You fish because you love the great outdoors, and wherever you find outstanding fishing, you also tend to find Mother Nature at her loveliest. Trout demand the cold, clear, clean water, and thrive in mountains, meadows, valleys, and forests.

Trout fish of northern mountain streams is one of the best in taste throughout the world. Kaghan, Swat, Ghizer, and Baltistan are the best places for trout fishing. Streams and lakes of Gilgit are full of trout fish. One may find them at the Kargah Nullah (10 kms. from Gilgit), Singal (56 kms), Gakuch (73 kms), and Phandar (117 kms from Gilgit).

Fishing is the chief sport in Kaghan. Brown Trout and Mahasheer are stocked in pure silvery waters between Kaghan and Naran. The Kunhar river trout is considered to be the best throughout the sub-continent. Lake Saif-ul-Muluk, located near Kaghan valley, offers a scenic spot for fishing. Back to Top

Golf

Golfers can have a wonderful time in Pakistan. Pakistan offers some spectacular Golf courses throughout the country.

Rawalpindi Golf Course: It is an Eighteen (18) hole, challenging course. Major tournaments of the country are organized by the Rawalpindi Golf Club, located near Ayub National Park on G.T. Road, Rawalpindi. It has one of the most beautiful surroundings. Rawalpindi Golf Course was completed in 1926 by Rawalpindi Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs of Pakistan, founded on 2nd November 1885.

The Islamabad Golf Course: Is another 18 hole course with a picturesque background, having grass and water channels around the fair-ways as well as around the greens, and the golfer has really got to be careful in playing his shots.

Abbottabad: A popular summer resort in the midstof spacious valleys, is surrounded by green hills and located at a distance of 116 km from Rawalpindi and 217 km from Peshawar. From a tourist point of view abbottabad is noted for its verdant parks, gardens, golf course and pine covered hills.

The Kabal (Swat) Golf Course: Has a picturesque background. It is an old golf course, constructed by the Wali of Swat for recreation during holidays in the valley.

The Bhurban Golf Course: Is located at a distance of about 15 Km from Murree Hills. It is a 9 hole course at a height of 6000 ft. above sea level. With a picturesque background. It is one of the most challenging courses with small hills erected around. Major tournaments of the country are held here.

The Lahore Golf Course: Is an 18 hole very well maintained course. Most of the major tournaments of the country are held here. Leading professional golfers belong to this Golf Club.

Golfers Karachi: Is a game being taken up enthusiastically in Karachi. The fact that so many excellent golf courses have been built in different parts of the city demonstrates the popularity the game enjoys. The Arabian Sea Country club has a golf course which is set amidst scenic and picturesque surroundings. It's specially designed 18-hole gold course is rated among the best golf courses available in the country. The Karachi Golf Club is the oldest golf club of Karachi and has played a pivotal role in popularizing the game of golf.

Arabian Sea Country Club: This club consisting of Golf and Swimming Pool Complex is set amidst scenic and picturesque surroundings. It’s specially designed 18-hole golf course is rated among the best golf courses available in the country.

Karachi Golf Club: Karachi Golf Club is the oldest golf club of Karachi and has played a pivotal role in popularizing the game of golf. The original Golf Club started as a subsidiary of Sindh Club in 1888 and within three years had become an independent entity. Through a concerted effort the entire course was turfed, landscaped and planted with trees, providing the largest green area in greenery-starved city of Karachi. Presently, the 27-hole golf course is spread over 250 acres of land and is the only one of its kind in Pakistan.

The Peshawar Golf Course: Is an 18 hole course with a picturesque background having grass and water channels around the fair-ways as well as around the greens, and the Golfer has really got to be careful in planning his shots.

The Shandur Golf Course: Is the highest golf ground in the world and is located at 13000 ft. This course is infrequently used and is maintained by the Chitral Scouts. Back to Top

Ski And Snow

There are number of areas in the Northern Pakistan, in both the high mountains of the Northern Areas and Chitral and in lower regions of Swat and Kaghan which can be developed as Ski and Snow Boarding sites. There are plenty of sites and opportunities available for cross country Skiing in the Northern Areas, Chitral, Kaghan and Swat, the precipitation and snow accumulation in the areas, except for the Northern Areas, being very high. Skiing has made a late start in Pakistan. At present best available Skiing areas are at Naltar near Gilgit, Burzil pass area and Ratu, near Astore, Distt Gilgit. There are few novice and nursery level skiing slopes available at Malam Jabba and improvised site at Ayubia in Murree hills off Islamabad.

