Islamabad
The capital of Pakistan is an absolute must-see on your trip through the country and a perfect starting point for your backpacking adventure in Pakistan!
Islamabad is located in the northern part of Pakistan and is known as a place of peace and solitude. Islamabad is very multifaceted, as you will soon discover that on your trip: with a variety of food, lots of shopping centers, gardens, parks, and many museums to discover, there is a lot to explore in your first destination. And don’t forget to visit the great mosque, known as the Shah Faisal Mosque, which will definitely blow you away. If you want to get out of the city a bit, there is a hiking trail that takes you to the amazing viewpoints of Pir Sowaha and Daman e Koh.
As for accommodation, you can stay in one of the local hostels and get a double room for €19.
Karimabad
You can get to Gilgit by night bus from Islamabad for about €16 overnight, so you don’t need accommodation in Gilgit. The city is the perfect stopover on the way to Karimabad. Once in town, you will certainly want to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the region. Gilgit is surrounded by the mountains of Karakorum, green valleys, and beautiful lakes. The Gilgit-Baltistan region is home to a very diverse culture. More than six languages are spoken here, including Balti, Shina, Burushaski, Khwar, Whaki, and Domaki. It is a beautiful ride to get there and the perfect stopover on your itinerary, so you can enjoy the picturesque landscape for a while.
The trip from Gilgit to Karimabad costs €5 by minibus. In Karimabad, there are several important sights that you should not miss. One of them is the Baltit Fort, which dates back to the 13th century. It is one of the most famous buildings in the Hunza Valley. There is also a local village around the fort which is nice to explore.
You can also visit the Altit Fort & Village and the Monminabad Village, where you can experience the local culture firsthand. The Ganish Village is also a must-visit as it is the first settlement in the Hunza Valley and houses a mosque that is over 400 years old.
While you stay for a few days and explore the area, sleep at one of the local hotels. You can get a double room for €10 a night.
Lahore
You will take a night bus for about €21 from Karimabad, which will take you from Lahore to Gilgit and from Gilgit to Islamabad. You'll stay again in Islamabad in a local hotel for €19 a night for a bed in a double room. The trip to Lahore will then be followed by another bus ride, which will cost you about €9.
You should stay at least two full days in Lahore to explore it all. It is the second-largest city and the richest city in Pakistan. Some of the important places you can visit in Lahore are the Lahore Fort, the Badshahi Mosque, the market at Delhi Gate, where you can learn about local crafts and food, and the border ceremony at Wahga Gate, which is held between India
and the Pakistani military on the border. You can get a single room in a hotel in Lahore for €19 a night.
Bahawalpur
To get to Bahawalpur, you’ll take the train from Lahore to Bahawalpur for €6. Bahawalpur is located near the Cholistan Desert and is a very interesting place to visit with the most detailed and artistic architectural buildings in Pakistan. These include the Darawar Fort, the Darbar Mahal, the Noor Mahal Abbasi Mosque, and the Sadiq Garh Palace. Apart from the beautiful buildings that are sure to fascinate you, there is also the Lal Sohanra National Park.
You can sleep in one of Bahawalpur’s hotels and get a double room for €30 a night.
Sukkur
From Bahawalpur, you can take the train to Sukkur for €3. It is best to take a whole day to explore the area. Sukkur is a city in the Pakistani province of Sindh and if you visit this city in Pakistan, you shouldn’t miss some important sights like the Tomb of the Seven Sisters, Sadh Belo, Lansdowne Bridge, and Masoom Shah Jo Minaro.
Sukkur is famous for its archaeological sites and the ruins of Sindh. Shahi Bazaar is in the center of the town, and you can find local food, handicrafts, and clothing there, making it a great way to discover the culture of the city.
You can get a double room in one of the local hotels for €25 a night.
Karachi
The last stop on your backpacking trip through Pakistan is Karachi. You’ll get there by bus for €7. It is the perfect place to end your trip, and it is best to have at least three full days to explore everything the city has to offer. In Karachi, a single room in the Bath Iceland of Houses Hotel costs €18 per night.
Karachi is a big city and the most populous city in Pakistan. As it’s the most diverse city in Pakistan in terms of ethnicity and language, there is an abundance of cultural sights in Karachi. On the one hand, there are places like the French Beach, the Marina Club, and Clifton Beach, where you can enjoy your time outdoors and on the water. On the other
hand, there are several museums like the PAF Museum, the National Museum of Pakistan, and the Mohatta Palance Museum that you can visit to learn more about Pakistani history. There are plenty of activities that you will certainly not be short of.
It is the perfect final destination as the city has a large airport with great fares to fly home with no worries in mind.
