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Travel Advisory September 10, 2024

Pakistan - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued after periodic review with updates to reflect the security environment.

Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to  terrorism . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to: 

• Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to  terrorism.
• The immediate vicinity of the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control due to  terrorism  and  the potential for armed conflict .

Country Summary:  Violent extremist groups continue to plot attacks in Pakistan. Terrorist attacks are frequent in Balochistan and KP, including the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties, and small-scale attacks are frequent. Terrorism and ongoing violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian, as well as local military and police targets. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist attractions, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted U.S. diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past. 

Local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit. Being near a protest can draw scrutiny from Pakistani security forces. U.S. citizens have been detained for participating in protests and for posting content on social media perceived as critical of the Pakistani government, military, or officials. Internet and mobile phone service outages are common, especially during protests.  

Pakistan’s security environment remains fluid, sometimes changing with little or no notice. There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country.

The government of Pakistan restricts the travel of U.S. government personnel working in Pakistan. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide services to U.S. citizens in KP, Balochistan, Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, and most areas outside of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi as U.S. government personnel must obtain special authorization to travel to those locales. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates require U.S. government personnel to use armed escorts and armored vehicles when traveling in certain parts of the country, both for official and personal travel. Additional restrictions on movements can occur suddenly and at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions. U.S. government personnel on assignment in Pakistan are prohibited from attending most large gatherings.  

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates have a limited ability to provide consular services to dual U.S.-Pakistani citizens who have been arrested or detained as Pakistani law considers such individuals to be citizens of Pakistan.

The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar does not provide consular services.  Services for U.S. citizens are available from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, and the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore. 

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Pakistan. 

If you decide to travel to Pakistan:      

• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas . 
• Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
• Vary your travel routes and timing. 
• Remain aware of your surroundings, particularly around public markets, restaurants, police installations, places of worship, government and military institutions, and other locations. 
• Be cognizant of local events. Avoid demonstrations or other large gatherings.
• Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Obtain travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuations.
• Review local laws and conditions before traveling.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Find a suggested list of such documents here.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization. 
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive security alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter . 
• Review the Country Security Report for Pakistan. 
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergencies. Review the Traveler’s Checklist . 

Balochistan Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel 

Do not travel to Balochistan province. Extremist groups, including an active separatist movement, have conducted deadly terrorist attacks against civilians, religious minorities, government offices, and security forces.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .  

KP Province, including the former FATA – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to KP province, which includes the former FATA.  Active terrorist and insurgent groups routinely conduct attacks against civilians, non-governmental organizations, government offices, and security forces.  These groups historically have targeted both government officials and civilians. Assassination and kidnapping attempts are common, including the targeting of polio eradication teams and Government of Pakistan security service (police and military) personnel.

Vicinity of Line of Control – Level 4: Do Not Travel 

Do not travel to the India-Pakistan border, including areas along the Line of Control. Militant groups are known to operate in the area. India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official Pakistan-India border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the province of Punjab between Wagah, Pakistan, and Atari, India. Travelers are advised to confirm the status of the border crossing prior to commencing travel. An Indian visa is required to enter India, and no visa services are available at the border.

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Six months beyond the date of arrival

Two blank pages are required for entry and exit stamps

Polio vaccination within one year before travel may be required to exit Pakistan. See Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements below and our Health Abroad page for more information.

Maximum $5,000 per adult per trip with a maximum of $30,000 per adult per calendar year. Minors are limited to half those amounts.

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy islamabad.

Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5 Islamabad, Pakistan Telephone: +(92)(51) 201-4000 or +(92)(51) 201-5000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(92)(51) 201-4000 Fax: +(92)(51) 282-2632 Website: https://pk.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Karachi Plot 3-5 New TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road Karachi, Pakistan Telephone:  +(92)(21) 3527-5000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(92)(21) 3527-5000 Fax:  +(92)(21) 3561-2420 Website:   https://pk.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Lahore 50, Shahrah-e-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill Circle, Lahore, Pakistan Telephone:  +(92)(42) 3603-4000 Fax:  +(92)(42) 3603-4212 Website:  https://pk.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantt.20 Telephone:  +(92)(91) 526-8800 Fax:  +(92)(91) 527-6712 Website:   https://pk.usembassy.gov/ **Consular services are not available in Peshawar**

Destination Description

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Pakistan for info rmation on U.S.-Pakistan relations.   

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

The Government of Pakistan requires all travelers age 12 and over to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

All travelers are subject to random COVID-19 testing at all points of entry/exit.  This policy is in effect until further notice and affects all international airports.  U.S. citizen travelers are not exempt from this requirement and may be tested for COVID-19.

Those testing positive for COVID-19 with the rapid test at the point of entry to Pakistan will then have a sample taken for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and be given home isolation instructions.  Travelers should not expect to be returned to their previous destination, nor quarantined at the Port of Entry/Exit.

Requirements for entry and exit:

• Valid passport
• Valid Pakistani visa
• Dual nationals only: National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)

Obtain your visa at the Pakistani Embassy or a Consulate prior to initiating travel to Pakistan. Visit the  Embassy of Pakistan  website for the most current visa information, and please understand that the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan cannot assist you with Pakistani visa issues. 

All U.S. government employees and immediate family members on U.S. government orders must follow appropriate procedures for official and personal travel to Pakistan. All official U.S. government travel requests must be submitted via the normal country clearance process and will be limited to mission-critical travel only. U.S. government employees wishing to conduct unofficial travel to Pakistan must contact the appropriate office in their home agency to determine whether there are any limitations or restrictions.  Official U.S. government travelers must be aware that operational and personal security policies for official U.S. government personnel change frequently.

Dual Nationals:   Be aware that different visa requirements may apply if you hold both U.S. and Pakistani citizenship. For more information see the Embassy of Pakistan’s information regarding  National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Pakistan Origin Cards (POC)

U.S. citizens are subject to the local laws of the foreign countries they visit or reside in. If you travel to Pakistan on a NICOP or POC card, you will be considered a citizen of Pakistan, which may limit the amount of assistance and communication we can provide should you be arrested. For more information see  Government of Pakistan Directorate General of Immigration and Passports .

You must obtain advance permission from local or federal authorities to travel in:

• Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
• Various districts in Azad Kashmir
• Province of Balochistan

Stay in compliance with Pakistani immigration regulations. If you overstay your visa or violate the terms, you may be detained, arrested, fined, and/or imprisoned. For further details see the  Ministry of Interior website  or call +92-51-920-7290.

Keep copies of your U.S. passport data page, Pakistani visa or ID card, and Pakistan immigration entry stamp with you at all times. Consider downloading these documents to your mobile phone in case of emergency.

Vaccinations:  With the exception of a COVID-19 vaccination, no routine vaccines are required when entering Pakistan from the United States, but proof of polio vaccination within one year may be required to exit Pakistan. See the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for recommended vaccinations and health tips for travel to Pakistan. For further updates, contact the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, telephone: +92-51-910-7307, or email:  [email protected].

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Pakistan.

Find information on  dual nationality,   prevention of international child abduction , and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Terrorism:  Violent extremist groups within Pakistan continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where U.S. citizens and other Westerners are known to congregate or visit, including:

• High-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.)
• Government facilities
• Schools and universities
• Shopping malls and markets
• Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by Westerners and tourists
• Public transportation hubs/stations
• Minority neighborhoods
• Outdoor recreation areas.

Terrorists also target Pakistani officials, government facilities, security forces, and religious minorities.

We recommend you limit the frequency of travel and minimize the duration of trips to public markets, restaurants, and other public locations.

Attacks have included armed assaults on heavily guarded sites, including Pakistani military and police installations, and airports. Primary tactics of terrorists include suicide operations, shootings, and bombings (including vehicle-borne explosives and improvised explosive devices), while other actions include but are not limited to assassinations, carjackings, kidnappings, and assaults. The Government of Pakistan maintains heightened security measures, particularly in major cities, and these measures can vary from day to day. However, the U.S. government is aware of narcotics smuggled onto flights from Pakistan, which may indicate broader security vulnerabilities at Pakistani airports.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates regularly assess security situations and restrict the movements of official personnel as necessary.  Depending on ongoing security assessments, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates sometimes place areas such as tourist attractions, hotels, markets, shopping malls, and restaurants off-limits to U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates prohibit personnel under COM security responsibility from using public transportation or taxi services. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates also prohibit such personnel from visiting houses of worship.

Official U.S. government personnel visiting Pakistan are authorized to stay overnight in certain local hotels in Islamabad, and some other areas of the country.  Avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures. Depending on ongoing security assessments, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates sometimes place areas such as tourist attractions, hotels, markets, shopping malls, and restaurants off-limits to official U.S. government personnel on official travel/orders.

Follow media coverage of local events and maintain good situational awareness and operational security wherever you travel in Pakistan. If you feel that your life is in danger in Pakistan, we advise you to report the threat to local police authorities and consider immediately changing locations or departing Pakistan.

For more information, see our  Terrorism  page.  

Crime:  All travelers are advised to dress conservatively, with arms and legs covered, and to avoid walking alone. We recommend avoiding travel on the streets late at night. Urban crime can be organized or opportunistic and conducted by individuals or groups. It can include fraud, theft, robbery, carjacking, assault, and burglary. Incidents of crime and levels of violence are higher in low-income residential and congested commercial areas but are seen in wealthier areas as well. Pickpocketing, theft, and larceny are common on buses and trains at all hours of the day.

Take precautions to avoid crime, including:

• Locking home and vehicle doors
• Varying routes and schedules
• Keeping bags or valuables under your legs away from passing vehicle traffic and ensuring that bag straps are not visible
• Traveling in groups
• Being accompanied by someone with the ability to speak the local language if you travel outside urban areas
• Carrying your mobile phone

If you are assaulted, flee to a safe area and report the situation to local authorities by going directly to a police station or dialing  15 .

Demonstrations  occur frequently. They may take place in response to local, national, or international current events, including on politically significant holidays.  

• Demonstrations can be unpredictable; avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.  
• Past demonstrations have turned violent.
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.  

Demonstrations, political rallies, or large religious gatherings intended to be peaceful can become confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. We advise U.S. citizens to avoid areas where large crowds of any kind gather. U.S Embassy and Consulate personnel are routinely instructed to avoid areas of any demonstration. During demonstrations or periods of civil unrest, the Pakistani government has in the past disabled cellular telephone and internet service, making it difficult for individuals to contact each other or the U.S. Embassy or Consulates.

The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates General generally do not message or post information about routine demonstrations but will disseminate known information regarding demonstrations or unrest that pose a potentially specific threat to U.S. citizens, including U.S. government personnel in country.

Celebratory gunfire may occur at any time but is most likely to occur during wedding celebrations, which are frequent from October to May, and on holidays such as New Year’s Eve. Although the likelihood of being struck is remote, falling rounds can cause injury or death.

International Financial Scams:  See the  Department of State  and the  FBI   pages for information. 

Victims of Crime:  U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. 

Report crimes to the local police at 15 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(92)(51) 201-4000. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.

Police responsiveness varies widely, and crimes often go unsolved or unprosecuted.

Dual U.S-Pakistani nationals may not be recognized as U.S. citizens by local authorities and may be treated as Pakistani nationals by the police and the courts.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

We can: 

• Help you find appropriate medical care  
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police 
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent 
• Provide a list of local attorneys  
• Provide our information on  victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution 
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home 
• Replace a stolen or lost passport 

Domestic Violence:   U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy or the Consulates in Karachi or Lahore for assistance.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not regularly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities.  First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more  information on insurance providers for overseas coverage

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:   U.S. citizens are subject to the local laws of the foreign countries they visit or reside in. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. The U.S. government does not intervene with local authorities or advocate for particular outcomes on behalf of private individuals in legal matters.

Furthermore, certain acts of U.S. citizens overseas are prosecutable as crimes in the United States even if they are not illegal under the local laws. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website.

It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings or structures, particularly sensitive places like military installations, cantonments, and nuclear sites, but the law on this subject is vague and applied inconsistently.

It is illegal to import alcohol into Pakistan without prior coordination with the government and even then, it is permissible only under very specific circumstances. Travelers entering Pakistan with alcohol face  potentially severe  penalties. Additionally, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could result in imprisonment and other severe penalties.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in Pakistan are severe, and those convicted can expect lengthy imprisonment, heavy fines, and possible capital punishment.

Exit controls, or bans on departing the country, are frequently used as a condition of bail.

Civil Matters : The Embassy often receives reports of property disputes and cannot become involved in civil matters.

Arrest Notification:   If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our  webpage  for further information.

Pakistani law enforcement authorities will typically not notify the U.S. Embassy or Consulates if a foreign citizen is arrested or detained, unless you request they do so. Pakistan’s regulations governing the travel of foreign diplomats and the procedures for gaining access to arrested individuals have delayed consular access in the past. In some cases, a consular officer may not be able to visit due to security-related travel restrictions.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods:  Counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, and they may be illegal according to the local laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods may pose significant risks to consumer health and safety. You may be subject to fines and/or have to give up the counterfeit and pirated goods if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website and the  U.S. Department of Justice website  for more information.

Faith-Based Travelers:   See the following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report  – see country reports
• Human Rights Report  – see country reports

International Volunteers:

• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  Same-sex sexual conduct is a criminal offense in Pakistan. While the government rarely prosecutes cases, society generally shuns LGBTQI+ persons, and violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons occur frequently.

The penalty for same-sex relations is a fine, imprisonment (sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment), or both. No laws protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, and LGBTQI+ persons rarely reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. 

See   our  LGBTQI+ Travel Information   page and section 6 of our  Human Rights report  for further details.

Travelers with Disabilities:   Even in major cities, accessibility for persons with physical disabilities is difficult.  Pakistani law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities, but the law is unevenly enforced. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is not as prevalent as in the United States. Do not expect public transportation, lodging, communication/information, or general infrastructure in Pakistan to have the same accessibility standards found in the United States. The availability of rental, repair, and replacement parts for equipment and devices is limited, especially outside major population areas. Services for persons with disabilities may also be limited outside the largest cities.

Students:   See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .   

Women Travelers:  The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General often receive reports of U.S. citizens subjected to domestic violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and forced marriage in Pakistan. There are also cases of individuals having their own and their children’s passports confiscated by spouses, parents, or other family members and having their freedom of movement severely restricted. Local police are not consistently responsive to reports of such cases. Nonetheless, if you find yourself in a life-threatening situation, you are encouraged to call the police immediately and follow up with a call to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. We can sometimes connect you with a Pakistani non-governmental organization that may be able to provide assistance.

If you are victimized overseas, you may be entitled to receive compensation for counseling and/or other services such as relocation back to the United States. For further information, visit the  U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women .

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime committed in Pakistan

 See our travel tips for  Women Travelers . 

The Government of Pakistan requires travelers age 12 and over be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pakistan reports Pakistan has endemic Wild Polio Virus. The government of Pakistan requires polio vaccination for some longer stays. Healthcare facilities and infrastructure is poor, especially outside major cities. Travelers are advised to have medevac insurance, to include repatriation of remains. Both medevacs and repatriations of remains for non-Pakistani citizens require Pakistani government permission.

Basic medical care is available in major Pakistani cities but is limited in rural areas. Facilities in cities vary in quality and range of services and may be below U.S. standards; facilities in rural areas are consistently below U.S. standards. Medical facilities require pre-payment for services, and most do not accept credit cards.

Effective emergency response to personal injury and illness is virtually non-existent in most of Pakistan. Ambulances are few, lack medical equipment, and are not necessarily staffed by medical personnel.

If you are hospitalized, a friend or family member will be expected to attend to your basic needs. There is generally no nursing staff or equivalent. For this reason, it is recommended never to travel alone to Pakistan. Outside major cities, English is not spoken by most medical providers and hospitals.

Pakistani hospital officials will typically not notify the U.S. Embassy or Consulates if a foreign citizen is hospitalized. Even if made aware of a medical situation, in some cases, a consular officer may not be able to visit due to travel restrictions.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of doctors and hospitals . However, we do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

We highly recommend that all travelers review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Travelers’ Health webpage and general Traveler Advice for Pakistan .

• A CDC Level 1 Travel Health Notice regarding extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid in Pakistan is in place. Review the  Travel Health Notice Typhoid .
• A CDC Level 1 Travel Health Notice regarding global increase in the number of cases of measles including in Pakistan is in place. Review the  Travel Health Notice Measles.
• A CDC Level 2 Travel Health Notice regarding global polio is in place. Review Travel Health Notice Polio .

The following diseases are prevalent:

• Tuberculosis

There is a risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other communicable diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV, in Pakistan. Travelers are urged to use the same cautionary and protective health measures they would in their own country. For emergency services in Pakistan, dial 15.

The Department of State, U.S. embassies, and U.S. consulates do not pay medical bills.   Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance. 

Medical Insurance:   Travelers to Pakistan should obtain supplemental insurance to cover possible medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. If you plan to engage in high-risk outdoor activities in Pakistan, it is essential that you engage the services of a travel risk and crisis management provider.

Care providers in Pakistan do not accept insurance.  With the exception of State and military hospitals, providers will require payment before treatment. See  our webpage  for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas. 

Vaccinations:   Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pharmaceuticals:

• Visitors and foreign residents should bring sufficient supplies of prescription and commonly used over-the-counter medications. Many U.S.-brand medications are not available, there is a high incidence of fake pharmaceuticals, and the quality of locally produced medications is uneven. 
• Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with the Government of Pakistan to ensure the medication is legal in Pakistan.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States. Medication should be for personal use and must be approved for usage in the United States. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration websites for more information.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)  

Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Air pollution is a significant environmental problem across Pakistan. Throughout the country, air quality varies considerably by city and fluctuates greatly depending on the season and local weather patterns. We encourage you to consult with your doctor prior to travel and consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you. It is typically at its worst during the winter in Pakistan. Anyone who travels to areas where pollution levels are high is at risk. People at the greatest risk from pollution exposure include:

• Infants, children, and teens;
• People over 65 years of age;
• People with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
• People with heart disease; and
• People who work or are active outdoors.

Air quality data for major cities in Pakistan can be found on the U.S. Embassy’s  website .

Water Quality

• Throughout Pakistan, tap water is not potable. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Be aware that ice for drinks may be made using tap water. 
• Sanitation in most restaurants is inadequate. Diarrheal illnesses are common. Travelers to Pakistan are at risk for other infectious diseases as well. More information about these illnesses and how to protect against them can be found on the  CDC webpage for Pakistan

Adventure Travel:  Pakistan’s mountains and glaciers make it a tempting destination for adventure enthusiasts. Despite the best efforts of local authorities, assisting visitors lost or injured in such remote areas can be difficult. In recent years, several U.S. citizens, including expert climbers, have lost their lives while climbing in the Karakoram mountain range, where rescue missions are often difficult or impossible to execute. Costs for emergency rescues start at $15,000, and payment is required prior to commencement of a search operation.

• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Adventure Travel . 

Altitude: Some areas in Pakistan, especially K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) in the Karakorum mountain range in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, are at high altitude. Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness, and take precautions before you travel. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about Travel to High Altitudes .

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:   While in Pakistan, you will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Road infrastructure outside major cities is subject to weather and poor maintenance. The information below about Pakistan is provided for general reference only, and it might vary in a particular location or circumstance.

Traffic Laws:  Traffic in Pakistan moves on the left; the opposite of U.S. traffic. Roads are crowded, drivers are often aggressive and poorly trained, and many vehicles, particularly large trucks and buses, are poorly maintained. Local drivers may drive head-on in your lane of traffic if they believe it helps them get to their destination more quickly. Animals, horse carts, bicyclists, and pedestrians can pose roadside hazards in some areas. Roads, including most major highways, also suffer from poor maintenance and often have numerous potholes, sharp drop-offs, and barriers that are not sign-posted. Drivers should exercise extreme caution when traveling at night by road, since many vehicles do not have working headlights or dimmers, and many roads are not illuminated or signed. We recommend driving with experienced local drivers or guides.

Public Transportation:  We recommend travelers remain cautious if using trains, taxis, and other forms of public transportation or online ride hailing services. For security reasons, U.S. government personnel are prohibited from using all forms of public transportation. See the  Safety and Security  section above.

See our  Road Safety page  for more information.  Visit the website of  Pakistan’s national tourist office  and  Pakistan’s national highway authority .

Aviation Safety Oversight:   As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Pakistan, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page . 

Maritime Travel:   Mariners planning travel to Pakistan should check for U.S. maritime  advisories  and  alerts .  Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport  website, and the  NGA broadcast warnings website.

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on X (formerly known as "Twitter") and Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Pakistan . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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How to Plan Your First Trip to Pakistan

If you’ve dreamed of hiking the legendary hindu kush mountains, driving the record-breaking karakoram highway, or browsing the bazaars of historic lahore, you’ll need to do a little preparation..

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The staggering Karakoram range overlooks the Hunza Valley in Pakistan

Photo by littlewormy/Shutterstock

Six months ago, Pakistan wasn’t just under the radar for most travelers—it was off the radar. But the South Asian country has been in the news a lot this month thanks to a highly publicized visit by Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was the first royal visit to the country in 13 years, a lapse largely due to security and terrorism concerns. For two decades, alarming international headlines and travel advisories have warned globe-trotters against visiting—it currently has a Level 4, or “reconsider travel,” advisory issued by the U.S. State Department—but Pakistan is hardly the only complicated country to earn such warnings. And it still has much to offer—if you know how to do it right.

With interest in Pakistan growing, Wild Frontiers , a travel company that specializes in adventurous, off-the-tourist-track destinations, reported a 55 percent increase in bookings for trips to the country in 2017 compared to the previous year. And this past March, Pakistan opened a new e-visa application process, making it easier for travelers to enter the country. Now, with photos from the royal visit of Pakistan’s psychedelic auto rickshaws, Kalash ceremonies, and cricket games in Lahore splashed across newspapers and magazines, even more travelers have seen what they’ve been missing.

So AFAR sat down with Jonny Bealby, founder and managing director of Wild Frontiers, to get advice for curious travelers on how to plan their first trip. Bealby initially visited the country in 1996—a trip that would inspire him to start Wild Frontiers. “The world was a different place back then,” he says referring to the then-growing unrest, “[but] I fell in love with Pakistan. I found it immediately friendly.” Bealby has been back roughly 25 times since, and despite events such as a bombing in Lahore in 2018, he has helped introduce scores of people to country—and he hopes more will follow.

Why you should go

Bordered by Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran, and backed up against the Hindu Kush mountain range, Pakistan has fascinated travelers for thousands of years. As part of the Indus Valley—one of the cradles of civilization—history here dates to 3300 B.C.E., and for centuries, explorers and traders from all parts of Eurasia crossed the area while traveling the Silk Road. Like much of the region, Pakistan was once a collection of tribes and ancient empires that fell under Muslim and British empires; it is now home to six major ethnic groups—many of which it shares with its neighboring countries—and a number of smaller tribal groups.

Traveling here is like traveling through a series of smaller countries. You can sip chai with Punjabis or green tea with Pashtuns before browsing thrumming bazaars in historic cities. You can climb into the craggy northern headlands in the shadow of K2 (the world’s second highest mountain) to meet remote communities like the indigenous Kalash people, whose customs, pagan religion, and colorfully beaded dress are unique to the area.

Kalash men sacrifice chapattis to the gods during a festival.

Courtesy of Wild Frontiers

But no matter where you go, you’ll be greeted with Pakistan’s almost overwhelming brand of hospitality. It’s very common for strangers to offer to show you around their city or invite you in for tea or even for dinner. Bealby says that on two different trips along the Karakoram highway, he’s gone to pay for his lunch at a roadside café, only to find that an unidentified stranger paid already simply because that person recognized he was a traveler.

“If you treat Pakistan right,” he says,”and it’s very easy to, you will find one of the most surprising and friendly countries in the world.”

Where to go on your first trip

Don’t try to tackle the entire country in one visit. Pakistan may look small compared to India, but it’s actually a large country—and because of the undeveloped mountain roads, it can take a lot of time to get from one place to another.

Luckily, planning your introductory trip doesn’t need to be so daunting. “Some countries just have a very natural routing to them, which is very easy to follow and shows off the highlights in a very ordered way,” says Bealby. In Pakistan, that routing starts in Lahore and runs through the north, mostly along the Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world:

The second largest city in Pakistan and the traditional capital of Punjab, Lahore is known for its gardens, Mughal architecture, and bustling bazaars.

The capital of Pakistan is a clean, modern, and relatively young city with museums, monuments, and some of the best restaurants and hotels in the country.

In the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Skardu is a wonderland of waterfalls, lakes, and some of Pakistan’s most famous mountains, including K2.

Ancient travelers passed through this area along the Silk Road , and according to Bealby, “Hunza Valley is an experience in itself. The Karimabad village is at the heart of the valley, and from there you can see seven 7,000-meter [23,000-foot] peaks.”

Chitral sits near the Afghan border in a valley below the highest mountain in the Hindu Kush. The area is somewhat isolated, and the inimitable, Old-World culture of the locals—including the Kalash—diverges from that of the rest of the Islamic country.

(Yes, this route does skip cosmopolitan Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, which sits on the southern coast, but you can save that for another trip.)

Three things you absolutely have to do here

For Bealby, no one should leave Pakistan without experiencing the following three things:

“The cultural traveler will visit Lahore for Food Street, the Badshahi Mosque, and Lahore Fort, but you should also see the closing of the gate ceremony at the border. Every night at 4:30 p.m., the border officially closes between Pakistan and India. It’s a very theatrical performance, and while many tourists will view it from the India side, few get to see it from the Pakistan side.

“You must visit the Kalash people. They don’t like people going in half a day, taking photographs, and disappearing though. They’re an incredibly interested (as well as interesting) people, so they like it when you stay a few nights [and take time to connect and share with them]. Plan your trip around a Kalash festival, such as the Uchal harvest festival in August, if you can.

• “The Shandur Polo Festival is the highest polo festival in the world. Teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan come together once a year to play and there’s a whole festival around it.” The annual festival always takes place July 7 through July 9.

Pakistan’s ethnic diversity means that there are plenty of tasty treats to try, like these saffron honey caramels.

Photo by Joanna Yee/Wild Frontiers

What every first-timer should know:

In contrast to places like Paris or Tulum, where you can show up without much preparation and get along, you’ll need to prepare for your visit to Pakistan. “It’s the kind of country you need to get your head around,” says Bealby. “You need to think about it and read about it.” And that goes beyond the standard guidebook information. “There’s a whole cultural dimension to it that you want to engage in so that you get the most out of it.” (See the “Books and stories to inspire you” section below for where to start.)

It will take a long time to get from one highlight to the next in Pakistan, especially in the north where you’ll be traveling along mountain roads. Islamabad to Skardu, for example, can take 15 to 20 hours depending on the roads. Bealby notes that while there are sometimes flights, they are not always reliable. Most tour operators will plan stops at strategic locations along these routes to break up the drive.

Pakistan is a safe place to travel through, but there are areas you should avoid. According to Bealby, even Wild Frontiers looks with caution at Peshawar and the tribal areas to the west of Peshawar. But elsewhere, he says, “Travelers just need to be sensible. It’s the kind of place that needs to be handled with respect.”

• The world’s third-largest Muslim country is fundamentally very conservative. “Don’t just cross the border [from India] in shorts and T-shirts,” says Bealby. He recommends dressing in local garb or finding loose-fitting pants and long-sleeved shirts. And women should either wear a veil (head scarf) or at least have one on hand at all times. (Need inspiration, ladies? Kate Middleton’s wardrobe spotlighted local designers during the Duchess’s trip to the country.)

How long should your first trip be?

According to Bealby, two to three weeks is the ideal length of time for a first trip to Pakistan. While he strongly recommends taking the full three weeks to really dig in, he also acknowledges that not all travelers have that much free time and that you can still see the highlights if you only have two weeks to travel.

Plenty of intrepid travelers have successfully made their way through Pakistan alone, but Bealby recommends that most first-time travelers book through a tour operator: “I never want to say ‘don’t do it yourself’ because that’s what I’ve always done . . . [but] if you want a really good two-week vacation and see the best, then you’re better off doing it with a tour group like us because we’ve made the friendships.” For example, guests on a Wild Frontiers trip will stay at guesthouses run by friends of the company and share tea with people Bealby and his team have known for years. They may even visit Bealby’s mountain house, which sits on land given to him by the Kalash people.

Bealby also points out that a tour operator will take care of the logistical difficulties of traveling long distances through the world’s highest mountain range to remote places with minimal tourism infrastructure.

A bridge in the Hunza Valley of Pakistan

The best time of year to follow Bealby’s first-timer’s route (outlined above) is May through October.

When to book

If you’re traveling with a group, you’ll be safe booking four to six months out, depending on the company’s availability. If you’re tapping into your backpacking roots and going it alone, you should book accommodation and in-country tours at least a few weeks ahead of time, as long as you’re traveling outside the local holidays like Eid, during which things get very crowded.

