Pakistan

Visa requirements for Pakistan depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.

March–May and September–October are ideal for Lahore, Peshawar, and the cultural heartland. June–August is K2 base camp and Karakoram Highway season — the world's second-highest peak and the Hunza Valley are spectacular June–September. Winters are cold in the north; Lahore and Karachi are comfortable October–March.

• Conservative dress throughout — Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country
• Women: loose, long clothing covering arms and legs; a headscarf appreciated in smaller cities and rural areas
• Men: long trousers and covered shoulders — avoid shorts outside tourist treks
• Remove shoes before entering mosques

• Pakistanis are extraordinarily hospitable — you will be invited for chai and meals constantly
• Always use the right hand for eating, giving, and receiving
• Greet with 'As-salamu alaykum' — it is always the right thing to say
• The Hunza Valley (northern Pakistan) people are Ismaili Muslim and notably open and welcoming to international trekkers
• Never photograph women without explicit permission

• Check your government's current travel advisory — security varies significantly by region. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have restricted areas; the north (Hunza, Gilgit) is generally considered safe for tourists
• Blasphemy laws are strictly enforced — any perceived insult to Islam or the Prophet carries severe penalties
• LGBTQ+ activity is illegal
• Alcohol is prohibited for Muslims; non-Muslims can access it at licensed hotels in major cities
• Drug trafficking carries the death penalty