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🇵🇰Things to Do in Pakistan
From the peaks of the Karakoram Highway to Lahore's Badshahi Mosque - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Pakistan holds some of the highest, most dramatic mountain scenery on Earth - five of the world's fourteen peaks over 8,000 meters sit within its borders - alongside Mughal-era architecture in Lahore and ruins from one of the world's earliest urban civilizations. It remains one of the least-visited countries relative to what it offers, and travel advisories vary meaningfully by region, so route planning matters more here than in most destinations.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Hunza Valley
A high-altitude valley along the Karakoram Highway, ringed by peaks including Rakaposhi, with terraced orchards and centuries-old forts like Baltit and Altit.
📍 Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan
🚉 There is no railway north of Havelian: NATCO buses run the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad to Karimabad in 16 to 20 hours, and flights to Gilgit are quicker but cancel often in bad weather.
Karakoram Highway
One of the highest paved international roads in the world, connecting Pakistan to China over the Khunjerab Pass, and widely regarded as one of the great mountain drives anywhere.
📍 Gilgit-Baltistan
🚉 The highway is the journey: NATCO coaches run its length from Islamabad through Gilgit to Sost and the Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved border crossing in the world at 4,693m.
Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
A 17th-century Mughal mosque, one of the largest in the world at the time of its construction, facing the Lahore Fort across a shared UNESCO-listed complex.
📍 Lahore
🚉 Nearest station: the Orange Line metro's Anarkali or Lakshmi stops, then a rickshaw through the walled city; Lahore Junction railway station is about 5km east.
Mohenjo-daro
The ruins of one of the world's earliest major urban settlements, part of the Indus Valley Civilization dating back over 4,500 years, with remarkably advanced urban planning for its age.
📍 Larkana District, Sindh
🚉 Nearest station: Larkana, on the Karachi-Peshawar line, then a 30-minute taxi to the site; there is also a small airstrip beside the ruins with irregular flights.
K2 Base Camp Trek
A multi-day trek to the base of the world's second-highest mountain, through the Baltoro Glacier - among the more serious, high-altitude trekking routes anywhere, requiring real preparation and a permit.
📍 Karakoram Range, Gilgit-Baltistan
🚉 The trek starts at Askole, reached by jeep from Skardu over eight hours of rough track - Skardu itself is a flight from Islamabad or a 20-hour drive up the Karakoram Highway.
Lahore Old City
Home to the Wazir Khan Mosque's intricate tilework and a food street (Gawalmandi) that concentrates much of Lahore's celebrated street food culture into a few blocks.
📍 Lahore
🚉 The Orange Line metro runs to Anarkali and Lakshmi Chowk on the old city's edge; inside the Delhi Gate, the lanes are walking-only, and the Walled City Authority's Royal Trail is the route to follow.
Mark Pakistan, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Pakistan?
10-14 days suits combining Lahore's history with a trip up the Karakoram Highway into Hunza. A K2 Base Camp trek is a separate, longer expedition requiring roughly two to three weeks on its own.
What's the best time to visit Pakistan?
May-October is the main travel season for the northern mountain regions, when passes are clear of snow. Lahore and the lowlands are best visited October-March, avoiding the intense summer heat.
Is Pakistan good for a first-time visit?
It rewards careful planning - conditions and safety advice vary meaningfully by region, so check your government's current travel advisory for your specific route, and a local guide is strongly recommended for the northern mountain areas.
Do I need a visa to visit Pakistan?
Most nationalities need a visa, though many can now apply for an e-visa online rather than visiting an embassy in person. Check the official visa information for your nationality: visa.nadra.gov.pk.
What are some things to do in Pakistan on a tight budget?
Local Pakistani food is very inexpensive and excellent, shared jeep transport (rather than private hire) through the northern valleys costs a fraction of chartered transport, and many historic sites charge modest entry fees relative to comparable attractions elsewhere.
Can I rent a car in Pakistan, and what licence do I need?
Check your government's travel advice first, as parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa carry serious warnings and some areas require a No Objection Certificate for foreign visitors. Self-drive rental is uncommon; hiring a car with a driver is the normal arrangement and is what the mountain roads deserve, since the Karakoram Highway is spectacular and unforgiving. If you do drive, an International Driving Permit is required alongside your home licence, and traffic drives on the left. Road and highway information is published by the National Highway Authority at nha.gov.pk, and the licence rule for your own nationality is worth confirming with the Pakistani embassy before you travel.