Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the following post is solely mine and does not reflect the views of Rocky Road Travel. This was not a sponsored trip.
Contents:
- Rocky Road Travel
- Logistics
- Culturally Respectful Travel
- Activities in Pakistan
- Exploring Karakoram Highway
- A Reflection
Travelling with Rocky Road Travel
As mentioned before, this trip is by no means associated to them or was this a sponsored trip. I will prefix this by stating I’ve never been on a tour before.
Rocky Road Travel is founded by Shaun Horan. He and his team have local fixers they use in conjunction to run their tours. For Pakistan – they had one foreign guide and of course the local guide and bus driver. The max participants they seem to have on their tours is 12, we had 11 on ours. It’s a great size to get to know each other throughout the journey.
If you want to read my honest review of travelling with Rocky Road Travel read here.
Logistics of visiting the Karakoram Highway (KKH)
Visa Requirements
Keep in mind that visa requirements can vary based on where your passport is from. You may need to apply for a physical visa, electronic visa, or neither to enter Pakistan. Check Pak Visa to apply for up to date visa details. If you’re eligible for an e-visa, you will have to apply through the government website. When applying for the e-tourist visa, you will need to have some documentations on hand, ready for submission.
- Letter of Invitation (LOI) – provided from the tour company
- A copy of the tour agency’s license
- Information for the first night of stay
- Passport photograph (white background)
- Copy of your passport
I made a bit of a mistake while applying for the visa. There is an (almost) immediate tourist visa approval. However, I went through the wrong channel and it ended up taking me a lot longer than I had originally anticipated. I also had to submit more documentations than my partner at the request of the agent.
- DTS license of the tour operator
- Previous 2 months of bank statements
- A letter from my employer confirming my employment
According to the PAK Visa website, processing times for a single entry visa can take up to 10 working days. So, make sure you apply in advance to avoid any issues or stress! Once you’ve secured your visa, you’re one step closer to your intrepid adventure.
Plan your itinerary
The Karakoram Highway is a long road, and there are several places to visit along the way. This would depend if you’re going with a tour or DIY. Majority of the tours are pre-planned navigating the KKH via Naran and Chilas on the way to Hunza Valley and back via Besham and Peshawar, almost in a anti clockwise direction. If you’re doing a DIY version of this, the key here is creating a well thought out itinerary. You’ll probably want to start by outlining the major regions and points of interest on your bucket list, such as Gilgit, Hunza, and Skardu. There is a lot to see in each of these places so you’ll need to decide how long you’d like to spend in each one. As the mountain roads are famously unpredictable, be sure to factor in travel times between destinations.
Transportation
You can travel on the Karakoram Highway by bus, jeep, motorbike, or car. There are several tour operators that offer packages to visit the KKH, or you can hire a private vehicle. We did see some Pakistani locals travelling the KKH via motorbike. Alternatively, you can take internal flights if you’re short on time. As I mentioned, you probably want to have some buffer – while we were there, there was a landslide that blocked part of the Karakoram Highway and we had to back track an entire day to get to the other side!
Prepare for the weather
We had been lucky with the weather but it’s not uncommon to experience rain or snow while at altitude. What I found the easiest to wear while we were in the cities and villages was leggings with a kurta – a loose top worn in the region by locals, usually goes to about knee length and made of cotton. It’s a bit of a mix bag of what to pack. Islamabad and Peshawar is scorching with temperatures soaring high 20s degC. However, in the mountains, it can get down to 5 degC overnight. As expected, the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. My best advice would be to pack layers!
Altitude Sickness
High altitudes is generally considered anything above 1500m above sea level. Many areas in Northern Pakistan are at altitude. Hunza Valley is located at 2438m, Fairy Meadows at 3300m and Gilgit at 1500m. It is a bit tricky to medicate yourself with altitude sickness. Consult your doctor before going to high altitudes if you haven’t experienced it before. Acclimatize slowly and be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness. General symptoms to look out for are: headaches, vomiting, dizziness and reduced coordination.
The main way to reduce your risk of altitude sickness is to gain altitude slowly, spend a couple of days acclimatizing before moving higher. Other ways is to keep yourself well hydrated.
