10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Trip to Northern Pakistan

Northern Pakistan is one destination which I have admired through photographs for years, and I have always wanted to visit it. The scenery depicted in these images is so stunning that it will compel you to pause and admire its beauty. You can see snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes nestled among hills, and ancient fortresses atop valley floors, all resembling scenes from a painting. Once I had seen it all, it did not take me long to make my travel plans.

This adventure would turn out to be one of the most exhilarating and enlightening trips of my lifetime.

However, while enjoying this adventure, there were times when I wished someone had warned me of certain things beforehand. Mountains don’t care about your plan, and roads do not follow the Google Maps timings. And altitude doesn’t check if you’re fit enough to give you a headache. Here are ten things I truly wish someone had told me about it.

Altitude Will Humble You, Regardless of Fitness Level

That was the first lesson to learn and the hardest.

I arrived at Hunza feeling terrific. I slept well on the flight, I ate well, and I was truly enthusiastic about the journey ahead. By evening, I started getting headaches and feeling exhausted, even though I had been sleeping very well during the day. I assumed that it was jet lag. But the owner of my guest house – who knows a lot about altitude sickness – simply glanced at me and told me, “Altitude.

Get hydrated, get some rest tonight, and don’t do anything physically taxing tomorrow.” He was absolutely right. By morning, I was perfectly fine again. However, if I had ignored his recommendation and gone on to undertake a long hike on the very first day as planned, then things could have become problematic for me.

One thing about altitude sickness is that it does not discriminate against fit people. Healthy and active individuals develop altitude sickness. According to the CDC, a fast climb significantly raises the likelihood of developing acute mountain sickness, and the only remedy is time, not determination.

Already in Karimabad of Hunza valley, things start getting a little too high for some. Going even further up towards the Khunjerab Pass will raise the stakes even more. Places like the Deosai Plateau, Fairy Meadows, and Gondogoro La all require serious consideration when it comes to altitude.

Your first day should always be easy-going. Hydrate more than you believe you should. Eat plain food. Do not schedule your toughest activity for the first day. And if the symptoms seem to worsen rather than improve – headaches, nausea, dizziness, trouble breathing – then go down. No sight is worth disregarding.

Weather Can Change Within 20 Minutes

I had first-hand experience in this near Attabad Lake.

It was a beautiful and sunny day with a temperature warm enough that I thought there would be no use for a jacket on such an occasion. However, the weather suddenly started to change, bringing along with it clouds and a chilly wind, which caused a drop in temperature, making me feel a bit uncomfortable because I was unprepared for this situation.

The weather in the mountains is very unlike weather in the city. It changes very rapidly due to various factors, including altitude, winds, clouds, and weather; applications are not always able to foresee sudden weather changes.

While there may be clear skies in the valleys, further up the mountain, the weather could be quite different and can even take unexpected turns.

This problem can be solved with appropriate clothing. For example, it is recommended to have several thin layers of clothing rather than one thick coat. Bring a waterproof jacket at all times, regardless of the current weather conditions. Gloves and a warm hat are necessary, especially when planning to climb to high elevations, regardless of the season of the year.

Checking updates before taking long journeys is advisable. Heavy rainfall may bring about landslides that may disrupt transport in areas that are not expected.

The best advice in summary is always to be prepared for sudden weather changes in the mountains.

Road Trips Take Far Longer Than Expected

Before leaving for my trip, I looked up the route from Gilgit to Karimabad on Google Maps and decided, Okay, two hours. This is what I should not have done. The Karakoram Highway really is one of the most spectacular roads in the world, and its beauty lies in the fact that one tends to forget how long one has been driving by the end of it.

However, it is also a mountain road going through some of the most difficult landscapes in the world. What seems like 80 kilometres of road on the map can take three hours because of the elevation changes, twists, road works, damage to the road surface, or even just a slow truck that you have to wait for because you cannot pass it easily. 

I had to come to the realization that a road trip in Northern Pakistan is much more than simply getting from point A to point B. You would get to see many things along that road that you would never see in any other way: river canyons, hanging valleys, little villages carved out of the rock walls, and absolutely scary bridges. Be ready early in the morning each day. 

Do not drive at night through the mountains since that is dangerous, and local drivers themselves would advise against it. Always keep some snacks and water in the car since stopover points will be few and far between. Allow for extra days in your travel schedule. If you are flying home after a long day’s drive, you could easily find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

Flights Are Available, But They’re Not Always Reliable

There are flights from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu, and they are very helpful indeed. It takes at least twelve hours to reach Gilgit or Skardu by road, but only around one hour to reach via air. In case you want to visit the area for the first time and are short of time, flying once or twice makes perfect sense. 

However, the only issue with the flights in the region is visibility. Flights to Gilgit and Skardu depend entirely upon weather conditions and the visibility of mountains, and these flights are more likely to be cancelled or delayed than any other flight to flat land. I have personally met some people who had to wait for up to three days in Islamabad for a flight to Skardu to take off. If you choose to go by air, then please keep in mind that you shouldn’t make any arrangements on the day of return, as things could turn out to be messy.

Flights There Are, But They Are Inconsistent

The thing about the domestic flights to Gilgit and Skardu is that they really are there, and they really are helpful. It takes around twelve to fourteen hours to reach Skardu by land, whereas it takes only an hour to fly over there. For the first trip to the northern part of Pakistan, if time is a concern, then flying one way certainly makes perfect sense. The problem arises with visibility. Visibility for the flight to these destinations depends completely upon weather and visibility of the mountains, and therefore, such flights get cancelled or are delayed quite often as compared to the flatland destinations. 

