Mulk
The green Hunza valley at Karimabad between bare mountains, with Rakaposhi in the distance
Travel guide · 26 destinations

Northern Pakistan

Valleys, lakes and hill stations, from Hunza and Skardu to Swat, the Neelam valley and Murree. Pick a destination for where to stay, where to eat and what to see nearby.

Hunza · Karimabad · Photo: katorisi, CC BY-SA 3.0

9 destinations

Gilgit-Baltistan

Valleys of the Karakoram and the western Himalaya: Hunza and Gojal on the Karakoram Highway, Gilgit, Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu, and Fairy Meadows below Nanga Parbat.

The green Hunza valley at Karimabad between bare mountains, with Rakaposhi in the distance
Hunza
Karimabad
The jagged Passu Cones in evening sun above poplar trees
Gojal
Passu, Gulmit, Attabad Lake
Gilgit spread along its river in a wide valley ringed by mountains
Gilgit
The Indus spreading across the broad Skardu valley below the mountains
Skardu
Shangrila & Kachura lakes
The lit courtyard and carved wooden balconies of Shigar Fort in the evening
Shigar
The white walls and carved wooden balcony tower of Khaplu Palace
Khaplu
Snow-covered Nanga Parbat rising above a pine forest
Fairy Meadows
Rama Lake mirroring the mountains around it
Astore
A blue lake in the Naltar Valley under snowy peaks
Naltar
10 destinations

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Kaghan valley from Balakot up to Naran, Swat from Mingora up to Kalam, and Chitral with the Kalash valleys.

Naran town and its campsites on the valley floor, seen from a grassy slope
Naran
A snow-capped peak above pine-covered slopes in the Kaghan Valley
Kaghan
A red-roofed rest house among pines at Shogran, with clouds over the mountains
Shogran
A bridge over the Kunhar River at Garlot, Balakot
Balakot
Mingora’s rooftops at sunset below the hills of the Swat Valley
Swat
Mingora & Saidu Sharif
The Swat River at Kalam, with a red-roofed hotel and snowy peaks beyond
Kalam
Snow on the pine-covered slopes around Malam Jabba
Malam Jabba
A footbridge over the Swat River to Bahrain’s riverside buildings
Bahrain
Swat
The green Chitral valley below snow-capped Tirich Mir
Chitral
The Bumburet river running over boulders between autumn trees
Kalash Valleys
Bumburet
4 destinations

Azad Kashmir

Muzaffarabad, the Neelam valley from Keran up to Sharda and Kel, and Rawalakot in Poonch.

Muzaffarabad along its river, with hills beyond
Muzaffarabad
The Neelum River curving past terraced fields at Keran
Keran
Neelam Valley
The houses of Arang Kel on a green hillside, with snowy mountains behind
Sharda & Kel
Neelam Valley
Banjosa Lake, with red-roofed buildings among the pines
Rawalakot
3 destinations

The hills

Hill stations within reach of Islamabad and Rawalpindi: Murree, the Galyat around Nathia Gali and Ayubia, and Abbottabad.

Snow among the pines at Murree, with mountains in the distance
Murree
Pine forest at Nathia Gali, with snow on the hills beyond
Galyat
Nathia Gali & Ayubia
Abbottabad spread across its valley, framed by pine trees
Abbottabad
On the map

Where they are

All 26 destinations in this guide. Choose one to see its places.

  • Gilgit-Baltistan
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Azad Kashmir
  • Hills

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