Pakistan’s new online visa system is available to citizens of 175 countries , including Americans. Your visa should be processed in 7 to 10 work days, but there have been reports that the new online system is buggy, so you’ll want to apply for your visa at least a month in advance to be safe. (Visitors from some countries can apply for a visa on arrival, but U.S. citizens must apply in advance.)

To apply, you’ll need a photo, a passport, and a letter of invitation from a sponsor or tour operator, or hotel booking details. (This is another reason we recommend booking a tour for your first trip to Pakistan.) A standard tourist visa is valid for three months and costs $60.

Books and stories to inspire you

Take Bealby’s advice and start reading up on Pakistan long before you visit. And maybe stick a few of these in your carry-on too.

Pakistan: A Hard Country by Anatol Lieven This well-researched and honest book dives deep into the complex and misunderstood country’s history and reality, providing the first-time traveler with important context.

Buy now: $15, amazon.com

For a Pagan Song by Jonny Bealby Bealby’s own book is a chronicle of his travels through India, Pakistan, and war-torn Afghanistan and introduces readers to people they will meet in the northwest parts of the country.

Buy now: $18, amazon.com

The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad This series of linked short stories, by Pakistani novelist Jamil Ahmad, follows a young boy’s journey through the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It highlights not just the locations but also the different cultures and traditions he passes through along the way.

Buy now: $14, amazon.com

>>Next: 7 Truly Epic Trips for Deeply Adventurous Travelers

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Warnings and insurance

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Pakistan-afghanistan border.

FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 miles of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

FCDO advises against all travel to these areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province: 

• Dera Ismail Khan 
• Lakki Marwat 
• Peshawar, including the city of Peshawar 
• North Waziristan
• Upper South Waziristan 
• Lower South Waziristan  
• the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas via Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin up to the junction with the N15  
• the N45 Highway, from the north of the Mardan ring road, to the edge of Chitral City

Balochistan Province

FCDO advises against all travel to Balochistan Province, except the southern coast of Balochistan. 

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the southern coast of Balochistan. That is the: 

• area south of (and including) the N10 motorway  
• section of the N25 from the N10/N25 intersection to the Balochistan-Sindh border, including the port city of Gwadar

Pakistan-administered Kashmir 

FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 miles of the Line of Control.

Sindh Province  

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all areas of Sindh Province north of and including the city of Nawabshah.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel to these regions .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see  general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see  general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about  safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. 

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Solo female travel anywhere and everywhere.

Pakistan travel guide: everything to know before you go

Updated in 2024: After years of both independently traveling in Pakistan and later running tours there, it’s safe to say I know a lot about travel in Pakistan. Here’s my complete Pakistan travel guide with information on visas, transportation, costs, and everything else you need to know about travel in Pakistan.

Curious about traveling to Pakistan but nervous about going alone? Check out my tours: I run both women’s tours and biker tours in Pakistan.

Jaw-dropping nature, diverse cultures, and delicious food—these are but a few of the things you’ll experience when you visit Pakistan. Most importantly, it’s home to the most hospitable people I’ve met in my travels. It’s no wonder more and more people want to travel to Pakistan!

However, Pakistan ain’t as easy to travel in as some will have you believe . But no worries, I got you. This guide was created after more than six visits and almost a year of travel in Pakistan. I have visited Pakistan more than any other travel blogger and traveled to Pakistan both with friends and by myself. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about travel in Pakistan.

Pakistan travel guide: index

• Pakistan basics
• Languages of Pakistan
• Regions of Pakistan
• Culture in Pakistan
• Gender in Pakistan
• Drinking and drugs
• Religion and Pakistan
• Pakistani food
• Money in Pakistan
• Visas for Pakistan
• Entering and exiting Pakistan
• Accommodation in Pakistan
• Transportation in Pakistan
• Safety in Pakistan
• SIM cards and WiFi
• Responsible tourism in Pakistan
• Resources for Pakistan travel

Pakistan travel guide: the basics

Pakistan is officially called “The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” A populous country in South Asia—no, it’s not in the Middle East—with more than 200 million people, it’s the 6th most populous country in the world. TL;DR: Lots and lots of people. Everywhere.

Pakistan was founded on the 14th of August 1947 after an event known as Partition : when British India created the modern states of India and Pakistan. The event was bloody, its ramifications still visible today. The country became an Islamic Republic in 1956. During partition, Pakistan was divided into West and East Pakistan. In 1971 East Pakistan became Bangladesh after another bloody war for independence .

Although Pakistan is a young country, its history is ancient. Ruins of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the Indus Valley Civilization , lie in southern Pakistan. Multiple conquerors and civilizations took hold in parts of modern-day Pakistan, including Alexander the Great, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, and the British Raj.

The ruins of Moenjo Daro in Sindh province are from the Indus Valley civilization, the oldest known civilization

Pakistan’s recent history is marred with conflict, both internal and external, most notably with India. It’s struggled with military coups, terrorist attacks, war, and secessionist tensions. Its army has strengthened throughout the years as a result; it’s now a nuclear power and has the sixth-largest standing armed forces in the world.

I could go into it more, but you can only cover so much in one Pakistan travel guide! If you want to get more in-depth with Pakistan’s history, I highly recommend getting a copy of Pakistan Traveller – it’s the best Pakistan travel guide book on the market.

Pakistan travel guide: Language in Pakistan

Myriad languages are spoken in Pakistan. Most people speak two or three languages. At least!

Urdu is Pakistan’s national language, as well as the language of officialdom together with English. Most middle and upper-class Pakistanis will speak (some) English. It’s rare to find a place where absolutely no one speaks English. However, it’s always good to pick up a phrase or two in Urdu before you visit Pakistan. I highly recommend Pimsleur for learning language basics .

Besides the two official languages, there are many local languages: Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi, Potohari, Shina, Wakhi, Burushaski… the list goes on! Every province has its own regional language, such as the aforementioned Punjabi and Sindhi. In major cities people mostly speak Urdu, but in towns and villages local languages reign supreme.

Urdu basics

• Salaamu aleikum: Hello
• Walaykum asalaam:  Hello (in response)
• Shukriya:  Thank you
• Kya haal hai?:  How are you?
• Mai thik hoon:  I am fine.
• Aap ka naam kya hai?:  What is your name?
• Mera naam Alex hai: My name is Alex.
• … kaha hai?: Where is… ?
• Kitnay paisa?:  How much?
• Ji / haan:  Yes/yeah
• Jao:  Go away
• Nehi chahiye:  I don’t need it
• Angrezi ata/ati?: Do you know English?

Interested in learning more conversational Urdu? I’ve been taking virtual lessons with a teacher, Naveed Rehman, for several years now (on and off). He’s very patient, excellent at explaining grammar, and focuses on practical conversational Urdu rather than rote memorization. I highly recommend his online Urdu classes —they’re quite affordable by Western standards, so they’re well worth a try!

Pakistan travel guide: Regions of Pakistan

The country of Pakistan is divided into four provinces and three territories, each with its own distinct culture and flavor:

Sunset at Gorakh Hill in Sindh

Sindh (province)

Major cities/destinations: Karachi, Hyderabad, Sehwan Sharif

The southernmost province of Pakistan is home to its biggest city, Karachi. But venture out into the rural areas, known as “interior Sindh”, and you’ll find a mystic realm of moody deserts, Sufi shrines, and abandoned forts.  Don’t miss my guide to traveling in Sindh.

Shalimar Bagh (Shalimar Gardens) in Lahore, Punjab

Punjab (province)

Major cities/destinations: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan

Pakistan’s wealthiest province sits in the middle of the country. Though vast fields of wheat and other crops make stereotypical Punjabi landscapes, there are also plenty of massive Mughal relics and nature tinged with green to keep travelers busy. It’s also home to my absolute favorite city in Pakistan, Lahore .

Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (province)

Major cities/destinations: Peshawar, Chitral, Kalash Valleys

Far to the west of the country, and now including what was once known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), this province borders Afghanistan. Home primarily to the Pakhtun (Pashtun) people , many parts of this province are evocative of traveling Afghanistan . Some parts are off-limits—especially the south and regions along the Afghan border—but natural areas such as Swat Valley and the Kalash Valleys are popular… for good reason!

Lonely road in Balochistan province

Balochistan (province)

Major cities/destinations: Quetta, Gwadar, Hingol National Park, Makran Coastal Highway

Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, the country’s largest province is also one of the least traveled. Home to deserts, dusty mountains, and azure coastlines, this province is unfortunately off-limits to foreign travelers aside from those doing the Iran-Pakistan overland border crossing .

Islamabad, Pakistan from above

Islamabad capital territory

The country’s capital is also its own territory. Many tourists start their Pakistan travels in Islamabad, but I’ll be honest with you: I’m not the biggest fan. Though there are many things to do in Islamabad , the capital is far from representative of the rest of the country, and is on the verge of boring much of the time. Still, it’s a comfortable and relatively developed place to rest, relax, and pick up some necessities while traveling in Pakistan.

Autumn in Khyber village, Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan (territory)

Major cities/destinations: Gilgit, Central Hunza (Karimabad), Passu

When people come to Pakistan looking for mountains, this is where they end up. Also known as “Northern Pakistan”, the vast territory of Gilgit Baltistan is home to three major mountain ranges—Himalayas, Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush—as well as several of the world’s tallest mountains (K2, Nanga Parbat, and Rakaposhi). It’s by far the calmest and easiest to travel of all the country’s provinces, especially for female travelers . If you’re in search of nature, you’re probably heading north to Gilgit Baltistan.

Ramkot Fort in Azad Kashmir

Azad Kashmir (territory)

Major cities/destinations: Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley

This narrow territory to the east of Pakistan on the border with India has been disputed ever since Partition, the dividing of India and Pakistan in 1947. Tensions occasionally flare up between the Pakistani military and the Indian military, and so the territory was off-limits to foreign travelers for a long time. As of 2019, the territory has opened up slightly, though foreigners are still not allowed to go within 10 km of the border, known as the Line of Control (LOC). However, you can at least visit Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and their surrounding areas… though security forces might hassle you a bit.

People enjoying the night air at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Pakistan travel guide: Culture in Pakistan

Pakistan’s culture is varied and vibrant, albeit very conservative. Religion dictates and influences culture at almost every level. Keep that in mind and tread carefully when traveling to Pakistan. Keep this Pakistan travel guide handy to help you avoid any cultural faux pas situations.

Due to its diversity, it’s difficult to make generalizations about Pakistani culture… but try, I shall! This is a Pakistan travel guide, after all. Here are some cultural nuances travelers should be aware of:

Hospitality

Pakistan’s hospitality is renowned. In Pakistan, guests are a gift from God, and many people are honored to treat them as such. During my travels through Pakistan, people have…

• Invited me to stay in their homes despite not knowing me at all.
• Slept on the floor so I could sleep in their bed.
• Fed me a million and one times, even when they were fasting during Ramadan.
• Taken the time to show me around their cities, villages, regions.
• Gifted me everything from clothing to food to souvenirs.
• … and then some.

The hospitality is incredible and continues to amaze me even after repeat visits to the country.

However, in recent times—and due to some careless influencers —I feel some travelers are interpreting this hospitality the wrong way.

Pakistan is NOT a place to go because ~*everything is freeeee!!!*~. By all means, enjoy their hospitality—I sure do—but don’t take advantage of it. Give back where you can.

You can give people small tips (maybe 20 to 50 rupees) if they do something to help you out, or if they’re visibly poor but still feed you or give you things. More if they help you a lot over a period of time. Help out around the house, or buy gifts of fruits, sweets, or nuts (called “dried fruits” in Pakistan). Meat is also a good gift for poorer people in villages. Bring small gifts from your own country or home for people who host you (think postcards, sweets, trinkets, etc.).

Sometimes people will not accept, but it doesn’t hurt to offer. If it’s a matter of pride over money, you can always give a little financial gift to the kids, or leave money somewhere in their house where they’ll find it.

TL;DR: don’t be a mooch. Pakistani hospitality is something to appreciate and learn from, not take advantage of. Enjoy, then pay it forward!

The Pakistani mindset

Let me preface this by saying Pakistanis are the most hospitable people I’ve met in my travels (shout out to Iranians and Bangladeshis as runners ups).

Pakistanis make you feel wholly welcome and are the country’s greatest asset. Some of the best friends from my travels are Pakistani. I’m not sure there’s a country where it’s easier to meet and interact with locals than Pakistan.

The flip side: Pakistanis can be difficult people to deal with.

Because the country is conservative and religiously homogenous ( about 97% of the population is Muslim ), I’ve found people can be very intolerant. There is a way to do and think about things in Pakistan, and those who do or believe otherwise are often met with opposition. Though many people harbor “alternative” opinions, they are often hesitant to speak them unless in close company. People are not used to differing opinions.

Pakistanis also do not handle criticism well. I knew this, but had a nice reminder (translation: aggressive awakening) of this inability when I posted a critical video about Pakistan’s tourism scene this year. I had to field hate for weeks on end despite constructive intentions.

Don’t let me put you off Pakistan and its people; my point is that you should be very cautious when speaking about sensitive subjects and be careful to respect Pakistan’s culture. By all means discuss, but choose your battles wisely.

The rest of this guide is meant to help you get a grasp on what is and is not okay in Pakistan, and how to act once there. Read through, and you won’t need to worry about clashing with locals. As I said, Pakistan is a brilliant country for adventurous travelers… so long as you respect local culture.

Overlooking the streets of Karachi in standard wear – kurta, jeans, and a dupatta (scarf)

People who want to travel to Pakistan often ask me about the types of clothes they have to wear. Although dress codes are less strict than they used to be, it’s best to come prepared when you visit Pakistan.

There’s no official rule about what to wear ( unlike Iran ), so long as you’re somewhat modest.

If you want to wear “western” clothes such as t-shirts and jeans, go ahead; many people wear western clothes in cities, especially in wealthy areas such as malls and Defence neighborhoods. Gilgit Baltistan sees plenty of trekkers wandering about in western outdoor attire.

Women: Pakistan is a very conservative country; unless you’re in a liberal/wealthy part of a major city, I recommend dressing modestly. That means long pants and a loose shirt or dress that ideally covers your bum. Although headscarves aren’t mandatory, it pays to have one on you for entering mosques.

The local pant/shirt combination, salwar kameez , is immensely comfortable and colorful. You can pick them up in bazaars and malls throughout Pakistan—locals will appreciate it!

Men: Shorts are okay, but you won’t see many locals wearing them, and they’re not allowed in mosques. In general, it pays to dress modestly—no tank tops or shorts. Again, salwar kameez is recommended.

Buy some local clothes at one of the many bazaars, like this one in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Women in Pakistan

Unfortunately, Pakistan is lagging when it comes to women’s rights. There are many places where you won’t see women on the street. Especially in rural areas, women are treated as second class citizens, domestic workers, and baby-making machines.

Foreign women are mostly be treated with respect. As an outside traveler, you straddle the line between men and women; you’re unusual enough to sit with men, but feminine enough to access women’s spaces, too.

Alas, harassment is still common, though it’s mostly restricted to unwanted touching and commentary. If a man does something to you, slap them or make a scene. Pakistanis are very protective of women and someone will likely come to your aid.

For more info, check out my guide to female travel in Pakistan .

Tipping in Pakistan

Tipping is not mandatory. Instances where you might tip someone include:

• Hiring a driver who did a good job – Several hundred PKR
• Take a private tour with a good tour guide – Several hundred PKR per day
• Dining at a fancier restaurant – Round the bill up to a more even number
• If someone goes well out of their way to help you or give you access to something – 50 to 100 PKR

If you do tip, don’t tip too much, else you’ll raise expectations for future travelers. Don’t feel pressured to tip someone if they ask you for a tip—they’re being cheeky because you’re foreign.

Pakistan travel guide: Gender divides, relationships, and sexuality in Pakistan

Pakistan’s gender divide is massive. Fly in, and you’ll see what I mean 30 seconds after stepping outside the airport.

Because of both Islam and regional culture, men and women are separated in society. Streets are a world of men, women rule in the home. Society tries to separate boys and girls until marriage… after which couples are expected to produce babies ASAP. Go figure.

That’s not to say there’s no intermingling, but it might not be what you’re used to at home. Public displays of affection—kissing, holding hands, touching in public—are taboo. Unmarried couples are subtle when they meet; you might notice them hiding in parks or behind tinted car windows. Openness about boyfriends or girlfriends is unusual. Elite Pakistanis are sometimes an exception… until their parents are involved.

My “husband” and I back in the days when I traveled as a couple/before my solo travel began

Couples travel in Pakistan

Unmarried foreign couples should just pretend to be married. Otherwise, hotels might cause problems, and people might be uncomfortable hosting you.

Tip: Make sure you have some kind of story worked out—people are probably going to ask you about your wedding!

If you’re married, no problem! You just have to deal with constant questions about children. If you already have children, you’re on a perfect life path in most Pakistani’s eyes. Well done, you.

Women to men  

Women should be on guard when interacting with men. That’s not to say all men are evil, nor should you fear speaking with men. Just know many men interpret friendliness as flirtation.

In my experience, even men I thought friends ended up hitting on me hours, days, or weeks later. To establish boundaries with men, you can call young men bhai or brother, and older men chacha or uncle.

To keep men at bay, you can say you’re married. Weirdly enough, people are more likely to believe you’re married but traveling alone than accept that you’re unmarried.

Do not say that you have a boyfriend. If you do, men will interpret that as you being sexually loose and thus willing to sleep with them. Respectable ladies do not admit they have boyfriends to men. Or so Pakistanis think.

Men to women

Boys, be cautious when interacting with women… if you can find them.

Many male travelers struggle to meet women in Pakistan. Unless hanging out with liberal/wealthy folks in cities, most women will keep their distance from you. Or stay out of sight completely.

If you do encounter women be respectful and distant with unmarried girls. Be careful if flirting. Pakistanis upset quickly; many male family members will not react well to foreign men flirting with their sister/daughter/cousin.

On the bright side, it’s more socially acceptable for men to have a girlfriend(s) than vice versa. Saying you have a girlfriend implies you’re a bit of a player, but the average man will probably respect you for it, not shame you. Mmmm toxic masculinity.

LGBTQ+ in Pakistan

As you might have guessed, Pakistan isn’t a good place to be queer.

Interestingly enough, gay couples can fly under the radar long as you don’t kiss in public or admit you’re gay. Men hold hands and put arms around men. Women hold hands and touch other women. People of the same gender share hotel rooms without issue. Basically, so long as men and women aren’t touching in public, all is well. Don’t tell anyone you’re gay and you’ll be okay.

Gay communities do exist. I’ve only met one lesbian couple in Pakistan, but I know several gay men who traveled the country and said there’s a thriving underground gay scene to be found in cities (try Grindr, Tinder, or Couchsurfing). Women, you unfortunately might have to look a bit harder.

The idea of transgenders is established in Pakistan, but not in a positive way.

Hijras are men dressed as women who traditionally beg on the streets and at weddings. Some also work as prostitutes or dancers. Aside from hijras , people aren’t familiar with transgenders or genderqueers. Brace yourself for a lot of questions and looks. If male passing, know identifying as male will save you a lot of hassle.

Hookups and relationships in Pakistan

Relationships/hooking up with Pakistanis is possible, mostly in the liberal cities of Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Tinder is very active in Pakistan, and a good place to start fishing.

Dating is manageable… but if you want to actually sleep with someone you might encounter problems. Unless someone has their own place—meaning they don’t live with their family—you’ll have to find either an Airbnb or an expensive hotel room.

Men, please be careful if trying to hook up with women: their reputation can really be damaged if word gets out that they sleep with [foreign] men. In Pakistan, reputation is everything. You can leave Pakistan—and a bad reputation—more easily than they.

For love? Or for visa?

Beware declarations of love, marriage proposals, etc in Pakistan. Pakistani men commonly try to seduce foreign women in the hopes of marrying and getting a visa to another country. It’s not impossible to have a legitimate relationship… just more likely that ulterior motives are involved.

Ex-cans of Murree, the only local beer in Pakistan

Pakistan travel guide: Drinks and drugs in Pakistan

The Quran forbids substances… but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist in the Islamic Republic!

Be sensible with substances in Pakistan; Pakistanis tend to go overboard and authorities will not play nicely if they find drugs on you.

Alcohol in Pakistan

Believe it or not, there’s one legal brewery in Pakistan: Murree Brewery. They have a monopoly on all alcohol in the country, and produce everything from beer (passable, try the light blue wheat beer) to all kinds of liquor (beware).

Foreigners/non-Muslims can legally purchase alcohol from shops and high-end hotels. Wine shops are relatively common in multicultural Sindh province , but further north, you’ll need to look to five-star hotels and “permit shops” attached to them where drinks are sold at market cost. The shopkeepers can often arrange imported drinks for you under the table for an extra fee.

“Bootleggers” are the go-to choice for Muslims. Pakistanis who drink likely have phone numbers of several bootleggers who can deliver alcohol discreetly. Bootleggers are easy in this regard, though their drinks are usually more expensive than the shops’.

Hash (cannabis) in Pakistan

Hashish is everywhere in Pakistan.

It comes from the region around the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Most Pakistani boys have tried hash at least once, and it’s easy for men to find someone to smoke with. Girls get raised eyebrows if they partake, though elite young women in cities do smoke. Ask around and you’re sure to find “stuff” everywhere in the country.

Read: Rolling with the stoners in Hunza

The best stuff is in/from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Look for hash that’s relatively dry and a dark greenish brown. Despite boastful city kids’ claims, the sticky tar-like substance they smoke there is adulterated.

Other drugs in Pakistan

Yes, you can find other drugs in Pakistan.

Some pharmacies are… flexible. Heroin is widespread in the country as it comes from Pakistan’s next-door neighbor, Afghanistan. Party drugs circulate in elite society; if you’re attending a big party in Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad, there’s a decent chance someone is on drugs. LSD, MDMA, cocaine, speed, meth, they’re all there.

Whether or not you partake is on you. I won’t judge drug usage *cough* but do be careful taking substances, especially from people you don’t know well. Just because someone says white powder is cocaine doesn’t mean it’s actually cocaine (remember, cocaine comes from South America, thousands and thousands of kilometers away ).

The drug scene in Pakistan is not so developed that you can expect the average drug user to know quality from fake. Besides, in a country where even simple things like milk are faked or cut with toxic ingredients , how can you expect illicit substances to be pure?

Be careful. And drink lots of water!

Pakistan travel guide: Religion in Pakistan

The vast majority of Pakistanis are Muslim, with scattered Christian and Hindu communities. Islam is the official state religion, the head of state has to be a Muslim, and people’s religion is stated on their identity cards.

Because Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, its laws are based on Sharia law. It has some of the most draconian blasphemy laws in the world. Foreigners won’t be held to the same standards as locals, but you should always be respectful of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, and religious culture.

Atheism, though not officially illegal, can be punishable by death under the blasphemy law . Even if you’re not religious, it’s best to say you have a religion when asked (And you will be asked about this. A lot ) .

Pakistan is one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the treatment of religious minorities. There are specific laws persecuting the Ahmadi sect of Islam, although few Pakistanis will want to talk about this.

It’s best to steer clear of religious discussions unless you’re well acquainted with the person you’re talking to.

Sufism is a kind of Islam widely practiced in Pakistan, yet it can be a sensitive topic for very strict Muslims

Pakistan travel guide: Food in Pakistan

Pakistani food is delicious and diverse, but not particularly healthy. It involves lots of oil, meat, and bread—prepare to pack on the pounds. Outside of (village) homes, don’t expect any fresh salads when traveling in Pakistan aside from sliced onions, cucumbers, and maybe carrots or cabbage.

Food in Pakistan is full of flavors and spices, but rarely too spicy except for those with zero spice tolerance. However, hygiene standards are lacking. Most visitors to Pakistan will have some stomach trouble at one point or another.

Many cities have their own food culture and specialties. Lahore and Karachi compete for the title of the best foodie city in Pakistan. In major cities, more and more cafes and restaurants are attempting international flavors. Quality still varies widely; in general, it’s best to stick to local food. Don’t expect well-executed Western food unless you’re paying a premium.

Some famous Pakistani dishes include:

• Karahi : Meat stir-fried in a large pan
• Biryani : Spiced rice with meat
• Pulao : Rice cooked with animal fat or oil, usually containing carrots, raisins, and meat
• Dal : Lentils
• Channa : Chickpeas
• Roti : Thin round bread
• Naan : Thicker round bread
• Chapli kebab : The best kebab (in my humble opinion), somewhat like a burger patty… but 10x better. The best chapli kebab is found in K hyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.

Karachi’s street food scene is on

Vegetarians and vegans in Pakistan

Traveling as a vegetarian in Pakistan can be difficult… but it is possible. Affluent Pakistanis understand (and sometimes scoff at) the concept. Except for the poorest of people, meat is a daily staple. Chicken and fish aren’t even considered “meat”—meat means mutton or beef.

If you’re a strict vegetarian, tell your host beforehand. Otherwise, it will lead to awkward situations when someone cooks up a meaty feast in your honor and you have to reject it.

Vegans will have a much harder time traveling in Pakistan. Many dishes include butter or yogurt, and explaining you can’t eat eggs will be interesting. Dal and channa are sometimes cooked in the same pot as meat, or with meat stock. Veganism hardly exists in Pakistan. Be firm, but know you’ll be restricted to dal , channa , and “mix  sabzi “(mixed vegetables). You’ll need to be very clear about no butter or  ghee  (clarified butter).

Pakistan travel guide: Money and the cost of travel in Pakistan

Pakistan uses the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 Rs. There are also coins, but these are virtually useless. Some shops will give change in small candy, rather than coins!

Getting money from ATMs can be a struggle, especially in the north. Not all banks accept foreign cards. Several banks (hi Standard Chartered) charge a 500 Rs fee per withdrawal. Islamic banks do not work with foreign cards . ATMs in the mountains often run out of cash.

In my experience, Bank Alfalah , Habib Bank , and MCB Bank ( not M I B Bank) are your best bet for withdrawing cash from ATMs in Pakistan.

Northern Pakistan is beautiful… but can be a nightmare when it comes to finding cash. Stock up before you head up!

Cost of travel in Pakistan

Pakistan is a relatively cheap country to travel, although it can be tricky to find budget accommodation outside of the popular tourist destinations or in high season (June – August). Below is a breakdown of the average cost of traveling in Pakistan on a backpacker budget.

At the time of writing, US$1 = 155 Rs.

Food & drinks

• Water or soda : 30 – 100 Rs
• Tea:  10 – 50 Rs
• Breakfast and lunch:  50 – 100 Rs each
• Dinner:  50 – 250 Rs (street food ahoy!)

Accommodation

• Budget hotels:  800 – 1,500 Rs
• Mid-range:  1,500  – 4,000 Rs

Cultural outings

• Museums:  200 – 500 Rs
• Historical sights:  500 – 1,000Rs
• National Parks:  800 Rs
• Mosques: Free

For more info, check out this backpacking in Pakistan budget report.

If you do travel to Pakistan during high season, try to book accommodation ahead of time. Popular places along the Karakoram Highway, such as Hunza, are really popular with Pakistani tourists, and places can be full. Pakistan Traveller is a fantastic Pakistan travel guide that has a multitude of hotel recommendations for everywhere and anywhere you might want to travel in Pakistan.

Famous sights like Baltit Fort in Hunza will cost around 1,000 Rs for a foreigner ticket

Pakistan travel guide: Visas for Pakistan

Almost everyone needs a visa for Pakistan. It used to be a real pain in the butt to get a visa for Pakistan, but the recent e-visa introduction made things much easier. The e-visa form is still way too long and full of irrelevant questions, but at least it’s a start in the right direction.

To find out if you’re eligible for a Pakistani e-visa, go to the e-visa portal of Pakistan . It also mentions a visa on arrival scheme, but many have reported problems with it. It’s better to apply for an e-visa .

How to apply for a Pakistan e-visa

Ensure you have JPEG files of:

• Passport information page
• Passport photo with a white background
• Letter of invitation by a tour company or hotel booking confirmation. I work with a local company to offer cheap letters of invitation for Pakistan evisas . Don’t miss out!

Go to the Pakistan e-visa portal and register yourself. To do this, click the “Tourist Visa” button under “Visa Categories”. It will lead you to the info page about tourist visas. If you click “Apply now”, you’ll be prompted to create a new account or log in to an existing account.

Once registered you can start your application. Allow you have plenty of time, as it can easily take an hour or more to fill out all the questions. Many of them seem unnecessary (and probably are) but alas, you have to fill in the entire form.

Once you’ve finished your application, it’s time to pay. The visa costs US$35 for most nationalities. You can pay with Visa or MasterCard. I’ve heard reports of the payment not working all the time, so check you actually paid.

After you’ve paid, click “Submit your Application”. If you don’t do this, the application will remain pending.

The e-visa portal states it takes 5-7 working days for a visa to be approved, but turnaround can be much faster. If you haven’t heard anything after 7 working days, contact them directly via the e-visa portal. It’s possible they need additional documentation from you.

