I didn’t know much about Pakistan before I went, just that it had mountains, chai, and maybe not the best reputation in the news. But I was curious, and something about it kept pulling me in. So I booked the ticket and went. Now that I’ve been, I honestly don’t know how to explain it in a way that really does it justice, but I’ll try.
I started in Lahore, which is probably one of the loudest, most alive places I’ve ever been. The streets are wild cars, rickshaws, people selling food, music coming from somewhere at all times. It’s chaotic, but kind of beautifully so. I wandered around the old city and ended up at the Badshahi Mosque around sunset. It was massive, peaceful, and somehow still buzzing with energy. The call to prayer echoed across the courtyard and for a moment, it felt like time slowed down. I got street food from a tiny stall some local guy insisted was “the real deal” I had no idea what I was eating, but it was spicy and delicious, and I finished every bite.
After a few days, I made my way up north to Hunza. And honestly? It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The kind of place where you wake up and just sit there staring at the mountains, trying to convince yourself it’s real. I stayed in a little guesthouse run by the sweetest family. They made me apricot jam from their own trees and we had tea in the garden every morning while the clouds moved across the peaks. I hiked, took way too many photos, and just kind of… slowed down. It’s hard not to.
Skardu was next, and if Hunza is beautiful, Skardu is wild. The landscapes are bigger, rougher, quieter. It felt like the edges of the world. I didn’t do much besides hike around, sit by lakes, and stare at the sky. There’s a kind of peace up there that’s hard to find anywhere else. And the people — again, just so kind. I had someone invite me into their home after only talking for five minutes. We had tea (always tea), and tried to chat in a mix of broken English, Urdu, and hand gestures. It somehow worked.
I stopped in Islamabad on the way back down and it surprised me. It’s clean and green and way calmer than Lahore. I didn’t do much there, just caught my breath, ate good food, and walked around the hills. Honestly, it was a nice reset after all the travel.
One of the biggest surprises of the trip was the coastline in Balochistan. I had no idea Pakistan had beaches like that long empty stretches of sand, weird rock formations that looked like something from another planet, and hardly any people. Driving along the Makran Coastal Highway felt like being in a movie. It’s so underrated it’s almost unbelievable.
The thing is, Pakistan isn’t the easiest place to travel. Transport can be rough, things don’t always run on time, and you get a lot of stares if you look foreign. But I never once felt unsafe. In fact, I’ve never met people so curious and generous. I lost count of how many strangers offered me help, directions, or just a smile and a conversation. A guy once bought me tea just because he was excited to see a foreigner traveling in his country. No catch, no weird vibe just kindness.
I went to Pakistan for the landscapes, but it’s the people that made me want to go back. It’s one of those places that gets under your skin not in a flashy, touristy way, but in a way that stays with you. If you’re someone who wants easy travel, maybe it’s not your thing. But if you like raw, real, and unforgettable, I’d say just go. Let it surprise you.
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