Commercial skiing has recently been opened at Malam Jabba. 8'700 feet above sea level, Malam Jabba Ski Resort stands on top of a mountain of the Hindukush range, north east of Saidu Sharif. It is a wonderful tourist resort offering picturesque skiing landscapes. Malam Jabba is a summer cum ski resort the idea for the resort is given by the Ambassador of Austria in 1962, the project was completed in two years and the cost incurred on the project was 120 million. The place gets 6 to 10 feet of average snowfall annually. The main attractions of the resort are ski and chair lift. Back to Top

Safaris

Pakistan Offers a collection of adventurous safaris. Baluchistan a nomadic formidable land offers a wonderful landscape. A camel safari in this region is an unbelievable experience, especially in the gorge of Bolan, which is a rocky desert. A jeep and camel safari in this region is just the right blend to capture the spirit of adventure.One may experience a unique adventure in River Indus & the Cholistan Desert by undertaking a boat and camel safari. Horse and Pony safaris can be wonderful across Deosai Plains, Shandur Pass and Kaghan Valley. Jeep Safaris in the Northern Areas can prove to be an exotic experience especially in the regions of Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Shandur, Sust etc.

For trail enthusiasts, The Khyber Train safari from Peshawar to Landi Kotal is a three-star attraction. The British, built it in the 1920s at an enormous cost of more than two million pounds. It passes through 34 tunnels totaling five kms (three miles) and over 92 bridges and culverts.

Heli Safaris to the roof of the world offers great opportunities for those who have limited time but still like to have a bird's eye view of Pakistan's Northern paradise. These Safaris may take to you to places like Fairy Meadows, Trango towers, Concordia, K2, the Kalash tribes and the Chitral valley.

The world's highest mountain ranges; the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush along with the mysterious Pamirs congregate along the far Northern frontiers of Pakistan to form an awesome natural bestion along its borders. It is because of this that, PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) offers the most unique Air Safari in the world. It is an air safari through a forest of literally hundreds of over 7,000 meter peaks including 5 that fall into the 14 highest mountains of the world. All in all, there is a world of adventure waiting in Pakistan for all adventure lovers. Back to Top

Wild Life & Bird Watching

Pakistan is endowed with a rich variety of native animals and migratory birds. It's varied topography and climate accommodates a great range of fauna in the world. To preserve the nature and wildlife, there have been several areas declared as national parks. In these parks there are great chances to see the animals & birds in the natural environment.

There are several kinds of birds and animals in Pakistan with few following worth to mention. The Brown Bear, Common Otter, Alpine Weasel, Stoat, Lynx, White-toothed Shrew, Persian Wild Goat, Sand Fox, Sand Cat, Gazelle,Fishing Cat, Hog Deer, Pangolin, Rhinoceros, Leopard Cat, Grey Goral, Barking Deer, Wild Goat, Ibex, Markhor, Wild Ass, Himalayan Beer, and several kinds of Sheep.

In the list of birds, apart from native species, one can watch several migratory birds while participating in this program. Being situated on one of the major routes from Central Asia and Siberia known as the Indus Fay Way No. 04, Pakistan is an important haunt for the migratory waterfowl.

A number of lakes, ponds, marshes, canals and rivers make idea wetland habitat for the waterfowl and offer excellent harbour to a large variety of migratory population during each winter. Haleji, a lake near Karachi has been declared, as Wetland Bird Sanctuary while Keenjhar in Sind, Ochali in Sakesar and Chasma are few to mention among several other important places. Some birds likely to be watched en tour are Flamingos, Sea Gulls, species of Duck, Whimbrel, Egrets, Jacana, Eagle, Herons, Falcon, Koonj, Whimbrel, Goose, Cormorat, Hubara Bustard, Sandgrouse, Bee Eater, King Fisher and many others.
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Hiking / Trekking

Stretching North from the Arabian Sea, the plains of Pakistan culminate in the lush valleys of Dir , Swat and Kaghan. Beyond lie the great Northern valleys of Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza and Baltistan. Hunza is an ideal for mountaineering, trekking and hiking. Most parts of Hunza offer an awe-inspiring view of Rakaposhi (7,788 metres). The snows of Rakaposhi glitter in the moonlight, producing an atmosphere of ethereal magnetism. Further North, lies the Karakorum and Hindukush ranges shaping the western extension of the Himalayas.

