Must See

Hindu Kush Mountains

The Hindu Kush Mountains are home to the beautiful valley of Chitral, which is inhabited by the last of the non-Islamic tribes of Kafiristan - the Kalash. The area is also noted for its trout-filled rivers and hot springs.

East of Chitral is Swat Valley, an area of fantastic alpine scenery and wild mountains. It boasts some popular mountain retreats such as Behrain, Kalam, Miandam and Mingora. In ancient times, the valley was the home of the famous Gandhara school of sculpture, which produced Greek-influenced Buddhist forms. The ruins of great Buddhist stupas, statues and monasteries can be found all over Swat.

Islamabad and Rawalpindi

These twin cities are located beside each other on the Pothowar Plain. Islamabad is the modern, spacious capital, built in the 1960s to a grid pattern, whereas Rawalpindi is a congested sprawl of winding streets and bazaars, a typically chaotic South Asian city. At some stage they will combine in one urban mass.

One of the highlights of Islamabad is the Shah Faisal Masjid (mosque) - a majestic white building that comprises four 88 m (288 ft) minarets and a desert tent-like structure that forms the main prayer chamber. The mosque can hold up to10,000 worshippers.

Up in the Margalla Hills above the Islamabad lies Daman-e-Koh, a terraced garden that offers some fantastic views over the city. Just 8 km (5 miles) from the capital is Rawal Lake, which has a picnic area and facilities for watersports.

Karachi

Oncea small fishing village on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the former capital has grown to become a megacity to rival any in the world. Still the centre for commerce, industry, finance and education, the city has much to explore.

Clifton beach and the open air laundry at Dhobi Ghat are great spots for people-watching, and good shopping can be had in the bazaars. The Quaid-e-Azam's Mazar is the city's most impressive building - a mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan, built entirely out of white marble, it features north African arches and Chinese crystal chandeliers. The changing of the guard, which takes place three times a day, is the best time to visit.

The Karakorum Highway

Joining Islamabad and Rawalpindi to Kashgar in the Xinjiang province in China, the Karakorum highway runs along the ancient silk route, across some spectacular mountain ranges. Passing through the Himalayas, Hindukush, Karakorum, Kunlun and Pamir, and along the banks of the Indus River to Gilgit and the beautiful Hunza valleys, the route is popular with those travelling to Mecca as well as tourists wishing to cycle or trek its length. Due to its difficult terrain and demanding altitude, the route should be undertaken with an organised tour group or travel agent. The best time to travel here is between September and October.

Kashmir

Kashmir, in the far northeast of Pakistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, including the second-highest mountain in the world, K2 (8,611 metres or 28,251 ft), and Nanga Parbat (8,125 metres or 26,657 ft). The Batura Glacier and the Baltoro Glacier (both 57 km long) are the largest outside the polar regions.

Lahore

Known as the 'Paris of the East' and the 'City of Gardens', Lahore has a significantly rich heritage of Mughal and colonial architecture. There is plenty to see in this historic, bustling city, such as the Badshahi Mosque (one of the largest mosques in the world, and an example of Moghul architecture rivalled only by the Taj Mahal), the National Museum of Archaeology and the beautiful Shalimar Gardens (several royal gardens built by the nobility of the Mughal Empire). The Old City (also known as the Walled City) is the section that was fortified by a city wall during the Mughal era. Much of the wall remains intact today; including 6 of the 13 original gates, the best preserved being the Roshnai Gate, or Gate of Splendour.

Peshawar

Peshawar (meaning 'City on the Frontier' in Persian) is the capital of the North West Frontier Province. For much of its history, it was one of the main trading centres on the ancient Silk Road and was a major crossroads for various cultures between the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. The old city was once a heavily guarded citadel with high walls and a number of entry gates; however, neither have survived intact today.

Just 15 km west of Peshawar is the Khyber Pass - the 1,067 m- (3,501 ft-) high break in the sheer rock wall that separates Pakistan and Afghanistan. Much of the surrounding Pashtun area is under the jurisdiction of tribal law and may only be visited with a permit from the relevant authorities.

Sindh Region

The Sindh region has a number of interesting tourist sites, the most famous being the ruins of Mohenjo-daro (Mound of the Dead) near the city of Larkana. The city was divided into two parts, the Citadel and the Lower City. Most of the Lower City is yet uncovered, but the Citadel is known to have a public bath, a large residential structure designed to house 5,000 citizens and two large assembly halls.

Ranikot Fort is situated in the Kirthar Range about 30 km southwest of Sann. Measuring 9 km across and with a circumference of 29 km, it is the largest fort of its kind in the region.

Thatta, once a famous centre of learning, arts and commerce, is located 98 km east of Karachi. it is notable for the Jamia Masjid built by the Moghal Emperor Shah Jehan, and the Makli Tombs (15-17th centuries), a vast necropolis spread over 15.5 sq km, which has some beautiful specimens of architecture, stone carvings and glazed tile decorations.