Pakistan travel guide: Entering and exiting Pakistan

Pakistan shares a border with Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran. It also has multiple international airports. There are no international ferry services to or from Pakistan.

To enter Pakistan you need a valid visa, and you need to fill out an arrival form at customs. The arrival card asks the usual questions such as your name, address, name of the hotel you’ll be staying in, etc.

Exiting Pakistan is straightforward, and no forms have to be filled out.

Land borders

• Afghanistan : This border is at the famous Khyber Pass. Technically, this border is closed to foreigners, but there have been reports of people successfully crossing this border. However, we don’t recommend using this border, as traveling overland in Afghanistan comes with considerable risk.
• China : The land border with China at the Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved border crossing in the world. This border should be open year-round, but heavy snowfall in the area sometimes leads to closures. Check ahead if crossing this border during winter months. For more info, check out my guide on crossing the border between Pakistan and China at the Khunjerab Pass .
• India : Many people believe that the Wagah border isn’t open to foreigners. This is not true. Provided you have a visa, this is actually a pretty easy border to cross. For more info, check out my detailed guide on crossing the famous Wagah border between India and Pakistan . The Wagah border is the only border between India and Pakistan that is open to tourists.
• Iran : There is only one border crossing open to tourists, and it’s not the most relaxing experience. The crossing is located in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, an area that the government deems too unsafe for independent travel. You’ll get a security escort on the Pakistan side. For detailed info about this border crossing, check out my guide to crossing the border between Iran and Pakistan .

International airports

The main airports in Pakistan are in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Several major airlines fly into Pakistan, and more routes are being added regularly. These include routes to London, Dubai, Istanbul, and Kuala Lumpur.

Pakistan travel guide: Accommodation in Pakistan

Booking a place to sleep in Pakistan ahead of time can be challenging. Although websites and online booking are becomig more common in Pakistan, it’s still not as widespread as in surrounding countries. Pakistanis usually call ahead to reserve rooms.

Finding hotels to stay at in less-visited places—especially ones that accept foreign guests—can be quite the challenge. That’s where having a Pakistan travel guide in print can make a huge difference; all the information is already there. If you’re open to carrying a Pakistan travel guide book with you, I can’t recommend Pakistan Traveller by Urbanduniya enough.

Online booking in Pakistan

Booking.com and Airbnb are growing in Pakistan. The former is still mostly for mid-range to luxury hotels, and the latter works… sometimes. There are an unfortunate amount of creepy men on Airbnb offering rooms in their homes to female travelers only; beware and steer clear.

Facebook pages are increasingly common for mid-range accommodation options, and can be useful for contacting a property to ask questions or reserve a room.

How to find cheap guesthouses in Pakistan

Want to find a cheap place to rest your head? You’ll need to rely on the traveler grapevine. Guidebooks are not very reliable for prices— Pakistan Traveller by Tim Blight being the only exception—and not all cheap hotels and guesthouses accept foreign travelers.

Facebook groups like Backpacking Pakistan and Female Pakistan travelers are your best bet for information on cheap places to stay. Use the search function to find accommodation discussions.

It’s a bit of a hassle, but there’s a plus side: you can haggle over accommodation price upon arrival . Don’t feel bad about it, especially in touristic areas with inflated seasonal prices; Pakistanis expect it, and will take advantage of foreigners who do not haggle. If you can get 15-25% off of the quoted price—up to 50% if it’s particularly inflated—you’re doing well.

Some popular accommodation for backpackers in Pakistan you might want to be aware of include:

• Lahore Backpackers (US$6 for dorm bed)
• Five Giants (US$15-20 for a shared room in homestay)
• Adam’s House (US$10 for a private room)
• Islamabad: Backpackers’ Hostel & Guesthouse Islamabad (US$8 for dorm bed)
• Madina Hotel and Madina Hotel 2 (around US$10-20 for a double)
• Karimabad: Old Hunza Inn
• Peshawar: Hidayat Hotel

Lunch with my host at a homestay I found through Let’s Home

Homestays in Pakistan

Until recently, there weren’t many homestay options in Pakistan, but that is changing. Check out my article on homestays in Pakistan to get all the latest info.

A special shoutout goes to Seema, a motivated Hunzai woman, who recently started a booking platform called Let’s Home . She offers a variety of accommodation including homestays around Gilgit Baltistan. I used it to find a family in old Altit, and had a great experience.

Couchsurfing in Pakistan

The Couchsurfing community is highly active in Pakistan’s cities, and local CSers are eager to host foreigners. Most of the CS community is male, but there are few female members in major cities and many men are trustworthy. Always read the host’s references before agreeing to stay.

Since CS has become a paid service now, check out the Facebook group for CSers in Pakistan.

Being hosted in Pakistan

It’s remarkably easy to be hosted once on the road.

Unbelievable until you’re in Pakistan, but many people will simply offer you a place in their homes if you chat with them long enough. Their overwhelming hospitality is a privilege; make sure not to abuse their kindness. Don’t overstay your welcome, help around the house (they won’t accept at first), and bring small gifts from your country or tokens of appreciation like fruits or sweets.

Another bonus to being hosted: in Pakistan, family and friends are everywhere and it’s normal to stay with them when visiting places. Your host will probably offer to find a friend for you to stay with in your next destination. Make one friend, and their whole social network opens up!

Pakistan travel guide: Transportation in Pakistan

Pakistan has a myriad of transport options. Train, bus, and minibus are most common for long-distance travel. For shorter distances use either rickshaws (south of Islamabad), taxis (Islamabad) or Jeeps (north of Islamabad).

Pakistan has an extensive rail network. Trains are relatively comfortable, albeit a bit slow. Prices are reasonable unless you want AC class. It is advisable to book your ticket ahead of time, and with the help of a local.

Check the Pakistan Railway website for schedules and fares. The website is not the easiest to use, but it’ll do. If you have a local friend with a credit card and phone number, they can book you a ticket online. Don’t roget to read my guide on train travel in Pakistan before you do!

Buses and minibuses

Pakistan’s multitude of bus options are sometimes overwhelming. But that’s where this Pakistan travel guide can help you out!

From crappy minibus, to bedazzled local buses, to well-run Daewoo and Faisal Movers services, there are a lot of ways to get from A to B.

High-end bus services

When I’m in a rush and want to make sure I reach my destination on time, I prefer Faisal Movers, Daewoo, or for Gilgit-Baltistan, NATCO. These services are professional, leave on time and are very comfortable. Definitely worth the extra rupees.

• Schedules for Daewoo
• Schedules for NATCO

Ticket prices depend on the type of bus. I’ve had luxurious buses with reclining seats and AC… and passable contraptions with no AC. Different buses go at different times. To get an idea of prices, a Daewoo from Lahore to Islamabad (Rawalpindi) goes for 1,000 to 1,500 Rs for the four-hour journey .

You can usually book tickets on the same day at the bus station or through your hotel. Note that Daewoo has its own stations, so make sure you go here and not to the local bus station.

Local buses and minibuses

Prices for local buses are much cheaper, but you’ll be packed in like sardines in a can.

Minibuses are usually available for shorter hops between towns. Sometimes there’s a minibus yard, sometimes they leave from a specific point on the road, and sometimes… nobody knows where they leave from! Ask locals to figure out where you can find a bus to your next destination, or wait on a roadside and try flagging down passing minibuses—they can stop anywhere.

Minibus prices should be set, but ticket hawkers are likely to try making some extra money off of you. A minibus shouldn’t be much more than 200 Rs for a five-hour journey . Ask a fellow passenger what the price is, or watch to see what other people around you are paying.

Local bus and a Qingqi in Sehwan Sharif

To save yourself some hassle, download the taxi app Careem , which most Pakistanis use to get taxis. Uber (now the owner of Careem) also operates in major Pakistani cities.

Both offer a variety of vehicles ranging from motorbikes to rickshaws to air-conditioned cars, and they’re by far the easiest and most hassle-free way to get around cities.

Rickshaws and Qingqis

Rickshaws (with doors) and Qingqis (pronounced “ching-chee”, totally open) have a somewhat bad reputation, but in my experience, they’re the fastest way to get around in cities. There are no set prices, though, and sometimes you have to drive a hard bargain.

As a basic rule of thumb, for foreigners, the actual price is probably around 50-75% of what the rickshaw driver initially quotes you. Offer half of what he’s saying, then bargain up from there. Alternatively, check the price of a rickshaw to your destination using the rideshare apps Uber and Careem—yes, they offer rickshaw rides, too—and use that as a bargaining point.

Don’t be afraid to walk away if the price seems too high. There are thousands of rickshaws around; another rickshaw driver is sure to appear if you’re not satisfied with the price.

Pricing is a bit tricky, but a 10-minute drive should cost about 150 Rs.

Many places in the mountains, such as Fairy Meadows and Deosai, are only accessible by jeep. There are public transport jeeps for remote valleys like Chapursan and Shimshal , but in other areas you’ll have to hire a private jeep.

Prices to popular places such as Fairy Meadows are fixed and non-negotiable, while others are more… flexible. It pays to wait around and see if you can share a jeep with other people going your way. Alternatively, you can post in the Backpacking Pakistan Facebook group to find someone to share a ride with.

A jeep to Fairy Meadows is 7,500 Rs, and a jeep to Deosai is 8-10,000 Rs for a day trip. Overnight trips are more expensive. Hotels can arrange jeeps for you, at a higher cost. Your best bet is to ask friendly locals what a decent rate should be.

A private jeep hired during one of my unique women-only tours of Pakistan

Pakistan travel guide: Safety in Pakistan

One of the things people want to know before going: is Pakistan safe? A fair question!

For years, Pakistan was associated with violence. Terrorist groups were in power in many rural areas and terror attacks were common in cities.  Heck, even now many governments advise against travel to (parts of) Pakistan. There’s no denying the country is still perceived as dangerous.

Although terrorist attacks still happen—and not all places in Pakistan are safe for travel—the security situation has largely improved. The Pakistani military has stabilized the security situation. Places that foreigners are likely to visit, such as the cities of Lahore and Islamabad or the mountains of Gilgit Baltistan are generally safe to travel, given you take standard precautions. The fact that you’re reading through this Pakistan travel guide means you’re already more prepared than others.

Legitimately dangerous areas are off-limits to foreign visitors, so the chance of something serious happening to you is slim. The biggest dangers of traveling in Pakistan are traffic-related, pollution, and getting sick from poor hygiene standards. Oh, and hospitality 😉

To be fair, there’s a good chance you’ll still feel uncomfortable at times with the current security situation. Pakistan is still a police state. There’s a lot of heavily armed personnel on the streets, and many security checkpoints throughout the country. Sensitive sites such as shrines and religious minority gatherings will be filled with army/police/security. Don’t let it intimidate you—these people are there for safety purposes.

To learn more about safe travel in Pakistan, check out my article on whether it’s safe to travel in Pakistan .

That time I had a security escort with me during the urs of Lal Shahbaz in Sehwan Sharif

Dealing with security in Pakistan  

When people ask me about the security situation in Pakistan, I usually respond with “Pakistan doesn’t have a security problem, in Pakistan security is the problem.”

Security agencies are a sore spot for many foreign travelers in Pakistan, though don’t say so to any Pakistani.

To be fair, it’s in the agencies’ interests to keep foreign travelers out of trouble. If anything happens to a foreigner it will be all over the news and Pakistan’s international image will sink further.

Agencies are overbearing with foreigners because of this. In my years of travel in Pakistan, I’ve had intelligence agency stalkers, confrontational encounters with police, mandatory armed guards. Police and army stopped me from going places saying I needed permission or an NOC (non objection certificate) but didn’t say how to get one.

On the bright side, things have vastly improved in the last year. Gilgit Baltistan and the Chitral region almost entirely removed the need for NOCs and armed escorts in 2019 .

However, you’ll likely encounter issues if traveling to less-visited destinations, especially in southern Punjab and Sindh province . Common problematic places for travelers include:

• Multan – Foreigners are often required to leave immediately if discovered by police. Can only stay if unnoticed residing at luxury hotels.
• Bahawalpur – Foreigners are not allowed into army-occupied palaces, and can again only stay at expensive hotels.
• Sukkur – Multiple travelers reported questioning and harassment by security agencies when visiting Sukkur.

Hopefully security won’t be an issue for you, but if you must deal with security, be polite but firm. Ask them to show their identification first. Save phone numbers of Pakistanis you meet in the government or army; power and connections go a long way with security agencies. If what they’re asking of you doesn’t make sense, stand your ground.

Protip: Never insult the army. Most Pakistanis love the army. Despite their rather ominous not-so-secret control of the country, they did help stabilize it and don’t ask for bribes like police do. Pakistanis will not take kindly to army insults.

Pakistan travel guide: Connectivity in Pakistan

Connectivity in Pakistan is hit-and-miss. Wifi is often bad—if present at all—and mobile signals can go down at any time for no reason. Signals are often blocked during large events that may pose a security threat. Cities have decent 4G coverage, but especially in the rural north, there are many places with no coverage at all. If you want to have the widest range of coverage, you’ll need two or three different sim cards from several mobile operators.

Mobile SIM cards for calling and data in Pakistan

Overall, Zong and Telenor are your best bet in cities and rural areas. In northern Gilgit Baltistan, Zong and Telenor work in  some  areas, but it’s a better idea to buy a SCOM SIM card instead. You can buy them at customer service centers in hubs such as Gilgit, Aliabad, and Karimabad.

Getting a SIM card can be an annoying process. Foreigners cannot buy SIM cards at any outlet—you have to go to an official “customer service center” of the mobile provider to get one. You must fill out a registration form to buy a SIM, so bring copies of your passport.

It usually takes 4-12 hours for your card to activate (24 for SCOM). Your SIM card will expire when your visa expires.

WiFi in Pakistan

WiFi in Pakistan is spotty at best. Upscale cafes will have Wifi that may or may not work, as will high-end hotels. Besides that, you’re pretty much lost.

Rather than relying on WiFi networks, I usually buy a large mobile data pack (10GB, mmm blogger life) and use my mobile phone as a WiFi hotspot. If you’re going to do that, buy a power bank so you don’t have to worry about your phone running out of battery while you do so.

Pakistan travel guide: Being a responsible tourist in Pakistan

Pakistan encourages many bad habits; it’s easy to forget to be a responsible tourist in the face of it all.

Nevertheless, we visitors have a responsibility to Pakistan and its people to leave a positive impact on the country, especially as tourism develops. Here are some suggestions for visiting Pakistan responsibly:

• Always ask before taking someone’s picture, especially women . Many women (and their male family) are sensitive about having their photo taken.
• Don’t take photos of children unless you have permission from their parents . Share sparingly. Pakistani photographers abuse this all the time; that doesn’t make it right.
• Keep places clean . If you find a plastic bag or have one to spare, use it to collect trash while walking in nature. Dispose of trash somewhere where it might be disposed of properly.
• Hire local guides and drivers. Punjabis tend to dominate the tourism scene, but they are not locals outside of Punjab.
• Support female-run businesses . Pakistan is far from gender equality, but many women in the country are trying to change that. Some totally female-run examples are Let’s Home for accommodation, The Mad Hatters for organized tours, and A Piece Of Cake café in Lahore.

Useful? Pin it!

Other useful resources for planning Pakistan travel

Want more sweet Pakistan travel deliciousness? Below are several of my favorite posts to help you plan your trip to Pakistan. They’re full of all kinds of things to know before going to Pakistan.

Pakistan tours I run

• 3 weeks: Pakistan for women, by women
• 2 weeks: Pakistan adventure motorcycle tour

Best Pakistan travel guide book

Pakistan Traveller by Urbanduniya is hands down the best printed Pakistan travel guide on the market. I know; I helped him with the latest edition!

Pakistan travel guides on Lost With Purpose

• Is Pakistan safe to travel?
• Guide to traveling in Sindh province
• Is it safe for women to travel in Pakistan?
• Female traveler’s guide to Pakistan
• First timer’s guide to train travel in Pakistan
• Experiences to add to your Pakistan bucket list
• Traveling Pakistan during Ramadan

Region-specific Pakistan travel guides

• Things to do in Lahore
• Chapursan Valley travel guide
• Phander Valley travel guide
• Kalash Valley travel guide
• Guide to trekking in Swat Valley

Epic Pakistan experiences

• The longest border crossing in the world
• Desert trippin’ at the urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif
• Sufi nights in Lahore
• Learning to motorbike in Pakistan
• Rolling with the stoners in Hunza
• Bloodbaths in the Walled City: Eid al Adha in Lahore

Need even more tips about travel in Pakistan? Ask them in the comments or get in touch .

Alex Reynolds

33 thoughts on “ pakistan travel guide: everything to know before you go ”.

Very good and creative method for building backlinks to your site and also traffic. It’s very good! Thanks a lot for this post!

Outstanding read!

Very Informative and funny.

Thanks for sharing.

great article thanks for sharing. i always struggeld with finding an ATM, so then i foudn this travel app ” ATM Fee Saver” it shows ATMs close by and gives information about their fees and limit. super useful 🙂 maybe you wanna check it out.

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Useful tips for traveling to Pakistan in 2024

By Joan Torres 124 Comments Last updated on September 9, 2024

Wanna travel to Pakistan with Against the Compass?

Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Pakistan:

May 18th to 31st, 2025

If you ever decide to travel to Pakistan, I promise you that you will have the adventure of your lifetime.

From hitchhiking on tractors and psychedelic trucks to driving over extremely narrow mountain roads built on a cliff 1,500 meters high, soldiers who voluntarily give you their AK-47 for taking a photo, the most striking landscape and the fact that you can camp in the middle of a paradise completely by yourself. 

Traveling to Pakistan is, definitely, the ultimate experience and adventure.

However, this isn’t particularly an easy place to travel in.

Going on a trip to Pakistan requires a little bit of preparation, as well as quite a lot of things to know beforehand.

This Pakistan travel guide contains everything you need to know, including all travel information regarding visas, transportation, cultural etiquette, cultural behavior, costs and more!

In this Pakistan travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• Travel Insurance
• Best time to visit
• How to get in
• Pakistan today
• Cultural behavior and facts
• Security & safety
• Solo female travel
• Bureaucracy and permits
• Prices and money
• Transportation
• Food, alcohol & chai
• Accommodation
• More information

our recommended travel insurance for Pakistan

With its Backpacker plan, IATI Insurance is the best insurance for any kind of adventurous destination, like Pakistan.

🪪 How to get a visa for visiting Pakistan

Here you have the most updated information

Before May 2019 – Getting a visa on the road was not possible, but you could only get it from your home country or country of residence. 

After May 2019 – They have finally introduced an e-visa system and up to 176 nationalities can now apply for a Pakistani visa online.

How to apply for a Pakistani e-visa 

You can apply through this portal .

Things you need to know about the e-visa:

Visa length – Officially, you can get a visa for up to 3 months. The application says that you can get up to 12 months but so far, there aren’t any reports from tourists who have been able to get one. 

Multi-entry – You can also apply for a multi-entry visa valid for up to 1 year.

Price – I believe it depends on nationality and the length of your trip, but I hold a Spanish passport and a single entry 2-month visa cost me 35USD. Then, I tried to apply for a multi-entry visa and it cost 52USD. 

Timing – The application says the process may take up to 7 days but it also may depend on your embassy. One traveler claimed that he got it in one day, while others say it takes several days. It is recommended to apply in advance. 

Letter of Invitation – For most nationalities, an LOI is required for the visa application. Alternatively, the system also allows you to upload a hotel booking confirmation (instead of the LOI) but usually, they will reject it and tell you to upload an LOI, which you should get through a local tour operator.

Join our Pakistan expedition

By joining our group expedition into the Northern Areas, you’ll instantly get our LOI needed for the visa.

After submitting your application, your embassy has the right to call you for an interview, which means that you would need to be in your home country. However, this only happens in rare cases. 

For more information, Marco from Monkey Rock World has written a comprehensive guide/tutorial about how to get a Pakistani e-visa .

How to make a visa extension

Would you like to spend more time in Pakistan? No problem.

Extending your visa while traveling in Pakistan used to be a confusing process, as everybody has different experiences and rules were constantly changing but, finally, you can get your visa extension through the regular e-visa portal, as long as you are already in Pakistan and in possession of an e-visa. 

If you traveled to Pakistan with a regular visa, you can only extend it at the passport office of any major city, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitral, Gilgit, and Skardu but, apparently, the easiest place is Lahore.

🗺️ How to sign up for a tour in Pakistan

Traveling with a group and an expert local guide will make things much easier, and more fun!

Against the Compass has the following scheduled Pakistan expedition:

• September 17th to 30th, 2024. SOLD OUT
• May 18th to 31st, 2025. APPLY NOW

14 days exploring the Northern Areas, including driving through the Karakoram Highway, as well as exploring the barely visited valleys of Shimshal and Astore.

🚑 Travel insurance for traveling in Pakistan

Pakistan is an adventurous destination, so we recommend going there with proper travel insurance.

I recommend IATI Insurance because:

• Their backpacker plan covers all types of adventure activities, including trekking
• Very competitive prices
• Readers of this blog can get a 5% exclusive discount

⛅ Best time to visit Pakistan

Pakistan has many different regions, ranging from sea-level, flat deserts to 8,000-meter peaks, so each season will present its own peculiarities.

Winter (mid-November to February)

The best time to visit the south part of the country, especially Sindh province. Those lands may not have the mountains Pakistan is famous for but this is the most religiously diverse region in Pakistan.

On the other hand, most mountains in northern Pakistan remain totally inaccessible in the wintertime. You can still get to the Northern Areas through the Karakoram Highway , but you won’t be able to visit any side valley.

Summer (June to September)

The best season for visiting the Northern Areas, especially if you like trekking in high altitude mountains.

Spring & Autumn

I personally traveled to Pakistan in April and May and the mountains were at their best, as the weather was gorgeous (most days), plus they weren’t busy with domestic tourism. However, if you travel to Pakistan in early spring, late autumn, the mountains may not be that accessible. 

Traveling in Pakistan during Ramadan

A topic by itself, with its pros & cons. Lost with Purpose traveled in Pakistan during Ramadan and wrote this insightful post .

🛫 How to visit Pakistan

How to travel to pakistan by air.

Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have international airports connecting with many Middle Eastern cities, especially Doha and Dubai . 

How to travel to Pakistan by land

Pakistan shares a border with Iran, Afghanistan , India, and China. You can’t use the Afghan border to cross but the rest are open:

• China – The highest border crossing in the world. Read my report .
• India – An easy one, despite the diplomatic relationship between both countries. Read this report
• Iran – It goes through Baluchistan and it is quite an adventure. Read this report

📰 What’s it like to travel in Pakistan today

Before 9/11, Pakistan used to be a tourist country. 

Well, not that touristic, but its breathtaking mountains were a popular stopover for backpackers going along the famous Hippie Trail .

In fact, in the Northern Areas, you can find a few backpacker hostels which somehow, are the remains of what used to be a popular destination for intrepid backpackers. 

The 9/11 attacks, however, along with a big bunch of unfortunate events, usually involving Taliban activity and loads of violence, put an end to the emerging tourism industry.

Fortunately, things have changed. 

In the last couple of years, the security situation in Pakistan has dramatically improved and the Northern Areas of Pakistan are, once again, filled with intrepid backpackers who want to visit some of the most jaw-dropping mountain scenery you will ever see, and experience the hospitality Pakistan is famous for. 

Nevertheless, despite this massive tourism increase, Pakistan still remains raw, authentic, and genuine, and it will stay like that for a very long time, especially because it is not an easy country to travel to: tourist infrastructure is in an embryonic stage, it is difficult to move around and you won’t meet many foreigners, so that’s why I personally believe that only experienced travelers should go to Pakistan. 

However, traveling in Pakistan is one of the most rewarding traveling experiences one can ever have.

🕌 Cultural behavior and facts when traveling in Pakistan

Urdu, which is like hindi, is the official language.

However, each region has its own (or several) local languages, so different from each other. English is widely spoken among educated people, like in India.

Pakistan is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries

From the South Asian-looking people of Punjab and Sindh; to the people of the Pashtun areas, closer to Iran or Afghanistan; the pagan culture of Kalash; the Shias from Gilgit and Nagar; the Ismailis of lower Hunza and the Wakhis (and also Ismailis) of upper Hunza. Traveling in Pakistan is like traveling in several, different tiny countries. It’s fascinating.

Remember, you are the guest

People tend to say that, in Iran , Sudan and Iraqi Kurdistan , you find the most hospitable people in the world. Well, clearly, they haven’t visited Pakistan. Whereas it’s true that these countries are very hospitable, Pakistanis bring it to the next level. In this country, you are the guest, which means that the locals strive for you to have the best possible time in their country or region.

The hospitality can even be overwhelming

During your trip to Pakistan, you’ll be invited for lunch, dinner and even to stay at people’s houses so many times that, on many occasions, you will have to refuse.

After your refusal, they will insist once again, over and over. They will also insist on carrying your bag and offering you food one hundred times even if you say that you are full. These are their cultural rules and you are the guest.

So overwhelming but just don’t get angry

One day, some random men who I had never seen before came to my hotel at 7:30 am in the morning, knocking at the door of my room, waking me up from a very good sleep.

Apparently, they heard that there was a foreigner in the village, so they just wanted to hang out with me. I got a little bit angry, continued sleeping but then I kind of felt bad, as all they wanted was to show me around the village.

Paying for meals

For some reason, Pakistanis always want to pay for your meals to the extent that it gets awkward. I personally didn’t like it, especially when I could see that the local people didn’t have much money. If possible, try to back them up.

Wearing a Shalwar Kameez

The traditional Pakistani dress, which 80% or 90% of Pakistanis wear, is called shalwar kameez. Should you wear it? It’s not compulsory but, if you do, the locals will really appreciate it, especially in the Pashtun areas.

Pakistan is the most conservative country I’ve ever been to. You should be careful and always respect their rules. If you do, they will also respect you and you will have the best time in their country.

📚 Useful books for traveling to Pakistan

This is just a selection of the most useful travel books but, if you want to know all the options, remember to check this list : The best books on Pakistan (classified into history, politics, novels and travelogues)

The best travel guide to Pakistan: Pakistan Traveller

This is the most up-to-date and ultimate guidebook about Pakistan. 256 pages full of maps and endless travel tips. The author, Tim, is an Australian man who has visited Pakistan 10 times since 2006. A must-have for anyone who visits Pakistan. 

To know about the culture: Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Culture Smart! is a well-known collection of books that provide deep introductions to the culture and customs of many countries. In this book, they give a great analysis of the complexity of the culture and sub-cultures in Pakistan, so you will have a great understanding of the cultural etiquette beforehand!

For more political background: Pakistan, a hard country

Pakistan, a hard country – This award-winning book will give you a deep understanding of the situation in Pakistan nowadays.

⚠️ Security and safety when you travel in Pakistan

Pakistan is not dangerous but you should be cautious..

You might have read from other blogs that Pakistan is one of the safest countries in the world . Personally, I wouldn’t say that. Whereas I think that Pakistan is not a dangerous country, in some areas, it’s better to be cautious, especially in the region bordering Afghanistan.

Read: Is Afghanistan safe?

However, the situation is only getting better and better

Seriously, safety in Pakistan has improved exponentially.

Police are there to help you

Throughout your Pakistan travels, you’ll be continuously interrogated by dozens of different policemen and people from the army. Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going?  Unlike in other countries, in Pakistan, the police and military are pretty cool and, for your own security, they are commanded to ask you these questions.

You will have to register at more than 100 security check posts

I am not kidding. During my 56-day trip to Pakistan , I had to register more than 100 times at different army and police check posts. Sometimes, to get from one destination to another, I had to register more than 10 times! At each check post, you have to get off the car or bus and write down all your personal information in a notebook. This will slow down your journey considerably.

Bring one thousand passport & visa photocopies

It’s good to bring loads of photocopies because, at some check posts, if you have a passport copy, you don’t have to get out of the car. Otherwise, you are going to waste your time.

Occasionally, you get a personal guard, for free

Again, not kidding. For security purposes, in some areas, you will get a personal armed guard. Sometimes, you might have to pay for his meals but, according to the police, you are not forced to. It’s up to you. For more information, read my post: Is Pakistan safe?

Having a personal armed guard seems kind of cool but, to be honest, it’s not that much

The first time you get an armed guard you get kind of excited. However, after half an hour, you might start hating him because he will put you under a lot of restrictions.

Pakistani intelligence is one of the best secret services in the world

One of the reasons why Pakistan is not a dangerous country is thanks to the Pakistani intelligence, which is considered the best intelligence corps in the world, even better than the CIA.

Be aware that they are watching your steps and they will always know where you are. I remember that, while hiking around a remote area in the Astore Valley , a man wearing a salwar kameez (the traditional Pakistani clothes), came to me and said,  ”You are the Spanish, right? ” Yes, he was from Pakistani intelligence.

For further information on safety, including which areas are the safest, read my post: Is Pakistan safe?

