Before I left for Pakistan, almost everyone I told had the same reaction. Don’t go. It’s dangerous. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Even people who had never been anywhere near Pakistan felt completely qualified to tell me exactly what it was like.
And honestly? Part of me understood why. For decades, the image most of the world has had of Pakistan has been shaped almost entirely by news headlines. Suicide bombings. Terrorism. Military conflict. The country found itself at the center of global attention after September 11, 2001, largely because of its border with Afghanistan, and from that point on, the narrative became almost impossible to separate from the country itself. Millions of people around the world formed an opinion about Pakistan without ever setting foot there.
I was one of those people.
But there was something that kept pulling me. I kept asking myself one question: what if there is only one side of the story? What if the Pakistan that exists in the headlines is not the Pakistan where real people wake up every morning, raise their children, cook food, pray, and go to work?
So I went. And what I found changed everything I thought I knew.
This article is my honest account of travelling across Pakistan. It covers the places I visited, the people I met, the things that shocked me, and everything you need to know if you are thinking about going yourself.
Quick Facts About Pakistan
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
| Capital | Islamabad |
| Largest City | Karachi |
| Population | Approximately 230 million |
| Official Languages | Urdu and English |
| Currency | Pakistani Rupee (PKR) |
| Time Zone | PKT (UTC+5) |
| Religion | Predominantly Islam |
| Best Time to Visit | April to June and September to November |
| Visa Required for Nigerians | Yes — apply in advance or check e-visa options |
Why Pakistan Has the Reputation It Has
Let me address this honestly because it is impossible to talk about travelling to Pakistan without talking about it.
Pakistan became heavily associated with terrorism and conflict in the years following September 11, 2001. On that day, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the United States in one of the worst terrorist attacks in history. As the war on terror began, Pakistan found itself right at the center of the story largely because of its border with Afghanistan. In the years that followed, the association between Pakistan and conflict became deeply embedded in the minds of millions of people worldwide.
And the media did not help. For years, the dominant image shown to the world was one of violence, instability, and danger. Suicide bombings. Military operations. Pakistan shooting down Indian jets. Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanging accusations. These were the stories that traveled. These were the images that shaped the global perception of an entire nation and its 230 million people.
What the media rarely showed was everything else. The mountains. The valleys. The ancient cities. The warmth of the people. The food. The culture. The history that stretches back thousands of years.
A Pakistani man I spoke with during my trip said something that has stayed with me. He told me that the media wants views, and views come from negative things. That is not just true of Pakistan. That is true of how the world often sees Africa too. And as someone who has spent years documenting African stories that the world refuses to tell properly, I recognised exactly what he was talking about.
Where I Went: The Cities and Regions I Visited
Pakistan is not a small country. It is geographically diverse in a way that genuinely surprised me. In one trip you can go from one of the most modern capital cities in Asia to some of the most remote and dramatic mountain landscapes on earth.
Here is a breakdown of the places I visited:
| Destination | Region | What It Is Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | Punjab | Capital city, clean and modern, Pakistan Monument |
| Lahore | Punjab | Culture, history, food, Badshahi Mosque |
| Skardu | Gilgit-Baltistan | Gateway to the Karakoram mountains |
| Hunza Valley | Gilgit-Baltistan | Stunning landscapes, Hussaini Bridge |
| Fairy Meadows | Gilgit-Baltistan | Base camp of Nanga Parbat, the Killer Mountain |
| Nanga Parbat | Gilgit-Baltistan | Ninth highest mountain on earth, 8,126 metres |
Each of these places could be an entire trip on its own. I covered a lot in the time I had, and even then I barely scratched the surface.
Skardu: The North Will Break You
I want to start here because Skardu is where the trip truly began to hit me.
I had seen videos of northern Pakistan online. Everyone who has been there talks about it. But nothing prepares you for actually seeing it in person. The moment you arrive and the landscape opens up in front of you, the mountains rising from the earth in every direction, the Indus River threading through the valley far below, you genuinely forget for a moment that a place like this is real.
