Pakistan Tours & Holidays

Pakistan – officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan – has suffered from a negative image, mainly since September 2001 and issues relating to safety and international relations. People can quickly cast it aside as a troubled nation, let alone consider travelling there, but there’s so much more to Pakistan than the media would have you believe. 

Pakistan is a diverse country made up of many ethnic groups. Though the majority of Pakistanis practice Islam, it has been shaped by various faiths and empires throughout history and is a melting pot of Indian, Central Asian and Persian influences.  

Urdu and English are the official national languages, though over 70 others are spoken. Linguistically and culturally, the northern Pakistanis of the Karakoram ranges have more in common with, say, their northern Indian or Afghan neighbours than those living in Karachi or Hyderabad. 

That said, Pakistanis share two things in common – the first being cricket which has the power to transcend politics and unite people all over the country. The second is hospitality. According to Islam, a guest is a blessing from God, and you’ll find that the locals will go out of their way to share a cup of tea, invite you in for a meal or strike up a conversation (probably about cricket). 

Like many conservative countries, Pakistan takes a more traditional view of gender equality. Men are generally considered responsible for providing for their family while women care for the home and the children.

However, women across the country are fighting for more independence, including in tourism which is a male-dominated industry. Meet and learn from some of the trailblazing women forging a new path for women in Pakistan on our Women's Expedition.

The official creation of Pakistan was in 1947, though the history of the land and its people is much older.

Ancient history

Human occupation of the area we know as Pakistan dates back some 500,000 years, with evidence of stone-age communities that evolved into farmers that cultivated vast areas. The Indus Valley civilisation flourished in the Indus River basins for over 700 years before being replaced by the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Alexander the Great rolled in with his Macedonian army in 327 BC, leaving behind an enormous empire stretching from Greece to the Indus River when he died.

Kushan Empire

Pakistan continued to be a highly sought-after territory. Buddhism and Hinduism prevailed until Muhammad bin Qasim’s conquest in 711 AD achieved the first Muslim foothold. Islam spread throughout the region, culminating in the creation of the Mughal Empire, which covered modern-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh.

The Mughals were descendants of the Turks and their leader, Babur, was said to descend from Genghis Kahn himself. The Mughals were renowned for their architecture (think: the Taj Mahal and Red Fort in India), and their interest in the arts which blended Persian, Indian and European influences.

The empire started to crack in the early 1700s, and by the end of the century, a Sikh Empire had taken control of the Punjab region.

British colonisation

The British Raj ruled the Indian subcontinent, including much of Pakistan, from 1858 to 1947 after several confrontations with the Sikh armies. After victory in the Anglo-Sikh wars, and due to the influence of the East India Company, the British dominated the region - though a national Muslim identity was slowly emerging.

A key figure in the movement was writer and poet Muhammad Iqbal, who believed a Muslim state was necessary in a Hindu-dominated region, though some argue he advocated for a Muslim province rather than a partition of the country.

The name ‘Pakistan’ was created in 1933 by political science student Choudhry Rahmat Ali as an acronym for the five northern regions of British India: Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan. ‘PAKSTAN’ became ‘Pakistan’ for pronunciation purposes.

Independence

Along with India, Pakistan gained independence from the British in 1947. Once the borders were drawn, an unforeseen issue arose in the Punjab region between Hindu minorities in Pakistan and Muslim minorities in India. A population exchange was agreed upon, but it was far from peaceful.  

It’s estimated that over 10 million people migrated and that one to two million people died as a result of violence. This clash was the basis of the still unresolved Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India.

It’s worth noting, too, that Bangladesh was formerly known as East Pakistan and had a Bengali Muslim majority. In 1971, however, the Bengali Muslims split from their Western family because of discrimination and a lack of attention from the Pakistani government. 

Modern history

Despite its complex history, Pakistan is tipped to become a significant economy and destination for adventure travel. With incredible treks, sublime mountain scenery and a welcoming population that loves hosting visitors, it may just be the best place you never considered visiting.

Pakistani cuisine reflects its melting pot of cultures. Take your subcontinental staples, add some Middle Eastern flavours, mix in some Central Asia seasoning and you’ve got a delicious variety of dishes – think everything from spicy curry to the perfect shish kebab.

Here are a few dishes to look out for:

1. Nihari

This hugely popular Muslim dish, which is found across the Indian subcontinent, is made from a slow-cooked shank of lamb, goat or chicken stewed with some 50 spices, including garam masala, cardamom and cumin. It’s served with naan or roti.

2. Sajji

Sajji, originating in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, is a simple, tasty meat dish. Take a whole lamb or chicken, marinate it in salt, skewer the entire thing and roast it over coals. Sometimes it’s covered in green papaya paste, sometimes it’s stuffed with rice, but one thing's certain: it’s always delicious.

3. Halwa poori

This dish is a popular breakfast in southern Pakistan. It consists of deep-fried bread ­– the poori – served with halwa (a traditional sweet), yoghurt and a chickpea or potato curry. It’s light and oh so right.

4. Kheer

This traditional dessert is a rice pudding combined with almonds, pistachios, cashews, saffron and cardamom. It’s served in terracotta bowls and is oh-so-moreish.

