It is not safe! Why do you want to die? Taliban rules there!
These are some of the many things people say knowing someone is planning to visit Pakistan. And well, they’re not to be blamed. Sadly, the dark clouds of Pakistan’s history still somewhat overshadow the natural beauty, rich culture, and second-to-none hospitality, my homeland Pakistan has to offer. Talk about Pakistan travel inspiration? That just goes down the drain!
But today, I’m going to give you a raw perspective of Pakistan; not from me (I defo don’t want to sound biased!), but from my fellow travel bloggers who have either visited the country or they’re intrigued to visit it very, very soon!
So be ready to get awe-struck by a few of the million reasons Pakistan needs to be visited right now!
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A Long Fetched Dream
By Anne & Clemens of Travellers Archive
Pakistan has always been a dream destination for us and we actually planned traveling there for quite a long time. Last November, we finally got our much needed Pakistan travel inspiration and went over for about one month and totally fell in love with the country. Not only are the locals the most welcoming people we ever met on our trips but also is the country full of places to explore, sights to see and food to eat.
Obviously, there are a couple of things that need to be considered when going there, such as the fact that in some places you will be escorted by police – even if it ends up in an awkward market situation where you get to walk around with two police officers. But hey, this is Pakistan, a country in which tourism vanished, but also a country that is definitely on the rise to becoming more and more popular for adventurers.
Our favorite places in Pakistan were by far Fairy Meadows which is a picturesque place the foot of Nanga Parbat. We went there in November and ended up hiking in snow, which was quite an experience. Also, we love Lahore and its quirky and chaotic old city. It’s amazing how many things you can explore in this part of the country. Definitely a must!
An Adventurer’s Paradise
By Daisy of Beyond My Border
While living in India, I heard much about Pakistan. From the sociopolitical situation to its history, there were a number of stances with regards to the India-Pakistan relationship. However, one thing remains certain-Pakistan is a beautiful country, just like its neighbor.
This was precisely the case while extending my visa at the Embassy in Delhi. A foreigner I met in line told me of his experience interning in Pakistan just a few years before his venture in India. He described to me the vast mountains and blue lakes that he explored. And from there I got my Pakistan travel inspiration.
He told me that Pakistan is an adventurer’s paradise, and advised me to visit if given the chance. Although I couldn’t make it to Pakistan then, his words have stuck with me ever since.
Aside from the scenery and the promised adventure, many tell me that Pakistan has some of the most delicious food. Catching an episode of Mark Wiens’s street food adventure in the country can quickly confirm such a statement. Whether it be its Nihari or Chicken Karahi, I’d love to taste Pakistani cuisine on the ground!
Obviously, Safe!
By Mike of 197 Travel Stamps
I’ve visited Pakistan last year in August – it was my 116th country back then. Like so many other countries, Pakistan has got a very bad reputation in the Western media. Luckily, I had a lot of Pakistan travel inspiration! And the very few travelers that make it there provide little information about what traveling in Pakistan is like. So we didn’t really know what to expect when we landed at Karachi airport at 3 am.
Our hotel was set up like a fortress with two security perimeters and very detailed checks. Impressive. Seemed like nothing or no one could get through those walls. However, moving around the city felt very easy the next day. We drove around in local tuk-tuks and visited the main sights without any security or other precautions. And the people were nothing but nice to us.
At the incredible Mazar-e-Quaid mausoleum, we could hardly leave anymore since so many people wanted to take selfies with us – an incredible experience that doesn’t happen often in more touristy places around the world. Now I can hardly wait to get back to Pakistan to visit the more remote places of the country.
Fascinating Heritage
By Federica of A Stroll Around The World
Maybe is due to my never-ending desire of discovering the heritage of this world that Pakistan is among the destinations I’d love to explore. Born and raised in Rome, Italy I studied archeology and history of ancient Greek and Roman art before starting a career as a journalist.
