See the world’s highest mountains

The autonomous region of Gilgit-Baltistan or Northern Areas is where you can pin down all of the world’s tallest mountains, including the Himalayas, K2 or Karakoram and Hindu Kush, which rise from 7,000 meters to over 8,000 meters. Such mountains contain the most glaciers in the world outside of the polar region.

Apart from trekking, the region offers opportunities for trout fishing, skiing, bathing in natural swimming pools, horseback riding, and sight-seeing. The attractions to see apart from the mountains are museums, Buddhist temples, indigenous villages, and ancient rock carvings.

To get here, take a plane from Islamabad bound for Gilgit District. The flight takes around 50 minutes and itself is a must-do as you can see from the craft some of the world’s most scenic places like the alpine Nanga Parbat. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Islamabad to Skardu. Avoid traveling in winter as flights often get delayed by several days. By road, you can locate Gilgit through the Karakoram Highway.