Northern Areas of Pakistan – Untold Heaven

Are you a travel freak or wanderer who is always ready for adventures or loves to explore new places? Then, the Northern areas of Pakistan are one of the best destinations in the world for you!

Northern areas of Pakistan are renowned as one of the best tourist destinations all over the globe because of their scenic views, lakes, mountain peaks covered with snow, meadows and adventurous activities at these spots. Besides this, the famous mountain peaks K-2 and Nanga Parbat also sprawl here.

Natural beauty and scenic views play a vital role in drawing the attention of local and foreign tourists to these areas. Also to boost tourism in Pakistan, the previous govt. has taken various initiatives such as online training for stakeholders and the opening of PTDC motels spreading the glamour of these beautiful tourist spots.

Further, international travel agencies auxillate in boosting tourism by ranking Pakistan among the list of best travel destinations in the world (by Conde Nast Travellers).

List of Northern Areas in Pakistan

Here is the list of northern areas of Pakistan that backpackers love to visit.

Northern Areas of Pakistan Map

Naran Valley| Northern Areas of Pakistan

Naran valley is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Pakistan as it is easily accessible from all the major cities of Pakistan throughout the year. This valley is eminent due to its beautiful landscapes, meadows with majestic views and lakes. Along this, Naran valley is an arch for Gilgit-Baltistan- the most famous tourist attraction in Pakistan.

Accessibility

Naran Valley can be easily accessible at any time of the year as its weather is not extreme. Although, In Naran, there are heavy snowfalls in the winter season and heavy rainfalls in winter, it does not become a hurdle in terms of accessibility for tourists.

People can visit Naran valley by using public transport or private vehicles as it is just 283 Km away from Islamabad. The routes that go to Naran from Islamabad are the Silk route and Motorway. Consequently, it makes Naran one of the best areas for 2 day trip from Lahore to the northern areas.

People can use the services of Faisal Movers, Daewoo and Skyways to reach Naran Valley from major cities of Pakistan. People who want to make their more enjoyable and adventurous can also use Pakistan railways for reaching here.

Famous Attractions in Naran Valley| Northern Areas of Pakistan

Naran is the dream destination for freaks in northern areas of Pakistan as it is blessed with beautiful landscapes, natural beauty, majestic views, tranquil lakes and lush green meadows.

Naran valley is not only reputed for its natural beauty but is also pre-eminent for its handicraft shops, busy bazaars with local eatery shops and dry fruit retailers.

So, here is a list of famous attractions near Naran valley as follows

• Saif-ul-Malook Lake
• Aansu Lake
• Babusar Top
• Lalazar
• River Kunhar
• Battakundi- famous for hiking
• Lulusar Lake
• Pyala Lake
• Siri Paye

Activities in Naran Valley

In Naran, people can enjoy themselves by taking part in activities like fishing, camping, rafting and relaxing in cafes. Adventure lovers can go on a hike to Aansu Lake which is about 6 hours away from Lake Saif-ul-Malook. Other famous hiking places near Naran valley are Battakundi and Lalazar.

Besides this, people can set their camps near lake saif-ul-malook, battakundi and lalazar to enjoy nature and majestic views from these landscapes and meadows.

Skardu Valley

Skardu is the dreamland for many visitors as it is covered by the 3 most beautiful gigantic mountain ranges Himalaya, Karakoram and Ladakh. Skardu- the largest town of Gilgit-Baltistan is famed as Climber’s paradise. In Skardu, people come from different regions for climbing to satisfy their souls.

This region holds numerous mountains that become challenges for climbers and are left unclimbed. It is renowned for the world’s highest summits which climbers love to take on as a challenge. The most popular trekking spots in this region are Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Broadpeak, and K-2.

Accessibility

In Skardu, the temperature in the summer season is normal which is about -4C to 24C with low levels of rain. But in the winter season, the weather is extreme and the temperature goes beyond the freezing point, reach at -10 C.

The best time to visit Skardu is between June to October as in this season there are no route constraints for the visitors.  Skardu offers both accessibility options for its visitors either by road or air.

People can reach Skardu from Islamabad by road in 14-15 hours as it is 637 kilometers away from Islamabad. But if you are traveling from cities other than Islamabad then it is best for you to travel by air as it will only take 1 hour to reach at Skardu from Islamabad.

But if you are a person who always loves to go on adventurous or thrilling journeys then traveling by road is the best option for you. There are 2 routes that will take you to Skardu from Islamabad, one is the Naran-Babusar-Chillas road while the other one is the Mansehra-Batagram-Chillas road which is exposed to more dry mountains and dangerous roads.

Tourist Attractions

Skardu is one of the best destinations in the northern areas of Pakistan for every tourist the one who loves nature or peace and the one who loves adventure.

 Nature has blessed Skardu with gigantic mountains, lush green meadows, beautiful lakes, snow deserts, historic forts and idyllic waterfalls which makes it one of the most visited destinations in the world.

Here is the list of places that tourists love to visit to fulfill their soul with the natural beauty of this region or adventurous activities

• K-2 Basecamp
• Sheosar Lake
• Shigar Valley
• Satpara Lake
• Nansoq organic village (upper and lower kachura lake.)
• Manthoka Waterfall
• Deosai National Park
• Masherbrum base camp
• Burzil Pass
• Khaplu Valley
• Rama Valley
• Rupal Valley
• Hispar Valley
• Harmoush Valley
• Astore Valley

Activities

There are a lot of activities that tourist love to enjoy here, on top of the list hiking and trekking on the highest mountain peaks is present. Besides this, visitors can also enjoy other activities like camping, fishing and horse riding.

