Pakistan travel guides

Most nationalities need a visa, and Pakistan's online e-visa system now covers over 100 countries with a reasonably straightforward application. Tourists from a number of countries are also eligible for a visa on arrival when travelling through an approved tour operator. Processing usually takes a few working days but can be longer, so apply well ahead. You will need a passport valid for six months, hotel bookings and often an invitation or tour operator letter.

The north and the plains have opposite seasons, so timing depends on where you are going. For the Karakoram, Hunza and trekking, May to October is the window, with the Khunjerab Pass typically open from April or May to November and autumn colours peaking in October. For Lahore, Karachi and the Indus plains, November to March is far more comfortable, as summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C. Spring blossom in Hunza around late March and early April is spectacular.

Safety in Pakistan varies enormously by region, so check your government's current travel advisory before booking. Gilgit-Baltistan and the northern areas along the Karakoram Highway are widely considered safe and see steady tourism, as do Islamabad and Lahore. Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa carry serious advisories against travel. Foreign visitors are sometimes assigned police escorts in certain areas. Within the areas that are visited, hospitality is exceptional and street crime is low.

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is the currency and Pakistan is largely a cash economy. Cards are accepted in international hotels and larger city restaurants but rarely elsewhere, and almost never in the northern areas. ATMs are available in cities and larger towns such as Gilgit and Skardu, but withdraw generously before heading into the mountains. The rupee has been volatile in recent years, which makes Pakistan very inexpensive for foreign visitors.

Most travellers hire a car with a driver, which gives the flexibility to stop at Attabad Lake, Passu Cones and the viewpoints that make the road worth doing. NATCO public buses run the route cheaply from Islamabad to Gilgit and on to Sost, taking around 20 hours to Gilgit. Flying Islamabad to Gilgit or Skardu saves a long day but flights are frequently cancelled for weather. Allow at least a week to do the highway properly rather than rushing it.

On trip1, you can book hotels across Pakistan and pay with over 50 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC. trip1 covers 3 million+ hotels in 190+ countries, making it easy to find and book accommodation with crypto.