You guys didn’t tell me Pakistan is this beautiful. I was not expecting to find something like this.
That was my honest reaction and I stand by it completely.
Skardu sits in Gilgit-Baltistan, the northernmost region of Pakistan, and it serves as the gateway to some of the most dramatic geography on the planet. From here you can reach K2, the second highest mountain in the world, Nanga Parbat, Concordia, and dozens of other peaks and valleys that draw climbers and adventurers from every country on earth.
What struck me most about Skardu was not just the beauty but the combination of things you can experience in one place. You can stand at a high vantage point and see the Saffaranga cold desert, the Indus River, and snowcapped mountains all in the same frame. I have travelled across multiple continents. I have never seen anything quite like that view.
Masoor Rock: My First Real Hike and Why You Should Do It
I want to be completely honest with you about Masoor Rock. I am not a hiker. I have never been a hiker. And this was my first ever experience hiking at serious altitude.
Masoor Rock sits at approximately 3,700 metres and overlooks Skardu city. The rock itself is one of those things that looks physically impossible. Only about a third of it is attached to the mountain, with nothing supporting it underneath. It just hangs there, suspended over the valley, defying every logical expectation.
I almost turned back. At the halfway point, with my lungs burning and my legs feeling like they belonged to someone else, I seriously considered it.
But I kept going. And when I reached the top and looked out over everything below, the cars the size of ants, the river snaking through the valley, the entire scale of Skardu spread out under me, I understood immediately why people come here from the other side of the world.
Was it worth it? Yes.
Was it tiring? Absolutely.
Would I do it again? Without question.
If you are planning a trip to Pakistan, put Masoor Rock on your list. Yes it will push you. Yes you will want to stop. Keep going.
Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat: The Killer Mountain
The road to Fairy Meadows is officially one of the second most dangerous roads in the world. Before I got there, nobody told me that. And I think that was probably for the best.
Nanga Parbat stands at 8,126 metres. It is the ninth highest mountain on earth and one of the most feared peaks among serious climbers. The mountain earned its name before it was first summited by Hermann Buhl in 1953, by which point it had already claimed around 31 lives in earlier attempts. Roughly one in five climbers who attempt the summit do not come back alive. They call it the Killer Mountain for good reason.
Fairy Meadows sits at the base of Nanga Parbat, at thousands of metres above sea level, and it is one of the most surreal places I have ever stood. It is a full settlement on its own with guesthouses and bonfires because without a fire at night, the cold at that altitude becomes genuinely dangerous. I have spent my entire life in Lagos. I had never appreciated heat so much as I did standing at Fairy Meadows in the middle of the night, pressed as close to a bonfire as I could get.
When I looked up and asked my guide how high the mountain above me was, he said 8,126 metres. My reaction was a single word. Whoa. I had no other response. The scale of it is simply beyond what the human brain is built to process standing at ground level.
I would never believe that places like this exist in the world. That was my honest feeling standing there. And I had come all the way from Nigeria to find it.
Hussaini Suspension Bridge: Crossing One of the Most Dangerous Bridges in the World
The Hussaini suspension bridge had been on my list for a long time before I got there. I had seen it online. I knew what it looked like. I thought I was prepared.
I was not fully prepared.
The bridge stretches 660 feet across a river gorge in Hunza. It has 406 steps. It is made of wooden planks, many of which are missing entirely, with gaps wide enough to see straight down to the water below. It sways. It creaks. And yes, I crossed it.
People call it one of the most dangerous bridges in the world. Standing at one end looking at the other, with the wind moving it and the gaps in the planks showing the river far below, I understood why. But I also want to say something else about it. The locals cross this bridge. Children cross this bridge. People carry supplies across this bridge. What we call extreme adventure is simply a part of daily life for the people who live in that valley.
That contrast stayed with me long after I left.
