Frequently asked questions

With over 700 treks and passes, the notorious five 8000-meter ranges, beautiful landscape, generosity, cultural diversity, a tonne of Mughal architecture, unique and exotic animal species of animals, Sufi shrines and so much more, Pakistan is indeed an excellent destination to discover.

Only in Pakistan, you can witness the confluence of the three gigantic mountain ranges; The Karakoram, The Himalayas, and The Hindukush range. Amidst these ranges, you will find some of the highest alpine lakes, Glaciers, mountains, and Passes. 

Here are some of the facts you can only experience in Pakistan. 

 

  1. Five 8000m mountains out of 14 ranges are in Pakistan. 
  2. K2 the second-highest peak in the world is located in Pakistan
  3. 700+ mountain passes and treks in Northern Pakistan. 
  4. Worlds 3rd, 5th, and 7th Largest glaciers (Biafo, Baltoro, and Batura respectively) outside of the polar regions are located in northern Pakistan 
  5. Some of the rarest mountain species are surviving in the mountains of the Himalayas and Karakoram 
  6. The confluence of the world’s three highest mountain ranges (Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindukush) can be visited only in Pakistan. 
  7. Hunza and Skardu are the best travel destinations with nature and attractions no other country in the world has. 
  8. Some of the most beautiful mosques and architectural monuments are here. 
  9. Sufi shrines and Dhamaal sessions in parts of Punjab and Sindh are great attractions. 
  10. Historic Lahore Fort and old Lahore are great fascinations

Pakistan is a country where security-related concerns have existed. There are some ups and downs in between even though the country is safe and sound and does not intend the use violence. Considered as a whole, many visitors travel to Pakistan and have a wonderful experience. Tourists have no reason to worry about their safety because locals are friendly and inviting to visitors. The citizens of Pakistan are known to be wonderful, courteous, helpful, and cheerful. Pakistan is a tourist-friendly nation, and we value visitors who come to visit us. In contrast to several other countries, it is quite safe to travel to Pakistan.

To remain updated on the most recent events, always make sure to check the latest information before traveling to any country.

Pakistan is a fascinating nation with a huge assortment. Tourists are welcome everywhere, the safest places that a tourist can visit include the lovable northern areas which most of the tourists visit throughout the year as the naturalists are often enticed by the Hunza Valley, Skardu Valley, Naran Kaghan, Fairy Meadows, Neelum Valley, Gojal Valley, and Naltar Valley. It is a great nation that is less expensive and safer for those who adore trekking, climbing, sightseeing, and other various activities.

Some other top tourist destinations in Pakistan include Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Swat, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Mingora, Gwadar, and others. As a result, there is no need for you to be concerned because Pakistan is a highly safe country for travelers and all of its tourist spots are absolutely secure.

The northern areas of Pakistan are extremely safe for a solo female traveler, Hunza and Skardu are two of the highly recommended destinations that a lone female traveler can visit and explore with ease, but on the other hand, you need to be a bit more careful when visiting the far more religious sides of the country like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

Yes, of course, a US citizen is equally welcome in Pakistan as citizens of other nations. Citizens of the United States who may visit Pakistan for any reason must have a current visa, which can be obtained from the Pakistani Embassy. You are at risk of being penalized, detained, deported, and incarcerated if you enter Pakistan without the appropriate visa.

Simply follow a few basic instructions and submit an online application on the NADRA website to obtain a tourist visa for Pakistan. There are only a few minimal prerequisites and requirements to complete in order to do so.

For more information on this, please visit our blog.

How to get a tourist visa for Pakistan

If you plan to visit Pakistan, then the ideal time to visit and travel to Pakistan is from the months of May to October, during this time you can get to experience and embrace the finest weather, spring blooms, summer abundance, and autumnal hues each depending on the month you choose to travel in. Whether it be traveling to the north or some of the other popular tourist destinations in Pakistan, you would get to experience a phenomenal time throughout your journey during these months. In the winter, the northern regions experience harsh cold weather, rain, and snowfall which frequently cause landslides and bottlenecks.

As a foreign tourist, you must arrange your tour as far ahead in advance as possible—at the very least, a month and a half prior to your scheduled flight. This is due to the minimum processing time for visas being 28 days. Travel plans should be made at least three months in advance if you have a trekking visa. The best hotels would be completely occupied and inaccessible due to peak months, on the contrary, domestic flights are also unavailable during the same time, which necessitates you to book months before your actual trip. This is another consideration that our international travelers need to be mindful of.

