Explore Pakistan

Pakistan is a country of extremes in South Asia, where three of the world's great mountain ranges, the Karakoram, the Himalaya and the Hindu Kush, meet. It has five of the fourteen 8,000-metre peaks, including K2, the second highest mountain on Earth, and some of the largest glaciers outside the polar regions. Beyond the mountains lie the Indus plains, the desert and the Arabian Sea coast, as well as the ruins of one of the oldest cities in the world.

It is also a country of welcome. Travellers tend to remember the people as much as the peaks: the tea offered in a village home, the festival you were invited to, the driver who became a friend.

Each province has a different character, so most trips combine two or three.

• Gilgit-Baltistan: Hunza, Skardu and the K2 region, with the Karakoram Highway running through the middle.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: the Kalash valleys, Swat, Chitral and the old city of Peshawar.
• Punjab: Lahore's Mughal monuments, Rohtas Fort, Harappa and the Sikh pilgrimage sites.
• Sindh: Mohenjo-daro, the necropolis of Makli and Karachi.
• Balochistan: Quetta, the Hingol coast and the long Makran shoreline.
• Kashmir: the green valleys of Neelum, Leepa and Rawalakot.

The year in the north follows the trees. Apricot, cherry and almond blossom turn the Hunza and Skardu valleys pink and white in April, and the same valleys burn gold and red in October. See the Hunza Cherry Blossom Tour and the Hunza Autumn Tour. In May the Kalash people of Chitral celebrate spring at the Chilam Joshi Festival.

For the mountains in the north, May to September is the main trekking season, with blossom in April and autumn colour in late September and October. The south and the plains are best from October to March, since the summer is very hot and July and August bring the monsoon rains.

International flights arrive at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. From Islamabad, the Karakoram Highway runs north to Gilgit and Hunza, and flights to Gilgit and Skardu operate in good weather. Mountain roads can close because of weather, so our plans always include spare time. For entry rules, see our Pakistan visa guide.

Tell us when you can travel and what you like, and we will suggest a route and a price. Plan my trip, or browse all our tours.