I know travellers who had to spend three days in Islamabad before they finally got their Skardu flight cleared. It’s just how it is with flying in the north. Keep this in mind when you choose to fly: make sure that nothing important is planned immediately after returning home. You may not give a presentation the very next day, or connect with another international flight right away, or miss something really important because of this delay in your flight schedule.

Cash Isn’t an Option, It’s a Necessity

Having come from a place where you can buy virtually anything by tapping your phone or using your card, this was something that caught me unawares. In the bigger cities like Gilgit, Karimabad, and Skardu, you can get ATMs and other digital payment systems. However, once you venture outside the main markets, you will only find cash accepted. In jeep transportation, guest houses, local guides, roadside tea stalls, family-run restaurants, and even fort entrances, they accept cash alone, and they are right to do so. Smaller towns’ ATMs could fail to function due to a lack of funds, malfunctioning, being down, or not accepting cards issued by other banks. I had one experience where the lone ATM in the vicinity wasn’t functioning for two whole days. 

Those who had cash didn’t have any issues, while those without faced a nerve-wracking afternoon. Ensure that you withdraw cash from major cities before heading to the north. Store the cash in different places just in case one gets lost. You may want to carry smaller bills for daily expenses since many petty sellers might be unable to change your bill.

In particular, for women travellers, it may be noted that many travel alone or in groups to Hunza and Skardu and feel safe in the area. It is wise to stay at family-run lodges with excellent ratings, share your travel plans with someone at home, and never walk alone at night in secluded areas.

Plan for Poor Internet Connection and Embrace It

Internet coverage is generally available in the main cities, but outside of them, it may be difficult.

Drive along mountain roads, lakes, valleys, and higher trek routes, and you will notice that connectivity gets poor and even ceases altogether. While some tourists find it extremely annoying, others get used to it and consider it among the most enjoyable experiences of their tour. I am happy to belong to the latter category.

Here’s how to prepare for it: download offline maps before embarking on your journey (Google Maps) offers an option to cache locations; Maps.me is useful for the mountain regions. Also, make sure to save your accommodation confirmations and contact numbers on your device without relying on internet access. 

Finally, pack a power bank since finding an outlet can be unpredictable. In some areas, you might be able to get a local SIM card, which would allow you to connect. However, some places might be unreachable even with the SIM. My suggestion here is to simply accept this reality rather than struggle against it. The mountain at sunset will not mind if you upload its picture right away.

Book Early, Particularly During High Season

Northern Pakistan has gained popularity over the years, and some guesthouses, lake view rooms, and private jeeps tend to be reserved much earlier when the peak seasons arrive.

The high season is between May and August, while September and October come under a different lot of tourists who are interested in autumn colors. Both seasons are bound to have some accommodations in places like Karimabad or Fairy Meadows sold out several weeks before.

Not booking your stay ahead of time doesn’t mean that you won’t have a place to stay at all. What it does mean is that there will be fewer choices available to you, you may pay more, and the locations may not be as good for whatever you plan on doing. Having a guesthouse in a place about 20 minutes away from Karimabad is not the same as having a place with a view of Rakaposhi.

When planning your first visit, make sure you don’t take chances with accommodation and book the necessary places as far ahead as you can, taking into account that you will probably need some flexibility due to weather conditions.

The Mountains Are Fragile Travel Like You Know That

And here’s another crucial point to know.

Northern Pakistan is extremely sensitive and delicate in terms of nature and its ecosystems. There is much more to the region than its stunning natural beauty. For example, the glacier-fed rivers that run through the mountains are the source of water for millions of people who live in this area. And once destroyed, it will take ages for nature to heal itself.

Unfortunately, the population of this territory already has to face the negative impact caused by climate change, including the accelerated glacial melting, unstable water supplies, and the increased number of floods.

The negative influence that tourism has on northern Pakistan cannot be underestimated either. Leaving plastic waste near the shore of Attabad Lake, littering your way to Fairy Meadows, and playing loudly at night in rural areas are only some of the negative activities that tourists might undertake.

However, it is easy to help. First of all, you could choose an eco-friendly approach by using a reusable bottle and carrying away your garbage when there are no convenient garbage cans nearby. Moreover, you should respect the culture of locals by keeping quiet during your excursions.

One More Advice: Don’t Try to See Everything in One Tour

A common mistake made by tourists is trying to cover as much ground as possible within their limited time span. In other words, some tourists attempt to see such destinations as Hunza, Skardu, Fairy Meadows, Deosai, Khunjerab, Naran, and other sites all at once. While this approach might seem feasible at the initial stage of planning, it would actually cause great weariness.

As a matter of fact, the major part of your time during the tour will be spent riding in a vehicle on endless mountain roads. As soon as you finally arrive at a stunning site, you will already be worn out. Instead of having a good rest and enjoying yourself in the most beautiful places of Pakistan, you would only get tired.

You had better select one or two destination points and devote more time to them. For instance, Hunza features many stunning attractions that would occupy no less than a whole week. The same goes for Skardu and its stunning lakes located nearby.

Take your time and enjoy everything thoroughly. The first trip should definitely encourage you to make another one in the future.