Booking.com and Airbnb are the two top portals for hotel bookings in Pakistan. There is a tonne of fantastic hotels you may reserve there, whether you’re looking for something affordable or luxurious. It all varies depending on your needs. When making a reservation in the northern region of Pakistan, one to keep an eye out for is the hotel owner’s situational awareness, because they might remain dormant.

When a tourist visa is requested for Pakistan, the processing time is at most 28 days. Usually, it takes a week to process the tourist visa for Pakistan. 

A trekkers visa would be only valid for particular trekking destinations, such as K2, Baltoro Glacier, etc. in Pakistan. In contrast, a tourist visa enables you to travel and explore throughout Pakistan or any other country.

A sufficient number of days would have to be allocated if you intend to thoroughly tour northern Pakistan. The typical duration of a tour to Hunza is 7 to 10 days, while a tour to Skardu would generally take the very same number of days as Hunza. You will require at least 10 days to visit both of them, however, this time frame can indeed be prolonged to 15 days. So, if going to northern Pakistan, you might as well try to visit both of them. 

Given that this is a complex question to evaluate, we’ll simply mention both the features and drawbacks of each area so that you can determine your personal pick. While Hunza is close by, its travel destinations are gorgeous and attractive, which draws tourists to it since Hunza has stunning mountain ranges. Skardu, on the other hand, is a stunning location with far wider travel destinations and districts to discover that leave visitors in admiration. Thus, we learn from this that Skardu is enormous and Hunza seems to be little compared to it. Contrary to Skardu’s traditional and very religious population, the Hunza people are far more flexible and liberal. Therefore, it is now for you to decide! 

Absolutely yes! Travelers on a budget are strongly encouraged to visit Pakistan. Pakistan seems to be the ideal destination for travelers on a strict budget simply because it is albeit less expensive than most other nations. Nevertheless, we recommend that you come to Pakistan and have a pleasant experience.

Considering trekkers must hike for a minimal level of 14 days, climbing the K2 Base Camp will take an incredible level of athleticism. In order to withstand this amount of hiking, one must be extremely fit, strong and healthy.

The following is a list of items to bring with you when visiting Pakistan:

  • Umbrella
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Hiking shoes
  • Extra and warm clothes
  • Water bottle
  • Power bank
  • Basic medications

Since winter arrives early in certain parts of Pakistan, the places become majestic and evolve into winter wonderlands. Murree, Nathia Gali, Swat, Kashmir, Hunza, and Skardu are just some of the best destinations to explore during the snowiest months of the year. You should consider visiting one of these magnificent places if you fancy the shimmering snow!

Khanpur Dam, Taxila, Murree, Nathia Gali, Muzaffarabad, and old Rawalpindi are just a few of the wonderful tourist attractions close to Islamabad; traveling there will just take a few minutes or a few hours.

The best internet can be found practically anywhere in northern Pakistan; almost all respectable hotels in Hunza, Skardu, and other places have optic fiber WiFi connections. The remoteness of the mountainous regions, on the other hand, accounts for their inadequate or nonexistent internet service.

By purchasing a SCOM sim card from any cell phone retailer or SCOM franchise as soon as you arrive in Gilgit Baltistan, the internet problem while traveling in northern Pakistan can be resolved. These franchises and mobile phone retailer shops are available all across Gilgit Baltistan. 

Since most northern tourist destinations rely on generators and solar panels, the electrical situation there isn’t particularly great, therefore you’ll need to bring a power bank with you while you’re traveling since it is a necessity there.

Consumption of Alcohol is banned for Muslims only. Public consumption is also illegal. You can grab alcohol from local stores and 5-star hotels in cities however, in Northern Pakistan, there is no store as yet. You can carry along from cities, however.

Modest dressing is recommended. You are suggested to wear loose clothes and cover your shoulders and legs to stay away from public attention. Wear a head scarf or a cap while visiting mosques. 

Grant permission from the people before taking pictures. Be careful in rural areas. Do not take photographs at Airports, Military Areas, and Brides as you may be caught suspiciously. 

Blasphemy is a very very serious offense in Pakistan. There is a death penalty for blasphemy in Pakistan. Make sure you avoid religious discussions with strangers or even with the people you know. 

Get special offers, and more from Exploria

Subscribe to see secret deals prices drop the moment you sign up!

Translate »