What to See?

Pakistan offers a unique mix. Its attractions include adventure tourism in the Northern Areas; cultural and archaeological tourism as found in Taxila, Mohenjodaro, Harappa and Swat; and early Muslim and Mughal heritage of Multan, Lahore, Thatta and Peshawar. From the mighty Karakorams in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of culture and high adventure. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, Camel and Yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities that entice adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan – apart from an all embracing hospitality, found everywhere you go..

Where to stay?

Hotels:
Pakistan offers a wide range of accommodation. Modern, well equipped hotel chains like Sheraton and Avari (at Karachi & Lahore), Pearl Continental Hotels (at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Bhurban, Muzaffarabad and Abbottabad), Marriott (Karachi & Islamabad), Holiday Inn (Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Islamabad), Serena Hotels (Islamabad, Faisalabad, Quetta, Gilgit, Hunza and Saidu Sharif), Pine Park Hotels (Naran, Khannian & Shogran), Green Hotels (Nathiagali, Abbottabad, Peshawar), Shangrila Resorts & Hotels (Naran, Chilas, Skardu) offer good services and facilities. A government tax/duty up to 17.5% is added to the rent at most places. There are official Dak Bungalows and Rest Houses at most of the stations and valleys, as well. These are usually maintained by the Provincial Forest Department, Public Works Department (PWD) or by the local administration. Advance booking is definitely recommended.

PTDC Hotels & Motels:
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) operates 02 hotels and 29 motels located throughout Pakistan. For bookings in PTDC Motels, please contact PTDC Motels Booking Office, F-6, Super Market, Islamabad (Tel: +92-51-9203223, 9208949, or E.mail at : info@tourism.gov.pk

Youth Hostels:
Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) founded in 1951, also runs a chain of 6 Youth Hostels all over Pakistan. Accommodation in these Youth Hostels is available to members. For more details and reservation, please contact PYHA Head Office located at Garden Road, G-6/4, near Aabpara, Islamabad. Tel/Fax: +92-51-2826899,

What to eat?

Having inherited the culinary traditions of the Moghuls, the Turks, the Central Asians and the Iranians, eating out in Pakistan is a rich experience. Most local restaurants serve authentic Pakistani dishes straight from the oven, with the sights and sounds of a bazaar in the background. Meat, fish and vegetable dishes are seasoned with spices. Particularly palatable are the grills and barbecues; Seekh-Kabab (minced meat grilled on a skewer), Shami-Kabab (minced meat), Tikka (barbecued mutton, beef or chicken) and Saji (barbecued leg of lamb). Pakistani mutton and chicken curries and the oriental rice dish called, Pullao, are also popular with natives and foreigners alike.

Dining & Lunch
Pakistani food mainly consists of various kinds of kabobs eaten with either flatbread or rice. Food tends to be either mild or very spicy depending on where you are. So state your preference before beginning to eat. In general, most of the same food you can find in the highest quality restaurants/hotels there is available commonly in the markets (but European-style food is generally reserved for the former).

The types of flatbread (collectively referred to as Nan are:
» Nan - A soft and thick bread that often requires special clay ovens and cannot be properly made on home stoves.
» Roti/Chapatti - A homemade bread that doesn't have as much flavor as naan. It is a cheap alternative that is ready in minutes.
» Paratha - An extremely oily version of the roti. Usually excellent if you're going out to eat, but beware of health concerns; often it is literally dripping with oil because it is meant to be part of a rich meal. Pratha is more declicious if you cook it in pure oil like "desi ghee".
» Sheer Mal - This is a slightly sweetened, lightly oiled bread that has waffle-like squares punched in it. It is often considered the most desirable bread and is a delicacy to most people. Often paired with nihari.
» Taftan - Much like the sheer mal but with a puffed-up ring around it. This is generally just as good as the sheer mal but easier to eat liquidy shorba with.
» As you might have noticed, Nan is usually used to pick up liquid and soft foods like shorba and beans. Utensils are not commonly used during meals in Pakistan except to serve dishes (unless someone is eating rice and would like to be polite or is unpracticed eating it by hand). Attempting to cut a naan with a knife and drink shorba with a spoon may elicit some amusement around you. Watching others may help.

What to Wear?
Lightweight, cotton clothes suffice all over Pakistan, except in the north during the winter months. Men wear western suits in urban areas at official occasions or at social events. Otherwise casual shalwar kamiz is commonly worn by one and all. It is recommended that women visitors should dress modestly.

What to Buy?
Pakistan is a treasure house of exquisite handicrafts. The artisans here pass down the expertise from one generation to another. Weaving, pottery, tile-work, inlays in metal, wood and stone, are all found here. Pottery here is a living art, with its origins dating back to 3,000 B.C. Today, each region of Pakistan claims its own specialty in jars and jugs, from sturdy terracotta to paper-thin ceramics, in vivid colors of mustard yellow, deep green, brick red and sky blue. For those who are keen shoppers, the prices are quite reasonable. You will find yourself returning home with hand-woven carpets, marble pieces, copper and brass items, woodwork, embroidered “Kurtas” and “Khussas” and countless objects d’art.