Still, my passion for art in all his forms and less known heritage sites drive the choice of my travel destinations. And that’s why I always had the
Pakistan travel inspiration. Ideally, I would love to start my tour of Pakistan by visiting Moenjodaro. Considered the oldest urban settlement in South Asia, it dates to the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. My appetite for exploring historical places would bring me to the Buddhist monastery of Takht-i-Bahi and the neighboring city of Sahr-Bahlol.
I wouldn’t leave Pakistan without visiting the higher example of Mughal civilization in the city of Lahore. Here the monumental Fort and the Shalimar Gardens testify the best of the local art in the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the Pakistan sites, I wish to visit there is a tour of the historical funeral monuments in the necropolis of Maklii, one of the largest in the world.
My ideal trip around Pakistan would end in the north of the country, in the Punjab province. In this area are the impressive Rohtas Fort, a remarkable early Muslim military fortress, and the city of Taxila. Located on the Silk Road, this city is one of the most important Asian archeological sites with a Mesolithic cave, a Buddhist monastery, and a Mosque with madrassa.
Spectacular Scenery
By Wendy of The Nomadic Vegan
My husband and I visited Pakistan in 2004 as part of a larger trip. Before arriving in Pakistan we had been traveling all over India for four months and were a bit exhausted by the subcontinent at that point. We thought Pakistan would be like India, but it was completely different.
Unlike India, no one hassled us in Pakistan. The people were extremely friendly and genuinely wanted to know if we were enjoying ourselves in their country.
And the scenery was absolutely spectacular! This was our first time seeing high alpine landscapes, and we were completely blown away by the view of Mt. Rakaposhi and its glacier when we hiked to the base camp.
Even the bus ride along the Karakoram Highway, which winds down through the mountains all the way to Islamabad, was breathtaking.
But our favorite place in Pakistan, which combines hospitality with magical mountain scenery, was Chapurson Valley, a three-hour truck ride from the Karakoram Highway near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.
We stayed in Zood Khun, the last village in the Valley before you reach Afghanistan, and were warmly welcomed by our host, Alam Jan Dario, who runs a small guesthouse. I dream of going back one day and trekking through the Wakhan Corridor with Alam as my guide with a lot more
Pakistan travel inspiration this time.
The Imperfectly Perfect
By Samantha of International Detours
If you had asked me about Pakistan one year ago from today, I would have nothing to tell you. While I didn’t know much about the country, I was under the general assumption that it was impossible to visit at all, nevermind safely.
While visiting India’s Himalayas last summer, I distinctly recall my boyfriend mention that he had heard that it was Pakistan, not India, that had the most magnificent mountains. And I distinctly remember myself replying, Too bad we can’t go there. But now? As of two days ago, I have just submitted my Visa application with intentions of visiting this beautiful country in the coming months.
And how did this change occur? Two words: social media. After chance discoveries of several travel blogs that highlighted Pakistan, my Pakistan travel inspiration spiked and I became absolutely enthralled- with the peaks, with the tales of unparalleled hospitality, with the mouthwatering Lahori dishes. I have no shame in admitting I’ve spent hours upon hours of the last 9 months pouring over images and videos of this land and imagining myself in it.
One year ago today, Pakistan wasn’t even remotely on my radar. Now, I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to travel anywhere, ever. This revelation has opened my mind in ways I could never have imagined just 365 days ago.
I’ll be forever thankful to those that have traveled before me that have showcased the reality of this country- one that may not be perfect but is clearly very different than Western travel advisories make it out to be.
Colorful (read: crazy) Weddings!
By Valentina of Valentina’s Destinations
I had the opportunity to visit Lahore, Pakistan in March of 2019 to attend a wedding. It was absolutely the most beautiful wedding I have ever been too! Pakistani weddings usually last 3 days and encompass a wide range of festivities and traditions.
The first day is called *mehndi —*after the ceremonial dye used to decorate the hands of the women. Mehndi is the most lavish and colorful day of the ceremony. It is hosted together by both the bride & groom’s families. At the ceremony I attended, the bride’s family put together a series of dance performances for the whole evening.
