10 Epic Reasons to Travel to Pakistan in 2024

Are you looking for an adventure? Are you looking to get off the beaten track and experience the most authentic, rewarding travel out there? Then we suggest you consider travelling to Pakistan.

With epic scenery, mind-blowing hospitality, a history that stretches back millennia and crazy cultural diversity, there are so many reasons to travel to Pakistan in 2024. 

Pakistan is hands-down one of the most intriguing, wildest and most exciting countries in the world to visit. Whatever it is you’re looking for, it doesn’t get much better than Pakistan.

Need some convincing? Read on for our list of 10 Reasons to Travel to Pakistan in 2024. 

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #1: Mind-Blowing hospitality 

If you think you’ve experienced hospitality, think again. Pakistan, and its legendary hospitality, will overwhelm you. As a visitor to the country, expect to be embraced with wide open arms. This alone is a reason to travel to Pakistan. 

Hospitality is a way of life in Pakistan and a deeply-rooted cultural value. In Pakistan, receiving a guest is considered an honour.

What this means is that during your travels in Pakistan, you will constantly be offered food, tea and sometimes gifts. You should also expect offers to stay in homes, meet family and have lots of chats. But remember, don’t be a freeloader and always help out when you can.  

Pakistanis will also go out of their way to show you around or help you in any way that they can. They’ll do anything to ensure that you, as a visitor to their country, have the best possible experience. And trust us, you will. 

This hospitality is reflected in the thriving Couchsurfing community in Pakistan. With literally thousands of members in the country, one of the best things you can do before arriving is sign yourself up. 

We used Couchsurfing throughout our entire 9 weeks in Pakistan, which enabled us to meet so many locals and have incredible experiences. More importantly, we made multiple lifelong friends. 

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #2: Adventure 

Love adventure? Then Pakistan is the place for you. It’s number 2 on our reasons to travel to Pakistan. 

In Pakistan, adventure awaits at every corner. With incredible trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing and kayaking, there’s enough to keep you busy for years, let alone weeks! 

And that’s only talking about adventure sports. Just the art of basic everyday travel in Pakistan is a real adventure. Exploring remote mountain villages, getting from one isolated destination to another and navigating a world where no rules apply – every day in Pakistan feels like a real adventure. 

Expect to be equally amazed and frustrated and to shed tears from both exasperation and awe.  Every. Single. Day. 

Let’s just say, it’s never boring. 

Travel insurance, as always, is essential. If something goes wrong, you want to be covered. Our preference is SafetyWing. Trust us, we’ve used a lot of travel insurance and they really are the best.

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #3: Incredible history

Pakistan’s history dates back millennia and has been influenced by multiple global forces. Learning about and immersing yourself in this unique treasure chest of history is another reason to travel to Pakistan. 

The Indus Valley saw the rise of one of the earliest civilisations on the planet (5000 years ago!), and unbeknownst to many, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the west was one of the first centres of the Buddhist religion in the world. You can see the relics of this history scattered throughout the country. Tahkt-i-Bhai, near Mardan, is a particularly excellent site. 

And that’s just the beginning. There’s also Alexander the Great, the Silk Road, the Mughal Empire, British colonisation and the heartbreaking event of partition. Pakistan’s history is layered, complex and fascinating to uncover as you travel throughout. While travelling in Pakistan, expect to explore ancient Buddhist monasteries, Greek relics, Hindu temples and Mughal-era Mosques. 

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #4: Architecture

With such a storied history, it’s only natural that Pakistan has some awe-inspiring architecture to explore. This is another great reason to travel to Pakistan. 

You’ve heard of the Taj Majal, right? Well, there’s a lot more like that in Pakistan. During their reign, the Mughals commissioned the most celebrated architects in the world to create a dazzling series of mosques across Pakistan. The Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque in Lahore are nothing short of stunning, while the Shah Jahan Mosque in Sindh is made entirely from marble. 

All across the country, you’ll find incredible buildings to explore and get lost in, complete with ornate details and handcrafted calligraphy. 

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #5: Mountains Galore

Pakistan is awash with sky-scraping mountains: it’s home to five mountains over 8000 metres, hosts the three tallest mountain ranges on Earth (the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush) and boasts the highest concentration of 7000+ metre peaks on the planet. Yeah, there are some seriously tall mountains in Pakistan. The mountain scenery is beyond your wildest dreams and is another amazing reason to travel to Pakistan. 

