Explore Pakistan
Seven regions, from the high Karakoram to the Arabian Sea. Pick a destination to see when to go, how to get there and where to stay.
Coming from abroad? Read the travel info for international visitors first.
Gilgit-Baltistan
All of Gilgit-BaltistanGilgit-Baltistan is the far north, where the Karakoram, the Himalaya and the Hindu Kush meet. It holds the Hunza and Skardu valleys, the Deosai plateau, Fairy Meadows below Nanga Parbat and the Karakoram Highway towards China. Travel is by mountain road or by weather-dependent flights to Gilgit and Skardu, and the main season runs from spring to autumn.
- HunzaGuest houses and small hotels in the Hunza valley, from Karimabad to Gulmit, for the forts, the lake and the autumn colours.Best months: April to OctoberNo stays yet
- SkarduHotels and guest houses in Skardu, the base for Deosai, the Kachura lakes and the Shigar and Khaplu forts.Best months: May to SeptemberNo stays yet
- Fairy MeadowsPlan a trip to Fairy Meadows below Nanga Parbat: getting there, the season and where to stay.Best months: June to SeptemberNo stays yet
- DeosaiPlan a trip to the Deosai plains: the season, the road from Skardu and what to know before you go.Best months: June to SeptemberNo stays yet
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
All of Khyber PakhtunkhwaKhyber Pakhtunkhwa runs from the plains around Peshawar to the mountain valleys of Swat, Kaghan and Chitral. Visitors come for the old city of Peshawar, the Buddhist heritage of the Swat valley, the summer valleys of Kalam and Naran, and the Kalash valleys near Chitral. The mountain valleys are summer destinations; the plains are best in winter.
- SwatHotels, huts and guest houses across the Swat valley, from Mingora to Kalam, with verified hosts.Best months: April to OctoberNo stays yet
- KalamHotels and huts in Kalam, the last town of the upper Swat valley, for Mahodand lake and the Ushu forest.Best months: June to SeptemberNo stays yet
- NaranHotels, huts and camps in Naran for Lake Saiful Muluk and the Babusar road, in the summer season.Best months: June to SeptemberNo stays yet
- ChitralPlan a trip to Chitral below Tirich Mir, the gateway to the Kalash valleys.Best months: May to OctoberNo stays yet
- Kalash ValleysPlan a respectful visit to the Kalash valleys of Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir near Chitral.Best months: May to OctoberNo stays yet
Punjab
All of PunjabPunjab is the most populous province, the plains of five rivers with Lahore at its heart. It holds the Mughal monuments of Lahore, the Gandhara ruins of Taxila near Islamabad, the hill station of Murree, and the shrines of Multan. The plains are hot in summer, so most visitors come between October and March.
- LahoreApartments, portions and guest houses across Lahore, from Gulberg and DHA to the Walled City, with verified hosts.Best months: October to MarchNo stays yet
- MurreeCottages, hotels and guest houses in Murree for summer breaks and snow weekends, with the Mall Road at the centre.Best months: April to June, September to October, December to JanuaryNo stays yet
- TaxilaPlan a day at Taxila, the Gandhara heritage site near Islamabad.Best months: October to MarchNo stays yet
Sindh
All of SindhSindh is the lower Indus valley and the coast, with Karachi as its port city. It holds Mohenjo-daro, one of the great cities of the Indus civilisation, and the Makli necropolis at Thatta, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The winter months are the comfortable time to travel; summers are very hot inland.
- KarachiApartments and guest houses in Karachi, from Clifton and DHA to the Shahrah-e-Faisal corridor, booked with verified hosts.Best months: November to FebruaryNo stays yet
- Mohenjo-daroPlan a visit to Mohenjo-daro, the Indus Valley city in Sindh.Best months: November to FebruaryNo stays yet
- ThattaPlan a day trip to Thatta and the Makli necropolis from Karachi.Best months: November to FebruaryNo stays yet
Balochistan
All of BalochistanBalochistan is the largest province by area, a land of deserts, mountains and a long Arabian Sea coast. It holds the Makran coast and Gwadar, Hingol National Park and the juniper forests of Ziarat above Quetta. Travel here needs more planning than elsewhere; check the current rules for foreign visitors before you go.
- GwadarPlan a trip to Gwadar on the Makran coast, and what to check before you travel.Best months: November to MarchNo stays yet
- HingolPlan a trip to Hingol National Park and Kund Malir on the Makran coast.Best months: November to MarchNo stays yet
- ZiaratPlan a trip to Ziarat and its juniper forests above Quetta.Best months: May to SeptemberNo stays yet
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
All of Azad Jammu and KashmirAzad Jammu and Kashmir is a mountainous region of rivers and forested valleys, with Muzaffarabad as its main city. The Neelum valley follows the Neelum river north-east through villages, forests and meadows. Parts of the region lie close to the Line of Control, so access rules for foreign visitors apply.
Islamabad Capital Territory
All of Islamabad Capital TerritoryThe Islamabad Capital Territory is the capital and the Margalla Hills National Park behind it. It is where most international visitors arrive by air, and a calm base for the Margalla trails, Faisal Mosque and day trips to Taxila and Murree.
Rules change: check the official source before you travel.