You may also be interested in which countries in the Middle East are safe?

💃 Solo female travel in Pakistan

Women traveling solo is more common and safer than you think.

Women tell wonderful things about their experiences during their journeys through Pakistan, but they also say that this is a particularly challenging destination, home to a very conservative, patriarchal society who don’t really know how to deal with foreign women.

I’m not the most qualified person to talk about this topic, however, but Spanish traveler Leti Lagarda backpacked in Pakistan solo for 2 months, and has written a compelling guide about it, which will tell you everything you need to know about solo female travel in Pakistan, including:

• Interaction with men
• Safety tips
• Cultural etiquette
• What to wear
• And much more

Read the ultimate guide to solo women travel in Pakistan

🛂 Bureaucracy and permits for your trip in Pakistan

Don’t trust any source of bureaucracy information, not even against the compass.

In Pakistan, rules are not written and things are constantly changing. Places that no longer require a permit, might require it overnight, by the next day it was changing it back again.

A military guy told me once that, when this happens, it’s because they are suspicious of some Taliban or terrorist activity.

This information doesn’t flow throughout the country, so you will see that everyone (including national police, local police, the Army, the locals, travelers, and blogs) will always have a different opinion. Don’t trust anyone. Check it yourself, once you’re on the ground.

In Pakistan everything is possible

If there is something valuable I learnt during my trip to Pakistan, it is that, as in any corrupt country, everything is possible and it all depends on your contacts. If you know the right people, you can do absolutely everything you want, including visiting forbidden areas without a permit.

What you need to know about NOC

• What is it? A No Objection Certificate, which is basically, a permit required for certain restricted areas.
• How to get? – The best way to get it is through a local with contacts. If you don’t know any local, contact your embassy, but it can take up to 4 or 5 working days to proceed. 
• When do you need it? – As I said before, don’t trust any source of bureaucracy information. During my trip to Pakistan, a friend of mine was required to get an NOC to use the road between Timargara and Chitral. One day later, I tried to use that road but the NOC was not required anymore. However, officially, you would need an NOC to visit Balochistan, the Khyber Pass, Tribal Areas and Kashmir (some areas of Kashmir).

💻 Internet and connectivity in Pakistan

Except in Gilgit-Baltistan, the internet works reasonably well throughout the country.

In the Northern Areas, the connectivity is awful or non-existent depending on where you go. 

I got a SIM Card from a Chinese company called ZONG which is supposed to be the best for pretty much anywhere in the country. In the Northern Areas, however, it barely worked and, apparently, you need to get a company named SCOM, which you can find in Gilgit, 

Pro-tip: Tell a local to get a SIM Card for you – The downside of ZONG is that, as a foreigner, you need to go to the central office and pay quite a lot of money to sign up for it (20 or 30USD). Tell a local to sign up for you, so you’ll just pay the local price and get it very quickly.

eSIM for browsing, calling and traveling in Pakistan

Basically, an eSIM is a regular SIM card with a digital format that works like a normal physical SIM card, with the added benefit that you can buy it from home before the beginning of your trip, hence avoiding the hassle of buying it at your destination. 

With Holafly , you can get a SIM Card for a wide range of destinations, including Pakistan . 

Moreover, you can benefit from a 5% discount with the following code:  AGAINSTTHECOMPASS

Get a VPN for traveling in Pakistan

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Pakistan. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 Money in Pakistan

In Pakistan, they use the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) and approximately:

1USD = 278.60 PKR

Cash & ATMs – Pakistan is a cash economy, so better bring cash, especially in the Northern Areas, where. Of course, you can find ATMs in all big cities but not all of them will accept foreign cards.

How much does it cost to travel to Pakistan

But before, a few things you need to know:

• In Pakistan, everything is negotiable: Everything can be bargained for, especially the hotel rooms. Expect to pay different amounts from other guests.
• Always come with a reference: When you travel in Pakistan, contacts are very important and that’s why in either hotels or trekking tour companies if you come referenced by a local, you will get a better price.

In any case, this is a pretty cheap country and I think you can easily travel to Pakistan for less than 20 a day, sleeping in private rooms and eating 3 meals outside. These are the (approximate) prices of the most typical things:

• Local meal – 150PKR
• Local meal in a mid-range restaurant – 250-500PKR
• Meal in a fancy restaurant of Lahore – from 1500PKR
• Private room in a budget hotel – Up to 1500PKR
• Private room in a mid-range hotel – Around 3,000PKR
• Long bus rides (Islamabad to Gilgit) – Around 2,500PKR for a VIP ticket (you want to get a VIP, trust me)

🛺 Transportation for traveling around Pakistan

You’ll get used to the mountain roads –  Most mountain roads are very scary as they are extremely narrow and built on insanely high cliffs. Don’t panic. You’ll just get used to them!

You will learn to be patient – In absolutely almost every long bus journey I took, we had a breakdown. Sometimes, we were stopped for two hours! And one day, we stopped because the bus ran out of gas! Can you believe it?

Psychedelic trucks are a way of life – Everybody falls in love with the trucks in Pakistan, as they are so particularly decorated that they are a blessing to your lens.

Ways of moving around when you travel in Pakistan

Public buses & minivans go everywhere – Like in most developing countries where most people can’t afford to buy a car, buses and minivans travel to even the remotest areas in the country. In Sindh and Punjab provinces, Daewoo is the most luxury bus. For traveling to Gilgit from Islamabad, you should definitely take NATCO VIP Bus ( around 17USD). Don’t worry, is not that VIP.

Train – In Sindh, Punjab, and Peshawar, you can move around by train. There are different train companies but you should always take the private ones, as they are more punctual. Use AC standard, as it is the one used by the Pakistani middle class. It’s not expensive, not smelly and comfortable enough. For more information, check this train guide to Pakistan . 

Hitchhiking is too easy – It’s so easy, that sometimes, it’s faster and easier than taking public transport, especially on the Karakoram Highway (from Gilgit to Khunjerab Pass). Everybody will want to pick you up! As a general rule, on the KKH, I didn’t hitchhike on motorbikes (there are so many accidents) and cars with women inside.

Plane is pretty convenient – Traveling by bus from Islamabad to the northern areas, including Chitral, Gilgit and Skardu takes ages (from 15 to 20 hours). There are flights connecting Islamabad with all these cities. Book your flights here . Please note that, for flying to and from Gilgit, you must book several days (even weeks) in advance. Also, bear in mind that many flights get canceled due to the weather condition.

Read: 80 Tips for traveling to Iran

🍲 Food, drinks, and alcohol

Food is extremely oily.

Pakistanis love oil too much. They put tons of it in absolutely every meal, including in the steamed rice, which they will always fry afterwards. When you are in a restaurant, always ask for half fried.

It’s almost dry

In the Sindh province and Islamabad, you can find liquor stores. In the rest of the country, alcohol is only available on the black market, but most locals (who drink) can get it for you easily.

Expect to have ten cups of chai a day

Chai, which is tea with milk, is a way of life in Pakistan and a sign of hospitality.

Tap water, watch out!

Don’t dare drink tap water. In the northern part of the country, the locals will tell you that the tap water is good, as it comes from the mountains and glaciers. This may be true, but I still got sick when I drank from a mountain fountain. Always use a water purifier.

You’ll get sick

I don’t know anyone who didn’t get sick in his stomach when traveling in Pakistan. Try to avoid salad, food stalls with flies (they are hard to find) and don’t drink tap water.

🏨 Accommodation when you are traveling to Pakistan

There are all types of hotels across the country, from budget rooms to a few hostels and luxury hotels.

Booking sites such as Hostelworld and Booking.com are increasing in popularity but, depending on the destination you travel to, you may not find a lot of options or, at least, no budget hotels.

If you want to stay in a budget hotel or local guesthouse, you may have to read blogs or ask anyone online. In my Pakistan Itinerary , I give some options.

Anyway, there are a few things you need to know about accommodation in Pakistan:

Prices can be negotiated to the extreme

Whenever they tell you the price, ask if they have a cheaper room. Seriously, on many occasions, I managed to get half of the initial price.

If you are on a budget, always ask if they have a dorm

Surprisingly, many hotels have dorms and they don’t tell you until the end of the negotiation. The good thing is that, since there are not many backpackers, you are most likely to get the dorm just for yourself!

In most of Pakistan, you are covered

In Pakistan, there is a lot of domestic tourism, so most touristic areas are filled with hotels for absolutely every budget, from hostel to mid-range and luxury rooms.

But it may be harder to find decent accommodation in the rest of the country

In cities like Peshawar, Karachi, Multan, and basically anywhere outside of Swat Valley, Chitral, Northern areas, Islamabad and Lahore, finding decent (budget) accommodation may be challenging.

Couchsurfing is quite popular!

There are loads of profiles, especially in big cities.

If you want to know all my hotel recommendation per city, read my Pakistan Itinerary

❗ More information for traveling to Pakistan

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Pakistan destination

• Travel Guide to Fairy Meadows
• Karokam Highway Travel Guide
• Astore Valley Travel Guide
• Pakistan-China border crossing
• Travel Guide to Rakaposhi Base Camp
• Travel Insurance in Pakistan
• Pakistan Itinerary
• Photos of Pakistan
• Travel Books about Pakistan
• Solo Female Travel Guide in Pakistan
• Is Pakistan Safe?

That’s everything you need to know! If you think I forgot something, please let me know! Ah, and remember that, in Pakistan, you shouldn’t plan too much! Welcome to the country of unexpected events. From endless bus breakdowns to time-consuming check posts, new local friends and paradises where you want to spend ages, during your Pakistan travels, you will realize that nothing will go according to your plan.

Travel guides to other countries in Central Asia

• Tajikistan Travel Guide
• Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Uzbekistan
• Travel Guide to Kazakhstan
• Afghanistan Travel Guide

You might also like our Iran travel guide.

124 comments

Thank you so much for blogging about Pakistan! It’s the country that I most want to visit (to the dismay of my sheltered family). This kind of information will make things so much easier when I graduate and finally get my loans paid down enough to do extensive travel.

I only recently found your blog, and I have to say that I really love both your content and what you’re doing out there. It’s truly inspirational.

Hello, thanks for your comment! I am glad that you want to travel to Pakistan. Tourism is increasing day by day (that’s what the local say) and i am sure you will have an awesome time there. Hope you get your loan paid down and you can go there soon! cheers mate

You are most welcome to visit Pakistan.. Hope you find your trip the best ever and awesome.. Feel free to contact me if you need any help..

thank you, man! maybe next time! Next year inshallah!

You said INSHAA ALLAH. well nd good but can i ask ?are you muslim or you love to this word?

Hello. I am not Muslim but I have been traveling in Muslim countries for quite a while, so I use it when I write about Muslim countries.

After watching and read some articles of your country now am planning to visit your country but I don’t know anyone there. “In Shaa Allah”

Please give me some idea!

Have you visited Pakistan or still looking to visit our country. If you are looking to visit our country, warmly welcome to Pakistan. You can contact me you need any help. Shahzad from Lahore.

you can be guest without money,because i believe that every thing is possible by sharing, caring, and HUMANITY

Hey, I am an Indian , planning to travel Pakistan, especially rural and mountainous regions and looking for a Pakistani friend who has similar plans. Travel could be a month longer or more.

Well Dude you are welcome here. Will have great time

Wanna visit your country after ramadhan or maybe celebrate the Ed’l Fitr there. Any suggestions and advice you can give?

I agree. Wonderful and informative blog! Thanks

Hello and thanks for a great summary, Joan!

May I please know the basis of this statement? “Some embassies (like the one Beirut) may tell you to apply via the traditional way, which sucks a lot, especially because you can only apply at the embassy from your country of residence and they always require an LOI. ”

I’m based in Beirut and about to submit my e-visa application, but need to know if it’ll be a waste of my time and money. Thanks!

Hi there, I was told by a Lebanese person that the staff of the embassy in Beirut had no idea about the e-visa process yet, but that was a few months ago, so maybe things have changed. I suggest you contact them first

Congratulations and thank you for all the valuable information, Joan! In my opinion the way you write goes beyond than just being a guidebook, you really inspire us all!! I’ve been to several exotic destinations (for a Brazilian at least) such as Lebanon, Iran, India, Palestine, Jordan and now I’ve put Pakistan on my list as well. By the way, your tips about Lebanon helped me quite a lot, it made the trip easier and really enjoyable.

Hi Jefferson, glad that you found my posts about Lebanon useful! It really encourages me to keep writing! Yeah, if you liked Lebanon (and didn’t feel any danger there) you really should put Pakistan to the bucket list! Anyways, hope to meet you on the road one day 😀 Cheers mate!

Interesting use of the word “best” to describe the secret service – if backing the Taliban, supporting terrorist groups and sheltering Bin Laden makes them the best, I’d hate see what the worst were like

Hey man! hahaha, Let’s change ”best” by ”effective” if that makes things better 🙂 If it was not for the PK Intelligence, PK would have become a failed state, like Afghanistan. If, occasionally, they back up the Talibans, is always for their self-interest (for negotiations for example) not for supporting a terrorist group. All the country is pretty proud of this corp and I met a few agents who were always looking after me! But I am not an expert, so can’t say much more about it 😀 !

I wouldn’t doubt that they treated you well in Pakistan but you really need to do some homework on the subject: Pakistan, through the intelligence agency is one of, if not the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world; it’s actions in Afghanistan have been one of the leading causes of making it a failed state and also the source of the blow back, causing terrorism in Pakistan, so they have done the complete opposite of making the country safer. I am still looking forward to visiting in the near future, so thanks for all the useful information

Pretty sure the CIA is the biggest sponsor of terrorist groups around the world.

Good point. I’d add that its US and UK support for Pakistan that has allowed them to get away with supporting terrorists, the CIA and the Pakistani intelligence have certainly colluded in plenty of dodgy stuff

Only Indians call Pakistan the failed state, I have never met a single American or Western calling it a failed state. ISi is pain in the ass for Indians only and not many Americans even buy Osama drama so keep ranting like other cyber indian trolls that PK is a failed state, ISI sponsor terrorism and Osama story…I am sure people are quite smart spotting you guys out with same rants and fake western names.

Ok Graham, I can see you are not Indian but having totally Indian narrative in your comment made me to believe there is another indian with a fake ID. Nevertheless, Afhhanistan is not a failed state because of PK rather because of USA and NATO. PK interest in sponsoring so called Afghan Taliban whom you guys once called Mujahideen and now “Taliban the terrorists” is for its their interest. The only mistake ISI had done that brought today terrorist attacks in PK is that it bowed to USA and attacked tribal areas with USA drones and kill their kids and women. For this Pakistanis are paying the price. And yes Pakistanis know well that PK has a shit reputation but let me correct you here that we know well that it is due to both internal issues ie corrupt leaders and politicians and also we know well where and why other powers are playing to sponsor the terrorism. Anyway, people there are always hospitable even before sept 11 or even in golden era of PK in 60s they were as hospitable as today you witnessed. They are not nice to you as PK has bad reputation in the world due to MSM etc

A hearty LOL on soldiers giving you AK-47s for selfie shots hahaha. Sounds like somewhere that is not the USA, or any Western nation. Amazing. In some ways this is nuts but in other ways I admire the detachment, the trust and yes, some may say outright recklessness. Just another country with a different culture, laws, way of doing things. I’d love to see it someday.

Thanks for sharing 🙂

haha, yeah, you said it very well. This country is nuts, mad, wild and surreal. That’s what all backpackers are continuously saying when you are in Pakistan!

Pakistan can be rock concert loud. Highly amplified mosque speakers blare out the call to prayers five times a day from every which way-the first one being at crack of dawn. This can disturb your sleep pattern. Then there are cars and trucks one-upping each other with incessant honking. Some commercial vehicles have bone jarring air horns. Celebratory gun fire can erupt at any hour for as simple a reason as a kid passing his exams. Imagine that AK47 going off at 2:00 AM!

Super update on Pakistan ! I was there in 84/5 and many things have / have not changed. All power to you ! Eg http://www.amateuremigrant.com/2016/10/21/quetta-train-to-chaman-bob/

Wow – awesome tips and it’s obvious you spent a lot of time on this! Pakistan sounds like an amazing place!

Thank you! I hope it makes you wanna go 😉

I thing which I want to add is you traveled in the month of Ramdan (an Islamic month). In this month local tourist do not travel that is way you got cheap hotels. Otherwise expect 3 time more expensive hotels than you mentioned above.

Hi Numan. I traveled in Pakistan for 2 whole months and only 10 days of Ramadan

Incredible tips and really gives a good perspective into what it might be like to visit Pakistan! Pakistan never actually used to be on my list but after seeing pictures and reading about it it’s definitely appealing more and more! Thanks for sharing your tips! They will definitely come in useful if/when I make it there!

Pakistan is such a misunderstood country but then, people look at the pictures and gets truly amazed! Thanks for your comment. Hope you make it one day

That’s really impressive overview about the country. Pakistan is my homeland. I born in Lahore. Pakistan is improving for the tourist industry. Furthermore i would like to add the TDCP. Please tourist use this department to get more information about the country.

It must be exciting to visit Pakistan, but that said, if you live there I don’t think you will think it’s so safe and exciting, especially if your a Minority, and not Muslim, your chances of being killed increase a thousand fold, even the local Muslims are not spared, your chances of being killed are at an extreme level, people live in fear. Pakistan is notorious for Terrorist activity. But that said life goes on. Did you know about the Majority Punjabi’s are suppressing the Baluchistan’s, do you know what the Pakistan Army and Government are doing to the Baluchistan’s, find out seriously before you say Pakistan is a very safe nation? True everyone will give you their spin, but the Pakistan Military is notorious for carrying out all the terrorist funding and operations, they are the ones who set up the Taliban in Afghanistan to destabilize the nation, safe and peaceful, are they? Pakistani Military is known to fund terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) that carry out a proxy war with India, and the famous Mumbai Terror attacks. Not less than 45 terrorist groups operate freely in Pakistan with the blessing of the Military and Police, this is how safe Pakistan is. As a tourist, you see the superficial skin and not the real vermin that lays beneath. Link to Terrorist outfits that operate in Pakistan, see below, travel there I can’t stop you but be warned, you don’t want to be a victim of these Terrorist outfits who as I said earlier operate freely with the backing of the Police and Military.

http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/group_list.htm

Lool just another stinky cow dunk eater I can imagine ur frustration ☺

At least use correct spelling of a Muslima name if you indian use fake IDs. How easy it is to spot you guys. And again same rants PK army is sponsoring terrorists….blah blah blah. Why don’t you tell the author to simply not visit PK as you hate that land so much. Also advice her to hate PK and only love India…If it makes you happy then go for that please, and best of luck convincing her.

Sorry Joan, “her” for you was a mistyping. I know you are a male 😉

Pakistan is hard yet one of the most misunderstood country too! Pakistan has much to offer from astounding mountains to the shores of Gawadar , its a country u can easily fell in love with . Btw thanks for writing a wonderful blog! Hope u visit here soon

I also visited Pakistan in 2017 and stayed there for 3 months. It’s a wonderful place in the world to visit. In my opinion everything is OK with piece, security, culture, respect and hospitality etc. The biggest misunderstanding about PK is that some anti-PK wants spread the roomers about terrorism through media etc. I thoroughly studied most of the aspects about PK and then practically realized by staying there. Dear @joantow thanks for explaining the reality about PK your blog confirms mine observations about Pk to be true.

Ah ok, so you were also there recently! Thanks for your kind words man! It seems that thanks to all travelers and backpackers who are going there, people are, slowly, realizing that this country has such a big potential. I hope that more and more people will come in 2018!

luv it <3 great details and yet so simple .. i m planing to go in 2018 with 2 kids ..little confuse to go or not …i love traveling its like m soul food .feeling so motivated after reading ur blog .

I want to say thank you to you for writing on this topic. Pakistan is such a great and peaceful place for tourist. Bad things happened anywhere.

Most welcome, cheers!

thank you for blogging about Pakistan. Very informative post

my pleasure, cheers!

I was in Pakistan this past year (December/January). It was lovely. The most friendly, hospitable, and beautiful country I’ve ever been too. I will say I wish I knew where the liquor stores were in Islamabad…everyone I knew said the only way to get liquor was the embassy clubs and bootleggers. We ended up meeting a bootlegger which was not too much of a hassle. Islamabad might be the greenest city in the world. It was stunning. I also gained 8 lbs the first week I was there from eating and luckily never got sick from water or food the entire month I was there. Every other one of our friends got sick though at some point.

Hi Matt, I also heard that there are liquor stores in Islamabad. In fact, my Couchsurfing host (local Pakistani) had plenty of beers in his fridge and said he bought them in a beer shop in the city! I don’t know, that is what he said and I actually never saw it! Yes, Islamabad is the greenest city ever, slightly different from the way Homeland TV show portraits it, right? Lucky you, that you didn’t get sick. I got sick on 4 occasions, within a 2-month period. However, since then, after 1 year, I have never ever got sick anymore of my stomach. I think I went through a very hard training and now I am immune! Cheers mate!

Hi I went to Pakistan in April for 5 weeks it is a beautiful country I love the atmosphere there foods lovely it was an amazing experience. I will love to go again soon inshallah I didn’t want to come back

Thanks for your positive comment! Yes, Pakistan is absolutely amazing 🙂 !

Thank you sir , for this amazing writeup . Love from Pakistan 🙂

My pleasure, cheers!

Hey, just want to let you know that for #7 it is confirmed, at least for Lahore. I had overstayed for 6 days and they let me extend it when I came to the immigration counter, for free.

Amazing info man! I just updated it 🙂

I’m going as a lady traveler in December. Luckily for me I have some friends there and I am going with a guy friend of mine. 🙂

Hi, thank you for this very useful post!!!! I appied to travel next month (I will have a local with me over there). I wanted to ask a simple question. IF I state on my visa application that I will stay at a specific hotel (I attached my reservation) and then I cancel and decide to book or stay somewhere else, could they deny me entry at custom or create problems during my stay?

thank you so much for your help P.s. I’m Italian

Hi Claire, You will definitely be fine, don’t worry. They don’t check anything of that

Great points. Karachi is not a tourist destination hence tourism never was developed properly here. That’s is why hotels which are budget friendly are hard to find. However if you do travel there you must try crabbing on Karachi seaport with ‘Salem seafood crabbing’ he has the best boats and only $9 to $10 per person in a group of 10. And definitely check out Kolachi restaurant at do darya or go scuba diving at islands like churna etc. You can even go buggy wheeler riding or camel riding on sea view beach best time is at sunset coz rides have amazing fun lights on them. Or book a hut on beaches like French beach or sand spit beach. Go shopping in zainab market for jackets and jeans which are usually factory rejects from brands like Zara or HnM lol or Gulf for cloth like silks, jamawar and fake ethnic jewellery. And then a shopping trip to dolmen mall for trinkets and souveniers. Quaids mazar, mohatta palace,lyari, frere hall and Danzo zoo are some touristy places for checking historical/recreational places. Also when in Karachi do not forget to try the cupcakes from Delizia Bakery, fishNchips from OPTP and some Tea with Parathas from Chaiwala.

thanks for the tips!

Hi Joan, thanks for sharing and showing the good and beautiful side of Pakistan, instead of what the media would have us believe. 70 tips – indeed very comprehensive!

If we may add some points regarding safety, the country is indeed safe in some parts and unsafe in others (borders with Afghanistan, China, Iran; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province; as well as certain parts of Balochistan, Islamabad and Karachi), so fellow travellers please do be careful.

Also, a new scam that surfaced in 2018 was that of spray painted fruits in Afzalpur, do be wary! Also, take care of your passport and valuables, and avoid “faith healers”. Other than that, enjoy your time Pakistan! 🙂

didn’t hear about it, thanks for letting us know!

Dude KPK is not a dangerous province now….and specially Peshawar (capital city of KPK).

what a great and depth post for travelers i love to visit Pakistan and believe me it’s one of the most safest place in the world with too many beautiful sights. i will visit again and go to Kashmir this time <3

Difficult to get in Kashmir but if you go, do let us know 🙂

Hi Joan. you have experienced in traveling pakistan and you also give answers to those who have misunderstanding about Pakistan. thanks for your love.

HI Bella, No problem to visit Kashmir. you can easily go their.

Kashmir is currently closed to foreigners, so she cannot go there

Ok, so in a few years I will be planning a trip to Pakistan most likely on my own. I will be going to meet a local, but I am not sure I understand the process of getting a visa for Pakistan. Any tips? Obviously I’m not in any rush, so anything will be useful and anything might change. And is there anything else that might be vital to me? It will be my first trip to Pakistan and my first time leaving my home country on my own.

Come to visit Pakistan but be sure to have a proper guide as Pakistan is a big country with wonderful and amazing places to visit. Not to forget but many cultures and different races live within Pakistan. All the provinces in Pakistan have some kind of special places to visit like for example in Sindh you will find old traditional places and civilizations ruins, In Punjab side you will get to see rivers flowing and greenery, In northern side (KPK and Gilgit Baltistan) you’d find some great peeks like k2, Nanga parbat and other amazing places but make sure to have a proper guide of hire some company to do so. National level tourism is on peak now adays as now Pakistan is ranked among the top for adventure loving.

Hi there, Can you provide information on immunizations necessary for Lahore in March. I’m not intrested in taking malaria pills that make you sick your entire trip….. Thanks!

Hi, there is no malaria in Pakistan

Guys – let’s be grown ups. no more negativity! Being born in Lahore and brought up in London I love going back and seeing the changes in Pakistan. Also to clarify i have been to India (mostly Delhi and touristy surrounding cities) and loved it too. The last few years social media and the internet it has really moved Pakistan and surrounding countries on, mostly for the better. In Pakistan I notice for instance that many more younger people speak English – I think it has become a necessity if you want to conduct your life on social media! There is also a better understanding and people over the borders are making friends with each other using these mediums and realising that the politicians are the puppeteers. Being in a privileged position of living in a third country (although London is home) I am so lucky to have friends from around the world and it is obvious that it is not the people who have problems with each other but the governments and those who buy the weapons and keep the armed forces in a strong position where so much of the GDP is used. Just enjoy the country and hopefully all your encounters will be positive ones. you can be in danger anywhere – just keep your wits about you and if you have any doubts then stay out of that situation. I am off to Pakistan on my now annual visitation in a few days and really looking forward to it.

pakistni visa is now available on arrival. kindly please update. its available on arrival for 175 countries effective from february 2019.

Pakistani visa is not available on arrival. They said that visa was available on arrival for those who booked a full tour, but apparently, not many people succeeded with that because they never published the list of authorised tour operators. What they did is introducing an e-visa system but you still need a Letter of Invitation. Basically, the only difference versus before is that now you don’t need to apply in your home country but you can do it online, but requirements are pretty much the same. However, I don’t know anyone who has tried it yet and since in Pakistan they always talk about new visa policies which tend to be BS, I prefer update to update it until the info is verified

The evisa begins next month, in June. Till then no one really knows how it will work. But news reports so far say no LOI will be required

its such an amazing article about traveling in Pakistan. and its true Pakistan is a really beautiful country for visiting there are many natural places and many amusement parks.

I was actually reading instruction regarding my visit to China INSHALLAH which made me wonder what foreigners think of My country and I must say for an article listing “70 things” You did a great job making it sound interesting and easily understandable ! I am overwhelmed by everyone views on their visit to Pakistan. So, happy to hear You had a good time. Seriously the hospitality of Pakistan is on a different level for everyone who is “The Guest”. Even though Faisalabad is not re-known tourist destination in Pakistan but if I spotted a “Goora/foreigner” trying to pay for themselves Ill bring them home and ask mom to make all the dishes ! since I am good at only making Chai. 🙂 . But still You did a Noble Deed sharing Your honest thoughts against all those rumors.

cheers Aska!

Pakistan is the safe country. It has amazing things to visit. Also has thousands of eye caching seen. Thanks for sharing information with detail and also with books reference and pictures.

As you enumerate months (mid-April to mid-October) to travel in Pakistan. Here I want to meddle for those who have aversion for summer season as allergic issues perturb them. More common symptoms are rashes, hives and itching on skin. Choose right clothes while travelling in hot and sunny weather. I suggest to purchase from local market rather than pack so much costumes because local market knows better the weather and design fabric accordingly.

thanks for the tip

Why did you clip my comment. That sucks

well, do you really think you can come to my page and advertise your product for free?

Hey im just curious why did u not prefer to hitchhike with females in car? Like i would always prefer females in car so its safer. ?

It’s not that I didn’t want to, it is just that cars with women inside won’t stop if you are a man.

Truly the northern areas of Pakistan are extremely wonderful and breathtaking.. a must visit for anyone who would like to see heaven on earth

Thanks a lot for such an insightful article about traveling to Pakistan. I would request you to update the section regarding the NOC requirement. The new government of Imran Khan has done away with the requirement of NOC for traveling to restricted areas, except for only a handful of places. Another thing i would like to mention is that the online visa platform, still in its infancy, is being improved with each day by incorporating feedback/suggestions from Pakistan embassies around the world as well as the local agencies.

