Pakistan Travel Information

Pakistan is an undiscovered and large South Asian country that is rich in history and archaeological sights, as well as a myriad of cultures and religions and long traditions of hospitality. Known today mainly about its political violence and Islamic fundamentalism, Pakistan is not the safest destination, but has yet much to explore, offering amazing historic cities, scenic mountain valleys and activities such as trekking and mountain climbing. Large and multicultural Pakistan is located in South Asia between India on the east, Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north. Pakistan has diverse landscapes from southern beaches and deserts to the mighty snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas and Hindu Kush Mountains in the north. It is a multilingual, predominantly Muslim country with the sixth largest population in the world. The major ethnic groups in Pakistan include Punjabis that account almost half of the population, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Seraikis, Muhajirs from India and several other groups. There are also approximately three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Cultural treasures. Pakistan has an old and rich culture with many traditions, monuments and dishes inherited from the rule of Mughal and Afghan emperors or from Central Asia. Traditional religious and family values are still highly regarded in Pakistan. The country does not receive much tourism yet, but it is growing steadily. Tourism attractions in Pakistan: from climbing mountains to buying carpetsPakistan has a wide variety of historic, cultural and natural attractions and activities. The varied landscapes of the country range from the sandy beaches of the south coast to the western deserts, fertile river plains in Central Pakistan and the high mountains of the north. There are over 100 mountain peaks in Pakistan that are above 7000 meters / 23000 feet high, including the famous K2, that make Pakistan a favorite destination for mountain climbers. Archaeologic attractions include the ruins of the ancient civilizations in Moenjodaro, Harappa and Taxila, and historic sites range from the great mughal architecture of Lahore to old fortresses and grand mosques, as well as Buddhist shrines and Himalayan hill stations in the north. Inexpensive shopping paradise. Pakistan is also an excellent, affordable destination for shopping. Leather goods, carpets, garments, handicrafts and jewellery can be found in many bazaars and markets around the country, and the major cities also have large, modern shopping malls. City destinations. Islamabad is the modern capital of Pakistan. It is a well-planned and organized city with interesting architecture, museums and monuments, and popular trekking in nearby hills. The historic capital of Pakistan, Lahore is a large, bustling city with plenty of historic and architectural sights as well as a great variety of restaurants and cultural attractions. In the south, the largest city and financial center of Pakistan, Karachi is a bustling, multi-million metropolis with plenty of sights and entertainment options, whereas Peshawar in the northwest is a market city with an outlaw feel and a gateway to Afghanistan. The northern mountains of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush attract a large amount of tourism with their interesting mix of cultures, historic sights and excellent opportunities for mountain climbing and trekking. Especially Hunza and Chitral Valleys are renowned for their scenic natural beauty, and the high mountain peaks of K2, Rakaposhi and Nanga Parbat are challenging climbing destinations.
Pakistan travel information and practical tipsThe climate in Pakistan varies as much as the landscapes in this large country. While the climate is dry in most parts of the country, Central Pakistan has extremely hot summers and cooler winters from November to February, whereas the southern coast of Arabian Sea has a milder maritime climate with less extreme changes in temperature. Northern Pakistan has a cooler climate from temperate forest areas to arctic snow-covered mountains and glaciers, depending largely on altitude. The northern regions have warm summers and very cold winters. Rainfall is rare, and is mostly brought by the south-westerly monsoon during July and August, when there can be flooding along the Indus River plains. How to get there. You can travel to Pakistan by air, by road or by railroad. There are flights to Pakistan from many Asian and European cities. There are eight international airports in Pakistan. The biggest city of the country, Karachi receives most of the international flights. Islamabad and Lahore also receive many international flights to Pakistan, and Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan and Gwadar also have international airports. Inland routes into Pakistan include railway links from India to Lahore and from Iran to Quetta. However, trains are slower than buses that link Pakistan to China, India and Iran.