The bride’s family, males, and females, all ages, took part in the dancing. It was really quite beautiful. After the dancing, we got to eat delicious lamb roast with our hands. The Bhatoora bread was amazing!
During my trip to Pakistan, I was constantly impressed with the generosity and humility of the locals. Everyone went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and having a good time.
When sightseeing, we were even given special access to visit a temple usually restricted to non-worshipers. I was especially impressed with the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. Usually, it is forbidden for non-Muslims to enter a mosque. This wasn’t an issue in Lahore. We were gracious to accept this privilege and enjoy its history and beauty.
From the eyes of the INCREDIBLE neighbor…
By Priyanko Sarkar of Constant Traveller
Pakistan is my country’s estranged brother with whom I can’t have any relations because our forefathers divided us with the blessings of a colonial superpower. In fact, ‘go to Pakistan’ is used as an insult in India if you seemingly show any feelings of so-called ‘anti-nationalism’ in India.
But it need not be so. Created by the same womb, we share so many common features, dreams, and aspirations that the only unique things that divide us are our natural beauty and certain food customs. I have met many Pakistanis on my travels to countries like the UK, Turkey, and Thailand and have never found anything disturbing or alarming about any of them.
When you realize your brother is the same flesh and bone as you, you can’t help but look at him as a human being than from the prism of hate as we’ve been accustomed to doing.
I sincerely hope I can one day enjoy travelling through Pakistan and visit its famed cities such as Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi, climb the Karakorum mountains, relax at Swat and Abbottabad, learn about the ruins of Harappa and Taxila – all the while enjoying the famed hospitality that I read other travellers always experience.
In return, I promise to tell the world that brothers are meant to stay together peacefully and prosper as one.
Unmatched Hospitality
By Patrick of German Backpacker
Unfortunately, Pakistan is a destination which is mostly for negative stories in international media and therefore, many travelers might actually never consider visiting this beautiful country.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to explore Pakistan as part of the IESS summer school program of the IBA Karachi and these 3 weeks were one of the best travel experiences of my life. After spending about one week in Karachi, getting to know the student life as well as the city, my Pakistan travel inspiration was high! I went on a 10-days trip around northern Pakistan with a trip of local students.
We visited a variety of places, such as Lahore, Islamabad, and Hunza in the northern areas. For me, traveling Pakistan was a wonderful experience and I was stunned by the awesome nature, the unique culture and especially by the incredible hospitality.
In fact, I can already guarantee that the local people will be the big highlight of your Pakistan trip. Never in the world have I ever experiences such hospitality! Everyone makes you feel so welcome and I’m happy about all the experiences and especially about all the friends that I made in Pakistan.
So, are you surprised by the beauty or satisfied with the safety? I’ll be happy if you’re both!
Pakistan is definitely not your easy-to-go travel destination. It can be confusing and chaotic, but believe me; it will be worth it…
If this post has given you the slightest of Pakistan travel inspiration then leave a comment below or you know what’s better? SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!
Because this unexplored, untouched gem of Asia is waiting to be discovered…
Related: Photo Guide To Cherry Blossom In Hunza Valley, Pakistan
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Love my Pakistan ❤️. Thanks for showing amazing Pakistan. Beautiful rivers, highest peaks, wonderful n friendly people.
Let’s go to Pakistan.
Such a great places in Pakistan. Nice post.
Thank you for taking the time to put this together! It’s so important that we don’t forget about countries that may have had bad PR in the past. Pakistan looks like a magical place to visit and I will definitely add it to my list!
Thank you Lesley, for your lovely comment! Pakistan definitely needs a lot more tourism marketing at the moment considering the potential of tourism the country holds.
I’ve been hearing whisperings lately about how amazing Pakistan is, so it was really cool reading this article and seeing photos. You’re making me itch to get there soon!
Yay! I guess the purpose of this article is served 😀