Pakistan’s 10 best summer vacation spots

Forget about terrorism, load shedding, corruption, inflation and other problems. Trust me, Pakistan is beautiful. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, friendly people and out of the world hospitality. All we need is take a wider view, look around us.

Pakistan is full of picturesque landscapes, is surrounded by lush green forests, pristine lakes and waterfalls, many soul-soothing valleys and magnificent mountains.

Pakistan is blessed with four seasons; however, the summers can be really harsh. So, if you want to beat severe heat of this summer; simply pack your bags and plan an adventurous and remarkable trip with your friends and family to any of the following coolest places in Pakistan.

Neelum Valley

Neelum valley is a paradise on earth, it is a bow-shaped valley located in Kashmir. It is also known as Blue Gem Valley. The view of milky white water coming from the lush green mountains and flowing over the roads is the real beauty of the valley. The valley has many hills and thick mountains. Neelum Valley can be a really splendid outing spot in summer, where you can spend your vacations and enjoy magic of nature. The amazing beauty of the valley fascinates the local tourists as well as foreigners.

Jhelum Valley

Situated at the starting point of River Jhelum, one of the largest rivers of Pakistan, Jhelum Valley is the most beautiful valley. It is the most visited tourist spot of Azad Kashmir. This 50-kilometer long valley is also connected with Muzaffarabad. Hattian Bala is the main town which is surrounded by beautiful areas of Bagh, Chinaari, Leepa Valley, Chakhoti and Garhi Dopatta. There are many interesting, worth seeing sports in this Valley. Chamm is one of the most popular tourist destination of this valley. The soothing atmosphere, refreshing waterfall and scenic area make Jhelum Valley one of the must-visit places in Pakistan.

Kaghan Valley

If you love hiking, trekking or fishing, then Kaghan Valley is where you should head off. It is one of the favourite summer vacation destinations of Pakistani people as well as foreign tourists. The road to Kaghan Valley can be terrifying because on your left there is a deep river and on right are the high lofty mountains. But once you reach the Valley, you will never regret that perilous journey. In Kaghan Valley, there are many other places to see like Shogran, Siri and Paye, Kewai, Balakot, Siran Valley, Shinu etc. Kaghan is an alpine – climate valley located in Mansehra District. Local people of this valley are friendly and straightforward. Hindko and Gojri are the popular languages of this area.

Nagar Valley

Nagar Valley – a land of snow-clad mountains, tall rusty trees – is a well-known tourist destination of Pakistan. Nagar Valley, sited near Gilgit Valley, is a division of Hunza Nagar District, situated at an ascent of 2,438 meters. The valley is accessible via Karakorum Silk Route. The area boasts more than 30 famous and attractive high peaks.  Nagar Khas, the central town of Nagar, is the major attraction of the Valley. Another spectacular tourist spot in Nagar is Hopar Valley, which is a cluster of villages around a natural bowl at a bend of Bualtar Glacier. The suitable season for tours and travel is from April to September when the weather is pleasant. In winters, the temperature can even drop to -14°C.

Rawalakot

Rawalakot is a beautiful saucer–shaped valley with its fascinating and enchanting waterfalls. Lodges, both government-owned and private guest houses and hotels are available here on affordable rates. Rawalakot offers a. variety of activities and opportunities for adventure-lovers such as rock climbing, mountaineering, paragliding, summer camping and hiking easily.

Rawalakot is surrounded by spectacular areas including Banjosa Lake, Toli Pir, Poonch District, Singola, Jandala etc. Banjosa Lake is a must visit place in surrounding which is 20 kilometers away from Rawalakot. This beautiful lake is surrounded by lush green mountains and offers some spectacular views. Toli Pir, a hilltop located at an elevation of about 8800 feet above sea, is also worth visiting when you are in Rawalakot. Another exciting place in District Poonch is Tattapani which is perhaps the only place in the world from where 110 degrees centigrade clean water comes from the earth.

Ziarat

Ziarat is one of the must visit places in Balochistan province. Ziarat Valley is located 76 miles (3 hours drive) away from Quetta at an altitude of 8400 feet. Quaid-e-Azam residency, where the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spent his last days of life has a unique cultural and historical value. The whole building has a wooden structure and the surroundings are filled with lavish greenery, prolific garden and chinar trees which is a huge attraction for tourists.

Ziarat is famous for juniper forests which are the second largest juniper forest in the world. Some of the trees are 5000 to 7000 years old. Summers are the best time to enjoy the pleasant environment of Ziarat. The view of winters is different but truly elegant and ravishing. The valley is known for its honey and large flowers. Cherries and apples are the famous fruits of Ziarat.

Shangrila Resort Skardu

The stunning locale of Shangrila Resort Skardu is so enriching that you will wish to come back to this place again and again. Famously known as “Roof of the World”, Shangrila Resort Skardu is nestled amongst some of the world’s highest peak. This region has the finest valleys, glaciers, natural wild life, forests and historical treasures dating back thousands of years.

Skardu is surrounded by grey-brown colored mountains which attract tourists to this charming town. This area is accessible by road and by air but flights are often delayed due to unfavorable weather. Located at a height of 2500 meters, it is also known as “The Roof of the World” because of its enchanting natural beauty. The major attractions in the area are: K-2 – the 2nd highest peak on earth, Deosai Plains – the longest, widest and highest plateau in the world, the River Indus which begins from Ladakh and goes through the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges.

Ghanche District

You will seriously begin to appreciate life more after visiting Ghanche. Breathtaking scenes, wonderful weather and friendly people of the region will make your experience worthwhile. The capital of Ghanche District is Khaplu. Khaplu Fort Palace and Chaqchan Mosque are main tourist attractions. The buildings of this region have Buddhist influence and Tibetan architecture. Ghondoghoro Pass at 5,650 m is one of the most popular and challenging trekking routes in the world.

This place is the coldest place and called as third pole with temperature reaching -20 C in winters. The region is surrounded by different culture and countries. To its north is Xinjiang, China, while to the north is Skardu District and to its south is Leh District (Ladakh Division) in the Indian occupied territories of Jammu and Kashmir. From the Khaplu Valley to the Shyok River to all the beautiful towns and valleys that lie in between, Ghanche offers a peak into paradise like no other.

Gorakh Hill

If Murree is the queen of hills, then Gorakh hill is the highest point of Sindh. The Gorakh hill station receives snowfall in winters, which gives a feeling of northern areas to the people of Sindh. It is the the coldest place of Sindh and has sufficient potepnial of generating solar and wind energy. Sindh Government is planning to upgrade this place to hill station so that people of Karachi and Hyderabad could see snowfall without going to Northern areas.

Bahawalpur

This princely state in Punjab is rich in cultural heritage and boasts a treasure of historic buildings, monuments and parks. Noor Mahal is an architectural gem in the heart of Bahawalpur. Based upon neoclassical lines of Italian chateau, the construction of Noor Mahal started back in 1872 during the British Raj. Noor Mahal or Royal Palace of Bahawalpur, which covers a huge area of 44,600 square feet, is one of the mostawe-inspiringg historically and culturally rich architectural spectacles of Pakistan.

Darbar Mahal in Bahawalpur is also worth visiting as it will definitely take you back to the Ancient Mughalai Fort. The city also boasts of one of the largest national parks of South Asia, the Lal Sohanra National Park. But all of these architectural masterpieces are dismally neglected and require due attention by authorities.