Hey! I’m planning to enter Pakistan in May 2020, entering from india and exiting to China. It looks like most of my time there will be during Ramadan. I was considering the idea of fasting with the locals. My only concern would be strenuous hiking without water. You were there during Ramadan, yeah? Any advice?

Hi Sean. Just curious but, why do you want to fast with the locals? I mean, you can do it if you want, but don’t think that the locals will expect you to do it. Also, Muslim people are allowed to stop fasting when they travel, for the simple reason that fasting & traveling is a real struggle. Yes, I was there during Ramadan but only during the first week which I spent in Hunza area, and in that area, since they are Ismailis, they are pretty relaxed and most restaurants were open.

Really useful tips to consider. After spending 2 whole minutes to reading your blog its amazing thanks for the information I come to know about new places in Pakistan

Is there a place that sells anime merchandise? I would like to buy a hug pillow from Pakistan

Without any doubt, everything mentioned about Pakistan is true. Pakistanis are really a hospitable nation. Pakistan is literally a land of peace now. Do visit Pakistan, we welcome our guests wholeheartedly.

Hello again Joan, You mentioned that you stayed 2 months in Pakistan. Is it possible to get a 2 or 3 months visa for Pakistan? Thank you

2 months for sure, but not sure about 3. In any case, you can make a visa extension very easily upon your arrival in Pakistan

Very informative and complete guide to visit Pakistan. But if you are coming to Pakistan and missed touring Karachi city it will be like you missed a roller coaster.

Wow I almost finished all of your topics. Thanks alot for exclusive informations. I’m going to visit Lahore, Islamabad and Gilgit in April 2020. As a solo female traveler, now I’m so excited to see Pakistan.

Great blog post! Pakistan is one of the best places for tourism. There are multiple foreigners and Youtubers who visited Pakistan in the past and shared positive feedback. I am going to recommend all travelers who want to visit Pakistan must visit in the spring season because you are going to feel the beauty of Pakistan’s forests and nature that provides a mesmerizing feeling and relaxation that makes the soul-refreshing and lively. From the China border to Gawader, you can go to enjoy every step. Each province offers unique food and places with famous sub-cultures and events to enjoy.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful post and keep sharing in the future!

Best Regards,

I have been planning on travelling to Pakistan again next year once this global epidemic comes under control. I went there last October 2019 and was truly amazed by the country’s beauty, its people and the incredible amount of love/hospitality I was shown. Definitely recommend Lahore, Islamabad, Swat and the Northern Areas (Baltistan, Gilgit and Deosai). I sure felt a lot safer than many of the other surrounding countries and I felt the country was a lot more cleaner with better infrastructure than many of its neighbours I had previously visited. Thanks for the article as it offered some helpful pointers but luckily I didn’t have any issues with my stomach and I was there for around 2 weeks. Looking forward to travelling to this hidden gem of a country Pakistan again!

Assalam o Alikum, I welcome you on the behalf of all Pakistanis. It will honor for us to welcome you again. I am from Lahore Pakistan. From which country you are?

I am in USA traveling to PK to visit Rawalpindi & Quetta. I have all the paperwork done (FINALLY!), but I was wondering if you could recommend a resource for very practical matters, such as electric outlet adapters for phone, SIM cards, ATM use, toilets, tipping, etc. I am being sponsored by a coworker’s family so won’t have access to concierge & other hotel services.

Great blog, btw!

Electric outlet is mostly the one used in the UK but in many places they can fit European plugs as well. SIM Card and ATM can be found in this very same article. Not sure what you mean by toilets. When it comes to tipping, it’s good to tip when someone helps you out, just small tip. In restaurants, tip is expected in fancier restaurants but rather than giving a percentage, you just round it up.

“My office for a day”

Omg, tell me please where is this place exactly? I work in IT and want to work from there one day 🙂

hello, that is Fairy Meadows

Thanks, and one more question because I’ve found confusing info on the Internet: how long is the trip from Islamabad to Gilgit by bus? Or, is it more suitable to rent a car in PK as a solo Traveller?

The bus takes 15 to 20 hours Renting a car would be amazing, but it’s more expensive of course

Bus takes 16 to 18 hours and charges 15$ whereas renting a car costs you 40$ to 50$ per day (without fuel). And the fuel it takes for islamabad to gilgit is around 25 gallons costs 60$.

Regarding Kashmir – I’ve seen some youtube videos of a New Zealander (Karl Rocks) who’s blogged from the capital of Azad Kashmir, so the restrictions may have been removed. I’d definetly recommend adding AK (at least the northern parts) to your itentary – as it’s not too far from Islamabad.

Hi i am wajid from pakistan , if any body need any type of help. Any information , regarding distance from one place to another place , by car or by bus by air, where need to go by local , where to by bus and where to by air , or if some one need invitation letter just feel free to contact i will give you all information here is my whatsapp +923114428519 . .

Thanks for sharing the nice piece of content with us. I am also a big fond of traveling & now my aim is to travel dubai for different experiences i.e dirt biking offroadadventurefun.com/dirt-bike-tours/. Actually you can say its my passion to explore all the world & see the beauty of nature with my own eyes. The upcoming May holidays are a great occasion to take a good break from the working routine and allow yourself to plunge into a real adventure, with a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions. An excellent option for a well-spent weekend will be a fascinating journey to the area rich in natural and historical sights. Once again thanks for sharing the nice piece of stuff with us.

Hello fellow travellers. I have just applied for an e-visa through the Nadra site. After a simple but painstaking series of questions you arrive at the penultimate stage of uploading your photo , passport details and …. a Letter of Invitation. I am a UK citizen . I have purchased an LOI with an extra attested certification from Karakoram Bikers who were very helpful and who’s info I used in the Sponsor’s section of the application. I thought LOI’s were a thing of the past but either the website hasn’t been updated or LOI’s are needed for some nations. I await the outcome of my application. I hope this personal experience helps someone . All the best out there . Allison

Gilgit is a city located in the northern region of Pakistan, and is considered one of the most famous cities in the country for several reasons.

Firstly, Gilgit is located at the crossroads of some of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. This makes it a popular destination for trekkers, hikers, and mountaineers from all over the world.

It takes a lot to visit and write with this much precision. Thanks for such a captivating blog post with lots of insight.

HI! I have a question about pakistani visa. I didn’t do the LOI. I simply uploaded the screenshot with the hotel reservation for the first few nights in Lahore (+ photo and passport of course). and it was successful. does this mean that I don’t need the LOI and that the visa will be issued to me? I still haven’t made the payment because I want to be sure of the thing. Thanks a lot and I hope I explained myself well.

HI! I read your blog about Pakistan. i have a question about pakistani visa. I didn’t do the LOI. I simply uploaded the screenshot with the hotel reservation for the first few nights in Lahore (+ photo and passport of course). and it was successful. does this mean that I don’t need the LOI and that the visa will be issued to me? I still haven’t made the payment because I want to be sure of the thing. Thanks a lot and I hope I explained myself well.

I applied for my visa in July 2023 and it took 2 months to process, so be warned.

As of July 2023, non vaccinated travellers (COVID) no longer are required to have PCR tests to enter the country. My understanding is that The airlines may not be aware of this change of rule, so bring documentation to prove this.

Hi! I’m very glad to find your blog! Amazing content. I’m in the middle of a big decision. A friend of mine I met in Germany (he’s from Pakistan) is getting married in Karachi in December and he’s inviting me to his wedding. I read in your blogs that Karachi si not the part of the country where you have enjoyed more or where most people go. I also have the option to go later (months after the wedding) and probably explore starting from Lahore, what do you think? Worth to wait? Or Karachi also has a lot to see? Pd. I live in Mexico City, so it’s a very long and expensive trip.

Hi Cesar, why not visiting both in one single? Whie I don’t think it’s worth traveling to Pakistan all the way from CDMX just to visit Karachi, attending a wedding can be an amazing experience, which you could combine with other places like Bahawalpur Multan, and ending your trip in Lahore. Best

Hi there, I would like to go to PK in April this year and from Islamabad via the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit to go on a hike for three or four days. I would like to rent a car myself, me and my wife. We were among other places in India , Nepal, Iran, and would now like to go to PK. What do you think of the idea of ​​driving your own car?

Hi Andy, self-driving is difficult because most companies won’t rent you a car without a driver. Best is to hire a motorbike.

Hi Joan, gratulation for this helpful blog! I have an international flight to Islamabad and want to fly 2 hrs after arrival to Skardu – could be challenging, I know. Do I need a hardcopy boarding pass at Islamabad airport for my domestic flight to Skardu? A mobile boarding pass which I could already arrange at home would safe a lot time.

Hi Vauwe, an electronic boarding pass should be enough

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The Perfect Pakistan Itinerary for 2 or 4 Weeks

I’ve been to Pakistan more times than I count by now and intend and going back more in the future. 

You see: there’s just so much to experience in Pakistan that, no matter how many times I go, I am always finding something new and exciting. 

First-time visitors to Pakistan will have a lot to bite off for this reason. Where does one start and where does one venture in this vast and magnificent country?

That is precisely why I have gone ahead and crafted the most complete Pakistani travel itineraries possible in this post. Here, I share not only two potential routes for you to use – a 2-week and 4-week version – but have also laid out what you need to know and prepare beforehand.

Trust me everyone: I make itineraries and take people to Pakistan for a living. I have undertaken these exact itineraries myself multiple times and would   will do them over again with pleasure.

Let’s go there now, shall we?

DID YOU KNOW THAT I RUN TOURS IN PAKISTAN?

Every year I lead unique trips to Pakistan including the K2 Base Camp Trek and to the Hunza Valley?

Why Visit Pakistan?

Pakistan is one of the last frontiers of adventure travel. Here you will find all of the hallmarks that make more established destinations, like Nepal, India, or Peru, so alluring: soaring mountains, welcoming locals, fascinating cultures, all this, and more. The fact that only a small fraction of tourists that would normally visit these places actually make it to Pakistan is an added bonus.

Relatively few people venture here for fear of being swept up by some terrorist insurgency or political coup, when, in reality, these events occur rarely in Pakistan. It’s safe to visit Pakistan, even for solo female travelers . 

The “real” roadblocks are usually jumping through the bureaucratic hoops to get a visa. But if you’ve already visited the site, you know I cover these things in firey detail. (Refer to the Preparing for Your Trip section later for more on this.)

Everybody should consider traveling to Pakistan once in their lives. This is a truly spectacular country that has the power to change how you look at and choose to travel. It’s had a powerful effect on me and I think it will have a similar one on you.

So what’s an itinerary in Pakistan actually look like and what do you need to prepare? Well for one thing, no matter how long your itinerary might be, there will be lots of mountains for sure! That and tasty karahi . 

Let’s talk shop and get into the details now. Below are some details to consider before heading out followed by a sample 2-week and 4-week itinerary in Pakistan.

When to Visit Pakistan

The “best time to visit” really depends on where you want to go and what to do in Pakistan. It’s a big country and has a lot of different climates, so it might be the case that you won’t be able to see and do everything in a single span of thirty days. 

That being said, there are some months that are definitely better than others. Choose the right ones depending on what you want to accomplish with your travel itinerary for Pakistan.

• April-May (Spring): The north is erupting with cherry blossoms whilst the south is still comfortably warm. This is a great time to visit any part of the country. Trails and treks that cross over 4000 meters will most likely be impossible still as there will be a lot of snow remaining.
• June-August (Summer): The best and really only time to trek in Gilgit-Baltistan. That means K2, the Karakoram, glaciers, high passes, the works. The valleys will be quite hot though and the southern provinces will be in the midst of the hot, wet monsoon season. You’d be crazy to go to Balochistan or Sindh around this time. 
• September-October (Autumn): Another colorful time for the north as the trees, particularly the poplars, turn a brilliant gold. Some trails may still even be open in Kashmir, KPK, and Gilgit-Baltistan (depending on the year). The south is starting to dry out but remains hot as hell. 
• November-March (Winter): The northern areas are usually buried in snow and experience sub-zero temperatures. The south, on the other hand, is kicking into full swing. This is festival season in Lahore and beach season in Karachi. The Balochi coast and Makran Highway are very pleasant at this time.

I’d recommend visiting Pakistan on the edge of the shoulder months, particularly June or September . You can do a lot during these months and the prices should still be good.

Preparing for Your Trip

Consider the following before traveling to Pakistan:

• Visas – Pakistan’s strange and mercurial visa system can seem intimidating at times, but, in fact, it’s really not that bad. All you need to do is receive an LOI (letter of invitation) and then apply for an evisa on the NADRA website . You can acquire an LOI either through a local Pakistani tour company or by contacting Haris Ali Shah at +92 301 858 5054.
• Budget – The costs of your trip will vary WIDELY depending on what you want to do, how long you want to be there, and how you want to travel. To giv you an idea, a more shoestring 2-week itinerary in Pakistan will probably cost around $25-$30/day. That’s for a guesthouse, basic meals, and bus tickets. Prices go up from there. 
• Packing – When visiting Pakistan, you’ll want to pack for every possible season. You’ll need warm clothing for when you’re in the higher, mountainous areas (even in summer) and light clothing for those hot days down in the valleys. A nice pair of rugged sandals in addition to your trekking boots also goes a long way. Try to wear long sleeves and pants as is customary in Muslim countries. For a complete packing list, refer to this article here.
• Safety and insurance – Despite a history of terrorism and rising tensions amongst its neighbors, Pakistan is a relatively safe country for tourists. Hospitality is second-to-none in Pakistan and the locals will go out of their way to make sure you’re ok. Still having a bit of insurance for the odd mishap still pays. I suggest investing in the best insurance for extreme adventure activities that I have ever found: Global Rescue .

For more information on what to prepare before starting your trip, be sure to read our backpacking Pakistan travel guide.

Getting Around Pakistan

Though Pakistan might appear to lack a transportation infrastructure at times, it’s still there – it just functions differently than what most travelers might be used to. 

Here are your options:

It’s unreliable in Pakistan, to say the least. It runs, but schedules and arrival times can be comically misleading at times. Public transport should only be used if you have lots of time on your hands. Most major cities have a large terminal or two. Daewoo is the most popular bus company and arguably the most reliable. NATCO is for traveling in the north.

A much better and only slightly more expensive alternative to public transport. For a little extra cash, you get a much more comfortable seat and the ride is usually much shorter. You can organize shared taxis either through your hotel, at the bus station, or by using the Kareem app.

Renting a car doesn’t mean you’re actually driving. Rather, you’re given a driver and he shuttles you around the country. Trust me, you want this to be the case. Driving in Pakistan can be hectic and you’re not given any sort of renters insurance. Just let the driver do his job and relinquish any liability on your part.

A very popular mode of transport in Pakistan and a once-in-a-lifetime experience if you’re ready. Bike rentals are cheap and there are plenty of outfitters. Karakoram Bikers in Gilgit are the best in the north. As always, wear a helmet though!

If you have a little extra cash, this is hands-down the most convenient way to get around Pakistan. Just be aware that flights heading to and from the north are canceled very often due to poor weather.

It is possible to take a train between most of Pakistan’s major cities. A train line going through Hunza is currently in the works but, at the moment, is nowhere near viable.

2-week Pakistan Itinerary  

With two weeks, you can see some of the best that Pakistan has to offer , including Hunza, Fairy Meadows, and Passu. You won’t have a ton of time to kill (you should ALWAYS be using your time wisely in Pakistan) but you shouldn’t be too rushed either.

Remember, Pakistan has a habit of throwing curveballs at you . Whilst this itinerary was planned with a little extra padding in case of delays, you never really know how bad those delays are going to be. 

Come with an open mind and feel free to adjust the itinerary as needed.

For this particular itinerary, I recommend taking shared taxis as much as possible or having your own car. Do so, and the odds are better that you will get to see and do everything you want.

Refer below for a map of the 2-week Pakistan itinerary: 

Day 1: Islamabad and Rawalpindi 

Islamabad is the most convenient place to start your Pakistan itinerary as it is the closest major city to the mountainous north and is well connected with the rest of the country. 

Islamabad is a planned city and totally different than any other metropolitan area in the country. It is orderly, well-planned, developed, and relatively clean. It can also be boring at times as it lacks the dynamism that other Pakistan cities, like Lahore and Peshawar, have in abundance.

There are some interesting things to do in Islamabad still. The Faisal Mosque and Pakistan Monument are nice to see – just be prepared for lots of selfies with the locals.

I suggest spending your first day shopping for your trip up north and sampling some local cuisine. The food scene in Islamabad is pretty solid and probably the most eclectic in the country. Despite its diversity though, the local Patan joints, like Kabul Restaurant , are the real winners. 

Islamabad also has a lot of modern malls that could put American ones to shame, but the real place to shop is in Rawalpindi. The Raja Bazaar is one of the finest and most crazy and diverse markets in all of Pakistan. 

Make sure you have Uber or Careem installed on your phone. These apps are the best way to arrange taxis in Islamabad and other major Pakistani cities.

The best place to stay: Grand Islamabad Hotel

See more places to stay in Islamabad here .

Day 2: Babusar Top

For this leg of the itinerary, I HIGHLY recommend taking a shared taxi or some other form of private transport. This is already going to be a very long day and it would be a shame if you wasted precious time by taking the much longer and uncomfortable bus. 

Going private crucially means that you can travel via the Kaghan Valley and Babusar Top . This route is much more scenic in my opinion and resembles the foothills of Nepal in a lot of ways. The terraces cut into the valley walls are really impressive.

Total travel time to Raikot Bridge is 14-16 hours. Don’t bother stopping in Naran unless it’s for a quick tea or bathroom break. If it’s getting late and you still haven’t crossed Babusar, consider sleeping in or near Jalkhand if the driver allows it. Wake up early the next morning and drive the remaining 4 hours to Raikot Bridge.

Note though that Babusar Top is only viable from May-October when the pass is clear of snow. If the pass is not open, you will need to travel via the KKH and Chilas, which is also the route the NATCO bus takes. This option is closer to 16-18 hours long and there is no guarantee that you will make it to Raikot Bridge in time to get a good night’s sleep.

Best place to stay: Raikot Gazebo (Raikot Bridge) or Andaz Hotel (Jalkhand)

Day 3-4: Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat

Plan to be at Raikot Bridge between 11:00-12:00 on the third day of your 2-week Pakistan itinerary. 

Once you arrive, immediately arrange for a jeep up to Fairy Meadows. Jeeps hold 4-5 passengers and cost 8000 rupees in total. These jeeps are expensive but, unfortunately, there is no other way to arrive at Fairy Meadows.

Refer to the Complete Fairy Meadows Guide for more advice on arranging jeeps and what to expect.

Consider grabbing some biryani to-go before leaving on the jeep. Fair warning: you may want to wait until after you finish the jeep ride to eat…

Once you’ve finished the jeep ride, walk an additional 2-3 hours, gaining 600 meters of altitude before reaching Fairy Meadows itself. Welcome to one of the most spectacular places in Pakistan! Looming above is the mighty 8,100 meter-high Nanga Parbat in all its glory. 

Spend day 3 chilling and the next hiking up to Nanga Parbat Base Camp on the following. The hike takes 6-8 hours.

Top off your stay with a roaring bonfire and dance parties with Punjabis at the guesthouse.

Best place to stay : Greenland Guesthouse (Fairy Meadows)

Day 5-6: Karimibad and Aliabad

You’ll have to wake up early on day 5 and walk back down to jeeps to catch a ride. Aim to be back at Raikot Bridge before lunchtime. 

Once you’ve arrived at Raikot Bridge, you’ll need to arrange transport to Gilgit . You’re better off taking a taxi since who knows when the next bus passes by. The price to Gilgit should be around 1000 rupee.

It should be noted too that at this point, you will be driving on the Karakoram Highway proper.

Once you arrive in Gilgit, you don’t need to stick around. Just arrange for another transport to take you directly to Hunza . Head in the direction of Karimibad – it takes 3-4 hours to arrive from Gilgit depending on your mode of transport.

Rather than staying in Karimibad, which is a bit touristy, I recommend staying outside the town. There’s a fantastic guesthouse in neighboring Aliabad called Mountain Story and it is arguably one of the best in Pakistan.

Spend Day 6 exploring Karimibad. Altit Fort and Baltit Fort are the two most popular attractions. Be on the lookout for the man with the most epic beard in Pakistan at the former! 

Finish your day by watching the sunset at Eagle’s Nest . This famous viewpoint features panoramic views of the Hunza Valley and the surrounding peaks, including Spantik, Rakaposhi, Ultar, and the infamous Ladyfinger Peak. Arrange for a taxi to take you up there and have it stick around until you’re done. You’ll only need an hour or so there.

Best place to stay: Mountain Story (Aliabad)

Day 7-11: Upper Hunza

Depart from Aliabad/Karimibad heading north on the KKH. Be on the lookout for the ancient petroglyphs on the side of the road just outside of town.

On the way to Passu , you’ll be passing by the stunning yet tragic Attabad Lake . This is a good place to stop for a quick break or jet ski (yes, there are jet skis here). Skip the boat ride as it’s pretty touristy and overrated. 

Beyond Attabad Lake, you will enter Upper Hunza, which is composed of several small communities. Each should have a handful of tourist hotels and guesthouses. Pick one that seems suitable to you and base yourself there for the next 4-5 days. Don’t bother looking for anything north of Sost.

There is a host of things to do around Upper Hunza (see next section). I’d recommend spending 1-2 days chilling with only a few activities planned and then dedicating the other 3 days to real adventuring. In particular, Patundas, Shimshal, and the Passu Cones shouldn’t be missed.

Best place to stay: Roomy Yurts, Gulmit – +92 311 1444100

Things to Do in Upper Hunza

Try to knock as many of these as possible whilst staying in Upper Hunza:

• Passu Suspension Bridge (1-2 hours) – Often labeled as the world’s scariest bridge. It’s made out mostly out of wood and is rickety as hell. Cross at your own risk!
• Passu Cones (1-2 hours) – Some of the most surreal mountains you’ll ever see. These look like a Hudson River School painting on acid. You can wtiness the cones from many places though the stretch of road between the Welcome to Passu sign and Batura Glacier viewpoint offers the best IMO.
• Borith Lake (2-3 hours) – A saline lake located near the terminus of the Ghulkin Glacier. Beautiful green colors and a great place to have a picnic.
• Ghulkin Village (half-day) – Just walk around and observe village life. The locals, who belong to the Ismaili faith, are very welcoming.
• Khunjerab Pass (full-day) – This is a long but doable day trip from Passu. Drive up to the Pak-China border, which is also the world’s highest crossing at 4,800 meters. Keep an eye out for ibex on the way up whilst driving in the Khunjerab National Park.
• Shimshal Valley (full-day) – A very rugged and at times desolate valley adjacent to Hunza. Features some of the most accessible 6000+ meter peaks in Pakistan. The road up the valley is rough but epic. Consider overnighting in Shimshal village.
• Patundas (3 days/2 nights) – This is one of the best short, multi-day hikes in Pakistan and features epic views of the Passu Cones, the Batura Glacier, and Shishpar. Enjoy the outdoor toilet and shitscape up there!

Day 12: Return to Gilgit

Since you’ll be catching an early flight the next day, you’ll want to return to Gilgit and spend the night there. 

Depart from Upper Hunza at your leisure. It should be a 5-6 hour drive back to Gilgit.

Once you arrive, check into your hotel and take a load off. 

There isn’t a ton to do in Gilgit but if you have some time to kill, go on a mission to find the Old British Graveyard. Several explorers for the era popularly known as “The Great Game” are buried here including the legendary George W. Hayward. To enter, you’ll need to find and ask the caretaker to let you in. Last I checked, he lives across from the cemetery. 

Best place to stay: Hotel Grand Continental

Day 13: Return to Islamabad

If all goes well and the flights between Gilgit-Islamabad run on time, you should be back in the capital by early afternoon. 

Make sure you bring a camera on the plane and try to request a window seat on the lefthand side of the plane. You’ll be treated to a face-to-face encounter with Nanga Parbat. 

Settle into your hotel and reflect upon the epic two weeks you just spent in Pakistan. Order some room service, take a long nap, and then consider making the journey up to Monal in the Margalla Hills for dinner with a view. Dining up here is the best way to end any itinerary in Pakistan.

4-week Pakistan Itinerary

Day 1-12: Gilgit-Baltistan

The first half of our 4-week Pakistan itinerary should look exactly like the first twelve days of the 2-week version. Refer to the earlier outline and review what these days look like.

See more places to stay in Gilgit here

Day 13-16: Ghizar and Phander

Ghizar, Phander, and the surrounding valleys are best known for their stunning views, lakes, and general off-the-beaten-path appeal. There is not a ton of bucket-listy things to do in Ghizar.

There are some cool hikes to enjoy in the area. I recommend asking around in town or at your hotel for a guide who can show you some of the shepherd tracks the area has to offer.

Best place to stay:  Lake Inn Phander: Contact: 03555203015, 03555203532, [email protected]

Day 17-18: Shandur Pass

If you are coming from the Gilgit side, the best way to access Chitral and this side of KPK is via the legendary Shandur Pass. Although this route is not accessible for parts of the year due to heavy snowpack, the route in the summer is one of the most beautiful roads you can drive in Pakistan .

Shadur is also home to one of the world’s highest polo grounds. If you time your visit right, visiting the Shandur Polo Festival is an absolute must.

Best place to stay:  I don’t really recommend staying at Shandur Pass since there are not really hotels in this area. Camping is an option if it is not too cold.

Day 19-21: Chitral

Chitral town is the biggest city in the area and a good launching point for upper Chitral and the Broghil Valley as well as for the Kalash Valleys. There are numerous hotels along the river which offer a relaxing atmosphere in stark contrast to the bustling and dirty bazaar.

The Chitral Fort is not the most impressive fort in Pakistan by any means, but still warrants a visit for an hour or so. As does the mosque shown below!

Chitral town is the place to stock up on supplies or just rest in between long drives or treks. Also, it is one of the few places in the area where wifi works so take advantage of it while you are here.

Best place to stay:  Pamir Riverside Inn Hotel – +92 345 4384541

Day 22-23: Kalash Valley

Frankly, if you have time I recommend spending more like 4-7 days exploring Kalash. There is nowhere else in Pakistan like it.

The Kalashi people are unique to this one corner of the world; they have awesome traditional dress, speak a language unrelated to all other languages, AND they make their own wine.

There are even a handful of hikes to do in the hills around the valleys in the summer. I spent the most time in Rumboor, but there are two other areas to explore, Bumbaret and Birir.

It is hard to get the timing right but if you are in Pakistan for one of the Kalash winter or spring festivals, I highly recommend going!

Best place to stay: Engineer Khan Kalash Home Guest House – +92 345 5819188 (The Engineer’s son’s Whatsapp #)

Day 24-25: Kalam Valley

Located at the far end of Swat Valley – Kalam is a slice of paradise tucked away in a conservative corner of Pakistan.

Kalam Valley is forested, green, and more accessible these days thanks to a freshly sealed road leading into the valley.

I visited Kalam in April but still found I was able to do a great hike to one of the lakes in the area (Kandol). There are many single and multiday treks to do in the area if you have more time including more epic alpine lake treks.

For a trekking guide in the area with fair prices, contact Aslam at +92 313 9473399 (Whatsapp).

Best place to stay:  If you have the extra budget, stay at Walnut Heights – +92 310 4702222

Day 26-27: Swat

Swat has endured a pretty crazy history over the last 15 years. Up until 2009, the Taliban controlled parts of Swat. It took several engagements from the Pakistani Army to finally get them out. Nowadays though, Swat is peaceful and free from Taliban rule. It is 100% safe to visit and there are many cool cultural spots (like old Buddhist sites) to check out along with the stunning natural landscapes.

Most people (myself included) base from Mingora and do day trips in the surrounding area before heading further up the valley to Kalam.

Best place to stay:  Swat Valley Backpackers . Pameer Hotel in Mingora is a good option if you are looking for a hotel.

Day 28-29: Peshawar

The perfect Pakistani city to visit for just two days in Peshawar. Being one of the oldest cities in all of South Asia – Peshawar is rich in history, culture, food, and architecture.

Spending an afternoon roaming around the tea and kebab stalls of the old city while you take in the small details of old Haveli’s, gorgeous mosques, and bustling markets gets you a well-rounded view of the vibe of Peshawar.

The local people I’ve encountered have been super friendly as well and keen to help show foreign visitors around.

Best place to stay:  Pearl Continental Hotel, Peshawar – +92 91 111 505 505

Day 30: Return to Islamabad

Depart from Peshawar towards Islamabad. Journey time is 2-3 hours on very comfortable tarmac.

Once you’ve arrived in Islamabad, follow the outline for day 13 of the 2-week Pakistan itinerary. 

Alternative idea! 