What are the plant-based options like in Pakistan?

Travelling as a vegetarian in Pakistan can require a little patience. Pakastani cuisine is heavily meat-based and most dishes are cooked with meat stock or ghee. Vegetarian dishes like dahl are popular, but they’re sometimes served with shredded meat, so be clear you don’t eat meat – including fish and chicken!

Snacks like paratha and piping-hot roti are abundant, but you may need to persevere to find something more substantial.

Vegan options can be harder to find, as veganism isn’t really a concept in Pakistan. Ask for your dish to be prepared in a separate pot without animal products, but be understanding if this causes some confusion.

Of course, this is all a lot easier when you’re travelling with a local leader who can help you decipher menus.

Pakistan is bordered by four countries – Iran, India, Afghanistan and China – with disagreements over the Kashmir region (India and China) and the Durand Line (Afghanistan). It stretches from the Arabian Sea in the south to the mighty Karakoram mountains in the north and can be split into three geographical regions.

1. Northern highlands

Northern Pakistan is incredibly mountainous. It has three of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges –Karakoram, Hindu Kush and the Himalayas – and is home to the second-largest peak, K2 (8611 m) and more than 50 mountains rising above 6500 metres.

Given the challenging terrain, the northern highlands have a sparse population with remote villages scattered throughout the valleys. Winters here are severe, as you’d imagine, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

2. Balochistan

Southwest Pakistan, known as Balochistan, borders Iran and Afghanistan. It accounts for 44 per cent of the land mass but around 10 per cent of the population, most of whom are concentrated in Quetta.

Poverty is high here despite untapped natural gas reserves, and much of the landscape is dry and inhabitable. The summers are hot, and the winters can be freezing, though rainfall is relatively low compared to the rest of Pakistan.

3. Indus Plain

Much of Pakistan’s population and economy are focused around the mighty Indus River, which shelters several endemic creatures including the endangered Indus River dolphin.

The river basin’s fertile plains are responsible for most of the country’s food supply. That said, it can also fall victim to devastating floods which affect millions of people during the monsoon from mid-July to September.

Pakistan is home to shawls, spice and everything nice. Much like India, the markets are an experience in their own right.

Even if you don’t bring anything home, you won’t forget the bustle and banter as you navigate through the throngs. But if you do have space for souvenirs, the following may make some nice mementos: 

1. Rugs

Carpet weaving is an age-old craft that dates back to the Mughal Empire. Pakistani rugs are traditionally made with wool dyed using natural materials and hand-knotted into floral or geometric designs. Lahore is particularly famous for its rugs. 

2. Onyx

Pakistan is known for its onyx marble. Although many think of onyx as a black gem, Pakistani onyx jewellery comes in various colours with streaks of gold, green and brown. 

3. Kashmiri shawls

The disputed region of Kashmir is known for its woven shawls – ‘cashmere’ is an anglicisation of Kashmir. They’re traditionally made with pashmina wool sourced from high-altitude areas of the Himalayas and designed with bright colours and intricate embroidery. 

4. Multan pottery

The southern Punjab city of Multan is famous for its blue pottery, which was introduced by Arab artisans in the 8th century. The striking blue colour is inspired by Sufism, while the motifs are from Turkish and Persian artwork. Vases make for an excellent keepsake, and the best place to buy an original piece is Multan or Lahore.

The people of Pakistan love a party and will go all out for birthdays, weddings and religious celebrations. If you’re around for any of these festivals, you can expect lots of noise, colour and delicious food. 

1. Independence Day

August 14 is a national holiday commemorating Pakistan’s independence. Official festivities include speeches, a gun salute and cultural programs. People also adorn their shops and homes with flags, bunting and banners. It’s a busy, joyous day with friends and families gathering in parks and other public places to celebrate their country. 

2. Shandur Festival

Welcome to the highest polo match on the planet. Sitting at 3700 metres in the Shandur Pass, the Shandur Polo Festival in July brings teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan to face off in an extremely aesthetic arena. Rooted in the equestrian traditions of Central Asia, expect lots of feasting, folk music and dancing.

3. Basant

Basant is held in the Punjab region to celebrate the arrival of spring. Locals fly colourful kites all over the city, participate in kite-flying competitions and enjoy seasonal food and music. 

Public holidays that may impact travel

Many of Pakistan’s public holidays are religious and celebrated according to the Islamic lunar cycle, so dates vary yearly. This includes:

• Kashmir Solidarity Day

• Pakistan Day

• Labour Day

• Eid al-Fitr

• Eid al-Adha

• Independence Day

• Ashura

• Eid Milad

• Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday

For inspiring stories to prepare you for your Pakistan adventure, check out these books:

• Moth Smoke – Mohsin Hamid
• The Ice-Candy Man – Bapsi Sidwha
• The Buddha of Suburbia – Hanif Kureishi
• My Feudal Lord – Tehmina Durrani
• A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush – Eric Newby
• Kartography – Kamila Shamsie
• A Case of Exploding Mangoes –Mohammed Hanif
• The Reluctant Fundamentalist – Mohsin Hamid
• K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain – Ed Viesturs, David Roberts