13 EPIC Things to Do in Pakistan

1. Go trekking in the Karakoram Mountains 

It’s now secret that the highlight of any Pakistan trip is the mountains of Gilgit Baltistan, and there’s no better way to get a feel for them than with a solid trek. 

From multi-day camping adventures to efficient afternoon hikes, there’s something for everyone here, where (almost all) trails remain free from the perils of commercialization.

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I’ve done over 15 hikes in Pakistan to date, and I can say that even after four years, it never gets old. The Karakoram easily tops the Himalayas (yes, even Nepal’s!), Argentina, Peru, or any other rival range. 

Trekking in Pakistan is particularly fantastic because you can arrange everything on the spot just about, aside from restricted routes like K2 basecamp. 

2. Ride a motorbike

The roads of Gilgit Baltistan (especially the fully-paved Karakoram Highway) are truly a dream for both bikers and passengers. Nowhere else in the world can you get this up close to glaciers and 7000-meter peaks on such well-made pieces of tarmac, and rest assured that the offroads are even more gnarly.

Traffic is minimal, and the number of detours is endless. I’ve only ridden pillion thus far, but even that has been an utterly magical experience.

Whether you drive yourself or join a motorbike tour, it’s one of those things to do in Pakistan that you have to try at least once.

3. Feel the magic of Hunza Valley

Call me biased since it’s now my second home, but Hunza Valley is undoubtedly the most special place in all of Pakistan. It’s completely unique and arriving here is truly like crossing an international border. Beautiful, open-minded Indigenous people from the Burusho and Wakhi tribes have lived here for a millennium, and it’s genuinely in a league of its own.

From a unique cuisine that heavily features apricots, to the best view of the world’s most underrated mountain (Rakaposhi) to some of the kindest and most welcoming people and a deep love for music, Hunza quickly felt like home, and I know many other travelers who have felt the same.

It’s also the only place where you’ll see middle-class women owning businesses, something rarely seen in the mainland and even then only among the super-rich. With nearly all residents being Ismaili, women’s rights are respected, and education is prioritized more than anywhere else. Hunza’s literacy rate speaks to this, it’s nearly 100% compared with Pakistan in its entirety sitting at a quite sad 61%.

Hunza’s also the safest and best place to visit as a solo female traveler, where men actually respect women and you won’t be stared at or asked for selfies. If you experience that in Hunza it’s undoubtedly from a mainland domestic tourist. 

4. Get acquainted with the unique culture of the Kalash Valleys 

While many think Pakistan’s ethnicity is a monolith, the breakdown is actually super diverse and includes one group of people you really shouldn’t miss: the Kalash. 

Indigenous to the Chitral region that borders Gilgit Baltistan, the people of the Kalash Valleys are traditionally not Muslims and instead practice a form of animism. 

Sadly their numbers are dwindling, and many have now converted, but unique features of their cultur,e like brightly colored headdresses, homemade wine, and other rituals can still be experienced. 

5. Swim in an alpine lake 

Alpine lakes are peppered throughout Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and I’ve had the grand pleasure of swimming in several thus far. 

Some are drivable (such as one of my happy places, Borith Lake) while others require days of trekking across glaciers to reach. If you have time, try to get in one of each! 

6. Watch polo being played at the 12,000+ ft Shandur Top

Lying at the official border between the Gilgit Baltistan territory and the former princely state of Chitral (also filled with incredible mountains) is perhaps the most incredible polo field on the planet. 

Shandur Top, as it’s called, sits at over 12,000 ft (3657.6 m) and welcomes thousands of spectators for its annual event each July: the Shandur Polo Festival, where teams from GB and Chitral battle it out in an epic display of the sport. 

If you’re in Pakistan at the time, it’s truly a must-see, just make sure you come prepared with camping equipment as the region is a national park and you (thankfully) won’t find any hotels!

7. See dhamal at the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Shrine in Sehwan 

One of the coolest and most memorable things I’ve ever done on a Pakistan itinerary is witnessing the awe-inspiring event that is Sufi dhamal at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar deep in the Sindh province. 

While there are thousands of shrines in the country dedicated to revered saints, this one dates back to the 1300s and is steeped in history and mysticism. 

The performance is a chaotic, passionate dance carried out by devotees in a state of trance (and a little bit of hashish) that devotees believe get them closer to God. 