Islamabad: The Capital That Surprised Me
After the north, I came to Islamabad. And honestly, after the raw and dramatic beauty of the mountains, I expected Islamabad to feel like a letdown. I was wrong.
Islamabad is one of the cleanest and most well-planned capital cities I have ever visited. It is green, orderly, and genuinely pleasant to walk around. It does not look like what most people imagine when they picture Pakistan.
The Pakistan Monument is worth seeing. From a distance it looks like an abstract structure. When you get closer, you realise it is shaped like a flower with four large petals and two smaller ones, each representing the four provinces of Pakistan: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. A guide there told me it represents the unity of the Pakistani nation. Standing in front of it, I met a Pakistani man named Harun who, the moment I told him I was from Nigeria, lit up and told me he had contacts in Nigeria. This is the kind of interaction I had constantly across the country. People were curious, warm, and genuinely happy to talk.
Lahore: History, Culture, and the Mosque That Changed Me
Lahore is the cultural heart of Pakistan. If Islamabad is the head, Lahore is the soul.
I was in Lahore with my guide Kashif, one of the best guides I have had anywhere in the world, when I visited the Badshahi Mosque. Built in 1673 by the Mughal emperor Jahangir, it was once the largest mosque in the world and held that record through much of the 20th century. Standing inside it, I tried to do the math of when it was built, what the world looked like in 1673, what Africa looked like in 1673, and I could not fully absorb the age of what I was standing in.
We also went deep into the old markets of Lahore. The bazaars in this city have been the commercial heart of the region for over 150 years, long before Pakistan even existed as a country. The sounds, the colours, the pace of it, the traders and the buyers and the smell of food cooking, it was overwhelming in the best possible way.
And the caps. I kept seeing the same style of cap everywhere and asked about them. I was told they come from Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, known as the land of the Pathan people. Small details like that, understanding where things come from and what they mean, are the things that make travel worth doing.
The Food: What to Expect and What to Try
I have to talk about the food. And I have to talk about the tea.
Pakistani food is extraordinary. It is rich, aromatic, and deeply filling. But what I was not prepared for was the tea culture. Everywhere I went, someone was putting tea in my hand. Green tea, spiced tea, milk tea. I had approximately 20 cups in a single day at one point. My host kept refilling my cup before I could finish it. That is just how it works there.
Some foods and experiences to know before you go:
- Chapli Kebab — a spiced minced meat patty, originally from Peshawar, that is genuinely one of the best things I ate on the entire trip
- Daal and fresh bread — simple but perfect, especially in the mountain regions
- Injir — a dried local fruit that a vendor in Lahore gave me to try, sweet almost like honey, the name coming from the local Urdu word
- Pakistani tea — you will drink more of it than you think you will
- Dipping biscuits in tea — this is a national activity and it is entirely correct
The food in the north is simpler and heartier, built for cold weather and altitude. The food in Lahore and Islamabad is richer and more varied. Either way, you will not go hungry.
The People: This Is What Nobody Talks About Enough
I can give you all the locations and all the landmarks and all the travel tips you need. But none of it captures the most important thing about Pakistan, which is the people.
I have travelled to many places. I have never experienced hospitality at the level I experienced in Pakistan. Not as a performance. Not as something designed for tourists. Just as the natural way that people there relate to other human beings.
People paid for my food before I could reach for my wallet. Shop owners offered me things as gifts. Total strangers stopped to welcome me when they heard I was from Nigeria. One man told me that his driver, his hotels, his food, his buying of things, all of it came with a sense of trust and dignity. He said you pay and you get your money’s worth.
One of the people I met during my trip put it in a way I have not been able to forget. He said: if you once visit Pakistan, you will feel it like a home.
He was right.
Safety: Is Pakistan Actually Dangerous?
Let me address this directly because it is the question everyone asks.