The land in these Northern valleys is best described as a mountainous desert. During winter, heavy snow separate the valleys from winter, heavy snow separate the valleys from the rest of the world of six months. In the summer, temperatures over 100 degrees are common. In Skardu, one is immediately struck by the juxta - position of sand dunes and snow-capped peaks. All these beautiful valleys mentioned above make Pakistan really trekker's paradise.

One of the most popular trek is the Baltoro trek which ends up at Concordia. Concordia is the point where all the Glaciers coming from K-2, Broad-peak, and Gasherbrum-IV meet and flow down towards Paiju peak, like a highway. Nowhere in the world one can witness four 8000 meter peaks in such a small radius. They are K-2, Broad peak, Gasherbrum-I and Gasherbrum-II. On this trek, besides these 8000 meter giants one can enjoy the scenarios of Masherbrum, Muztagh towers, Chogolisa, Baltoro Cathedrals and numerous other peaks. Amongst the other popular treks there are Biafo-Hisper trek, Nanga Parbat trek, Rakaposhi trek, Trichmir trek, and countless other trekking routes. There are still certain areas in Pakistan yet to be explored and this virgin land is waiting to be explored. Back to Top

History and Culture

Pakistanis truly take pride in their 5,000 years old history which goes back even further into the hoary past yet untraced.

In the words of Sir Mortimer Wheeler, famed British Archaeologist, Pakistan enjoys a high international position in the history of past achievements by virtue of possessing the greatest vestiges of one of the first three mature civilizations of the world.

To get a taste of the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan one may visit The National Ethnographic Museum, Lok Mela Folk Art and Craft Fair, Shah Faisal Mosque, one of Asia's largest most impressive. While in Peshawar, a few kilometers from the Khyber Pass, one may find a mix of Pakhtun, Afghan, and Chitral people to name a few. The Old City has a special bazaar for every kind of handmade crafts, brass, leather, jewellery, many from tribal areas of the Northwest Frontier Province. Excellent ethnographic museum and collection of Gandhara art. Possible to see Khattak dance performance. One of the major attractions of Chitral, is the famous Kalash valley - the home of the Kafir-Kalash or "Wearers of the Black Robes", a primitive pagan tribe. Their ancestry is enveloped in mystery and is the subject of controversy. A legend says that five soldiers of the legions of Alexander of Macedonia settled in Chitral and are the progenitors of the Kafir-Kalash.

A few miles from Rawalpindi is Takht-e-Bai, which hosts numerous Buddhist shrines dating from the 1st to 7th B.C. While in Lahore one may drive south into Punjab, where there is the famous Rohtas Fort, a magnificent example of military architecture, the construction of which started in the mid - 16th Century. The old City of Lahore has artisan workshops and the Famed Shalimar Gardens. The Sunehri Masjid (Golden Mosque) is called so because of its three golden domes and dazzling gold plated minarets. Here also is the museum dedicated to Mohammed Abdur Rahman Chughtai, master artist and "reinventor" of Mughal and Persian painting traditions. One may also pay a visit to the Lahore Fort, which is a palace of immense proportions. The Royal Quarters have brilliant examples of design and handicraft techniques, no longer practiced.

By heading southwest towards the Mid Indus River one may reach the culturally rich city of Multan. This town has a most distinctive structure - the shrine of Shah Rukn-iAlam. The Hussein Agahi Bazaar also has crafts traditional to this area. Across the River and south of Dera Ghazi Khan, is Choti the home of the chief of the Leghari Baluch tribe. This remarkable residence is a prime example of Mughal architecture and interior design. East of Multan is the area of Cholistan, where you may be able to meet some of nomadic people and get a glimpse of their unique dress, learn about their crafts and perhaps see the "Camel dance".

The Bahawalpur area is famous for its varied handicrafts. The ethnographic museum has a remarkable collection of textiles, embroideries, jewellery and costumes from Cholistan. Near Kot Diji is the Talpurian Fort, a huge brick construction built on several levels, and Methelo, the abode of Sindhi master of embroidery. Embroidery on leather can be found in Shikarpur and Khairpur regions. You can visit the town of Thatta, located near Karachi. It holds a site of a brick mosque with 93 domes which is another remarkable example of Mughal architecture. This is an area of magnificent handicrafts, among them textiles with block printing and bandhani are of great admiration. The Makli Hill area has hundreds of tombs, with a unique construction and ornate inscribed stonework.

