Pakistan is a country highly underrated and undiscovered by the world. While it suffered huge decrease in the number of tourists for many years because of terrorism, it is encouraging that after Pakistan began operations against terrorists near the Afghanistan border, peace has returned to the country. Although there aren't many backpacker hostels in Pakistan because of the smaller number of tourists, the trend is changing, and you will find at least a few hostels in each of the big cities.
Starting from the north, Pakistan has some of the coldest and highest mountains and regions in the world. These include the Himalayas and Karakoram mountain ranges including the second highest mountain in the world, K2. Some of these regions are untouched by humans.
Southern Pakistan is home to some of the most beautiful and clean beaches along the Makran coastal highway, once again many of the beaches untouched by any human. Driving from north to south, one begins with world’s highest mountains, coming down are plane green fields of Punjab and upper Sind, desert of Thar in the east going all the way from Pakistan to India, and in the west relatively small mountain ranges of Baluchistan. The Indus River runs from the glaciers in the north and goes down to the Arabian sea.
Most famous tourist spot and metropolitan is Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan and home to the Mughal Empire of the 15th and 16th centuries. In Lahore, most of these hostels are around the old Lahore area of Lakshmi chowk (Lakshmi Square) and Mall Road, the most historic road in Lahore. Old Punjab university campus, the Punjab assembly building, the Anarkali markets, and the Pak Tea House are some of the famous buildings on Mall Road. Badshahi Mosque, Shahi Qila, and Minar e Pakistan are some of the must-see places.
In Islamabad, one should visit Daman-e-Koh, the viewing point at the mountain where you can see all of Islamabad. F-9 park, Faisal mosque, Saidpur Village, the Golra Railways station and railway museum, and Melody Food Street are some other places one should visit in Islamabad. Like Lahore, number of backpack hostels in Islamabad is also growing every day. There are also some public youth hostels in almost every big city and near all famous and/or historical sites in Pakistan.
Karachi, the south's largest city is bigger than your imagination. It’s so big that you need atleast 2-3 hours to drive from one end of the city to the other. Karachi also has some nice beaches, but they're no comparison to the untouched and clean beaches of Baluchistan.
People are friendlier than you would expect. Pakistan is ranked among most hospitable nations in the world. There is a high chance that while travelling in Pakistan as a foreigner you will not be charged on a public bus (or someone near you will pay for you), you will have thousands of offers for chai tea or meals, or you will be invited for a photo hundreds of times by curious locals.
Handwritten by local expert for Pakistan hostels Brown Traveller
