Top 10 Tourist Places to visit in Pakistan

1. Hunza Valley

The Hunza Valley is a mountainous valley in the northern part of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, formed by the Hunza River. Hunza is one of the most exotic places in Pakistan. Several high peaks rise above 7,000 m in the surroundings of Hunza Valley. The valley provides views of several mountains, including:

Rakaposhi 7,788 m (25,551 ft), Ultar Sar 7,388 m (24,239 ft), Bojahagur Duanasir II 7,329 m (24,045 ft), Diran peak (7,266), Spantik (7027m), Ghenta Peak 7,090 m (15,631 ft), Hunza Peak 6,270 m (20,571 ft), Darmyani Peak 6,090 m (19,980 ft), and Bublimating (Ladyfinger Peak) 6,000 m (19,685 ft).

The fairy-tale-like castle of Baltit, above Karimabad, is a Hunza landmark built about 800 years ago. Some lakes like Attabad Lake, Borith Lake, Shimshal Lakes, and Hassanabad Lake are located in Hunza. Khunjerab pass is also located in Hunza Valley.

2. Naltar Valley

The Naltar Valley is a valley situated near the city of Gilgit in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. Naltar is about 34 kilometers (21 miles) from Gilgit. Naltar Bala (upper) and Naltar Paain (lower) are two villages in Naltar valley. Naltar Expressway connects Naltar with Gilgit City via Nomal and Faizabad. There are five Naltar Lakes lakes in the Naltar valley known as Satrangi Lake, Halima Lake, Bodo Lake, Dhudia Lake, Pari Lake, and Blue Lake at a distance of 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Naltar Bala. The road from the village to the lakes is nonmetallic and narrow alongside a stream throughout this road coming from the mountains. It is almost impossible to reach the lake through any vehicle in winter due to the snow (10 to 15 feet high) on the road. The valley offers a variety of flora, fauna as well as natural scenery. There is a natural green garden known as “Halima garden”. The government has established some rest houses in the valley. Ski competitions are held at the Naltar ski resort.

3. Deosai National Park

The Deosai National Park was established in 1993 to protect the survival of the Himalayan brown bear and its habitat. The Deosai National Park is located in the western Himalayas in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Pakistan. It has an average elevation of 4,114 meters (13,497 ft) above sea level, making the Deosai Plains the second highest plateau in the world after the Changtang Tibetan Plateau. The park protects an area of 843 square kilometres (325 sq mi). It is well known for its rich flora and fauna of the Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe eco-region. In spring, it is covered by sweeps of wildflowers and a wide variety of butterflies.

The park charges an entrance fee of 1,000 rupees for foreigners and 40 rupees for Pakistanis.

4. Skardu

Skardu is a city located in Gilgit−Baltistan, a part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Skardu serves as the capital of Skardu District and the Baltistan Division. Skardu is situated at an elevation of nearly 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) in the Skardu Valley, at the confluence of the Indus and Shigar Rivers. The city is an important gateway to the eight-thousanders of the nearby Karakoram mountain range. The Indus River running through the region separates the Karakoram from the Himalayas. Skardu, along with Gilgit, is a major tourism, trekking, and expedition hub in Gilgit–Baltistan. The mountainous terrain of the region, which includes four of the world’s 14 Eight-thousander peaks, attracts tourists, trekkers, and mountaineers from around the world. The main tourist season is from April to October; at other times of the year, the area can be cut off for extended periods by the snowy, freezing winter weather.

5. Swat

Swat District is a district in the Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. With a population of 2,309,570 per the 2017 national census, Swat is the 15th-largest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Swat District is centered on the Valley of Swat, usually referred to simply as Swat, which is a natural geographic region surrounding the Swat River. The average elevation of Swat is 980 m (3,220 ft), resulting in a considerably cooler and wetter climate compared to the rest of Pakistan. With lush forests, verdant alpine meadows, and snow-capped mountains, Swat is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Malam Jabba is also located in Swat, Which is the most preferable ski resort in Pakistan and many other activities are also available in Malam Jabba.

6. Kund Malir Beach

Kund Malir‘ is a beach in Balochistan, Pakistan located in Hingol National Park, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Zero-Point on Makran Coastal Highway. It is located 236.8 kilometers (147.1 mi) west of Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan. The drive between Kund Malir and Ormara is considered to be scenic. The area is part of Hingol National Park which is the largest in Pakistan. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in this world. Due to the increase in tourism, some mobile networks including Ufone have started their services in the region.

7. Katpana Desert

The Cold Desert, also known as the Katpana Desert or Biama Nakpo, is a high-altitude desert located near Skardu, Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. The desert contains large sand dunes that are sometimes covered in snow during winter. Situated at an elevation of 2,226 metres (7,303 ft) above sea level, the Cold Desert is one of the highest deserts in the world. While the desert technically stretches from the Khaplu Valley to Nubra in Indian-administered Ladakh, the largest desert area proper is found in Skardu and Shigar Valley, both within Pakistani-administered territory. The portion of the desert that is most frequented by tourists is located near the Skardu Airport.

8. Fairy Meadows

Fairy Meadows, named by German climbers and locally known as Joot, is a grassland near one of the base camp sites of the Nanga Parbat, located in Diamer District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Fairy Meadows is approachable by a fifteen-kilometer-long jeepable trek starting from Raikot Bridge on  Karakoram Highway to the village Tattu (Tato). The dangerous and narrow gravel mountain road from the bridge to the village is only open to locals, who provide transportation to visitors. In 2013, the World Health Organization declared it the second-deadliest road on the planet. From Tato onward, it takes about three to four hours hiking by a five-kilometer trek to Fairy Meadows.

9. Kalash Valley

The Kalash Valleys are valleys in Chitral District in northern Pakistan. The valleys are surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountain range. The inhabitants of the valley are the Kalash people, who have a unique culture, and language and follow a form of religion that is associated with their surroundings like the mountains and rivers. The Kalash people are a small religious and ethnic minority of Pakistan.  The largest and most populous valley is Bumburet (Mumuret), reached by a road from Ayun in the Kunar Valley. Rumbur is a side valley north of Bumburet. The third valley, Biriu (Birir), is a side valley of the Kunar Valley south of Bumburet.

10. Neelum Valley

The district of Neelum is the northernmost of 10 districts located within the Pakistani-administered territory of Azad Kashmir. Taking up the larger part of the Neelam Valley, the district has a population of around 191,000 people (as of 2017). Mughal Emperor Humayun once said about this Kashmir area that “if there is a paradise on earth, then this is it.” Visitors usually agree with his well-spoken assessment of the Kashmir Valley today. Tourists and locals alike come from all across Pakistan to see this glorious wonder of nature that is impossible to discount as a serious contender for the most beautiful spot on earth.