Pakistan is a great reservoir of the heritage of the Indus, & Gandhara Civilizations. With layers of various Gandhara Kingdoms, it is unsurpassed as a treasure house of the Greco-Buddhist sculptures & artifacts. Moghul monuments are strewn all over the country. Back to Top

Horseback Riding

Horse and Pony Safaris or trekking experiences constitutes another important and relishing adventure in Pakistan. Some very special journeys on horse back include crossing the Deo-Sai plains, Shandur Pass and the Kaghan Valley.

Pony trekking from Luspur to Shandur Pass, from Shandur Pass to Teru camp and from the Tero village to Handrab Lake are journeys full of exotic landscapes and superb atmosphere. Pony trekking to the base of Nanga Parbat, from Tarshing to Gorikot, from Gorikot to Godai and from Godai to Chilam offer wonderfull adventurous trips for horse riding enthusiasts.

During these short horseback journeys one may cherish and relish the calm, clear and serene environment of Pakistan's Northern Areas. Other horseback experiences can be achieved in the Murree and Galliyat region, located near Islamabad. All in All, these joruneys have gained alot of appreciation from tourists. Back to Top

White Water Sports

The wild and roaring streams and rivers of the Northern Pakistan possess great potential for white and wild water sports. The rapids of these streams and rivers provide the ultimate adventure and thrill in mountain water sports and lend themselves to canoeing, Kayaking and white water rafting.

The rivers of Pakistan are spread like a net through its length & breadth. Right from the heights of Karakorams. The Himalayas and the Hindukash, Pakistani revers change courses and flows until they all meet the mighty Indus, at different points which ulitmately falls into the Arabian Sea. These rivers are ideal for all kinds of water sports like rafting, canoeing, boating, & sailing.

Following rivers in Northern Pakistan are open for water sports besides the Indus, the Ravi, and Chenab, in NWFP, Punjab, & Sindh provinces:

• Indus (from Jaglot to Thakot)
• Kunhar (from Naran to Kaghan)
• Swat (from Bahrain to Saidu Sharif)
• Pankora (from Dir to Batkhela)
• Hunza (from Aliabad to Gilgit) Back to Top

Mountain Biking

There are plenty of opportunities for cross country mountain bicycling in all the mountain ranges of the country. However, due to higher temperatures in the mountains except for the Northern Pakistan, this sport can only be undertaken during the winters. The smooth lower hills of Swat, Azad Kashmir, and Galliyat provide adequate opportunities for mountain bikers.

A tour of northern mountain region on bikes is a thrilling adventure. You can choose to drive on KKH, a visit to Hunza Valley, or pass through alpine valley of Kaghan, the scenery is catching and rewarding making your adventure a life time memory. The mountainous valley of Kaghan offers excellent mountain biking opportunities. Biking trips from Mansehra to Balakot(50 km), from Balakot to Shogran (30 km), from Shogran to Kaghan (40 km), Kaghan to Naran (26 km), Naran to Burawai (30 km), from Burawai to Lake Lulusar (25 km), downhill from Fairy Meadows to Raikot Bridge (21 km) and from Babusar village to Chilas (40 km) are some enthrilling biking trips carefully suited to the needs and tastes of mountain biking adventurists. Back to Top

Eco-Tours

Eco-Tours, on one hand, help in generating awareness of ones natural heritage while on the other, they provide captivating journeys full of adventure and panoramic views of natural beauty.

At an elevation of about 8000 feet above sea-level, Ayubia National Park is located between Pakistan's most popular hill stations, Murree and Nathiagali. Superb scenery, pine forests, covered mountain slopes, clear water streams and lots of wild flowers and colorful butterflies combine together to provide an enchanting experience.

A visit to Quetta is incomplete without a trip to Ziarat. Situated 76 miles (3 hours by car) from Quetta, at an altitude of 8400 feet above sea level, Ziarat is a holiday resort amidst one of the largest and oldest Juniper forests in the world. It is said that some of the Juniper trees are as old as 5000 years. Nature walks and treks amongst these majestic forests is another memorable experience.

