Why Visit Pakistan?
Pakistan is not your typical travel destination. Looking from the outside, you may wonder, "What is there to see in Pakistan?" It turns out, there are tons of stunning places that are begging for you to explore.
From Lahore, the cultural capital city of the Punjab province, to the pristine snowy peaks of the Himalayas, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges, you will be surprised to discover that these places exist in Pakistan.
Other than the scenery, the hospitality of the Pakistani people is unmatched by anyone. The friendliness and kindness of its people are one of the highlights of traveling in Pakistan. Strangers will come up to you, strike up a random conversation, and help you out as best they can, while expecting nothing in return. I have to tell you, it is such a breath of fresh air when a taxi driver pays for your lunch!
From the mountains of Gilgit Baltistan to the cultural heritage of Punjab, Pakistan has everything for a grand adventure unlike any other country you have been to before.
When to Go to Pakistan?
The best time to visit Pakistan is during the months of May to October when the weather is neither too cold in the north nor too hot in cities like Lahore and Islamabad.
In my opinion, September and October are the best times to visit as the valleys of North Pakistan are turning orange, and popular destinations are free from the local crowds. Accommodations in places like Fairy Meadows become cheaper as well.
Daily Budget
This place is quite affordable compared to all the other countries in the world. If you are planning a trip here, you can expect to spend around $25 - $45 USD per day per person, which should include accommodation and three meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Pakistan?
The reliability of the internet in Pakistan will depend on where you are, but I would recommend getting a local SIM card as soon as you arrive in Lahore. To buy a SIM card as a foreigner, you will have to go to a franchise office and register there. Do not buy it from the airport or any shop that claims they can do it! They are all scams.
The process may seem like a hassle, but once you know where to go, it only takes 5 minutes to get your SIM activated. I would recommend you get a ZONG SIM card from the Zong franchise customer care in Lahore shown on the map below.
To buy a local SIM card in Lahore, simply tell a rickshaw driver to take you to "Liberty Market" (do not pay more than 200 PKR), and make sure you have your passport with you.
Once you are there, you can choose whether you want a data SIM card only (1,500 PKR for 12 GB) or the one with calls (~2,500 PKR). I would recommend the one with calls if you are planning to go up north, as the data connection becomes unreliable up there and you might need to call some places to book. The entire process took me less than 5 minutes.
For Zong's reception in cities like Islamabad and Lahore, you should have no problem getting LTE speed from your SIM card.
In Gilgit, the internet becomes slower but still manageable. However, once you go beyond Gilgit, you will only get an unreliable EDGE connection on your phone. Additionally, only a few places are equipped with Wi-Fi, and they are painfully slow.
The only place with reliable wifi beyond Gilgit that I know of is at the Cafe de Hunza in Karimabad, so make sure to say goodbye to the outside world before leaving Gilgit.
There is no Wi-Fi or phone signal in Fairy Meadows, Passu, and Astore.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling. This will allow you to bypass any local Internet censorship you may encounter while in Pakistan.
What to Pack for Pakistan?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Pakistan:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Visa for Pakistan
Pakistan is very strict when it comes to who gets into their country, which is why they will not issue a tourist visa from embassies that are not in your home country, unless there are none.
If you live in a country that has a Pakistan embassy, you will have to obtain it from there prior to your trip. If not, then you will have to obtain it from the nearest country with an embassy. The process can take from 3 weeks to a month, depending on your embassy, so prepare way ahead of time.
Almost every country that wants to apply for a tourist visa is required to have a letter of invitation from either someone you personally know in Pakistan or from a legally registered tour company. Many tour companies will require you to buy a tour with them, but I found a few that will offer a letter of invitation to an independent traveler without having to purchase a tour.
I have a personal experience with Lost Horizon tour company and can recommend them. They charge 100 USD per person, and all you have to do is provide them with your info and a rough itinerary of your trip, and they will get all the documents you need within a few days.
Another great option is to get your LOI through Caravanistan.com. They charge only 65 USD, which is considerably less than Lost Horizon, and they are responsive and can provide you with additional information about your itinerary.
When applying for the visa, make sure that you have all these documents with you:
- 1 x complete Pakistan visa form from the embassy website to which you will be applying.
- One copy of your passport.
- 1 x photo of you
- 1 x rough Pakistan itinerary
- 1 x copy of your roundtrip flight details.
- 1 x proof of all booked accommodations (only where applicable) (just book something on Booking.com and cancel it once approved).
- 1 x bank statement from the last three months.
- 1 x proof of your residence.
- 1 x letter of invitation, company license, and identification (provided by the tour company).
- 1 x proof of your employment.
- 1 x proof of your employment.
Keep in mind that the documents required may differ depending on the embassy in which you are applying, so please consult your embassy's website for more details.
If you have all the documents they asked for, the process should be straightforward, and they should give you a date for when your visa will be completed.
How to Get to Pakistan?
There are several major airlines that fly to Lahore. One of the best ones is Emirates, Qatar, THAI, and Etihad Airways. If you are looking for a flight from where you are, I would recommend you browse through Expedia or Skyscanner to find the best and cheapest deal possible.
How to Get Around Pakistan?
Within big cities like Lahore and Islamabad, Uber is the cheapest and most convenient way to travel around the city. A rickshaw is also a good option in Lahore if you haggle hard. Beyond Islamabad, taxis or hired jeeps are sometimes required to get to remote places around the area.
From Lahore to Islamabad, you can take a Daewoo Express bus (search for Rawalpindi as a destination instead of Islamabad, as the bus station is located in Rawalpindi, a twin city next to Islamabad) that connects the two cities. From Islamabad to Gilgit, you can either fly or take a NATCO overnight bus that will take around 18 hours to reach the destination. Be sure to check out our detailed guide on traveling to Gilgit from Islamabad as there are certain things you need to prepare before you get on the bus.
Beyond Gilgit, you will either have to flag down a bus from the Karakoram Highway yourself or hitchhike, which is the most effective way to traverse the Karakoram Highway as the buses are often full and do not come on time. Besides, the locals are more than happy to drive a guest around their country, and they will try to help you as best as they can so that you will have a great time in their country.
From Sost to Skardu, you can take a bus that leaves for Gilgit at 5 AM. When you arrive in Gilgit by 9 AM, you can board the next bus bound for Skardu. With the new road completed, it should take approximately 4 hours to reach Skardu. Therefore, if you leave Gilgit by 9 AM, you should arrive by 1 PM.
From Skardu to Astore, you will have to rent a jeep to travel on the unpaved road in Deosai National Park, and it will take approximately 7 hours to reach Astore.