Pakistan travel guide
Pakistan has some of the world's most dramatic mountain scenery, where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush meet, alongside the Mughal cities of Punjab and the ancient sites of the Indus valley. Hospitality is famous and food is a highlight. It suits adventurous travellers, trekkers and anyone interested in history, ideally with good local guidance.
Places worth the trip
Lahore
Pakistan's cultural capital. The Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort with its mirrored Sheesh Mahal face each other across a square, the Walled City is full of bazaars and havelis, and Food Street near the mosque is busiest late at night.
Hunza Valley
A green valley ringed by peaks above 7,000 metres on the Karakoram Highway, with the restored Baltit and Altit forts, apricot orchards that blossom in spring and turn gold in autumn, and the turquoise Attabad Lake.
Karakoram Highway
One of the highest paved international roads in the world, running from the north of the country through Gilgit and Hunza to the Khunjerab Pass on the border with China, past glaciers, gorges and rock carvings.
Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat
An alpine meadow reached by jeep and a hike, with an unobstructed view of Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest mountain. Simple wooden cabins and campsites are open in summer.
Islamabad
The planned capital sits beneath the Margalla Hills, with hiking trails running straight from the city. The Faisal Mosque, shaped like a desert tent, is one of the largest mosques in the world.
Mohenjo-daro
The ruins of one of the great cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation in Sindh, around 4,500 years old, with a grid of streets, drains and the Great Bath. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Taxila
An archaeological area near Islamabad with Buddhist monasteries, stupas and city ruins spanning centuries, and a museum of Gandhara sculpture that blends Greek and Buddhist styles.
Skardu and Deosai
The gateway to the Baltoro Glacier and K2 treks, with desert valleys and lakes nearby. The Deosai Plains, one of the highest plateaus in the world, bloom with wildflowers in summer.
Interesting facts about Pakistan
- Pakistan has five of the world's fourteen mountains over 8,000 metres, including K2, the second-highest peak on earth.
- The Wagah border ceremony between Pakistan and India, near Lahore, is a daily flag-lowering ritual watched by large crowds on both sides.
- Outside the polar regions, the Karakoram has some of the longest glaciers in the world, including the Siachen, Baltoro and Biafo.
- Truck art, with lorries painted in bright floral patterns, poetry and mirrors, is a celebrated Pakistani folk art form.
- Urdu is the national language, but Punjabi is the most widely spoken first language in the country.
Best time to visit Pakistan
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times for Punjab and Sindh; summer there is extremely hot, and winter is mild. The northern mountains are a summer destination: June to September is the season for trekking, the Karakoram Highway and high passes such as the Khunjerab, while April brings blossom and October autumn colour to Hunza. The monsoon, July to September, brings heavy rain to the plains and can cause landslides that close mountain roads.
Getting around
Domestic flights link Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, and seasonal, weather-dependent flights serve Gilgit and Skardu. Motorways connect Islamabad and Lahore, and air-conditioned coach companies run between the main cities. Trains are slow but a classic way to travel across Punjab and Sindh. In the north, most visitors hire a car with a driver who knows the mountain roads, as landslides and road closures are common. Ride-hailing apps work well in the large cities.
Practical details
- Capital
- Islamabad
- Currency
- Pakistani rupee (PKR)
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- Plug types
- C, D
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 15 police, 1122 rescue and ambulance
- Driving side
- left
- Tipping
- Appreciated. Around 10% in restaurants where no service charge is added, and small tips for drivers, guides and porters on treks are customary.
Staying online in Pakistan
4G coverage is good in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and other cities and along the main motorways. It becomes patchy in the mountains: parts of Hunza and Gilgit have signal, but remote valleys, trekking routes and high passes often have none. Wi-Fi is available in hotels and cafés in cities, and in mountain guesthouses it can be slow or depend on electricity supply. Phones and SIMs in Pakistan are subject to registration rules, so check how the rules apply to foreign devices before travelling. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Pakistan eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Pakistan, V2
Ilimitados
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Pakistan, V2
Ilimitados
Unlimited Plus eSIM Data for 1 Day for Pakistan, V2
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Pakistan, V2
Useful apps
- Careem: Widely used ride-hailing in Pakistan's cities, with fares shown up front.
- inDrive: Popular ride-hailing app where you propose a fare and drivers accept or counter.
- Google Maps: City navigation and route planning; download offline maps before heading to the mountains.
- Google Translate: Translates Urdu, with offline support, for menus, signs and conversations.
Pakistan travel FAQs
Modest dress is expected. Many visitors, both men and women, find the shalwar kameez comfortable and appropriate. Women may want a scarf for covering their head in mosques and conservative areas.
A local driver or guide is strongly recommended for the mountains, as roads are challenging and conditions change quickly. Some areas near borders require permits, so check current rules and your government's travel advice before you go.
Yes, in the cities and many towns. Roaming on a home plan is costly, and coverage in the mountains is limited whatever you use. A travel eSIM gives you local data for maps and ride-hailing while keeping your own number.
Very much so. Try biryani in Karachi, nihari and halwa puri breakfasts in Lahore, chapli kebabs in the north-west, and apricots, walnuts and chapshuro (meat-filled bread) in Hunza.