But, Skardu Valley is also famous for its Kashgahari Cuisine which includes, dumplings (momo’s), Soman Lakhman and other famous dishes which people love to enjoy here.

Moreover, the festivals of Skardu are also the reason why people love to come here as the Polo festival which is known as the “Game of Kings” in this region which held in 2^nd week of August every year.

The other famous festival is Jashn-e-Nowruz in which people enjoy feasts, dance, sing, and paint eggs for the table decorations and ladies paint their hands red with the local plant named henna.

Swat Valley| Best Place to Visit in Northen Areas of Pakistan

Swat Valley is one of the most visited destinations in the northern areas of Pakistan because of its natural landscapes, extreme sports activities and beautiful camping spots.

Swat Valley also has other names through which people recognize its beauty which as “Paradise on Earth” and “Pakistan’s Switzerland” as its natural landscape shows a resemblance with Switzerland.

Swat is located in the upper region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and it is more or less 250 kilometers away from Islamabad. This is the reason why it is one of the best destinations for 2 day trip from Lahore to the northern areas of Pakistan.

The flamboyance of Swat is all because of its natural beauty, lush green mountains, beautiful plains, eye-catching waterfalls, lakes and Insta-worthy places for camera lovers. All of the Swat districts are covered with alpine snow peaks, scenic mountains, clear water springs, beautiful resorts and skiing places that people love to explore.

Accessibility

The weather of the Swat seems to be normal and you will be shocked if you visit Swat you might experience 4 kinds of weather in one day by just visiting different areas of Swat Valley.

Despite all of the variations, you can visit the Swat very easily as there will be no hurdles or blockages due to the weather or climate of this gorgeous valley.

People can reach Swat by using public, private or air transport. As there are a lot of bus companies that are offering travel services in Swat Valley such as Faisal movers, Daewoo and Skyways. People who love to travel by air can also visit Swat as an airport is present in Swat’s city named Saidu Sharif. It caters the flights from Islamabad, Peshawar and Chitral.

But if you’re an adventure lover then by road is the best option for you to reach your destination. You can visit Swat by using the Swat expressway which is linked with M1 and M16 which links Islamabad and Peshawar with Bahrain which is a city of Swat. It will take only 2.5-3 hours to reach Swat from Islamabad and Lahore it will take you about 7-8 hours.

Places to Visit in Swat

Here is the list of places to visit in a swat that you must know before going to Swat Valley

• Kalam
• Kumrat Valley    
• Madyan
• Bahrain
• Marghuzar
• Mahodand Lake
• Usha Forest
• Malam Jabba
• Fizaghat
• Kundol Lake
• Spin Khuwar Lake
• Khapero Lake
• Shingrai Waterfall
• Saifullah Lakes
• Saidgai Lake
• Jarago Waterfall
• Alpari
• Falaksar

These are the places in Swat places where people love from all over the world love to visit and enjoy a range of different activities here.

Activities

In Swat, people can enjoy themselves by taking part in activities like fishing, camping, rafting and relaxing in cafes. People can also go hiking and trekking to famous places like Usha forest and can also set their camps near beautiful lakes like Mahodand lakes.

But in actuality, Swat is renowned for its adventurous sports activities as here you can Ski, chairlift, paraglide, snowboard, ice hockey and parasail.

Chitral Valley| Northern Area of Pakistan

Chitral Valley is one of the most visited northern areas of Pakistan. Chitral is famous because of its unique culture and is also known as the land of culture. So it is the best spot for you if you love to explore new cultures and lifestyles of different communities.

The reason why Chitral gained fame all over the world and why local visitors come from different regions to visit is the culture of Kalash, a racial group. It s reported that the people of Kalash are the descendants of Alexander the Great.

The famous tribes of the Chitral valley are Khow and Kalash. While the important villages of Chitral include Terich, Booni and Garam Chasma. Besides this, Chitral is also famous for its Chitral Gol National Park as it possesses 3 valleys and also a habitat for wildlife.

Accessibility

 You can visit Chitral by air or road as both options are viable for you. By air, it will take you one hour from Islamabad and around 40 minutes from Peshawar. PIA operates flights for Chitral from both cities daily.

But if you’re an adventure lover then you must know that Chitral is only accessible in summer as the weather conditions in Chitral are extreme which causes a landslide that ultimately results in the blockage of the Lowari tunnel which is the only way to reach Chitral.

Besides this, it will 6-7 hours to reach Chitral from Peshwar as it is 365 Km away, while from Islamabad it will take about 8-9 hours as the distance between Chitral and Islamabad is about 400 km (to be specific 394km). There is also a route for Chitral from Gilgit via Shandur Pass.

Tourist Attractions

Here is a list of Tourist attractions in Chitral Valley that people love to visit.

• Chitral Gol National Park
• Kalash Valley
• Shandur Pass
• Karambara Lake
• Tirich Mir
• Bumburet Valley
• Tooshi Game Reserve
• Rumber Valley
• Garam Chasma
• Birir Valley
• Darkot Pass

Activities

There are a lot of activities that tourist love to enjoy here, on top of the list hiking and trekking on the highest mountain peaks present. Besides this, visitors can also enjoy other activities like camping, fishing, horse riding and enjoying Kalash festivals.

Conclusion

Here, in this blog, we have listed the most famous northern areas of Pakistan that visitors from all over the world love to visit to explore the natural beauty of Pakistan. Also, love to take on adventurous activities as a challenge to fulfill their soul with joy and excitement.