Pakistan, like every country in the world, has areas that are safer and areas that are less safe. The northwest border regions and certain parts of Balochistan have genuine security concerns. These are areas even many Pakistanis themselves would not visit without specific reason.
However, the places that most travellers visit, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, are not those areas. In my experience travelling across these regions, I felt safe throughout. I was never threatened. I was never made to feel unwelcome. The opposite was consistently true.
Here is a practical breakdown:
| Region | Safety Level for Tourists | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | Very safe | Modern capital, well-policed |
| Lahore | Generally safe | Busy city, normal city precautions apply |
| Karachi | Use caution | Large city, some areas to avoid |
| Skardu and Gilgit-Baltistan | Safe | Very welcoming to tourists |
| Hunza Valley | Very safe | One of the safest areas in the country |
| Northwest border regions | Not recommended | Avoid unless with specific local guidance |
My honest advice: do your own research, check your government’s current travel advisory, and do not let fear based on outdated narratives make the decision for you.
Practical Travel Information for Visiting Pakistan
Before you go, here is everything practical you need to know:
Visa Most African nationals including Nigerians need a visa to enter Pakistan. Pakistan has been expanding its e-visa program so check the official Pakistan e-visa portal before you apply anywhere else. Processing times vary so apply well in advance.
Currency The Pakistani Rupee is the local currency. ATMs are widely available in cities. Carry some cash when heading to rural or mountain areas as card acceptance is limited outside major cities.
Getting Around
- Flights connect the major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Skardu
- Skardu specifically has a domestic airport with flights from Islamabad
- For mountain regions, jeeps and 4×4 vehicles are the standard transport
- Always hire a local guide for remote areas — they know the roads, the conditions, and the people
Accommodation
- Cities have a full range of hotels from budget to luxury
- Mountain areas have guesthouses and camps that are basic but functional
- At altitude in places like Fairy Meadows, expect to sleep in wooden cabins with bonfires for heat
Best Time to Visit
- April to June: beautiful weather, green valleys, less crowded
- September to November: clear skies in the mountains, excellent for trekking
- Winter: extremely cold in the north, some roads become impassable
Dress and Culture Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country. Dress modestly especially outside of major cities and especially women travelling there. This is not restrictive, it is respectful. The locals will appreciate it and you will be treated better for it.
Language Urdu is the national language but English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas. In mountain regions you will find people who speak local languages but a guide will bridge that easily.
What This Trip Taught Me About How We See the World
I started this article by talking about how almost everyone told me not to go. And I want to end it by talking about why I am glad I went anyway.
We live in a world where the loudest stories are the darkest ones. That is true of Pakistan. It is also true of Nigeria. It is true of most of Africa. The places that make the news are the places that are burning. The places that are building, growing, welcoming, and thriving rarely get the same coverage.
Pakistan rocked my expectations in every direction. The people treated me so well. Everyone was genuinely happy just to have me around. The beauty of the place itself, from the Indus River winding through Skardu to the impossible face of Nanga Parbat at dawn, was beyond anything I had words for in the moment.
I spoke to one local man who asked me a question that I have been thinking about ever since. He said: this country is so beautiful. Why are people not coming here?
I think we both knew the answer. But knowing the answer is exactly why I made this documentary. Because the only way to change a narrative is to tell a different story.
Pakistan deserves to be seen for what it actually is.
And what it actually is, is one of the most extraordinary places on this planet.
Should You Visit Pakistan?
Yes. Go.
But go with your eyes open. Go with respect for the culture. Go with a good guide especially if you are planning to explore the north. Go prepared for altitude, cold, and roads that will test your nerves. Go ready to drink more tea than you have ever drunk in your life.
And go ready to have everything you thought you knew completely undone.
You will not regret it.
By Collins Nkem, He’s is a self-taught documentary filmmaker and travel storyteller from Lagos, Nigeria. He documents untold stories from Africa and the world. Follow his journey at collinsnkem.com and on YouTube at @iAmCollinsNkem.
