This document provides an overview of tourism in Pakistan. It highlights Pakistan's rich historical and cultural heritage sites, including the Indus Valley Civilization sites of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. It also describes popular tourist destinations in northern Pakistan for adventure tourism, such as the Northern Areas region with its mountains, valleys, and glaciers. Additionally, it outlines various tourist attractions across Pakistan and how to access the country by air.

1. PAKISTAN for TOURISM
A Presentation by:
Visa Guide Mudassar Lone
Please check for recent updates as the rules may change
with the passage of time

2. located in the hub of the South Asian sub-continent
home of rich historical and cultural heritage AND
interesting in its own way
Pakistan used to be the home to one of the globe's
most-initial places where people had come to live and
build homes
the great Indus Valley Civilization in the pre-historic
era, the centre of old empires, religions and cultures.

3. Strategically being located at the historical crossings,
it connects Southeast Asia with Middle East and Iran
in the West with accessibility to the landlocked
Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics.
This land has been a witness to the historical and
civilization changes with immense impacts on it's
people as well as their language and culture.

4. Tourism
The Pakistan tourist destinations comprise of popular
attractions which are major points of sightseeing in
Pakistan. There are plenty of historical sites and idyllic
spots like mountains, rivers and varied flora and
fauna. The idyllic atmosphere matched with the
diverse culture and rich historical traditions have
made the country an ideal destination for thousands
of tourists from all over the world. Some of the famus
destinations are:

5. Pakistan as a tourist destination
Pakistan is a special interest destination
Its main attractions include adventure tourism in the
Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism as
found in Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harrappa, and early Muslim
and Mughal heritage of Multan, Lahore.
The Karakorum Highway has provided a great opportunity
for international travelers to explore the unspoiled natural
beauty, unique culture and traditions of the Northern
Pakistan together with other Silk Route destinations like
China, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

6. Primary Attractions
Unique Mountains,
Valleys and Glaciers:
Northern areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq. Km.
with heights varying from 1000 m to over 8000 meter
the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu recall Shangri-La.
The people with typical costumes, folk dances, music and
sports like polo and buzkashi provide the traveller an
unforgettable experience.
Nowhere in the world there is such a great concentration
of high mountains, peaks, glaciers and passes except
Pakistan.

7. Nature And Adventure
From the mighty stretches of the Karakoram's in the
North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus river in the
South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure and
nature. Trekking, mountaineering, white water
rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep
safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird
watching are a few activities which entice the
adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.

8. Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak from the 3rd till
the middle of the 2nd millennium BC Discovered in 1922,
Moenjodaro was once a metropolis of great importance,
forming part of the Indus Valley Civilization together with
Harrappa. Harrappa, another major city of the Indus Valley
Civilization, was surrounded by a massive brick wall
fortification. Other features and plan of the city were
similar to that of Moenjodaro. The Kot Diji culture is
marked by well-made pottery and houses built of mud-
bricks on stone foundations.

9. GILGIT
BAGROT
HUNZA
KAGHAN VALLEY
LAKE SAIF-UL-MULUK
LALAZAR
SHOGRAN
MURREE HILLS & AYUBIA
SKARDU
SWAT
MALAM JABBA

10. GILGIT
The breath taking 60-minute flight from Islamabad to Gilgit through
the majestic snowcapped Himalayas and mighty Karakorams is an
exciting experience. The Himalayan & Karakoram region consists of
several hundred peaks, sixty of which rise higher than 6,700m. Among
these giants are the famous Nanga Parbat (8,125m), the ninth highest
in the world, and K-2 Peak (8,611m), the second highest.
This is the land where lofty peaks tower above rich valleys and lakes
of great scenic beauty; a paradise for the hikers, trekkers, anglers,
mountaineers, adventurers, polo enthusiasts, nature lovers and
those interested in observing exotic areas and life styles.

11. BAGROT
A beautiful village untouched by modern civilization,
Bagrot is situated in Gilgit Valley 43 Km from Gilgit
town. The narrow valley here presents enchanting
mountain scenery and boasts an abundance of fruits,
nuts and wild vines. The inhabitants of Bagrot are a
simple, likeable people who believe in retaining their
old culture and traditions. A visit to the fascinating
Hinarche glacier is particularly recommended.

12. HUNZA
Situated in the heart of the Karakorams, the legendary mountain
kingdom of Hunza lies on the ancient trade route to Sinkiang; today
the Karakoram Highway runs along this route. Very few places in the
world compare with this small mountainous region, which was a
semi autonomous state but is now fully unified with Pakistan. Hunza
is an earthly paradise whose inhabitants are renowned for their
longevity, their simplicity and natural diet. The scenic beauty of this
area, with its greenery and snowbound mountains, makes it a true
paradise. During the summer there is an abundance of apricots,
peaches, pears and grapes. There are several glaciers and high
peaks around Hunza, the most magnificent being Rakaposhi
(7,788m). Hunza is also known for its unpolluted mountain air,
which caused this area to be known as “Shangri-La”.