Spend the entire month trekking in one of the most amazing places on earth: Concordia , home to the magnificent K2 . A typical itinerary for the trek up to K2 Base Camp lasts around 21 days. If you intend on visiting Pakistan for 30 days, you can complete the trek and have plenty of time to see some other places. Lahore, Peshawar, the Swat Valley, and Fairy Meadows would all be excellent additions to K2. 

Have even MORE time in Pakistan?

I don’t blame you for wanting to stick around! Here are a couple of ideas for how to extend your time in Pakistan beyond two or four weeks:

Lahore (2-3 days)

Whilst it hurts me a bit that Lahore is not featured in any of the above Pakistani itineraries, there is just too much to see and do in the north. And Lahore shouldn’t be rushed through for that matter either. 

Lahore is considered the cultural capital of Pakistan and hosts some of its most hallowed landmarks, such as Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, and the Shalimar Gardens . It is a sprawling, chaotic city, full of life and bereft of dull moments. Anyone who has traveled around India already will feel right at home in Lahore.

Also worth checking out is the infamous Wagah Border ceremony. Every day before sunset, the guards from the Pakistani and Indian sides come together in a friendly competition to see who has the best choreography. Get ready for a lot of high kicks, heel clicks, and shouts from flag-waving attendees as they cheer on their respective sides.

End your stay by having dinner at Haveli overlooking the Badshahi Mosque. Be there before sunset so you can hear one of the most incredible, goosebump-inducing calls to prayer of your entire life. 

Best place to stay: Tourist Inn Hotel

See more places to stay in Lahore here .

Astore District (4-6 days)

The Astore Valley is more than just a landbridge between the KKH and Skardu – it also features some of the best high alpine scenery in the country. 

From the Karakoram Highway, the journey starts by driving up the bleak and perilous mountain road leading to the heart of the district. Arriving in the oasis-like town of Astore , the landscape becomes quite green. In the hills above the town are carved, lush cultivated terraces filled with apricot, cherry, and other fruit trees. 

From Astore, there are many options. Above the village is Rama Lake , a very picturesque alpine lake that is among the most visited places in Gilgit-Baltistan. You can also embark on a 4-day trek to the real Nanga Parbat Base Camp , Herligkoffer BC , via the Rupal Valley.

But Astore’s real highlight is the soaring Deosai Plains . At 4200-meters high, they are the second-highest alpine plateau in the world – after the Tibetan – and visiting should be a must on any itinerary in Pakistan. In the summer, they are blanketed with wildflowers of almost every shade. Most people visit via Jeep but it is possible to take a minibus from Astore to Skardu across the plains. 

Skardu (6-8 days)

Skardu serves as the base for many of the most famous hikes in Pakistan, including Snow Lake and the K2 Base Camp Trek . These are multi-week expeditions that will most likely fill up your entire itinerary, but that being said, there is still PLENTY more to do in the area. The

Skardu itself is the largest city in Baltistan and isn’t much else besides an old fort ( Kharpocho ) and a few dusty bazaars strung together. 

The area surrounding Skardu is much more impressive. The Katpana and Safaranga Deserts are some of the highest in the world. In the nearby mountains, the newly minted Marsur Rock hike provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Indus Valley. If you fancy a road trip, the scenery between Kachura and Basho Valley is excellent and very accessible. 

Hikers can also take part in a number of shorter treks near Skardu. The neighboring Ghanche District features the best of the bunch, including Barah Broq, Makalu La, Thally La , and the Nangma Valley . None of these require any sort of special permits either. 

So even if you don’t want to spend two weeks straight on glacier, there are good reasons to visit Skardu.

Best place to stay: The Garden Villa – Skardu +92 333 5915957

See more places to stay in Skardu here .

Wrap Up: The Ultimate Pakistan Itinerary

Pakistan is just one of those countries where you’ll never be able to do it all in one trip. This Pakistan itinerary just scratches the surface of what there is to do here. In a 30 day itinerary, I did not have the time to cover the south or parts of Balochistan either… save those ones for next time!

My biggest advice when planning out your own Pakistan itinerary is to focus on what you like to do and mix and match the above suggestions according to what you want to see and do. Like trekking? Head to the Skardu region. Want to dive deep into the culture? Go to a homestay and definitely visit the Kalash Valley! Cities your thing? Don’t miss Lahore – Peshawar – and Rawalpindi.

Love a place you visited in Pakistan? Mention it in the comments below so we can share the info with other travelers. Cheers guys!

10 Comments

Hi Chris. I’m currently planning my first trip to Pakistan and as a solo female I usually use travel books besides the net, but couldn’t find much out there. Thanks heaps for this in depth and informative blog on Pakistan. its been very helpful. Safe Travels

Awesome! I am glad you enjoyed the article!

Great blog. I am also planning my first trip to Pakistan. It will be only 2 weeks and will arrive and depart from Lahore. Caveat is that it will be during Ramadan. Hope it is as exciting as I hope it will be

Have a great trip!

HI! great article. is october still a good month for north pakistan? I mean specifically Gilgit – Baltistan, Skardu, Astore Valley? many thanks in advance.

For sure! October is arguably one of the best months of the year to visit Pakistan and the areas you mentioned!

Not Makalu La but Machulu la from Machulu valley.

Thanks for the correction!

Hello Chris,

Why do you suggest that the best month to visit Pakistan in autumn is September? What is the main difference between September and October there? Thanks for your very practical blog!

October tends to be a little bit colder – but actually I might say now with hindsight that October is better because then you get all of the fall colors – which is truly special!

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Pakistan travel guide

Pakistan tourism | pakistan guide, you're going to love pakistan.

A country rich in history and culture waiting to be explored, this is the perfect destination for those looking for an off the beaten path experience.

What to do in Pakistan

1. visit the lahore fort.

A visit to Pakistan must include a visit to Lahore, the second largest city in the country. This is where you can visit the Lahore Fort, which was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. While you're here, check out Badshashi Mosque and the Shalimar Gardens.

2. Go Hiking in Kaghan Valley

Located in the northern part of Pakistan, this alpine valley is a popular attraction for those who want to go hiking, trekking, or are just looking to spend some time in nature.

3. Go Back in Time at Ganish Village

This village was the first settlement on the Silk Road that connected the East to the West. It has been restored and won a UNESCO award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

4. Go for a Tour in the Khewra Salt Mine

This salt mine is the second largest in the world. It is located in the Salt Range on the outside of the Himalaya Mountains, and is famous for the production of pink Himalayan salt.

5. Discover Local Fauna at Hingol National Park

Head to this national park to visit Kund Malir Beach or the Princess of Hope statue, marvel at the mud volcanoes and the canyons and see the tremendous wildlife in the area.

When to visit Pakistan

The best time to visit Pakistan is during the months of May to October when it is warm and dry.

How to Get to Pakistan

Entry requirements.

Citizens of around 10 countries are able to enter Pakistan without a visa. Everyone else will need to apply for a visa prior to arrival, which can be easily done online for 175 countries.

The three main international airports in Pakistan are in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, and the national airline is Pakistan International Airlines, which operates nonstop flights to over 50 destinations.

While travel by train is not the fastest way to get to Pakistan, a train link exists with India where the Shamjhauta Express connects Lahore and Delhi twice a week, and another with Iran where travelers can get to Quetta from Zahedan.

Foreigners wishing to drive to Pakistan can do so from India going through the famous old Silk Road from China by traveling on the Karakoram Highway, and from Afghanistan driving through the Kyber Pass.

Pakistan is connected by bus to India and it is possible to get to Lahore from Delhi either using a direct bus or a combination of local buses. Travel by bus is also available from Kashgar in China and from Zahedan in Iran.

Popular airports in Pakistan

Popular airlines serving pakistan, where to stay in pakistan.

Hotels are available for a variety of budgets throughout the country. Check the room before checking into budget hotels. Lone female travelers should look for mid-range and luxury hotels.

Where to stay in popular areas of Pakistan

Most booked hotels in pakistan, how to get around pakistan, public transportation.

The main channels of public transportation in Pakistan are buses and trains, both of which have a network that covers the country.

Trains in Pakistan offer travel in a variety of classes with different amenities. Keep in mind that timetables are not displayed in English, but sales agents can help you with information.

Travel by bus is a great budget option, and buses go everywhere in the country. Long-distance trips can sometimes take a few days. Between main cities, you can travel with the Daewoo Sammi bus company. For air-conditioned buses, book at least a day in advance.

A very common way of getting around is by rickshaw, which is available everywhere except for Islamabad. Yellow and blue rickshaws are the ones that usually take passengers, and if you plan on using one, you must negotiate a price prior to sitting down.

Domestic flights are available through Shaheen Air International, Airblue, and Pakistan International Airlines. The latter is the only airline that flies to some of the airports in the north, including Skardu, Chitral and Gilgit.

Best car rental deals in Pakistan

4 Adults, 2 Bags

The Cost of Living in Pakistan

Going out for a meal in Pakistan will cost around 250 PKR (1.60 USD) per person for an inexpensive meal, or around 750 PKR (4.80 USD) per person for a mid-range meal. A local bus ticket costs around 30 PKR (0.20 USD). While credit cards are accepted in major hotels and establishments, cash is the most common method of payment in the country.

Pakistan Expedition

15 days | a journey to the remote reaches of pakistan’s hunza valley.

This 15-day expedition is a brand-new trip through an ancient land. Beginning in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, the expedition takes you north to the stunning and rarely touristed Hunza Valley region. Here you’ll find nature unleashed: imagine imposing jagged peaks, alpine lakes and glaciers creeping into the valleys. Hike between ancient fortifications scattered among rural villages and learn about the modern innovations that help the local people prosper. Finish in Lahore, a city that not only stood strong through the rise and fall of empires but also preserved the culture that makes Pakistan such a mesmerising, all-consuming country.

Trip overview

• Learn about Pakistan – its turbulent past, fascinating present, and hopeful future – from a local leader who knows and loves the country best.
• Discover the jagged snow-capped peaks, bright blue lakes and traditional culture of the Hunza Valley, a little touristed but unbelievably beautiful region of northern Pakistan.
• From its ancient museums, gardens and forts to its fantastic food scene, Lahore has so much to offer. Spend three days discovering this dynamic city.
• Travel to the incredibly remote village of Shimshal where you’ll meet the local families who live in this challenging environment and hike through the surrounding mountains.
• Visit a women’s group supported by the Aga Khan Foundation to learn about their projects and have lunch at a cafe run by local women.
• This adventure involves hiking and spending time at altitude and is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Please bring comfortable footwear suitable for hiking.
• Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. Pakistan is a conservative country and travellers of all genders are advised to cover up when in public.
• This trip includes one or more overnight stays at 3200 metres (11500 ft) where there is a genuine risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). If left untreated AMS can be life-threatening. While the vast majority will only feel discomfort, it is not uncommon for a small number of people to need extra care which will be provided by our leaders and local staff. All our trips that spend time at high altitudes follow our standard altitude safety measures. A number of medical conditions and medications can also reduce your body's ability to acclimatise, and thus will affect your performance at altitude and make you more susceptible to AMS. If you are worried about any pre-existing condition (e.g. heart problems), or unsure of your physical ability, you must seek medical advice prior to booking. You may also wish to discuss medication such as Diamox that may help aid acclimatisation. Read more about AMS here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/altitude-sickness
• The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so bring your warm clothes. Even in the warmer months, the temperature can be low in the mountains.
• This trip includes extended time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates you are prepared for the realities of very long travel days.
• The weather can be unpredictable in the mountains and a significant number of flights to/from Islamabad and Gilgit are delayed or cancelled due to weather conditions. If your flight is cancelled, we will follow our contingency plans as outlined in the Itinerary. Specific details of any changes will be communicated by your group leader.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Welcome to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city. Translating as ‘City of Islam’, Islamabad was built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the nation’s capital, though there’s evidence that humans have lived in the area for many thousands of years. Your expedition begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm but if you arrive earlier there are several sights worth checking out including Golra Railway Station, and the Lok Virsa Museum – dedicated to the preservation, documentation promotion of Pakistan’s cultural heritage. You may also wish to visit the historic Saidpur village, only a 20-minute drive away, which is over 400 years old and sits at the foothills of the nearby Margallas. The village is home to an old Hindu temple, a reminder of the different religions and cultures that once called this region home. After your welcome meeting, get to know your group and local leader over an optional dinner at your hotel.

• Hotel (1 night)

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Note that check in time for our hotel is 2pm

Make the most of the opportunity to explore Islamabad with your fellow travellers. Your local leader will speak with you about the history of both Islamabad and Pakistan and be able to answer any questions about this oft-misunderstood destination. There’ll be a chance to shop for local clothes, so perhaps take the opportunity to buy a shalwar kameez – the traditional dress of loose-fitting trousers and a long shirt. Visit Faisal Mosque, which was the largest mosque in the world upon its completion in 1986 and is said to hold 10,000 worshippers, then head to the ancient site of Taxila. These World Heritage-listed ruins are evidence of over 500 years of cultural evolution influenced by Persia, Greece, and the spread of Buddhism. Enjoy a group dinner at Saidpur village.

• Islamabad - Faisal Mosque
• Islamabad - Taxila Museum & archeological sites

Today's driving time is approximately 3-4 hours return to Taxila.

Due to the Taxila Museum being closed on the first Monday of every month, HQSP240901 will be able to visit the sites of Taxila only.

Fly this morning from Islamabad to Gilgit, then travel north to Passu, a small town surrounded by mountains and glaciers. It sits by the famous Karakoram Highway, which is also known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway as it connects the two countries. This is an achingly beautiful part of the world and there’ll be several opportunities to stop and take in views of many 7000m peaks, including Rakaposhi. We will stay in Passu for the next 3 nights and use it as our base for exploring the region.

• Ghulmet - Rakaposhi View Point

Today's flight takes 1 hour 15 minutes. The drive to Passu is approximately 3-4 hours.

The contingency plan for today in case of flight cancellations is to either fly from Islamabad to Skardu (1 hour) and drive to Passu (8-10 hours) or, if flights unavailable, to drive from Islamabad to Naran (8-10 hours) or Chilas (12-14 hour drive). The exact route taken will depend on weather and road conditions. Your leader will inform you of any changes.

Spend the day soaking up the atmosphere in Gulmit. Take a walk around the remote village and visit a carpet-weaving centre run by the local women. Visit an old house. You’ll also trek out to the ruins of Ondra Fort. The fort sits atop a rocky outcrop above Gulmit and would’ve commanded views of several strategically important passes in the area. It’s believed to have been built in the 16th century by a ruler named Qutlug Baig and, as if the historic ruins weren’t enough, there are phenomenal views of both the valley and the surrounding peaks. Return to our accommodation in Passu for the night.

• Gulmit - Ancient house visit
• Hunza Valley - Ondra Polygah hike
• Gulmit - Women-run carpet weaving center visit

Driving time today is around 20 mins.

The Ondra Polygah hike includes 1655 stairs and takes around 1-2 hours to reach the fort ruins. The walk back through Kamaris Village is 3km and 1-2 hours.

The contingency plan for today in case of travelling overland due to flight cancellations is to drive from Naran (10-12 hour drive) or Chilas (7-8 hours drive to Passu). Your leader will inform you of any changes.

Visit the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, described by some as the "most dangerous bridge in the world". Though the bridge’ s condition is questionable its location is enviable, suspended above Hunza river and surrounded by jagged mountains. Walk to Borith lake, which sits at an elevation of approximately 2,600 metres, and out to the impressive Passu Glacier. There’ll be plenty of time to relax and you’ll also see the photogenic Tupopdan (6,106 metres), which is known as Passu Cones or Passu Cathedral. Sample Passu’s famous apricot cake and yak burgers. In the evening we will give you a chance to get immersed in the melodious tunes of the region. A local band will play their local instruments, sing songs with you and show you some of their dance moves

• Hunza Valley - Passu Glacier hike
• Hunza Valley - Hussaini Hanging Bridge
• Hunza Valley - Borith Lake hike
• Hunza Valley - Traditional music performance

Due to extreme safety risks, accessing Hussein Hanging Bridge is not permitted. The hike to Borith Lake is approximately 1km and 30-45 mins each way, reaching an altitude of 2600m. The Passu Glacier hike is 6km and 90min - 2.5 hours each way, 2900m above sea level.

Travel by 4WD to the remote town of Shimshal, which was inaccessible by road up until 2003. The road took 18 years to build and was constructed by the local community, who previously had to walk for several days to reach other parts of Hunza. Shimshal is so remote that state prisoners from Hunza were once exiled here as punishment. The locals are resilient and extremely hardworking people. A number of notable Pakistani mountaineers grew up here, which isn’t surprising given the rugged, mountainous terrain. The Shimshali are to Pakistan what the Sherpa are to Nepal, and perhaps the most famous Shimshali are Samina and Mirza Ali Baig, a brother- sister climbing duo. Samina is the first and only Pakistani woman to climb Everest (at the age of 21) and the Seven Summits. She also summited K2 in 2022.

• Guesthouse (1 night)

Today's driving time is approximately 3-4 hours.

Spend the day exploring Shimshal and learn about the challenges that come with living in such an inhospitable environment. Meet the local families and hear their stories and struggles and take a hike for expansive views of the surrounding area. Almost every house in Shimshal is powered by solar electricity, as is the local school. Enjoy the mountainous surrounds, take some time to relax and acclimatise to the altitude and know that you’re experiencing a destination that few will ever get a chance to visit. Lace up those hiking boots and spend the day exploring Shimshal’s beautiful walking tracks. Remember, the locals once had to walk for days to get to the next town on paths that even yaks could not pass. We will be hiking to a view point to get an aerial view of the valley.

• Shimshal - Village tour & optional hike

The walk to the neighbouring village is approx. 30-45 min one way and the return hike to the viewpoint typically takes around 2-3 hours total.

Say farewell to the locals before returning to Passu by 4WD, a journey of approximately 3-4 hours. We will continue driving towards Karimabad from Passu in our private van. On the way we will make a stopover at Attabad lake and Ganish village.There’s a sad story lurking below Lake Attabad’s shimmering surface. The lake was formed in 2010 after a massive landslide that killed 20 people and displaced many thousands. The landslide essentially dammed the Hunza River for five months, creating a lake that measures some 21 kilometres across. Thankfully the dam held and the lake is now a popular tourist destination renowned for its insanely blue water. See it for yourself then explore Ganish, an ancient Silk Road settlement that received a cultural conservation award from UNESCO. In the evening we can visit the Karimabad market for some shopping. Karimabad is the commercial hub and capital of the Hunza region.

• Karimabad - Market tour
• Hunza Valley - Ganish Village walking tour
• Hunza Valley - Attabad Lake
• Hunza Valley - Sacred Rock of Hunza

Today's driving time is approximately 4-5 hours.

Karimabad is the capital of the Hunza District, a town known for its locally made handicrafts, carpets, and, of course, its next-level views of the surrounding mountains. Today you’ll walk to Baltit and Altit forts, which have stood in the region for over 700 years and are a testament to the valley’s past strategic importance. These towns were crucial for controlling the ancient Asia trade routes and Baltit Fort holds a particularly commanding position above the village. These well-maintained forts were restored by the Aga Khan Foundation, which has also been working on several projects to empower local women’s groups. You’ll have lunch at a cafe run by local women. At sunset, drive up to Duiker for an unforgettable view of the surrounding mountains including – on a clear day – Rakaposhi, Ultar, the Bublimotin, and Spantik.

• Karimabad - Baltit & Altit Forts

Todays driving time is approximately a 1 hour round trip.

Drive to Gilgit today after breakfast. Enjoy some lunch on arrival before exploring this fascinating town including the Chinese cemetary that commemorates workers who perished during the construction of the Karakorum Highway, the 7th century Kargah Buddha and the Gilgit markets. Overnight in Gilgit tonight before our flight tomorrow.

• Gilgit - Local markets
• Gilgit - Kargah Buddha
• Gilgit - China Yadgar (Chinese cemetery)

The contingency plan in case tomorrow's flight from Gilgit has been cancelled is to drive from Karimabad to Skardu (approx 8-10 hours) today and stay in Skardu for the night.

Depart Gilgit for a flight back to Islamabad. From here, the group will drive to Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and the capital of the Punjab region. It is a wealthy city known for being relatively cosmopolitan with a focus on education and the arts. On the way, you’ll stop at Katas Raj temples, a stunning complex of Hindu temples located in the Chakwal district.

• Chakwal - Katas Raj Temples

The flight from Gilgit to Islamabad is 1 hour 15 minutes and the drive from takes approximately 7-8 hours, including the 1-2 hour detour to the Katas Raj temples.

The contingency plan if flights from Gilgit have been cancelled is to fly from Skardu to Islamabad today (1 hour). If only overland travel is possible, we will drive from Gilgit to Naran (8-10 hour drive) or Besham (10-12 hour drive) today. The exact route taken will depend on weather and road conditions. Your leader will inform you of any changes.

Today your local leader will take you to the Lahore Museum, which was founded in 1865. The museum is considered one of Pakistan’s finest and was featured in Rudyard Kipling’s novel ‘Kim’. Kipling’s father, John, was actually one of the first curators of the museum. You’ll have an opportunity to explore the Lawrence Gardens, now known as Bagh-e-Jinnah. These large gardens are a popular relaxation spot, so take some time to chill out and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. You’ll also get some time explore the hustling and bustling Anarkali and Liberty markets for some shopping on this day.

• Lahore - Lahore Museum
• Lahore - Bagh-e-Jinnah (Lawrence Garden)
• Lahore - Anarkali & Liberty Markets

Today's driving time is approximately 1-2 hours within the city

The contingency plan for today if we are returning from the Hunza Valley overland is to drive from Naran (12-14 hours) or Besham (10-12 hours) to Lahore. The exact route taken will depend on weather and road conditions. Your leader will inform you of any changes.

Start your day with a visit the Tomb of Jahangir, a 17th-century mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who ruled from 1605–27. Continue to the splendid Shalimar Gardens, built in the 17th century by the Emperor Shah Jahan and feature waterfalls, ponds, and several garden pavilions. Wander through the complex, designed to be a natural utopia on earth, then travel to the Wagah border of Pakistan and India to witness the flag-lowering ceremony. This impressive spectacle attracts both international tourists and locals and features both sets of soldiers performing some seriously macho choreography. The ceremony ends with both flags being lowered simultaneously and a handshake between the soldiers.

• Lahore - Tomb of Jahangir
• Lahore - Shalimar Gardens
• Lahore - Wagah Border ceremony

Today's driving time is approximately 2-3 hours within the city.

Your last full day in Lahore will be spent visiting some of the city’s most famous places. First up is the Walled City of Lahore, which was constructed around the year 1000. Within its walls, you’ll find the Delhi Gate, the World Heritage-listed Lahore Fort, the huge Badshahi Mosque, and the ridiculously beautiful Wazir Khan Mosque. The interior is decorated with intricate mosaics and frescoes and the mosque houses historic shops, tombs of Sufi saints, and the Shahi Hammam baths. You’ll also visit the tomb of Allama Iqbal, a poet and philosopher who is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement (he also had a fantastic moustache). You’ll have time to explore the markets within the Walled City too. Take a walk through the Akbari Mandi, dedicated to grains and spices, or the bustling fish market by Delhi Gate. There is also the Azam Cloth Market, one of Asia’s largest, which houses some 16,000 shops. As the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore isn’t short on delicious cuisine to try. Get together for a final group dinner on Lahore’s famous (and mouth-watering) Food Street.

• Lahore - Walled City of Lahore
• Lahore - Shahi Hammam
• Lahore - Tomb of Allama Iqbal
• Lahore - Badshahi Mosque
• Lahore - Wazir Khan Mosque
• Lahore - Akbari Mandi & Azam Cloth Market

Today's driving time is approximately 1-2 hours within the city.

Your Pakistan expedition comes to an end today. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time after breakfast, but please ensure you check out by 12 pm.

14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 8 dinners

Private Vehicle, 4WD, Plane

Hotel (11 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 2. A scanned copy of your passport is required at the time of booking to provide visa support and book domestic flights. The trip cannot be booked without a scanned passport copy. Please see the Essential Trip Information for more information. 3. We use Pakistan Airlines for the included internal flights. 4. Due to the demands of travelling at high altitudes a Passenger Self Assessment Form is required for this trip.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Home » Asia » Pakistan » 20 AMAZING Reasons Why You Should Travel to Pakistan (2024)

20 AMAZING Reasons Why You Should Travel to Pakistan (2024)

Travelling to Pakistan… When I first told my Mum that I planned to travel to Pakistan as part of my hitchhiking adventure across the world, she was somewhat skeptical. She was probably wondering “for what reason would you travel to Pakistan?”

Pakistan is a country that is often portrayed in the media as a war-torn hellhole and tourism in Pakistan is still rare. Every year, only a small number of adventure backpackers and die-hard climbers travel to Pakistan, I was determined to be one of them…

Traveling in Pakistan is a truly unique experience, it can be frustrating, enlightening, life-changing and, more often than not, surprising. Pakistan is the ultimate backpacking destination and if you are a fan of real adventure, it’s time for you to travel to Pakistan!

Now let me tell you why:

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20 Reasons Why You HAVE to Travel to Pakistan

Travel insurance for pakistan, final thoughts on traveling to pakistan.

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All the juicy details on why I love travelling to Pakistan, and why you will too.

1. People are Simply Amazing

While backpacking in Pakistan , the people I met were the most hospitable, kind and welcoming folk that I have ever encountered.

From the bustling streets of Lahore to the quaint mountain towns of Hunza, every time a local person spotted me I would, without fail, be rewarded with a huge grin and often an invitation to dinner. I lost count of just how many cups of free chai I drank but it was a lot…

I’ve been lucky enough to make many friends on my travels but the friendships I’ve forged in Pakistan were some of the most genuine I have ever made; the people simply cannot do enough for you.

I Couchsurfed my way around the country, being welcomed into the homes of numerous strangers who always insisted on feeding me like a king and showing me around their local town. I love Couchsurfing . It’s is an amazing way to meet locals, though in Pakistan this is also possible just by stepping outside!

2. Unbelievable Landscapes

OK, even the most illiterate of map readers should know that Pakistan is famous for its mountains, valleys, rivers, glaciers, and forests… This is a country with more than its fair share of truly wondrous sites and tourism in Pakistan is bound to take off eventually!

Five of the world’s fourteen highest peaks , including the famed and deadly K2, are found in Pakistan. If you are into climbing, rafting or trekking, Pakistan is the country for you.

I have explored over 70 countries and I can safely say that Pakistan is the most diverse and beautiful country I have ever visited. There are plenty of unclimbed peaks just waiting to be conquered by a worthy adventurer…

3. Everything is Possible in Pakistan

You’ll often hear Pakistanis say this phrase, and trust me when I say they are NOT joking. Before visiting, you might have thought Pakistan to be a hardline place with strict rules and bureaucracy. And while the latter might be true to some degree, there seems to be a way around EVERYTHING in this country.

Connections are golden and knowing the right people will allow you to access experiences and places that you would never be able to otherwise.

A good bribe will go a long way, and you can quickly move up the timeline of things you want done with a few extra dollaroos. On top of all that, things go on in Pakistan that you just would never expect. From wild Sufi festivals that are the opposite of conservative to underground electronic dance music scenes, everything really is possible in Pakistan.

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4. You Can See K2 With a Tour

The multi-day trek to K2, the 2nd highest mountain in the world, is one of the most amazing experiences you can ever have. We’re talking surreal landscapes, glaciers, and all that jazz.

But unlike much of Pakistan which, with a bit of grit, can be explored alone, you MUST be with a registered guide and adventure tour company to head to K2. Why? Because it’s located in the Central Karakoram National Park , an area that’s restricted for foreigners.

5. Pakistan IS Safe!

Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Pakistan, the main one is simply – is it safe to travel to Pakistan? – the answer is relatively simple. Yes, as long as you steer clear of Interior Balochistan and the former FATA region of KPK. 

It’s true that Pakistan does sometimes get hit by terrorist attacks but, right now, every country in the world seems to be fair game and you are no safer sitting at home. The media feeds on fear and prejudice, do not let yourself be influenced.

Pakistani people are extremely anti-Taliban (and the Pakistani armed forces kicked Taliban ass in the border regions) and will do everything they can to keep you safe at all costs.

On occasion, you might be assigned a police escort. This does not necessarily mean you are in a dangerous area, it just means the local police branch is being overprotective as there is nowhere you can travel in Pakistan as a foreigner that’s actually dangerous.

Since 2019, escorts and security guards have mostly been abolished, but you still might be asked if you want one. I personally do NOT believe this is necessary unless you’re trying to go to a known dangerous area. 

Solo female travel in Pakistan might be a bit trickier due to it being very rare for both locals/foreigners but if you take basic safety precautions and do research, you’ll be fine.

6. It Was a Part of the British Raj

One thing you might not know about Pakistan is that it was a part of The British Empire. As such, English is widely taught in schools and is often the de facto language for all business and political dealings.

For those looking to travel to Pakistan, this means that you will be able to communicate very well with the locals.