Health Precautions
As a general rule to foreign countries, I had a basic (but extensive) first aid kit. Avoid drinking tap water or drinking ice (because ice water tends to come from the tap unless bought). When it comes to vaccinations against preventable diseases/illnesses, I believe everyone should be vaccinated. Consult with your doctor to discuss vaccinations and potential health risks in Pakistan. To make it easy, ensure you have updated vaccinations. I like using government websites, like this Fit for Travel by the UK National Health Service to verify what vaccinations I should have.
This is not medical advice, talk to your medical professional to see what you need.
Respecting Nature
It is really interesting while travelling around Pakistan. It has such amazing beauty, unfortunately, like many other countries, there is also a lot of litter. You’ll see signs all along the KKH as a reminder to not litter or environmental positive signs. From my understanding, it’s caused primarily because there’s a lack of education with respecting nature and avoiding littering. A lot of the participants in my group picked up pieces of trash along the trails. Follow Leave No Trace principles to preserve the environment.
Culturally Respectful Travel in Pakistan
Respect local customs
Pakistan is a conservative and predominantly Muslim country. It is really important to respect local customs and traditions, even if your society is open. Couples travelling to Pakistan should also refrain from being too touchy feely with each other. Public displays of affection (PDA) is frowned upon, for some it can be considered as offensive and/or inappropriate. It’s also important to be mindful of religious practices, such as prayer times and dietary restrictions, and to avoid behavior that may be considered disrespectful or offensive. Culturally, showing courtesy and humility towards elders and authority figures is highly valued. By demonstrating an understanding and appreciation of local customs, visitors can foster mutual respect and create meaningful connections with the people they encounter during their travels.
Being mindful of your behavior is just as important. Goes without saying but always ask for permission before taking photos of people, as some may consider it intrusive. There are some instances were women may not want to be photographed – please respect their decision and not stuff a camera in their face! Learning a couple of phrases in Urdu can go a long way, you’ll see the locals really appreciate the effort.
Dress Modestly/Visiting Religious Sites
Part of respecting the local customs is dressing modestly. Generally, as there are regions which are stricter in terms of following the modesty code than others, it’s advisable to avoid wearing tank/sleeveless shirts and shorts for tourists in general but I would say this is mostly applicable to females. In conservative countries, the expectation is to cover your shoulders and knees, also avoiding drawing attention to the chest area. For my fellow women, I would advise you to bring a headscarf/covering in your day bag at all times. You’ll never know when you might need it. If you’re not too sure what to do, follow the lead of the locals!
When visiting mosques or other religious sites, remember to cover up! The more touristy sites may provide cloaks or abayas if you aren’t appropriately dressed. Additionally, visitors should remove their shoes before entering the mosque and refrain from loud conversations or disruptive behavior. Approach the experience with an open mind and a willingness to learn and appreciate the cultural and religious significance of the site.
Cultural appreciation or cultural appropriation?
Now especially in this day and age, it’s a common question to ask. I purchased my kurtas while in Pakistan and the locals seemed pretty happy to assist me and pick out options, never got a negative interaction. I think the key here is to not treat it like a costume and wear it respectfully. For the most part, a lot of the locals encourage your to wear their local garb. It is the best way to blend in, makes dressing modestly a lot less mentally draining and at the end of the trip, it’s a nice piece of memory. Also buying locally supports the local economies and you know it’s probably the best thing to wear for the climate if all the locals are wearing it!
Support Local Communities
When visiting countries like Pakistan, supporting the local economy can have a significant positive impact on communities and businesses. Like in most places, the best way is to support local vendors, smaller businesses, local artisans rather than the well-known international chains. I found it to be amazingly easy to support local by shopping at the local bazaars/shops, eating at family owned restaurants and staying at smaller accommodations.
What to do while in Pakistan?
Hiking and Trekking
The main hike on our itinerary was the iconic trek to Fairy Meadows with a view of Nanga Parbat in Northern Pakistan. This region of the country is known for its towering peeks and valleys. The hike itself is easy, however with altitude, that made it a lot more challenging for me. Remember to pace yourself, especially at higher altitudes. You could easily do this hike with trainers but I opted for ankle high hiking shoes to give myself better grip. As you will be at altitude, the weather is a lot cooler and actually cold at night so bring layers with you so you can either rug up or peel off.