13. KAGHAN VALLEY
One of the pleasures of visiting the Kaghan Valley is the
picturesque drive from Rawalpindi to Abbottabad and onwards
to Balakot, transferring to a four-wheel drive vehicle for the
continuation of the journey to Naran, where the rest houses,
hotels and motels are located. The Kaghan Valley is 154 Km long,
rising to a height of 4,148m at Babusar Pass in the north. This is
an ideal area for trekking and trout fishing and is a paradise for
the botanist.
Lake Saif-ul-Muluk is one of the most popular scenic spots in the
valley. This deep blue lake offers an awe-inspiring view of
Mountain. Malika Parbat - Queen of Mountains (5,291m).

14. LAKE SAIF-UL-MULUK
A short jeep ride from Naran brings us to enchanting Saif-
ul-Muluk Lake. This lovely lake lies at a height of over
3,000m above sea level and is guarded by a ring of
forbidding peaks. The crystal clear waters of the lake
mirror the azure sky, with its complement of fluffy clouds
and reflections of Malika Parbat Peak. The melting snows
and glaciers of the mountains feed the lake through a
myriad of torrents and streams.

15. LALAZAR
The idyllic plateau of Lalazar lies at an altitude of
3,000 m and is two and half hour jeep drive from
Naran. The air here is cool and pleasantly redolent
with the scent of the surrounding forest of pine and
fir. The plateau offers plenty of opportunities for
relaxing, mountaineering, hiking, and nature
watching.

16. SHOGRAN
While driving to Naran, a visit to Shogran is a highly
recommended side trip. About 12 km from the village
of Kawai, on the main road, a steep climb through
dense forest of fir and pine brings you to a plateau of
great scenic beauty.

17. MURREE HILLS & AYUBIA
A hilly and popular summer resort station, Murree is
situated at an altitude of 2,300m above sea level. Only 60
km from Rawalpindi, Murree is easily accessible by road
and the scenic journey takes about 02 hours. From the
main street of the town a vast panorama of forest-clad
ridges and majestic pines on thickly wooded slopes is a
feast for the eyes. Murree is one of the most popular hill
resorts in the country. Ayubia, 20 km from Murree, is a
complex of four small hill resorts, one of which is equipped
with an electric chairlift capable of taking you to the top of
the peak.

18. SKARDU
Perched at an elevation of 2,286 m, Skardu is set in a landscape of
towering mountains, deep gorges, resounding waterfalls, and calm,
deep lakes. Skardu is the district headquarters of Baltistan with
Xinjiang Province of China to the north, Kashmir to the south, Gilgit
to the west and to the east the district of Ladakh in India.
Each summer Skardu offers a cool, bracing climate and is a
mountaineer’s paradise, attracting climbers and trekkers from all
over the world. Nowhere else can one find such a large collection of
lofty peaks including K-2, which at 8,611 m is rated as the second
highest mountain in the world. Huge glaciers such as Baltoro, Biafo
and Siachen, some of the largest in the world outside the Polar
region, rest in this 16,283 sq. km area of the world.

19. SWAT
The Swat Valley is an enchanting land of magnificent scenic
beauty; a lush green fertile valley, snow capped mountains, fruit
laden orchards, and flower covered slopes washed by the
smooth flowing Swat River. Excursions through the Swat Valley
should include visits to places such as Saidu Sharif, Madyan,
Bahrain, Kalam and of course the shopping town of Mingora.
Other beautiful spots in the Swat Valley are Miandam (2,072 m),
Karakar Pass (1,335 m) Shangla Pass (2,132 m), and Yakh Tangi
(2,090 m)

20. MALAM JABBA
Situated on one of the important off shoots of Silk Route,
Malam Jabba is not only a winter resort and chairlift facility
but also a sign of older civilizations. Standing at an
elevation of 8700 ft in Hindu Kush Ranges in Swat Valley,
Malam Jabba is 314 km from Islamabad and 51 km from
Saidu Sharif on Kalam Road. The road diverts from
Manglor to Malam Jabba. The area of Malam Jabba
emerges with gentle slopes, placid plains and torrential
streams. It is a valley of thick forests of Pine and Deodar
trees that cover the whole area. In winter the entire area
remains covered with snow making it an ideal place for
skiing.

21. Accessibility
Many international Airlines have regular flights to
Karachi linking Pakistan with the rest of the world.
Islamabad and Lahore have flight from Bangkok,
Dubai, Beijing, Urmuqi, London, Copenhagen,
Frankfurt, New York, Paris and Jeddah. Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA), has linked major cities and
tourist destinations through daily flights.