You can visit the shrine and experience this incredible event every Thursday evening, but if you can, try to attend during the month of the annual Urs festival. This celebrates the death anniversary of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and remains one of the wildest travel experiences I’ve ever had. 

8. Camp on a beach along the Makran Coast in Balochistan 

The beaches of Balochistan are something straight out of a dream, but actually.

Think completely deserted coastline that looks like Oman prior to any development stretches for hundreds of miles along the Arabian Sea, and camping on one of them is truly a Pakistan bucket list item. 

I got to spend four incredible days waking up on empty beaches and exploring crazy rock formations fully carved by the winds. I’ve never seen such an insane combo of desert, mountains, and beaches before or since. 

Do note that, unfortunately, the Makran Coast isn’t easy to visit for foreign tourists. Technically, the entire area requires an NOC (no objection certificate) and escorts, which you can get from local tour companies. Still, it’s totally worth it – these are some of the most untouched stretches of sand on the planet. 

9. Wander down the streets of Old Lahore 

Some of the best historical architecture I’ve ever seen in my life exists in Lahore’s Walled City, where you can see a collection of well-preserved Mughal-era monuments that date back to the 1600s.

This was one of the very first places in Pakistan I visited while on my first trip back in 2019, and it truly made me a history fan.

Here are some of the most iconic locales to visit:

• Wazir Khan Mosque
• Lahore Fort
• Badshahi Mosque
• Shalimar Gardens
• Jahangir’s Tomb (a bit far from the Old City, but SO worth the trip)
• Bibi Fatima Mosque (the oldest in Lahore!)

10. Sample some shinwari in Peshawar

The best meat you’ll ever have in your life can be found in my fave Pakistani city, Peshawar, which is also one of the oldest cities in all of South Asia.

Lamb chops spiced with only salt and pepper (they get my tastebuds!) are cooked until juicy and served piping hot at Nisar Charsi Tikka, the most famous eatery in town. Here you’ll also find other meaty essentials, like shinwari karahi (lamb in a tomato sauce) and another favorite of mine called charbi which is basically just fried pieces of fat.

You’ll get to wash it all down with a delicious cup of Peshawari kahwa (a type of green tea), though don’t drink too many or they can have a bit of a laxative effect!

11. Attend a local wedding 

Weddings in Pakistan consist of nearly a week’s worth of events and are some of the best ways to get a hefty dose of culture in. 

Each ethnic group and religious sect has its own spin on things. In the cities, you’ll find similarities to Indian weddings in large halls, but my personal favorites lie in remote villages. 

To catch a wedding in Hunza, you’ll typically have luck during the summer and fall. Ceremonies are not typically held during the 40-day Ashura mourning period. 

12. Try Hunza cuisine

Hunza food is my absolute favorite, and trust me when I say you’ve NEVER had anything like this before! The dishes might as well come from a different planet than the spicy, Indian-adjacent Pakistani food of the mainland. And if you’re like me, you’ll be relieved to find that chillies are non-existent.

Meals feature a lot of yak, bread, and fruits, with one of the most unique items being buttering doudo, which is literally an apricot soup! You’ll also find spreads filled with crushed apricots, and a spinach pasta called hoilo garma that’s also a top favorite.

There are numerous restaurants throughout the valley that serve up local eats, but the most famous is Hunza Food Pavilion in Karimabad, which is female-owned by local legend Lal Shahzadi.

13. Spend the night with a local

Pakistanis are undoubtedly the most hospitable people I’ve ever encountered anywhere, and the best way to get to know them is through homestays!

There are now numerous official homestays throughout the country, but my best experiences have been from Couchsurfing and random invites from families in the mountains.

Getting Insured Before Traveling to Pakistan

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While it can be easy to overplan a trip, my last bit of advice for your adventure is to leave enough room to go with the flow. Spontaneity has shaped my favorite memories in this country, and I find other travelers always saying the same.

Many locals will tell you that “anything is possible in Pakistan” and they’re right: this is truly a nation filled to the brim with surprises and contradictions.

So while these things to do are iconic and you should try to make time for some of them (ESPECIALLY a Karakoram trek!) I implore you to see what happens to. I wouldn’t even be living in the country had I not said yes to a super random plan – embracing type B travel is the absolute best way to really get to know the country <3