man who gave us the iconic Jazba-e-Junoon and Sayonee. Never one to shy away from taking risks – whether in his professional and personal lives – Azmat’s latest persona as a motorcycle enthusiast should come as no surprise to his legions of fans.

The journey began in 2011, when Azmat bought his first heavy bike, inspired in part by Ewan McGregor’s Long Way Around, a travel documentary based on the actor’s 3-month motorcycle trip around the world. “I thought to myself, here’s a guy who’s a movie star and has all the luxuries in the world; yet he’s willing to step out of his comfort zone and embark on this crazy trip,” reveals Azmat.

The seeds of an idea were sown and Azmat embarked on a solo ride from Lahore to Karachi, a 2-day trip averaging 600km of riding per day. Terming it one of the most exhilarating and liberating experiences of his life, the musician has, since then, traversed unknown terrains across the country.

“I’ve taken my bike to some of the remotest corners of Pakistan, camped outdoors, seen sights I never thought possible. The skyline near Pasni in Gwadar, for example, still haunts me inits eerie beauty, with its undulating sand dunes as high as buildings. I’ve reached the conclusion that this here is perhaps the best country in the world, with the best food, people and scenery. Go out and discover it for yourself.”

This summer, Azmat amped up the adventure by undertaking his first international trip, along with a group of 4 other motorbike enthusiasts. Although the original plan of reaching the Pamir Mountains, referred to as “the roof of the world”, via the Central Asian counties of Kyrgystan and Tajikistan didn’t pan out due to visa delays, the entourage’s journey along the ancient silk route was no less spectacular, culminating at the 2,000 year old Chinese city of Kashgar.
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