Solo travel in northern Pakistan, and how to find company for it
Northern Pakistan is one of those places people dream about for years: the Karakoram Highway, Hunza’s orchards, Skardu’s lakes, the green meadows of the Kaghan and Neelum valleys. It’s also a place where traveling with someone makes a real difference.
Why company helps up north
- Transport is easier to share. Many routes are best done by car or jeep, and a hired vehicle with a driver costs the same whether there’s one passenger or four. Splitting it makes a big difference.
- Plans change. Roads close, weather turns, flights to Skardu and Gilgit get cancelled. Having someone to make the call with helps.
- The best spots aren’t on the main road. Side valleys and lakes are more fun, and more practical, to reach together.
When to go
The main season runs from late spring to autumn, when roads are open and the valleys are green, then golden. That’s also when most travelers head north, so it’s the easiest time to find someone going on the same dates.
Finding people going on your dates
Facebook groups are full of posts like “Anyone going to Hunza in June?” The trouble is that replies come from people with completely different dates, and posts get buried fast.
On Twayn you add your trip, for example Hunza, 10–17 June or simply Gilgit-Baltistan, sometime in June, and you see the travelers whose trips actually overlap with yours, and for how many days. You can also say what you’re looking for: just meeting up, traveling together, or sharing a car or a room.
If the exact village you’re heading to isn’t in the list, add it and pick the country. It will still match people going to the same area.
A few tips
- Agree on the plan and the costs early, especially when hiring a driver for several days.
- Carry cash. ATMs are scarce once you leave the bigger towns.
- Keep your plans flexible and keep someone at home updated on where you are.
- Meet in a public place first, as you would anywhere. Our safety guide has more.
The mountains are better shared. Add your trip and see who’s going your way.