10 Days in Northern Pakistan

In the event you’re contemplating your first go to to Pakistan and need an itinerary to rival all others, I’ve obtained you coated. I not too long ago spent 10 days in Northern Pakistan and I had the journey of a lifetime. In case you are planning a go to to Pakistan for the primary time, these are the highlights you can not miss.

Why it is best to go to Pakistan

Pakistan is among the most underrated journey locations for a wide range of causes. Not with out its’ issues, Pakistan is thought for having a fancy and complex historical past because it was established in 1947. For that purpose I’d personally advocate a guided tour in your first go to, although don’t have any purpose to not encourage a solo journey given my very own expertise.

For the sake of readability, travelling solo (and in explicit as a feminine) in the likes of Bali or Bangkok could be very completely different to travelling solo in Pakistan. In case you are new to solo journey I’d recommend gaining expertise in international locations extra populated by vacationers and certainly, with a extra developed strategy towards tourism and overseas guests.

As a result of I didn’t journey by means of Pakistan as a solo feminine, I’d recommend studying this put up by The Broke Backpacker for additional data and readability given her thorough documentation on the subject (and good protection of Pakistan!)

Islamabad

This itinerary follows my 10-day journey all through Pakistan, beginning in Islamabad. The tour was put collectively by our information Atta (you’ll be able to electronic mail him right here) who works full time as a information in Northern Pakistan (extra on Atta later).

Islamabad (or Isloo to the locals) is the capital metropolis of Pakistan however not even near the largest metropolis. There are a whopping 213 million folks in Pakistan and simply 1 million in Islamabad. That makes the town nice for a stopover and introduction to the nation. I’d advocate at the least one full day to discover Islamabad, although it wouldn’t damage to permit for 2 and benefit from shaking jet lag on the similar time.

Begin the day proper with one of many finest coffees in Islamabad, discovered at Mocca Cafe in Kohsar Market. While you’re there make sure you wander round and start to expertise the native procuring. I’d recommend making the most of the chance to purchase a shawl or two, as you will want to put on a shawl when coming into mosques and as a normal rule, it’s a good suggestion to have on one hand for sure conditions that decision for overlaying up as an indication of respect to the native tradition.

For a ravishing pashmina (that are in reality from Nepal), head over to Maharaja Handicrafts at F6 markez, faculty highway. For Afghan Handicrafts and antiques head over to the few retailers across the nook from Maharaja on Aga Khan Street close to the flower retailers.

Verify in to the Serena Lodge if you would like an unforgettable introduction to Pakistani tradition, structure, and opulent interiors inside what is taken into account essentially the most lovely lodge in Islamabad. The lodge has all of the perks you can ever want, together with an outside swimming pool, health centre and big restaurant to get pleasure from a buffet breakfast.

Skardu

An vital word on this itinerary: it depends totally on this primary flight from Islamabad to Skardu, which is sadly topic to many cancellations given the climate path coming into the mountain ranges in Skardu. Ought to your flight be cancelled and you’re travelling as a part of a tour, various preparations will probably be made for you. In case you are travelling by yourself accord, I’d advocate having just a few days of flexibility in case of cancellation, as there is just one flight a day and it’s totally climate dependent.

Sadly our journey started in simply that style: a cancelled flight to Skardu, ensuing in a 12 hour drive towards that path and a immediate in us reversing our itinerary. With a dose of optimism I’m hoping the identical doesn’t occur to you, so will proceed to share the itinerary because it was initially deliberate as we nonetheless visited all of those locations – simply in reverse and with way more time in a bus!

On the best way to Skardu make sure you request a seat on the left hand aspect of the airplane for the perfect photograph alternatives – you gained’t remorse it as you enter the mountain ranges in the North!

When you arrive make sure you refill on dried apricots, walnuts and almonds for the lengthy journey by highway over the approaching days. There have been days the place we might not eat for 12 hours at a time given the distant areas of those cities, so it’s higher to be ready!

Shigar Fort

A few hours drive from Skardu and you’ll arrive at Shigar Fort, one among Northern Pakistan’s most lovely inns occupying an outdated fort. The expertise is actual and uncooked – virtually so actual that it feels as you probably have stepped in to a film set as a result of it’s so picturesque. The city itself can also be nice to stroll round in the course of the day amidst the hustle and bustle or you’ll be able to take a bicycle for a extra relaxed afternoon to stretch the legs after your lengthy airplane and bus journey.

In the event you can time your luck, there could also be a neighborhood polo match going down close by. Ask your information or one of many locals for up to date data – it is a common sport in the Gilgit-Baltistan area and identified common as “Recreation of the Kings”.

