Destination guide · 9 min read
Northern Pakistan Travel Guide: 8 Places You Shouldn't Miss
Northern Pakistan is where three of the world's great mountain ranges — the Karakoram, the Himalaya and the Hindu Kush — collide. In a single trip you can stand beside 7,000-metre peaks, boat across glacial lakes and drink tea in villages that traded along the Silk Road. Here are the eight places we send travellers to first, and how long to give each.
1. Hunza Valley (2,438 m)
The postcard of the north: terraced apricot orchards, the fairy-tale Baltit and Altit forts, and Rakaposhi (7,788 m) filling the skyline. Base yourself in Karimabad, catch sunrise from Eagle's Nest, and take a boat across the impossibly blue Attabad Lake. Give it 2–3 days.
2. Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m)
An easy day trip from Hunza, Khunjerab is the highest paved border crossing on earth, marking the frontier with China at the top of the Karakoram Highway. The drive through Khunjerab National Park often turns up ibex and yaks. Half a day from Hunza.
3. Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat (3,300 m)
A lush alpine meadow staring straight at Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), the ninth-highest mountain in the world. Reaching it is part of the adventure — a legendary jeep track followed by a short forest trek. Stay a night to catch the peak at golden hour. Give it 2 days.
4. Skardu & the Cold Desert (2,228 m)
Gateway to the world's highest peaks, Skardu pairs the Shangrila resort and mirror-still Kachura lakes with the surreal Katpana cold desert — sand dunes beneath snow peaks. It's also the launch point for K2 expeditions. Give it 2–3 days.
5. Deosai National Park (4,114 m)
Nicknamed the "Land of Giants," Deosai is one of the highest plateaus on earth — a rolling summer wildflower prairie roamed by the Himalayan brown bear and marmots. Sheosar Lake sits at 4,142 m. Cross it between Skardu and Astore in the summer months.
6. Naran, Kaghan & Lake Saif-ul-Malook (2,409 m)
The most accessible slice of the north from the plains. The star is Lake Saif-ul-Malook (3,224 m), wrapped in the legend of a prince and a fairy, reached by jeep from Naran. Add the Babusar Top pass (4,173 m) for sweeping views. Give it 2 days.
7. Swat Valley (980 m and up)
Green to the horizon and often called the "Switzerland of Pakistan." Ride the Malam Jabba chairlift, push up to Kalam, and take a jeep to Mahodand Lake. Gentler altitudes make it a great family option. Give it 2–3 days.
8. Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir (1,524 m)
A turquoise river threading wooden villages right along the Line of Control. Sleep in Keran, explore the ruins at Sharda, and take the chairlift-and-trek combo up to the hanging meadow of Arang Kel. Give it 3 days.
When is the best time to visit?
The main season runs May to October. High passes such as Khunjerab and Babusar are most reliably open from June to September; spring brings blossom to Hunza in late March–April, and October paints the valleys gold. Winters are beautiful but many high roads close.
How to get there
Most journeys start from Islamabad or Lahore, either overland along the Karakoram Highway or by a short flight to Gilgit or Skardu (weather permitting). All Naya Safar tours depart from Lahore and Islamabad with pickup from either city.
Ready to see it for yourself?
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