It still pays to learn a little Urdu because Pakistani people will be very impressed to hear you speak it. Often they will shower you with compliments and huge smiles.

People living in mountainous regions will be less able to speak English as well so Urdu actually pays when you’re visiting Gilgit-Baltistan.

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7. It’s Home to a Part of the Historical Old Silk Road

To travel in Pakistan is to step back into the pages of history. Marco Polo was one of the first European explorers to tackle The Silk Road , an ancient trade route that spanned the Orient, linking the treasuries of the Roman Empire to the Imperial Dynasties of China.

At the trade route’s heart lies the Karakoram, a pivotal crossroad between The Indian Subcontinent, The Middle East, and Central Asia. It is the corridor through which advanced three great faiths – Islam to the east, Buddhism to the north, and curry to the West.

Today, the unendingly impressive Karakoram Highway runs the length of the country and offers stunning views, epic motorbike adventures and the chance to follow in the footsteps of history.

8. You Get to Drive on the Highest Road in the World

The Karakoram Highway is a high-altitude road that connects Pakistan to China. It is the highest paved road in the world and is a vital artery of Pakistan’s economy. Trucks constantly ply this route and transport goods between the two Asia countries.

The Karakoram Highway is also breathtaking! The road itself goes straight through the heart of the mountains and offers unrivalled views of them. You’ll see Rakaposhi, the Passu Cones, and the Khunjerab border, all without even leaving the car!

A tour of Pakistan’s KKH should be on any motorist’s bucket list. It’s one of the most impressive roads ever and an absolute marvel to drive on.

9. Traveling in Pakistan is Cheap

Pakistan is the second cheapest country I have been to. It’s VERY EASY to visit Pakistan on a budget of around $100 a week – this will cover food, accommodation, transport and plenty of awesome activities. It’s also possible to spend even less if you have some quality adventure gear .

If you have Pakistani friends, they will almost certainly insist on treating you to everything. Pakistanis are unbelievably generous and although I tried on many occasions to pay for dinner, my Couchsurfing hosts would never allow it.

Accommodation in Pakistan can be quite expensive in cities, but there are multiple places you can camp and it’s also very easy to find a Couchsurfing host. Make sure you pack your tent if you want to save money on accommodation – well worth it when staying at places like The Fairy Meadows .

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10. Pakistan Has Fantastic Treks

Pakistan has some of the world’s best trekking, even better than Nepal. There are hundreds of truly stunning treks in Pakistan – from simple day hikes to multi-week expeditions that require some damn good adventure gear – and even the laziest of backpackers will have the chance to see some truly stunning terrain.

Whilst backpacking in Pakistan, I went on a few stunning treks, the best of which was a hike to the legendary Fairy Meadows where I spent three days soaking in the incredible views of Nanga Parbat , the world’s ninth highest mountain.

I had the spot entirely to myself, it was low-season, and I had to trek through waist-deep snow to get there. It was a truly peaceful, special place.

11. The Food is Incredible

Pakistani food is just spectacular – rich, spicy, sweet; all that and then some. There are savoury curries, grilled skewered meats, fresh fruits, biryanis , karahis, and much, much more in Pakistan.

There were several times while I was travelling in Pakistan that I went out of my way to find the best possible morsels. 

Lahore has amazing (and spicy!) food , particularly on Food Street, and I recommend that everyone visit the Haveli Restaurant for some truly iconic sunset views.

But the best Pakistani food that I ever had was at a roadside stop outside of Naran – the karahi was just so damn good!

12. Multi-cultural Awesomeness

Pakistan is a country that is often depicted in the media as being a place of religious intolerance. This is far from true, you can find Muslims, Christians, and Hindus living side by side in many of the country’s cities.

Pakistan is ethnically diverse as well. People from the East are more Punjabi, the West is more Aryan (like Iran), and the North is more Turkic – some folks living in Gilgit Baltistan are offshoots of Tajiks. There are even many tribal groups still living, largely undisturbed, within the more remote parts of the country…

To travel in Pakistan is to be assaulted from all sides by new colours, tastes, sights, and smells. I truly felt like I was getting back to the raw spirit of adventuring and I was fascinated by the many colourful characters I met upon my travels in Pakistan.

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13. There are Still Untouched Communities

Rudyard Kipling’s epic The Man Who Would Be King was partly inspired by the hidden hill tribes of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the movie, two British ex-soldiers travel to a remote part of the Hindu Kush in search of glory and treasure. Granted, they perished due to their own hubris, but you can still visit some of these areas!

One of the most famous communities is the Kalash. Within the province of Chitral, the Kalash tribe is a very distinct tribe of Dardic indigenous people, once thought to be descended from soldiers of Alexander The Great’s army – deserters who had disappeared into the hills and now live in legend.

The Kalash people practice their own religious beliefs and are very fond of colourful festivals. Women are treated as equals to men and people enjoy libations more than most Pakistanis usually do.

You can visit the Kalash people at the moment if you like. Just reach out to a local tour operator in Pakistan and they will organize everything for you.

14. It’s Home to Incredible Mughal-era Architecture

The Mughals were one of the greatest dynasties of the Indian Subcontinent and built many famous monuments like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort in India. Lahore was the capital of the Mughal Empire for many years, which means it hosts some of the empire’s most brilliant architecture!

The Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort are two of the most impressive buildings in Asia and are great to visit. Both of these structures are beautiful and look almost like a fairytale. While I was visiting them, I actually imagined I was in Aladdin.

There are lots more Mughal structures in Pakistan, including the Wazir Khan Masjid, the Rohtas Fort, Shalimar Gardens, and the Tomb of Jahangir. Visit them all if you have the chance.

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15. There are a TON of Beaches

People often imagine Pakistan to be pure desert or super mountainous – they forget that it shares a border with the Arabian Sea too!

There is over 1000 km of coastline in Pakistan and most of it is empty. Imagine desert beaches with hardly any development and only the waves to contend with. There are sea stacks, arches, white cliffs, and fine sand, all of which together sounds like the perfect beach to me.

Granted, a lot of Pakistan’s coastline is off-limits because it is a part of Balochistan. Balochistan is a semi-autonomous tribal area and is often quite hectic. We’d recommend visiting the area with a Pakistani tour operator.

The beaches outside of Karachi are very good though – beautiful and popular with the locals. You’ll get to see a more fun side of Pakistani culture and catch some serious rays in the process.

16. Pakistani Clothing is Comfortable

While on one of my excursions in Pakistan, a few of us decided to shop for Shalwar Kameez; traditional Pakistani clothes. The baggy trousers and long shirt combo is not only suave as hell, it is also possibly the most comfortable thing you can ever wear – it’s like being massaged by your bed covers all day long!

Whilst we didn’t exactly “blend in”, the locals were certainly surprised, bemused and pleased to see us rocking the local dress, and it even earned us multiple offers of hot chai.

17. It’s a Mecca for Extreme Sports

If you’re a mountaineer, a rock climber, a paraglider, or any other sort of extreme sports athlete, then you’ve probably dreamed of visiting Pakistan already. Due to relative anonymity and a plethora of unexplored wildernesses, Pakistan provides the ultimate challenge for many…

K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world and receives a fraction of the number of climbers that Everest does. There have been far less successful summits of K2.

Many of the peaks in the Karakoram haven’t even been attempted yet, which means they are still unnamed. For peak-baggers, there is an endless amount of first-summits in Pakistan.

Rock climbing, white water rafting, and other sports are just starting to develop in Pakistan. It is only a matter of time before the Karakoram become as famous as the Alps or Himalayas. Organize a tour to Pakistan while it’s still raw!

A Budding Adventure Travel Writer’s Take on Pakistan

Samantha, friend of Will Hatton and veteran vagabond of travel in Pakistan of The Broke Backpacker team says about her favourite country…

I first traveled to Pakistan in 2019 and since have spent 10 months of my life (and counting!) in this fantastic country. From the incredible landscapes you can see in this post, to hospitality I didn’t know could exist in real life and SO much more, Pakistan has had my heart since I walked across the border from India on August 3rd, 2019.

While it’s hard to choose, one of the absolute best things about backpacking in Pakistan is the ease of long term travel. It’s common to get a visa for 60-90 days to start, and possible to extend multiple times while in the country, as I and many other travelers I know have. These days, the whole process is online too! Combine all that with the fact that Pakistan is damn CHEAP–think $12 a day or less–and you have yourself a true adventurous digital nomad’s paradise.

For more Pakistan stories from a female perspective, you can check more out from Samantha on her blog Intentional Detours.

18. It’s Way Off the Beaten Path

While more tourists are coming every year, it’s still super common to go weeks travelling in Pakistan without seeing another backpacker. 

Domestic travel is alive and well, but foreigners coming to Pakistan is still a rarity. This largely makes the country free of scams. And due to its unfair reputation, people particularly love to see foreign tourists who have intentionally ventured here. 

Pakistan is one of the few places in the world that still feels like a real adventure. As most people go to the same basic areas, it’s extremely easy to get WAY off the beaten path !

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

19. It’s Possible to Travel in Long-term

Since 2019 Pakistan has relaxed its visa policy and now the entire process is completely online on the PK E-Visa website.

Though the exact amount of days you initially get can vary, it’s very possible to extend your visa in the country. Nowadays, that too is done online for $20.

I know of many travellers who have spent six months or more travelling in Pakistan, and a few who have stayed longer than a year!

So if you’re really looking to find a second home or a place to base yourself as a digital nomad , you can easily do so in the mountains and cities of Pakistan.

20. It’s the Best Adventure in the World!

Pakistani culture is so different from any other that I’ve ever encountered – they’re welcoming, unique, proud, and a little wacky, all at the same time. There were so many instances where I was just left stupified by how utterly special this place is.

I loved the over-the-top buses driving on the Karakoram. I thoroughly enjoyed walking and camping amongst some of the craziest and ridiculous mountains in the world. Most of all, I was humbled while getting to know the locals and learning more about their life in Pakistan.

There is no way to tour Pakistan without being impressed at some point. This country hits you with everything it’s got and leaves you just speechless. I left Pakistan a profoundly different person and I think that everyone who visits will feel the same way.

While I believe Pakistan to be a safe country to travel in, trekking requires insurance no matter where you’re planning to climb.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

In a nutshell, Pakistan is an adventure playground.

This is a country that truly has everything; friendly locals , stunning landscapes, incredible treks, untapped white water rafting, undiscovered expeditions, colourful festivals, tasty food, and just enough thrills to keep you on your toes.

A trip to Pakistan is not your standard adventure, this is a chance to really connect with the local people and to see a country which, really, most foreigners know nothing about.

Through the surreal experiences and landscapes, I guarantee you one trip to Pakistan simply won’t be enough. And it shouldn’t be. This is a land that could take several lifetimes to explore!

Buy Us a Coffee !

A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee . If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂

Will Hatton

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134 Comments

Pakistan is indeed a heaven on earth.

Amazing travel guide and your pure experiences in Pakistan. I have just visited the whole of Pakistan from peaks to pastures, hilly areas to the deserts. I found diversified cultures and amazing people. Hope you enjoyed your travel to pakistan. Norhern pakistan particularly gilgit baltistan is the next tourism hub. Things are into the developments phase and soon we will have a modified and next level tourism there.

I have found the hospitality of the people across the Middle East to be mostly incredible. I can’t wait to see Pakistan and experience their culture and heights. Thankfully we have people like Will helping to make it clear that things aren’t always what they seem in news.

Thanks, Will Hatton for giving 18 points to LOVE more PAKISTAN, Our country is incredible and people are awesome and very warm welcomer towards tourists from around the world.

There are 1800,000 reasons to travel my Most beautiful country Pakistan. The beauty the food the hospitality and the rich culture of my country would make everyone speechless and they can’t express in words. So I would invite the people of the whole world to visit Pakistan for travel n tourism and explore it’s beauty…

Pakistan is all safe! Believe me that I’m not exaggerating but informing you of the truth. Even many of the foreign countries are behind Pakistan to give protection to visitors of the world to its areas. The people of Pakistan are friendly and loving. They know how to be affectionate to others. I traveled to Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan in 2018 and I had a wonderful journey there. They show much care to each tourist and consider them their guests. I and my family were warm-welcomed by the people of Manshera. Some make a noise that Fata, some districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the cities of Peshawar, Quetta, and Nawabshah, the Lowari Pass, and the northern and western areas of Balochistan have some troubles. But this is not the correct picture of Pakistan. The fact is that you are just being misguided. The security situation in Pakistan has been improved, and the majority of areas are safe now. We want to tell you that in these areas of Pakistan you do not need any security if you decide to visit any beautiful place of the picnic mentioned above points of Pakistan. So feel free to visit here because quite recently, there have been zero attacks in most of these areas.

Such wonderful information we are thankful for your visit to our part of the world.

Pakistan is a blessed piece of Earth that has 4 beautiful seasons. You can enjoy each season here. The northern parts of this country are worth-mentioning and the allure of their charm cannot be denied. If you are planning to see snowfall this year or if you haven’t seen the view of snowfall, the mountains of Pakistan are the nice places that are offering refreshment to you.

we very much agree!

Hey Will, Thanks for sharing this article. I guess it was the need of the hour. People have always been skeptical of visiting Pakistan, they dont know what they are missing out on. You have also captured great pictures. Forever Gratitude!

Thank you very much for providing these valuable information about Pakistan. I really enjoyed reading and loved these photos as well.

This article is so great. I recently got into backpacking and I’m obsessed. Hopefully i can find my way over to Pakistan in the future. Thanks!

Very beautiful places in Pakistan for tour

This article is just awesome! Became interested in Pakistan after eating one of my best meals ever, Pakistani food while in Malaysia. Cannot even imagine how good the food is in their home country. I believe it is totally worth traveling to this country even only for the food!

You should visit pakistan it is just awsome country and a unique experiance the people are so loving the food is so unique

Thank you so much You portraited a true and peaceful Pakistan and this is reality what you seen. Pakistan is beautiful country and loving nation welcoming people

Thank you for sharing the information! A very interesting article, I’m going to Pakistan and have weighed the pros and cons))). Your article helped to understand some points.

thank you for sharing this information.it is very good blog.i like this blog very much.when i saw this blog .i am very happy.

thank you for sharing this information.it is very good blog.i like this blog.so thank you once again.

This is an awesome post about Pakistan. I really like your blog.. Thanks

This is an amazing post. Thanks to Will for highlighting the positive side of Pakistan.

thank you for sharing this information .it is very good blog.and it is very helpful for me . so thank you once again

Hi, Will I’ll start with what a great job you and your team do With the broke backpacker .. truly an amazing site. But I have a question.

How did you get the Visa for you 1st trip to Pakistan?? The visa seems a nightmare !! I’m from the uk …

Hello, In order to get a visa to Pakistan, you need supporting documents and a Letter of Invitation from a travel company in Pakistan.

If you are looking to go to Pakistan in 2020, please have a look at our partner company’s website for all of the details :): http://www.epicbackpackertours.com/

Hi This is lovely and insightful article! would you please tell which song do you associate with your trip to K-2, Fairy Meadows Pakistan ?

or which song reminds you of these places.

Anything by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan!

Wow this is awesome. Thanks for visiting and sharing.

thank you for sharing this information .it is very good blog. it is very helpful for me.

Thank you for sharing this information.It is very good and helpful.It is an amazing blog

Hey WILL HATTON , you have done a tremendous job of depicting Pakistan in the most beautiful way. Great job for creating such a spectacular website. I am so much impressed of your observation power and glad to you for expressing hospitality of Pakistan to your all followers. All the highlights you have added in this article are wonderful insights of traditions and cultures of different areas. I am Pakistani too and heartly welcome you and your family and friends again and again to explore it more. The more you visit the more you will be indulged in it’s love.

Pakistan looks a charming place to visit. The photos and the landscapes are giving me real travel goals to plan a trip soon to this paradise.

Positive people think positively. Happy to see that still there exists host of people who don’t have jaundiced and tunnel vision rather they have their own independent mind and soul. Frankly speaking we have some challenges regarding tourists’ expectations yet we can easily overcome them in near future. Regards

You are welcome anytime dear…….

Hay Will, I am really very much thank full to you with depth of my heart & soul because you expressed very well true picture of Pakistan in your presentation for travelers from all over the world. Will I am so much impressed of your observation power and glad to you for expressing hospitality of Pakistan to your all followers. I just wanted to add few things may be you did not counter in your previous trips. 1) Karachi food is also very famous in Pakistan if you want to test real test of Karachi you should have to stay few days in Karachi. I know this is difficult for you to stay in Karachi because you love to see mountains and landskaps but if would love to test best food in Karachi then coordinate with me I will guide you and can find test which you never forget. 2) Second you did not mentioned about water falls of Pakistan May be you visited several of them these water falls placed in several different pro wines in Pakistan I also cannot sure I have seen all of them but I can tell you some special ones. 3) Third Thing Fruits of Pakistan may be you tested most of them but I just want to remind you if you like then you should have to mention in your presentation. 4) Last but not least spiritual culture and spiritual knowledge of Pakistan.If you want to learn about it you can coordinate with me when you will come to Pakistan in next visit.

I really appreciate how well researched your piece is. As an American living in Pakistan for the past five years, my views very much jibe with yours. My Thai wife, two young daughters and I have only experienced warmth and genuine hospitality form Pakistanis, which runs very counter to the negative impression dished up regularly on 24 hour news networks. The only negative that you did not mention is the insane amount of rubbish that is everywhere. I always say that if you take a macro view, looking out over the distance, Pakistan is one of the most beautifully dramatic countries in the world. When you take a micro view, looking around at the ground around you, it is, most unfortunately, a rubbish heap. Still, we love living here and hope to continue for many years to come.

Totally agreed with you Jay: the garbage in Pakistan is really unfortunate sometimes. When we run tours in Pakistan, we try to reduce our waste by as much as possible and, in fact, I think we didn’t use a single plastic water bottle on the last one!

Awesome! Looks amazing! In the summer months, it seems there is quite a large difference between the weather of places like Lohore/Islamabad and Fairy Meadows. Did you pack clothes for both areas in your backpack or how did you get around this problem? Again: thanks!

Yes, there is a big climate difference between Lahore and Fairy Meadows – the former is more tropical and the latter is more alpine. The best way around this is to pack layers to Pakistan.

Dear Sir, We appreciate your observations and love. But you should visit khyber pakhtoonkhwa province which is much more beautiful than hunza and gilgit, the beautiful places is kalam Valley, ayubia, swat Valley, naran, kaghan, nathiagali and more

Thank you Will, for the wonderful and lovely article about Pakistan. It is really an amazing country to visit, whereby merely travelling on korakuram highway along the famous Indus River to Khunjrab pass at a height of 14700 feet (Pak China border), you can see the beautiful landscapes, riverine , high mountain peaks, glaciers and beautiful lakes. Enjoy the trip. Regards

Thanks, Will, for presenting the face of Pakistan that typifies it, except for some pics here and there. These might be exchanged, in the next update, with those that cast the nation equally as awesome as are the mountains sprawling in the background. Anyway, thanks for “I cannot recommend Pakistan highly enough…”

One thing more, somewhat on a personal note, why are you “broke” yourself while telling others a kind of enriching fairytales?

Definitely a lot to see and do in pakistan. Maybe we would brave the trip one day.

Our nation welcomes our neighbours with open arms brother. Please do visit and I am sure you would love it.

What a beautiful place it is! Thank you for portraying Pakistan so amazingly.

I am an Indian and I was afraid of visiting Pakistan. But your article has changed my opinion. I would like to visit Pakistan soon. Really Media always portrays negative things.

I appreciate your kind and open mind. We love our neighbours to visit us. When in Pakistan, if you tell Pakistani people you are from India, you would be treated as a guest of honor. 🙂

i love my pakistan thank you for sharing traval information

If you want to taste the best Pakistani food then do visit Karachi which has the most tasty and diverse food. This due to the fact that Karachi is mini Pakistan with people from all over the country and migrants, who came from different places in India, resides – all in equal numbers. You can get so many cuisines, local such as varieties of delicious Biryani, haleem, kabab rolls, nihaari, bar b q, chana chaat, karhaayi, haandi, all kinds of delicious kababs, qeema etc and then fast food like chicken broasts, burgers etc to go along with Chinese, Thai, Italian, French cuisines as well. Anyone who has tasted the food variety in Karachi, wouldn’t like the food elsewhere in the world.

Never knew it was this exciting although I have got a couple of Pakistani friends! ? I wanted to know, is there still a visa and regulations for travelling or not anymore and anyone can easily book a ticket and fly to Pakistan?

Alas, traveling to Pakistan without some sort of visa beforehand is still not an option 🙁 But we’re hopeful that the future will be different!

Pakistan Online Visa System is now open for the citizens of 175 Countries! Moreover, citizens from 50 Countries are eligible to apply for Visa On Arrival under Tourist Category and the citizens from 95 Countries are eligible to apply for Visa on Arrival under Business Category.

For more information, please check this https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/

WELCOME TO PAKISTAN 🙂

Depending on your country, more than 100 countries can now travel to Pakistan using Visa on arrival or e-visa. check out 😉

https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/

As far as my knowledge goes, the current government has made a new law that gives the option for several countries to apply for e-visa and get it upon arrival. But better check with the embassy in your country to be on the safe side

Thank you so much for admiring our Pakistan in such a decent way to the whole world.

Kindly check Kumrat Valley, Shounter Top and fairy meadows on google Images

I bet you will be Crazy. We are very down to earth People,Very Friendly and hospitality is our Customs.

Great article. I’m always curious about Pakistan -the opportunities to travel there are not that many. I always thought that Pakistan was safe, but thanks for pointing that out too. Many thanks for sharing 🙂

well. come and visit to pakistan, and we will feel very honer that i found you as our guest. i personally invite you to come pakistan and take inspiration of love from pakistan and their people. wait for your feed back.

Pakistan is the NO 1 place in the world that should be visit to everyone. NO any other place is available in this world where only the real natural beauty you can see and find this world is so beautiful because of pakistan. feel the nature in real sense and get rid out of artificial atmosphere.

These are really very best things you shared and beautiful pictures you capture. I would love to go there. Keep sharing!! Thanks so much for doing this!

Awesome post! I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about Pakistan recently and after travelling through Central Asia last year and seeing the distant mountains along the border, it definitely made me curious. The scenery looks insane!

Thank you for sharing your experience in Pakistan. Seems to be a wonderful country to visit.

nice post I appreciate your patriotic passion. pakistan is really a peaceful and beautiful country in the world. Pakistan is full of beautiful valleys baltisan, diameer, and Hunza valley. It is the place of best trekking peaks k2 base camp trek, gondogoro la trek, snow lake baifo hisper la trek, Gasherbrum-i and Concordia trek. Karakoram mountains range in Pakistan is favorite for all hiking and trekking lovers. i have a great experience on a k2 base camp trek.

Can’t wait to visit Pakistan. Thank you so much for the inspiration, Will. All the best.

To travel in Pakistan is to be assaulted from all sides by new colours, tastes, sights and smells; I truly felt like I was getting back to the raw spirit of adventuring and I was fascinated by the many colourful characters I met upon my travels in Pakistan.

This particular paragraph had me laughing because Im starting a series called Chronicals of Pakistan about my travels there since the age of six and just wrote about my experiences in Pakistan as being an assault on all your five senses.

Do let us know the URL of your chornicals of Pakistan. As a Pakistani, I appreciate and am grateful for your wonderful thoughts about us.

This particular paragraph had me laughing cause i just wrote about my experiences in Pakistan as being an assault on all your five senses too.

Yea man its absolutely right! Always welcome to come here & have a great experience Cheers!

I am a Pakistani, living in Karachi, which is the biggest city of Pakistan. You are absolutely right when you said that Pakistan is being wrongly portrait in international media. It is one of the most diversified countries in the world:from the highest mountain of northern areas to Arabic Ocean on South. Most people are peaceful and kind.

Do you have twitter account?

I love the way you explained everything about North Pakistan especially the old silk route. Now the local government is trying to open the old silk route for tourists. I hope it’ll will be another adventure for all of you guys next year.

Thanks mate, terrific work. Indeed make me wanna pack my bag right away…

One hack I’d like to share to keep the country you visit as spectacular as it is: Book your beds with B’n’Tree. Every time you book a bed, one tree is planted. At no cost to you – brilliant for broke backpackers.

Take a look: https://ceekaiser.com/saving-the-planet/bntree-you-book-a-bed-we-plant-a-tree/

Keep up the fantastic work, Will, it really is a pleasure reading your stories (and staring at those amazing images).

Nice article. I am an Indian and i always thinks about Pakistan. How they are leaving with all these terrorist attacks. I always google about Pakistan and tourist places over there. they are brothers/sisters for Indians. Hope i will also get one day to visit Pakistan.

And when you visit, you would find us to be a very gracious host :). Just come and you will find love and respect from each and every one of us 🙂

I doubt it would be such an enjoyable experience for a woman though, which saddens me greatly.

Lot’s of women have traveled to Pakistan and had a great time, my wife included. Plenty of women travel to India and Morocco and the hassle you recieve there as a woman is much greater than in Pakistan. You can read more here – https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/female-travel-in-pakistan-guide/

Thanks Will, although I have received nothing but respect from Indian men. I suppose it makes a difference if you are accompanied by some one who lives locally.

You do not have to be accompanied by anyone local. You will get protection from the local people, trust me. Even if someone tries to wrong you, there would be hundreds standing there to protect you. That is the kind of people we are 🙂

You are most welcome to Pakistan.

Thank you so much making this Truthful Article On Beautiful PAKISTAN and you believe or not but that’s absolutely true that Pakistan a peaceful & beautiful & kind heart peoples country you feel to visit in Pakistan with cheap budget

Regards.Ali

Thank you Will for showcasing the other side of Pakistan. I am sure efforts like this will inspire people to visit different communities , allowing themselves to rethink and refresh their understanding and perspectives. I really appreciate your work and efforts.

I am also putting a little bit of my efforts to bring people together. If you have a bit of time, It would be a great pleasure have some feedback on my website http://www.crossroadsadventure.earth

first of all as pakistani thanks to you my dear for your honest beautiful words u used for us. secondly i m using your words and your images along with ur name and link to this article on my youtube channel . for just a purpose to show the real image to maximum people arround the world. i will not monotize it . and i hope you will never mind . and the most important thing i love to welcome you a visit to me whenever you come to pakistan . just contact me at my email or (00923014258047).. i m a villager near to lahore approx. 100 km west…

Hi Will, can you recommend any treks or a good website on mountain trekking in Pakistan? Very interesting blog post, thanks for sharing!

Lots of amazing treks in Pakistan, if you want to book something in advance though I recommend connecting with my amigo Komail at http://findmyadventure.pk/

Very Nice Post Will Hatton. We will welcome you again in Pakistan. If ever come again, I am here for you in city Karachi.

Thank you so much, matt for visiting Pakistan. I wish I could host. Anyway, if you next tome come do let me know. I’m myself travel blogger and have enough knowledge.I’d love to host any foreign travel.

Saw on Instagram, I guess you are enrouting to Pakistan with more backpackers :$ (this is awesome). Do share your plan this time round too!

Hi Will. I am glad you liked my country, 🙂 You have no clue to what it has man, 😀 and I am glad you got a taste to what is it like (trek to fairy meadows). There is so much here that still can be explored, and I am writing here to tell you about the entrepreneurs who sponsor the foreigners and bear their expenses so they could come here, travel almost for free, soothe their wanderlust, and get back to their homes happy. You can email me to know more about such ventures when you visit Pakistan the next time ( [email protected] ) Cheers!

Glad to see this all stuff pakistan #WAS attacked by terrorists but now it is a peacfull country like europ or like other countries keep visiting pakistan

This is great news to hear that you are planning to open up a hostel in Pakistan soon along with your Adventure tourism business. What a great way to give back to a country that is completely misunderstood by Western media. Cheers, Mate!

Thank you so much for visiting Pakistan and describing it so beautifully in your article. We’re glad you liked us. Did you visit murrey ( near to Islamabad )? Its awesome place. We will pleased to see you again in Pakistan.

Any one wants to visit pakistan is most welcomeswelcomed and visit me to enjoy more without any expenses 00923006546004

Pakistan is a beautiful place indeed. I have always wanted to be there but due to tempting news and TV shows it was not possible for me to go there. Reading this article i have made up my mind one more time. I am planning to visit Philippines and India this summer, i might add Pakistan to my list.

Do it, Pakistan is awesome – just make sure you get the visa from your home country before you leave.

Will, thanks for writing this nice article–depicting Pakistan, its people, and its natural treasures in your beautiful and companionable style of writing. I am a Pakistani. Reading your article made me long even more for my country as I am living aboard. Please keep sharing stories and pictures from your next trips to Pakistan. You have included Kashmir to your must-see list, suggest you also visit some beautiful shrines stretched across country. Particularly, I would recommend you visit Multan (a 6-hour car drive from Lahore) in Southern Punjab for a breathtaking visit to one of its famous shrines and the tomb of Hazarat Shah Ruknuddin Alam.

