Backpacking in Pakistan: A Saga of Four Weeks

I had a wonderful visit to Pakistan for four weeks. Firstly, I landed at Karachi airport. Pakistan is a wonderful country, and I think I do not have enough words to describe the country’s beauty. If you want to have a good time, visit Pakistan to enhance your experience of seeing beautiful sites on this planet.

You do not need just one week to travel to Pakistan because this country is immensely beautiful, and once you go there, you will crave to see more and more natural, eye-catching views of Pakistan. I will recommend some practical measures before you make up your mind to pay a visit to Pakistan.

Travel Insurance

If you desire to trek while in Pakistan, we suggest you buy World Nomads because they will immensely help you. It plans to cover trekking up to 6,000 meters. In Gilgit-Baltistan, it is very easy to reach 4000 meters base camps. You should also note that it is there that you will charge highly for medical expenses.

Best Books for Travelling to Pakistan

The most helpful book for you to travel to Pakistan is “Pakistan Traveler.” It is a very up-to-date book, having 256 pages. The author has visited Pakistan almost ten times.

Pakistan: Culture Smart is another important book on visiting Pakistan. It also tells you about the culture and customs of Pakistan. After reading this book, you will understand the country’s culture and customs accurately.

Pakistan: A Hard Country is another important book that will give you an insight into real situations prevailing in Pakistan. Pakistan and the Karakoram Highway is also a very remarkable book that you must read.

Backpacking in Pakistan

If you plan to visit Pakistan for just two weeks, you can enjoy your visit for 14 days. I also inform you that Pakistan is a country of unexpected events and magnificent lands, so you must enhance your stay to visit this country.

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Lahore Visit

Lahore is a cultural and is the second-largest city in Pakistan. You will find Sufi dancing, stunning mosques, excellent and tasty foods, and many eye-catching things in Lahore.
The Badshahi Mosque stands as a majestic symbol of Mughal architecture and grandeur. More than one hundred thousand people can offer prayers in this mosque.

Wazir Khan Mosque is also a worth visiting place. You should also enter this mosque to please your eyes and have some good moments. It would help if you also took some time to go to Wagah Border. There, many people gather to witness the ceremony every day and enjoy it a lot.

You can find expensive and economical hotels in Lahore at the same time. It is just your choice; if you want to spend less money, you will necessarily get some hotel to serve this purpose, and if you desire to have a luxurious hotel, you will be satisfied.

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Visit Islamabad

Islamabad had been constructed with the only motive of making it the capital of Pakistan. It is not a very old city. The clean and green city of Islamabad is enough to hold your attention. The best restaurants are to be seen in this city. Huge mansions and expensive cars are also seen on Islamabad’s clean and crystal-clear roads. If you are in Islamabad, you must visit Faisal Mosque.

It is one of the largest mosques in Pakistan. It would help if you also took advantage of the chance to see the hill’s highest point at Monal, from where you can enjoy beautiful city views. Moving around this city will be a good experience, and you should rely on Uber to go to different places. You can also go by bus to move to the city. I spent a few nights in Islamabad city and ate delicious food at restaurants in Pakistan.

Islamabad and Lahore are two significant cities in Pakistan. You can go to Islamabad from Lahore by bus, train or air. If you want to save time, you must go by air. But if you choose the bus or train, it will also be a good experience, and you will enjoy it a lot during your journey.

You can get hotels in Islamabad at cheaper rates but still stay in luxury hotels. It is just a matter of your personal choice.

Visit Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit is a city where Shia people are in the majority. Gilgit is a base for traveling to all surrounding areas. The city has a river with good bridges, and you will also find the Kargah Buddha statue there. The statue was carved on a cliff in the 7th century. There is no public transportation, so if you manage a private taxi, it will be a comfort, and you will enjoy going to different places around Gilgit.

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Visit Karimabad (Hunza)

Karimabad is a city around Hunza Valley surrounded by mountains, and most inhabitants are Ismailis. The loftiness of these mountains is told to be almost 7000 meters. Karimabad is also home to two Unesco World Heritage Forts. The atmosphere there is a bit lazy.

The roads and streets in this city are a bit narrow. I recommend you visit Baltit Altit forts and Eagle Nest. These are viewpoints from where you can get clear views of Rakaposhi, Diran, and Lady Finger. Rates of hotels in Karimabad are also cheaper and less expensive.

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Minapin and Rakaposhi Base Camp

Minapin is a small town situated 75 kilometers from Gilgit. There are many incredible views in this small town. Here, you can organize trekking to Rakaposhi base camp. Hitchhiking is the easiest way to go to Minapin town if you still need to get your vehicle.

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Peshawar city Visit

Peshawar is one of the oldest cities in Pakistan. It was the capital of the Kushan Empire. Since it is located at the border with Afghanistan at Khyber Pass, it has a wonderful Silk Road point linking north and south, east and west Asia.

Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Strolling down in this city is an entertaining activity. You can buy a Pushtun hat there in the city. The best lamb is available to travelers and locals in this city.

Visit Swat Valley

Swat Valley is called Switzerland of Pakistan. If you plan to hike through fairy forests, I am sure you will amazingly enjoy Swat Valley. Some years ago, the valley was controlled by the Taliban, but soon, the trial of the Swat Valley people was over, and they were freed from the occupation of the Taliban.

Girls in Swat wear hijab when they are very young, but they begin to wear Burqa as they grow further. You should be very cautious about what you say and do because people there are very sensitive about their religion.

The Swat Valley is home to extreme beauty. I suggest you visit Malam Jabba, where you will enjoy it. Buddha Cravings is also a site to be seen. If you are fond of trekking, there are many places where you can make your desire come true. Mingora is a town where you can also do trekking. Kalam is also full of many beautiful sites that your eye should notice.

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The Chitral Visit

The travel to Chitral proves pretty tricky. If you are in Mingora, you can get a minibus to Timargara. After reaching Timargara, take a second minibus that takes you to Chitral. But if you are in Kalam, you can go to Chitral through Kumrat Valley and Dir.

Chitral is a big city from where you can visit the Kalash Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan. Bear in mind the fact that you need to register with the local police to allow you to go ahead with your plans.

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Visit Rumbur and Kalash Valleys

The Kalash valleys are wonderful places in Pakistan. Bumburet is the biggest village in the area, while Birir is a small village in the valley. I recommend going to Rumbur because Rumbur is a very authentic and big village. No matter where you want to go, it is a must for you to go to the village of Aini. You can take a minibus from Chitral to get to Aini.

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Courtesy: The article has been translated from the blog of an American traveler who visited Pakistan and wrote his personal experience and observations during the stay in Pakistan.

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