Khaplu Palace

It’s a additional three hours drive to succeed in Khaplu Palace, however that is fingers down some of the lovely properties to remain in all of Pakistan and certainly, the spotlight of my journey. If in case you have time to spend a couple of evening, this property is finest loved at a slower tempo. You’ll want to make use of the guided palace tour as there may be a lot to study concerning the historical past of the palace and its surrounds.

The Royal Excessive Tea is an expertise to not be forgotten and is served on a terrace overlooking the palace grounds and has sweeping views of the encompassing mountains. In the event you ask politely the lodge workers may additionally allow you to discover the rooftop of the palace, which has 360 diploma views over Khaplu.

In case you are feeling extra energetic and adventurous, there’s a nice panoramic view available at Thoqsikhar, a two hour hike from the palace. Ask the lodge to pack a picnic lunch or begin your journey early in the morning with the solar and return to the palace for a relaxed lunch in the gardens.

If in case you have time the day you’re testing, contemplate stopping at Bara, a small city simply 20 minutes from Khaplu and en path to your subsequent vacation spot: Gilgit. Right here you can find a wool spinning and weave centre that trains and helps native ladies. That is additionally an awesome place to buy a neighborhood Baltistani topi.

Gilgit

It’s a prolonged drive from Khaplu to Gilgit, so make sure you depart in good time when you want to see Gilgit earlier than darkish and maybe even take a hike to the water channel above the town that provides views of the valley beneath and likewise options the victory monument of Taj Mughul in addition to the seventh century Kargah Buddha rock carving. While in Gilgit we stayed on the Serena Lodge and I used to be beginning to realise how a lot I appreciated these lovely inns being all throughout Pakistan! They have been extraordinarily welcoming and felt like coming residence. Buffet breakfasts have been a spotlight as have been the interiors, all the time devoted to the native space and paying tribute to influences in Central Asia.

Karimabad, Hunza

If you’ll spend just a few days in anybody place, I’d extremely advocate basing your self for just a few days in the Hunza Valley. Famend for its appeal, cleanliness and 995 literacy price, Hunza is often considered some of the lovely cities to go to in the North of Pakistan.

In the event you’re feeling peckish, begin your day at Cafe de Hunza for a slice of well-known walnut cake with an iced latte (which is definitely a frappe for ye Westerners) and so refreshing after days and days of on the spot espresso!

There are lots of cities to discover in Hunza, however with restricted time we made our strategy to Gulmit, one of many highlights in the Hunza Valley. Right here there are a variety of ladies’s initiatives and it was one of many few cities the place we noticed ladies in the streets. To assist native communities, some nice objects to buy as souvenirs or presents to take residence are apricot lotions and oils, gem stones, woollen shawls and woodcraft. You’ll find many artisans and store keepers on the streets who’re greater than keen to assist (a lot of which converse good English) and never as soon as was I hassled to purchase something all through my time in Pakistan.

Not too removed from Hunza, I’d extremely advocate a go to to Attabad lake. This lake appeared  after a landslide that killed 20 folks generally known as the Attabad catastrophe. The lake collects glacial silt from the encompassing mountains, ensuing in its turquoise blue color in Spring and Summer season. Additional down the highway edging nearer to the border with China is the rickety bridge generally known as “The Indiana Jones Bridge” for its likeness, although it by no means appeared in the movies. It’s completely price a go to however not for the faint hearted!

Karakoram Freeway

Thought of to be one of many best engineering accomplishments of the 20th century, the Karakoram Freeway connects Pakistan and China and is among the highlights of Northeastern Pakistan. Your complete journey is 805 miles lengthy however you don’t must drive your entire strategy to expertise a number of the epic surroundings that takes you thru hair-raising turns, countless mountain ranges and lots of small villages the place locals will wave as you cross by.

Fairy Meadows

If journey journey is extra your type and also you’re prepared for one wild experience, don’t miss the prospect to leap on the jeeps and make your strategy to fairy Meadows alongside a steep cliff edge. After a one hour drive to the top of the highway, it’s only a 1.5-2 hour hike to the Fairy Meadows camp, which is a well-liked cease en path to the Base Camp for Nanga Parbat.

If time is in your aspect you would possibly contemplate embarking on the trek to base camp the next morning – in line with my information this was an additional 10-12 hour hike with fundamental lodging at base camp. The Swiss-style cabins at Fairy Meadows are beautiful and luxurious, full with scorching water and electrical energy! This was a ravishing a part of the world to get up and benefit from the crisp mountain air so if time is in your aspect, you could even need to keep an additional evening.