I’ve been to Multan, amazing place! Unfortunately it’s damn impossible for foreigners to enter Kashmir…

I’ve read this post as well as the backpacker’s guide to Pakistan. I’ve done a lot of backpacking in Chile, mostly staying in cheap hostels and doing day treks. I’m Pakistani by heritage and can speak Urdu, but haven’t been back since I was five. I’m hoping to go for two months alone in the summer of 2017. While a month will be spent staying with family in Karachi and Mirpurkhaas, I wanted your honest opinion on- — is it safe for a younger woman (I’m 21) to be traveling alone, especially in the north? —- do you think some of the hospitality was attributed to you being a man, and being white? — you mentioned in the backpacker’s guide that you’d upload an article with some women’s perspectives on solo travel. Is this coming along?

Thank you so much!

I would absolutely love to go to Chile! In answer to your question – I think as a Pakistani women you would probably be OK but your best bet is to tap into the Karakoram Club – get in touch with Nida Aziz – and arrange to meet up with other adventourous female Pakistanis along the way (there’s a few and they are awesome!). In answer to the hospitality – Pakistanis are famously hospitable however in some of the less developed areas (cough – Swat – cough) men do not really know how to interact with women and tend to just ignore women and talk to them through male companions, it can be a little odd but this is not the norm, it’s just like that in this one place, that I encountred. I will definitely upload the article on women’s perspectives, I’ve just been swamped recently and right now I’m trekking in Myanmar – hence the late response 🙂

I don’t know if I’m allowed to mention another traveller’s account here or not but, apart from Will’s account on the matter (which I can’t wait for), there is a whole series of a young Dutch origin woman biking all across Pakistan. Check it out.

Wow, Thanks WILL you really help us to write about Pakistan.

Awesome. It’s not every day you get a travel review of Pakistan. I’m randomly living with a guy from there at the moment. I showed him this and he loved it! Good work bud

Cheers Mike! You should totally visit man, it’s epic.

Beautiful photos. Pakistan looks so stunning and raw. We’d love to explore it one day. Just need to get the visa when we are home in Oz. Thanks for sharing.

Ahh I’ve lived in Pakistan most of my adult life yet haven’t had the courage to make the journey up north on account of being a single woman. Hopefully one day! PS I’m glad people were hospitable to you, however I might attribute it to you being white haha! great post though

The people up north, after passing Chillas, are some of the most amazing people in the world. They have nothing, yet they are insanely hospitable, enlightened, progressive and accepting of everyone and everything. A common misconception is that the north is made up of tribal Pukhtoons (infamous for a lot of reasons). The actual inhabitants of the land are Gilgitis, Baltis, Khowars, Wakhi, Burusho, etc. None of them could be farther from being Pukhtoons or having that tribal culture which is often feared (unduly at times). Their women will entertain you with discussions about everything while the men will do everything they can to make sure you feel like a king no matter who you are or where you’re from. Take it from a Pakistani living abroad who grew up in Lahore and spent all most half his life stumbling around our North. I’ve knocked on random doors at 3 am for shelter in the middle of nowhere without ever being turned away. The fact is that almost no one knows anything about these people and their land, not even other Pakistanis.

Hi Will Thanks for your positive yet impressive blog about Pakistan! It’s one of the most beautiful country and mostly untouched! From the mighty astounding Karakoram to the sandy beaches of gawadar ,it’s a must visit country! I hope it attracts tourists as Imran Khan has eased visa policy. Cheers mate -much love from bustling Lahore Long live ??

it’s amazing what you write about Pakistan and I am excited because I will visit Lahore Pakistan on 14 December, thanks for sharing your experience, greetings.

You are going to have an incredible time! 🙂

Hi Will. I simply cannot thank you enough for portraying our country with sucj artfulness. Yes we have stunning landscapes and people with hearts bigger than the mountains. Will, i strongly recommend you to explore Neelum Valley. This valley stretches across like 260 km long river. In Pakistan it’s referred to as Examplery Paradise.

Neelum Valley is SO HIGH on my list for next time…

Dear Will Hatton, Indeed it was a Devine pleasure reading throughout your blog. I being a Pakistani ?? did not have the courage to travel up country simply out the hype n fear created by our insensitive n stupid medias who have themselves shown our country as one of the most dangerous n unsafe countries in the world ?. We Pakistanis are indebted to you for all the glory n wonderful things you written about us. I wish you a safe n happy journey every time you visit our beautiful beloved country. Long Live Pakistan ?? Ameen. The best nation n people on earth ?!!

Sold! Pakistan looks amazing, much different than what you see on the news…

WOW, you’ve sold us. Hunza, in particular looks incredible!

We love hearing about what countries are REALLY like as opposed to what the media tells us they are like. Brilliant post!

Thanks amigos! 🙂

We always wanted to visit but your post convinced us 100pourcent! Keep up the great work! Well done for producing a rich and informative article. As usual 🙂 Patrick and Cecile from http://www.travel4lifeblog.com

Man I was smiling the entire time that I was reading this. Pakistan has been a place that I’ve always wanted to visit, especially the Karakoram Highway. I admittedly fell into the western way of thinking, believing that it was to unsafe to travel to, but it looks like thats mostly media hype then. It’s definitely high on my list, next to Iran. I’ll make it there eventually though. And they had an international DJ?! That’s just mad!

Man, Pakistan is simply the best adventure destination around… and crossing from Iran is a hell of a trip in itself! 🙂

I just came back from a month in India and after reading your blog, u am curious about Pakistan. Is it safe for a women traveling alone?

Yes, it is 🙂

Did you learn any Urdu while there and how useful is it?

Yes I did and it is super useful 🙂

Thank you so much for visiting Pakistan and describing it so beautifully in your article. We’re glad you liked us. People around the globe do have a very wrong perception of Pakistan being terrorised country, yes it has some serious security issues but it’s mostly on a specific area like Waziristan the locals are completely safe here and now its getting much better thanks to the extremely hard working Armed forces of Pakistan. Thankyou for showing the world a positive and beautiful side of Pakistan. Your articles really encourage us to see the world for from a positive point of view. Will your Snapchat stories are exceptionally so motivating to go on adventures and being so brave. Keep up the amazing work we love you.?

Pakistan is an incredible country 🙂 I cannot wait to explore more of it!

That Hash part was funny!

Wow, your photographs are amazing! And almost all of those things are reasons I will now put Pakistan on my must see list. Mostly it was the photos though 🙂

Nice post! Definetely makes me want to book a ticket. That last pic is awesome!

Thanks for visiting Pakistan, you had seen how much Pakistan is beautiful. I think you should visit to Kashmir (Pakistani Part). It’s also one of the beautiful piece of land on earth. Once again thanks for writing for Pakistan and sharing good image of Pakistan.

thanks alot for depicting our country in a beautiful way

These photos are amazing!! You’ve visited a country that a lot of people won’t dare.

Great article about Pakistan Will! I loved your adventures in the country on Snapchat, I think you showed a lot of people how friendly the people are and how amazing the nature is 🙂

Cheers Jessica! Pakistan is a damn awesome place…

I’m dying to get to India. And when I’m done exploring India, I definitely want to get back and visit the non-Indian parts of the sub-continent, starting with Pakistan. Funny about the hash!

Yeah you are right. This green country has unbelievable trekks. I am a lake trekker and I just can’t forget the trekks of Lakes like 21 KM Dudipatser Lake Trek from Jalkhand (Naran Region), Ratti Ghali Trek, K-2 Trek, Satpara Trek, etc etc. Unbelievable landscapes like Siri Paye Meadows, Kel etc. Amazing base camps of mountains like Doomni (Rakaposhi), Broad Peak, Tirchmir, K-2 etc Stunning Festivals like Shandoor Festivels, Kalash Festivels… In short Pakistan is a complete country. you can find every thing here.

Great blog! It’s so nice to see this beautiful country painted in a different light. I didn’t know there was so much trekking there to be honest. I’ve never been to Pakistan yet, but it’s definitely on my list 🙂

All what explained is reality and one can enjoy his trip lot more by indulding into many more activities like fine Art exhibitions, visiting museums, theaters etc. In nutshell trip to Pakistan will always be worth enjoying.

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E-Paper | September 17, 2024

Eu diplomat faces lack of engagement during key visit to pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: As a special envoy from Brussels concluded a fact-finding trip to Pakistan on Friday, there was a sense among the diplomatic community that the visit could have gone better for Pakistan if top officials had engaged with the mission as planned.

Ambassador Frans van Daele, special envoy of the European Union for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief, met a number of key officials during his week-long trip.

The mandate of the special envoy involves raising awareness and engaging with state and non-state actors, civil society, churches, faith-based and religious organisations, as well as non-confessional organisations in order to prevent and address violations of the freedom of religion and belief.

But while Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch found time for the diplomat, other key officials are said to have skipped meetings with the EU diplomat.

Insiders say officials ‘skipped’ meetings with special envoy on freedom of religion, whose findings can affect Pakistan’s GSP+ status

Although there was no official word from either the government or the EU delegation, insiders said such as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif did not meet with the EU delegation.

“The meetings that did not happen… confirmed the impression that certain voices — which are some of the key voices on these issues — do not seem ready to engage in the matter,” a well-placed diplomatic source told Dawn .

It should be noted that the status of religious freedoms in the country is one of the benchmarks for retaining the duty-free access to European markets through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) regime .

Pakistan’s status is up for review in 2027 and another extension for much-needed duty-free exports to Europe will greatly depend on how the country can demonstrate a commitment to upholding all global human rights obligations.

Ambassador Daele said that the next GSP+ monitoring mission to Pakistan is expected in early 2025.

According to an official readout, the ambassador has encouraged Pakistani authorities to continue to implement relevant international conventions to facilitate the country’s reapplication for the GSP Plus status once new regulation on GSP is in force.

In his interactions with interlocutors, Ambassador van Daele underlined the EU’s continued support for and interest in enhanced cooperation with Pakistan.

During the visit, the ambassador met with a host of federal and provincial officials, parliamentarians, religious leaders, non-government and civil society organisations, human rights defenders and local communities to engage and exchange on the state of freedom of religion and belief in Pakistan and to foster the respect for diversity of religions and beliefs.

In Lahore, the special envoy held meetings with Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora and Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2024

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14 of the best things to do in Pakistan

Aug 11, 2023 • 7 min read

See the best of Pakistan with these top experiences © Skazzjy / Getty Images

Pakistan is best known as a destination for adventure tourism, but its rich history and culture broaden the appeal.

Though there are plenty of things to do in Lahore and Karachi, traveling beyond the major cities and exploring the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, ancient archaeological sites, and colonial-era hill stations is well worth your time. 

Our list of the best things to do in Pakistan will take you from the Arabian Sea to the Karakoram Mountains, giving you a taste of everything Pakistan has to offer.

1. Gorge yourself on Lahore’s food streets

Let your stomach lead you when you’re deciding on things to do in Lahore . There are more than half a dozen roads famed for their street food, and in the evening, the air is thick with the smell of spices and barbecuing meats. Gawalmandi Food Street and Fort Street probably have the best selection of food stalls, though Old Anarkali Food Street gives them a run for their money.

As well as richly spiced kebabs, be sure to try katlama (deep-fried bread marinated in tomato and chili paste and served with lentils) and grato jalebi – colorful, cardamom-flavored sweets fried in hot oil before your eyes.

Planning tip: Most food stalls only open in the evening, so arrive after 6pm for the best selection.

2. Watch polo at the Shandur Top

The Shandur Pass feels like the top of the world, and at 3700m (12,139ft) above sea level, it is. It’s also the location for Pakistan’s most fiercely fought polo tournament – teams from Chitral and Gilgit compete under freestyle rules during the annual Shandur Polo Festival in early July, with as many as 40,000 spectators watching on. Join them for a unique Pakistan experience.  

Planning tip: Allow plenty of time to acclimatize to the altitude at Shandur Top so you can enjoy the festival without dizziness or gasping for breath.

3. Spend time with the Kalash in Chitral

The Kalash of Chitral District are one of the few indigenous communities to still follow traditional customs in Pakistan. Kalash people practice animism, including offering sacrifices; they speak their own language, Kalasha, and they wear distinctive traditional dress. If you are pondering unusual things to do in Pakistan, try to time your trip to coincide with a Kalash festival – the largest of these celebrations, Chawmos, straddles the Winter Solstice and includes music, dance, and the ritual purification of attendees.

4. Brave the hanging bridges of Gilgit-Baltistan

Dangling above gushing rivers in Gilgit-Baltistan in the north of Pakistan are a succession of precarious-looking bridges made from wooden slats crudely lashed together with rope. If you’re hunting for fun things to do in Pakistan and you don’t have a fear of heights, this is the activity for you. If hanging bridges are not enough of an adrenaline rush, you can also cross several of the rivers on rudimentary zip lines. 

Detour: Combine a trip to the Hussaini Hanging Bridge in Gojal with a visit to the beautiful mountain valley of Hunza, often described as the original Shangri La.

5. Discover the Bronze Age history of Pakistan at Moenjodaro

The Indus Valley Civilisation gave birth to one of the world’s first cities, Moenjodaro , in around 2500 BCE. This remarkable archaeological site was not rediscovered until the 1920s, and it’s now a Unesco World Heritage Site. You can clearly see the planned layout of the city – a tidy grid of streets lined with residential and administrative buildings, plus a substantial citadel, guard towers, more than 700 wells and public baths. These early inhabitants knew how to live life well!

Planning tip:  Moenjodaro is on the banks of the River Indus near Larkana – visit in the afternoon, and you can also take an evening boat ride on a flat-bottomed boat.

6. See the rock-cut Buddha of Swat

Before the arrival of Islam, Pakistan had a substantial Buddhist population – Buddhism flourished under the Kushan Empire, and in the Swat Valley, you can find not only temples and stupas but also relief carvings of the Buddha. The 7th-century Buddha of Swat near Mingora was attacked by the Taliban in 2007 but has since been restored and once again sits smiling serenely in the lotus position.

Planning tip: Ask about the security situation before heading to Swat – there are occasional flare-ups in the area.

7. Learn about Sufism in Multan

Multan is known as the “City of Saints” because of the large number of Sufi mystics who lived here in the 11th and 12th centuries. Their tombs are architectural marvels, but far more intriguing is the saints’ ongoing cultural legacy, including their influence on Pakistani poetry, music and dance. Listening to the sounds of qawwalis (devotional songs) echoing around the walls of Multan’s shrines is a spine-tingling moment of magic.

Planning tip: Check the dates of the annual Urs festival at the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and try to avoid this busy time; more than 100,000 pilgrims attend, so Multan becomes very crowded.

8. Observe the sunset over the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore 

There are so many things to do in Lahore that it can be quite overwhelming, so block out an hour or two at dusk to watch the sunset at the 17th-century Badshahi Mosque . Built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, it’s a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture, and the pink sandstone facade and white marble domes look particularly impressive in the evening light. The mosque stays open for visitors until around 8pm.

Planning tip: For an alternative view of the mosque, head up to the rooftop of Cooco’s Den, a traditional haveli restored by artist Iqbal Hussain.

9. Immerse yourself in cultural heritage at the Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad

Islamabad’s Lok Virsa Museum is the largest museum in Pakistan and is dedicated to the country’s culture, past and present. It rates as one of Pakistan’s top sights partly because it brings together the living traditions of all Pakistan’s ethnic groups in one location. The displays of sculpture, textiles, jewelry, and woodwork attest to the skills of centuries of artisans, and there’s a huge archive of audio and video recordings too.

10. Shop from street stalls at Rawalpindi’s Raja Bazaar

A market is a window into the soul of a country, and Rawalpindi ’s famous Raja Bazaar is the perfect place for people-watching. If you want to understand more about Pakistan, spend a morning at Raja Bazaar shopping for second-hand books, costume jewelry, and other interesting local souvenirs. You can refresh yourself with freshly squeezed juices and deep-fried snacks while you browse.  

11. Ride the bus to the hill station of Murree

Built by the British in the 1850s, this glorious hill station was the summer retreat for the colonial government. Buildings like the Holy Trinity Church and the General Post Office are architectural reminders of the Raj, but more recent additions such as the gondola and chair lifts delight a new generation of mostly domestic tourists (and offer fabulous views). Ride to Murree from Rawalpindi on a colorful local bus, and the journey will be as memorable as the destination.

Planning tip: For the best views in Murree, head to lofty Kashmir Point, around a kilometer from the post office along Mall Road.

12. Drive the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass

Without a doubt, the Karakoram Highway is one of the world’s greatest road trips. Spanning 1300km (808 miles), the road officially starts in Hasan Abdal in southern Pakistan and finishes at Kashgar in China , but it’s the section between Islamabad and the China-Pakistan border which has the most dramatic scenery.

Although a few crazy cyclists and motorbikers tackle the route independently, it’s much more popular to travel by shared or chartered 4WD or local bus. You can admire the peaks of 8126m (26,660ft) Nanga Parbat and 7788m (25,551ft) Rakaposhi along the way.

Planning tip: The Khunjerab Pass is closed to all vehicles from December 30 to April 1 due to icy conditions, so keep this in mind if you’re traveling on to China.

13. Hike to the Fairy Meadows

With mountains dominating the northern part of the country, hiking is definitely one of the best things to do in Pakistan. There’s no road to the scenic Fairy Meadows, but in late spring and early autumn, you can take a 4WD to Tatu village and continue for three to four hours on foot. You won’t find fairies at Fairy Meadows, but the scenery feels magical nevertheless, and as the best accommodation option is camping, you’ve got all night to enjoy some unparalleled star gazing. 

Detour: If you’re feeling ambitious, follow up a trip to Fairy Meadows with a trek to Nanga Parbat Base Camp.

14. Pay your respects to Jinnah at the Quaid-i-Azam in Karachi 

Muhammad Ali Jinnah is considered to be the father of Pakistan and was the country’s first governor-general. His white marble tomb in Karachi was designed in the 1960s in a modernist style, but architect Yahya Merchant also took inspiration from the 10th-century Ismail Samani Mausoleum in Bukhara in Uzbekistan . The Quaid-i-Azam is set within a 53-hectare park and is floodlit at night, making for spectacular evening photos.

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Eurasia Review

A Journal of Analysis and News

Flags of Pakistan and China. Photo Credit: Tasnim News Agency

Cracks In China-Pakistan Relations: Bilateral And External Factors – Analysis

By Observer Research Foundation

By Sarral Sharma

China-Pakistan bilateral ties are currently going through a rough phase. Beijing is increasingly frustrated with Islamabad’s inability to repay debts, ensure the security of Chinese workers, and advance the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Another factor potentially straining relations between the “all-weather strategic cooperative partners” is the ongoing attempts by Pakistan to repair its relations with the United States (US) under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.

As the strategic competition between China and the US intensifies in the Indo-Pacific region, Pakistan may face troubles in balancing ties with both countries. For China, maintaining an all-round economic and strategic ties with Pakistan is non-negotiable, and vice-versa, particularly as India and the US continue to advance their defence and security relations.

At a recent  interaction  with Pakistani journalists, Prime Minister Sharif emphasised that Islamabad wanted to mend its bilateral ties with Washington, “but not at the cost of its relationship with China, as no other country could do what Beijing was doing for his cash-strapped country.” He further stated, “Whatever China is helping Pakistan accomplish, the United States cannot do.” These remarks came just days after Sharif had officially written to the Chinese government, requesting debt  reprofiling  for Pakistan in a desperate bid to secure a fresh US$ 7 billion  loan  from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Pakistan has  reportedly  sought a rollover of more than US$ 12 billion in annual debt for a period of three to five years from China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to secure a 37-month IMF bailout package. In addition, Islamabad has  requested  Beijing to convert imported coal-based projects to local coal and restructure over US$ 15 billion in energy sector liabilities. On 28 July, during  a press conference , Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb that the issue of energy sector repayments was raised by Prime Minister Sharif with President Xi Jinping during his recent  visit  to Beijing. On 2 August, Sharif followed up on this discussion with formal  letters  to the Chinese government.

Accompanied by a large contingent of senior ministers and Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, Sharif’s trip to China in June was projected as a game-changer for the bilateral relationship. Both sides formally announced the much-anticipated second phase of CPEC. However, the Chinese side expressed frustration over the CPEC slowdown and Islamabad’s failure to provide adequate security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Notably, on 26 March, five Chinese engineers were killed in a  suicide attack   in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, marking the second attack on Chinese personnel in the same area since 2021.

Expressing his concerns to Prime Minister Sharif, President Xi  emphasised  the importance of Pakistan continuing to “create a safe, stable, and predictable business environment and ensuring the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and organisations.” In recent years, Chinese citizens in Pakistan have been targeted by various extremist groups, leading to heightened concerns in Beijing. As a result, China appears reluctant to make new financial investments in Pakistan unless the issue of security is addressed.

During his  visit  to Pakistan in June, Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, identified “security” as the primary challenge threatening the future of CPEC. He also emphasised the importance of political stability in Pakistan to ensure the continuation and success of the multibillion-dollar project.

As Islamabad is urgently seeking debt reprofiling from Beijing, concerns are growing both within Pakistan and abroad that the country is becoming increasingly entangled in China’s ‘ debt-trap ’ policy. According to the World Bank’s latest International Debt  Report  2023, Pakistan owes over 72 percent of its external bilateral debt to China. The IMF has repeatedly asked Islamabad to disclose details of loans from China and has warned Pakistan not to use bailout packages to repay Chinese debts. As a result, the IMF is showing  no leniency  in approving a new bailout package for Pakistan until the country ensures the reprofiling of more than US$ 27 billion in debt and liabilities with ‘friendly’ countries.

Similarly, Washington has expressed  concerns  regarding Chinese investments in Pakistan that “may be used for coercive leverage.” At a US Congressional hearing in July, Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia,  told  lawmakers that “China is the past in terms of investments in Pakistan; we [US] are the future.” Furthermore, the US administration  requested  a budget of US$ 101 million for Pakistan to “strengthen democracy, combat terrorism, and stabilise the country’s economy.”

Ties between Islamabad and Washington soured after former Prime Minister Imran Khan openly  accused the US government of orchestrating his removal in April 2022. Over the past year, their ties have improved, and several high-level visits have taken place between the two nations. In December 2023, General Munir, accompanied by Director General Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum,  travelled to the US for a week-long visit. In addition to discussions on defence and security issues with the US. government officials, General Munir also engaged with American investors and the Pakistani overseas community, encouraging them to invest in Pakistan.

While US-Pakistan relations have predominantly remained security-focused, Washington may seek to diversify its engagement with Islamabad on non-security and commercial issues to prevent Pakistan’s “further  overreliance  on China.” Notably, the US played a crucial ‘ behind-the-scenes ’ role in helping Pakistan secure IMF loans. Washington is aware that Islamabad needs its support to secure loans from Western financial institutions for avoiding default. Additionally, the Biden administration’s largely subdued response to  election irregularities  in Pakistan and disinterest in other human rights concerns have helped Islamabad evade the international pressure on these issues. But does the ongoing rapprochement between the US and Pakistan raise concerns in China?

To demonstrate their unwavering loyalty to Beijing, both civilian and military leaders in Pakistan regularly issue ‘pro-China’ statements. During his visit to Washington in December 2023, General Munir  told  his American counterparts that Pakistan ‘refrains from bloc politics and believes in maintaining balanced relationships with all friendly countries.’ As the strategic rivalry between China and the US intensifies in the Indo-Pacific region, Pakistan may struggle to maintain a neutral position.

For Beijing, external loans or financial assistance to Islamabad from the US or any other country are also crucial for safeguarding Chinese projects and investments in Pakistan. Perhaps, China wants to share the burden of Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis with other countries. In October 2023, China and Pakistan  agreed  to invite ‘third parties’ to invest in CPEC and extend the project into Afghanistan. Interestingly, CPEC is being promoted as an ‘open corridor’ to attract external investors, though this approach has yet to yield success. China may employ all possible measures to protect CPEC, which is the ‘flagship’ project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While China has various ways to recover its financial losses from Pakistan, the failure of CPEC, if it happens, would be a major setback for the future of BRI and President Xi’s economic vision.

However, this does not imply that China-Pakistan defence and strategic ties will also suffer. According to the latest SIPRI  data , 82 percent of Pakistan’s arms imports came from China between 2019 and 2023. Although Sino-Pakistani defence  relations  are primarily focused on India due to their shared rivalry, they could also serve as a force multiplier in the future for China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) against the US.

In China’s strategic calculations, Pakistan plays a crucial role in countering the influence of India and the US in IOR. For that reason, Beijing can tolerate more financial losses and simultaneously make efforts to revive CPEC. However, it may no longer accept Pakistan’s lackadaisical attitude in ensuring the safety and security of Chinese nationals. Moreover, anti-China sentiments are rapidly growing in some parts of Pakistan, especially in Balochistan province, where locals are  protesting  to reclaim their land, water and natural resources from “outsiders”—China and Pakistan’s military establishment.

Under pressure from Beijing, the Pakistani government approved a new military operation,  Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), on 22 June, just days after Prime Minister Sharif and General Munir’s visit to China. This military campaign will largely focus on conducting anti-terror operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While it is too early to predict the outcome(s) of the operation, Pakistan’s failure to protect Chinese citizens and installations in the future could seriously strain their bilateral relations.

On the other hand, Washington will continue to advance its ties with Islamabad, aiming to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on China. Meanwhile, Pakistan may see an opportunity to extract financial and military benefits from the ongoing rivalry between China and the US. However, unlike during the Cold War, when Islamabad behaved as a ‘bridge’ between Beijing and Washington, it may now become collateral in the strategic competition between China and the US in the Indo-Pacific region.

• About the author: Sarral Sharma is a Doctoral Candidate at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
• Source: This article was published by the Observer Research Foundation
• ← How Indian Navy’s Maritime Security Shapes India’s Future, Everyday Lives – Analysis
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Observer Research Foundation

ORF was established on 5 September 1990 as a private, not for profit, ’think tank’ to influence public policy formulation. The Foundation brought together, for the first time, leading Indian economists and policymakers to present An Agenda for Economic Reforms in India. The idea was to help develop a consensus in favour of economic reforms.

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New York Times Reporter Revisits Earlier Interview With Suspect at Trump Golf Course

Ryan Wesley Routh wanted to fly Afghan veterans to fight against Russia in Ukraine, an endeavor he seemed ill prepared to orchestrate.

• Share full article

By Thomas Gibbons-Neff

• Published Sept. 15, 2024 Updated Sept. 16, 2024, 8:05 a.m. ET

Last year I was working on an article about foreign fighters and volunteers in Ukraine . The piece focused on people who were not qualified to be allowed anywhere near the battlefield in a U.S.-led war and yet were fighting on the front against Russia, with access to weapons and military equipment.

Among the people I interviewed: Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old man whom the F.B.I. is investigating in what it is calling an assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump on Sunday.

I was put in touch with Mr. Routh through an old colleague and friend from Kabul, Najim Rahim. Through the strange nexus of combatants as one war ended and another began, he had learned of Mr. Routh from a source of his in Iran, a former Afghan special operations soldier who was trying to get out of Iran and fight in Ukraine.

Mr. Routh, who had spent some time in Ukraine trying to raise support for the war, was seeking recruits from among Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban. And so the former Afghan soldier reckoned Mr. Routh could get him to the Ukrainian front. (Anything, even war, was better than the conditions in Iran for Afghans after the Taliban retook Kabul in August of 2021.)

There were a few complications. Mr. Routh, a former construction worker from Greensboro, N. C., said he never fought in Ukraine himself — he was too old and had no military experience.

But like many foreign volunteers who showed up at Ukraine’s border in the war’s early months, he was eager to cast aside his former life for something far more exciting and make a name for himself.

“In my opinion everyone should be there supporting the Ukrainians,” he told me, his voice urgent, exasperated and a little suspicious over the phone.

When I talked to Mr. Routh in March of last year, he had compiled a list of hundreds of Afghans spread between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan whom he wanted to fly, somehow, to Ukraine. Mr. Routh told one Afghan he was helping: “I am just a civilian.”

My conversation with Mr. Routh was brief. He was in Washington, D.C., he said, and had planned for a two-hour meeting with some congressmen about Ukraine. (It’s unclear if that meeting ever happened.)

By the time I got off the phone with Mr. Routh some minutes later, it was clear he was in way over his head.

He talked of buying off corrupt officials, forging passports and doing whatever it took to get his Afghan cadre to Ukraine, but he had no real way to accomplish his goals. At one point he mentioned arranging a U.S. military transport flight from Iraq to Poland with Afghan refugees willing to fight.

I shook my head. It sounded ridiculous, but the tone in Mr. Routh’s voice said otherwise. He was going to back Ukraine’s war effort, no matter what.

Like many of the volunteers I interviewed, he fell off the map again. Until Sunday.

Najim Rahim contributed reporting.

Thomas Gibbons-Neff is a Ukraine correspondent and a former Marine infantryman. More about Thomas Gibbons-Neff