Best Tourist Destinations in Northern Pakistan
It's difficult to think of a more beautiful landscape than Pakistan's rocky peaks, undiscovered settlements, and windswept plains. Here are Pakistan's most stunning locations, from untamed mountain passes and surreal lakes.
Even if the media in the West would try to convince you otherwise, Pakistan is a very beautiful nation. Consider renowned mountain peaks, turquoise-blue and emerald-green valleys, and deserts dotted with the remains of former civilizations. And that's only the beginning.
There is no doubt that Pakistan has many stunning locations to explore.
1. Swat Valley
The present and future of Swat Valley are incredibly bright, despite its difficult background. This breathtaking valley in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province looks like it belongs in a fairytale.
Imagine lush green fields and forests, charming towns, and rivers with shades of blue so pure and vivid that you wouldn't have believed they were real!
The area around Kalam, which serves as a base to explore the grandeur of the valley, is where you may find Swat's true beauty. Here are 2 locations in Swat Valley that you must visit:
Kalam town is only a short drive or reasonable uphill hike from Boyun Village, popularly known as Green Top.
Lakes Kandol and Spindhor
Two hours drive separate Kalam from these alpine lakes. Kandol Lake is now more commercialized and reachable by jeep track, whereas you can reach Spindhor by a 2-hour hike. Whichever location you decide to visit, it is without a doubt among Pakistan's most picturesque locations.
Forest of Ushu
Deodar trees abound in this lush, well-kept forest, which is a great location to get lost. The highway that enters the woodland continues to several settlements along the Kalam River.
2. Hunza Valley
It's practically a given that you've heard of Hunza if you're a Pakistani or have read anything about the nation. Hunza is a sizable region made up of multiple valleys and communities, so don't let the word "valley" fool you. Here are some of Hunza's most stunning attractions, which are all located along the ancient Silk Road:
Cones of Passu
A natural masterpiece and one of Pakistan's most recognizable sights is the Passu Cathedral. Even though it is no longer permitted to spend the night in Passu village, you can still see the cones from a distance, beginning in the settlement of Gulmit. About an hour's drive from Gilgit City on the Karakoram Highway is where you may get the best view of the Cathedral.
3. Yarkhun Valley
I believe that Yarkhun Valley was the most beautiful destination I visited in Pakistan, even though it is comparatively unknown and neglected in comparison to the country's most well-known tourist attractions. Yarkhun, which is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Upper Chitral region, is stunning due to its mountain ranges and undeveloped villages.
If you don't have a car, it takes some work to get to the valley, which extends for miles past the administrative town of Mastuj. But if you do, the ride isn't that hard; just be ready for a lot of dirt roads!
4. Phander Lake
Nearly too good to be true is Phander Lake in Phander Village. The light-green trees and turquoise lake look like they belong in a landscape painting.
Phander Lake is incredibly lovely, although it doesn't get nearly as many visitors as the more well-known Attabad Lake.
5. Broghil Valley
Broghil Valley, which is far to the north and near to Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, was formerly only reachable on foot or by horseback. The once-secret location is now accessible only by a perilous jeep track, but it still only draws a few tourists during the few months when it is not covered in snow.
Right now, it's unclear whether or not foreigners can travel to Broghil. (If you're adamant, be careful to confirm before making the trip up there with the Deputy Commissioner's Office in Chitral.) However, Pakistanis, please check out this beauty! You'll find many high-altitude lakes, yaks, and expansive green pastures in the valley, a majestic mountain range rising to a height of more than 13,000 feet.