Samar Khan

Biography

Samar Khan is a Pakistani adventure athlete, mountain biker and mountaineer from Khas Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She became the first woman to cycle on the Biafo Glacier in the Karakoram and the first Pakistani to cycle on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. She later cycled to K2 Base Camp and has continued promoting adventure sports and cycling through her Samar Camp initiative.

Major Achievements

• First woman to cycle on the Biafo Glacier in the Karakoram, in 2016.
• First Pakistani to cycle on the roof of Africa / Mount Kilimanjaro, in 2017.
• Cycled to K2 Base Camp in 2021.
• Has documented cycling expeditions involving the Biafo and Godwin Austen glacier systems.
• Selected for the ESPNW Global Sports Mentoring Program.
• Founded Samar Camp, promoting adventure sports and training opportunities.
• Pride of Pakistan recognition in 2021.
• Trailblazer of the Year award in 2022 for work in action sports.

National Career

Samar Khan’s cycling career developed through long-distance and mountain expeditions rather than conventional road-racing championships.

In 2016, she undertook a major cycling journey from Islamabad towards the Karakoram and became the first woman to cycle on the Biafo Glacier at an elevation of more than 4,500 metres. She subsequently continued developing mountain-cycling expeditions in some of Pakistan’s most challenging terrain.

In July 2021, she cycled to K2 Base Camp, completing a 16-day, approximately 90-kilometre mountain-bike expedition involving steep climbs, river crossings and glacier terrain. She used the expedition to highlight the condition of Pakistan’s glaciers and the effects of climate change.

International Career

Samar’s most prominent international cycling achievement came in December 2017, when she became the first Pakistani to cycle on Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak in Tanzania, at 5,895 metres. The expedition took seven days from Moshi Gate to the summit, with Samar cycling through different mountain environments before reaching the summit with her bicycle. She was also selected for the 2018 ESPNW Global Sports Mentoring Program, where she received mentorship related to sports leadership and expanding opportunities for women in sport.

Notable Records

• First woman to cycle on Biafo Glacier — 2016
• First Pakistani to cycle on Mount Kilimanjaro — 2017
• First Pakistani to cycle to K2 Base Camp — 2021
• Cycling expeditions on the Biafo and Godwin Austen glacier systems
• Approximately 800 km cycling journey from Islamabad towards Askoli during her 2016 Biafo expedition
• 16-day / approximately 90 km K2 Base Camp cycling expedition in 2021

Cycling Inspiration

Adventure sports, exploration of Pakistan's mountains and glaciers, promoting cycling among young people, and encouraging greater participation of women and girls in sports.

Additional Notes

Samar Khan is better categorized in the directory as an Adventure / Mountain Cyclist rather than a conventional competitive road cyclist. Her profile is particularly notable for combining cycling, mountaineering, snowboarding and outdoor-sports development. She founded Samar Camp, an initiative that provides opportunities and training in adventure sports, including mountain biking, for young people and women in Pakistan. Her more recent achievements have expanded beyond cycling. In 2024 she became the first Pakistani woman to snowboard down Mount Elbrus after reaching its summit, and in January 2025 she successfully summited Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America.

Detailed Biography

Samar Khan is a Pakistani adventure athlete and mountain cyclist from Khas Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whose cycling expeditions have taken her across glaciers and some of the world’s highest mountain environments. Her career combines mountain biking, mountaineering and adventure-sports development. Samar’s journey into adventure sports began after she discovered a paragliding training course. That experience introduced her to a wider world of outdoor sports and eventually led her towards mountain biking and expedition cycling. She later founded Samar Camp, an initiative focused on introducing young people and women to adventure sports.

Biafo Glacier — 2016

One of the defining achievements of Samar’s cycling career came in 2016, when she travelled from Islamabad towards the Karakoram and eventually cycled on the Biafo Glacier.

Her expedition involved roughly 800 km of travel to Askoli followed by trekking and glacier travel. She eventually reached an elevation above 4,500 metres and cycled on the glacier. Dawn described her as the first woman to cycle on the Biafo Glacier.

Kilimanjaro — 2017

In December 2017, Samar took her cycling expeditions onto the international stage.

She travelled to Tanzania and cycled with her bicycle towards the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, reaching Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres. Her own expedition account identifies her as the first Pakistani to cycle on the roof of Africa.

ESPN also documented her Kilimanjaro achievement and described how she combined cycling with mountain expeditions.

K2 Base Camp — 2021

In July 2021, Samar undertook another major cycling expedition, this time to K2 Base Camp.

The expedition lasted 16 days and covered approximately 90 kilometres of difficult mountain terrain. It involved steep climbs, river crossings and glacier sections. She used the expedition to draw attention to Pakistan’s glaciers and the effects of climate change.

Building Opportunities for Women

Beyond her personal expeditions, Samar has worked to create opportunities for other people to experience adventure sports.

Through Samar Camp, she has organized training and activities involving mountain biking, backpacking, snowboarding and mountaineering. Her work has particularly focused on providing opportunities for girls and women to participate in sports.

Continued Adventure Career

Samar’s adventure career has continued well beyond her major cycling records. In 2024, she reached the summit of Mount Elbrus and snowboarded down, becoming the first Pakistani woman reported to have achieved that feat. In January 2025, she successfully reached the summit of Mount Aconcagua in South America.