Photography
I am a very amateur photographer, you might call it a hobby photographer. Regardless, the northern regions have such awe-inspiring landscapes with the Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountain ranges surrounding you. But the probably most enjoyable part of my photographic journey here was capturing the warm smiles of the locals. Obviously, respectfully ask for permission before snapping a photo and if they don’t want to be in the picture, do not force it. Respect the privacy of locals. Although, some people will ask you to take a photo of them or even ask to take a selfie with you!
Stargazing
Speaking of photography, if you’ve ever wanted to photograph the night star, Northern Pakistan is the place for it. Don’t forget to pack a lightweight tripod! Alternatively, if that’s not your thing, it is a great spot for stargazing anyways. With the combination of clear skies of the higher altitudes and unpolluted skies of Northern Pakistan, this region offers what I would say is some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world. You can see the Milky Way stretching across the sky. Looking up at all the stars really makes you realise how big the universe actually is and it made my worries feel a lot more insignificant.
White Water Rafting
If I said the words “white water rafting” and “Pakistan”, would you have ever thought that was possible? Well – float between the rugged peaks of Passu via the Hunza River and experience this once in a lifetime adventure. It is such a unique way to experience Pakistan and its landscapes. The river we went down, while fast was not overly turbulent. It was relatively easy to go down it so perfectly suitable for beginners.
Exploring Karakoram Highway (KKH)
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is a highway in Pakistan that runs through the Karakoram mountain range, connecting Pakistan and China. The highway has been called the eighth wonder of the world, crossing through the ancient Silk Road. So really, as you explore this route, you’re actually following the footsteps of the Silk Road traders – how cool is that? The KKH is the highest paved road in the world, reaching the highest elevation of 4714m. During your journey through the KKH, towards the border, you will pass through “China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels”. This section of the highway was rebuilt after the 2010 landslide creating the artificial lake called Attabad Lake. For the 3 years it took to construct the new route, users of the highway had to cross Attabad Lake on boats.
Planned Itinerary
Here is a sample itinerary we had for visiting the Karakoram Highway:
Most of the tour companies follow a very similar itinerary. This was our scheduled itinerary.
Day 1: Islamabad
Day 2: Islamabad – Chilas
Day 3: Chilas – Fairy Meadows
Day 4: Fairy Meadows
Day 5: Fairy Meadows – Hunza Valley
Day 6: Hunza Valley
Day 7: Kunjerab – Gilgit
Day 8: Gilgit – Besham
Day 9: Besham – Swat – Peshawar
Day 10: Peshawar
Day 11: Peshawar – Islamabad
Day 12: Islamabad Departure
Actual Itinerary
Maintain flexibility in your itinerary. Road conditions can change rapidly due to weather, so be ready to adjust your plans!!! It’s worth noting that on these types of trips, expect that not everything will go according to plan. The road conditions are very much dependent on the weather and mother nature. While we were on our journey, we had to make a detour as the roads were impassable.
Day 1: Islamabad
Day 2: Islamabad – Chilas Burwai (pitstop)
We were stopped in a small village called Burwai because of the landslide that happened between there and Chilas. Unfortunately, we had to travel back down towards Islamabad and back up the other way because of the landslide blocking the entire road.
Day 3: Chilas – Fairy Meadows Burwai – Chilas
Day 4: Fairy Meadows Chilas – Fairy Meadows
Day 5: Fairy Meadows – Hunza Valley Fairy Meadows
Day 6: Hunza Valley Fairy Meadows – Hunza Valley
Day 7: Kunjerab Hunza Valley – Gilgit
Day 8: Gilgit – Besham
Day 9: Besham – Swat – Peshawar
Day 10: Peshawar
Day 11: Peshawar – Islamabad
Day 12: Islamabad Departure
A Reflection
Traveling through Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway is to step into what feels like a completely different world. It was really one of those travels that you come back changed. Personally, it sparked something inside for a desire to visit more “unconventional” countries because I’m interested in the stories. It is more than just sightseeing. The landscape, warmth of the people and the overall adventure of travelling the KKH – I just have no words for. While I would rave about Pakistan non stop, I hope this educates you on culturally responsible tourism and its practices. The tips I’ve shared are not only applicable to Pakistan but several countries around the world. By encouraging you to visit Pakistan, I truly do believe that stories can break down barriers and ourselves to new places and cultures.
So pack your bags, embark on this incredible journey, and let the mountains weave their magic around you.
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