Need an example? We once climbed a mountain, from which we could see every 8000+ metre peak in the country, plus at least 20 x 7000+ metre peaks, even stretching all the way into India. Nothing short of epic. 

Read: The Ultimate Guide to Rakaposhi Base Camp

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #6: It’s a Trekker’s Paradise

The trekking in Pakistan is absolutely, 100%, world-class. There are epic mountain hikes everywhere in the north, from more well-trodden trails like Fairy Meadows, to completely off-the-radar treks in the far corners of Chitral. You can hike for a day to Rakaposhi Base Camp, or go on a month-long expedition between Upper Hunza and Skardu: when it comes to hiking in Pakistan, the sky is the limit (sometimes literally). 

Sometimes you’ll find easy-to-follow trails that you can complete on your own, other times you’ll need a guide to help you find the way (or to navigate a tricky glacier crossing). If you don’t want to carry your own gear, porters are easy to arrange. Guides are affordable and friendly. 

You’ll find breathtaking views, friendly shepherds, and lots of livestock (notably sheep, yaks and zongs (a yak-cow hybrid)). What you won’t find? The crowds of other famous trekking destinations and a lot of oxygen. 

Make sure you come prepared and take the elements and altitude seriously and prepare yourself for a hell of a lot of fun. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #7: It’s as Off the beaten track as you can get

If it’s off the beaten path you’re looking for, then you should travel to Pakistan. For those looking to get away from the mainstream, there’s no better reason to travel to Pakistan. 

When you tell people you’re going to Pakistan, expect to get a lot of raised eyebrows and confused questions. Expect people to tell you it’s unsafe and that you’ll fall prey to a terrorist attack. (You won’t). 

These misconceptions about Pakistan are, sadly, abundant and why the country sees so few international travellers. And we mean few: in our entire 9 weeks of travelling in Pakistan, we met ONE other traveller. ONE. Yep, it’s pretty quiet over there. But for the adventurous traveller, that’s what makes it so special. 

All of the amazing architectural sites and epic mountains we’ve just listed? You won’t see anyone else while you’re there and you’ll have them all to yourself. 

Looking for more off the beaten track travel destinations? Head to North Sri Lanka or Lesotho

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #8: The Most Authentic Travel You Can Find 

At a time when mass tourism is taking over the world, Pakistan is the most refreshing change of pace. Forget the tourist traps: every single day of travelling in Pakistan will award you with the most authentic travel experiences on the planet. 

Everyone will want to talk to you and because English is widely spoken, you have the opportunity to have insightful, meaningful conversations with locals. People will invite you to their homes, or for a cup of chai, and you get to learn so much about their lives and culture. 

Because international tourism doesn’t exist in Pakistan, you have incredible experiences untainted by the distorting lens of tourism. You get to see things how they really are. People want to see you, talk to you and aren’t jaded. While you might not get a ton of privacy, you will get the most rewarding travelling experience of your life. 

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #9: There’s Crazy cultural diversity 

Another reason to travel to Pakistan? It’s one of the most diverse countries on the planet. 

There are over 70 different ethnic groups in Pakistan. Punjabis, Balochis, Pashtuns, the Kalasha, the Wakhi – these are just a few of the various ethnic groups that make up this beautiful cultural mosaic. 

We’ve met people in Pakistan that dress in beautifully electric-coloured traditional dresses and people with blonde hair and blue eyes. We’ve been introduced to various cultural traditions, food, languages and religions. Each ethnic group brings a unique set of traditions and values. As you travel across the country, you’ll notice differences in the way people look, dress, speak and behave. It’s a fascinating experience to witness so much diversity within one country. 

Reason to Travel to Pakistan #10: It’s affordable

Last but not least on our list of reasons to travel to Pakistan: it’s damn affordable. In a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive by the day, Pakistan is still a land where you can travel very cheaply. A local meal costs around $1-2 USD, a shared taxi costs around $2 USD and you can get a double room for $15-20 USD a night. Plus, there are very few, if any, fees for hiking and camping, so if you’re going to be mostly nature-based, then a lot of your days will be free. 

If you’re really pinching pennies and willing to sacrifice all comfort whatsoever, then you can get by on pretty much next to nothing. 

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