The Salt Range of Pakistan comprises of two rows of low lying rugged hills that run east to west between the Soan and Jhelum rivers from the Grand Trunk Road, near Jhelum city to the river Indus, near Kalabagh. This area is said to record 600 million years of Earth's history. The rocks and fossils found around the salt range provide a complete record of the history of Earth. You can take an eco-tour to Khewra, the largest salt mines in the world, the fort and temples of Hindu Shahi period (8-10 century A.D) at Katas and Malot and the beautiful lakes at Kalar Kahar, Uchali, Khabaki and Jhalar which atrract thousands of migratory birds each year.

Eco-tours developed to witness the Marine Turtles and Mangrove Forests provide an instilling experience to all nature enthusiasts. A drive to the beaches of Hawks Bay and Sandspit (near Karachi) is one of the greatest sources of pleasure to a nature lover. This unique tour will take you to the shores of the Karachi coast where 'Green Turtle' and 'Olive Ridley' are found during the nesting seasons on the beaches of Hawks Bay and Sandspit. During autumn, after the monsoons when the sea is calmer tourists may sit quietly on the beach on a moonlit might and watch to see the turtles come up and lay their eggs and leave them in the enclosing warmth of the soft sand for the heat of the sun to incubate till young hatchlings emerge and scramble to the sea. One may also take a tour to Somiani Bay Mangrove Forest that is the breeding ground for fish and shrimps and home to many resident and migratory birds.

On the whole these experiences may develop a sense of respect and love of nature blended with exotic scenes from the epic mother nature movie. Back to Top

Mountaineering

For anything to do with mountains, there is no better place than Pakistan. The lofty mountain ranges of Karakoram, Hindukush and Himalayas offer great opportunities for mountaineering and trekking, which are unparalleled in the world. A large number of climbers and trekkers visit these high mountains each year.

There are 120 peaks, some unclimbed and unamed with an average height of 21,490 feet. These include some of the highest in the world like the K-2 (28,250 feet) next only to the Everest, Nanga Parbat (26,660 feet) and Gasherbrum-I (26,470 feet). The area has been a magnet for mountaineers from all over the world since 19th century. Everyday more and more mountaineering expeditions come to Pakistan. Back to Top

Rock Climbing

Pakistan is well known for high altitude climbing but not many people come for Rock climbing. Pakistan in fact has equal opportunity for Rock climbing as well. The Trango Towers in Baltoro area are well known all over the world. Besides Trango Towers, Kondus valley in Khaplu area come become paradise for rock climbers.

There are numerous untouched rock faces in the Karakoram, Himalaya and Kindukush ranges of Pakistan which are ideal for rock climbers. Back to Top

Ice Climbing

The high mountains of Northern Areas and Chitral have numerous ice climbing areas within easy access from the road heads. Primarily, a winter sports, it is another mountain sports which is gaining prominence in Pakistan. Back to Top

Shopping

Pakistan is a wonderland for shoppers. You may find exotic memorabilias and all sorts of household and luxurious items at reasonably low prices.

Karachi is indeed a shopping heaven. Sadder is the central shopping area in Karachi, it is spread around and between the two main streets. Abdullah Haroon road and Zaib-un-Nisa Street, and is about 1 km from south to north. It is fun to spend a few hours wandering through alleyways, where Victorian brick archietecture rub shoulders with modern concrete.. it is all very lively and noisy with a great variety of shops in a succession of different bazaar's each specializing in its own commodity. Going north upto Abdullah Haroon road, you first come to Zainab Market on the right. Inside we find dozen's of shop's, selling new copper's, Brass onyx, inlaid woodwork, lacquer work, hand block printed cloth's and applique bedspreads. Some shops sell excellent old emroided Sindhi cloth. Traditional wedding dresses with mirror embroidery work, leather garments and old tribal silver jewelry, Zainab market also sells very good, extremely cheap cotton shirts, and ready made shalwar kameez. A little further up Abdullah Haroon Road are the carpets shops. They sell both, new Pakistani rugs and old tribal rugs, from Balochistan Afghanistan and Iran. Bhori bazaar is down the side lanes to the north of the carpet shops. It is the world with in itself. You walk down the narrow alleys ducking the cloth and clothing strung across for display. It is very photogenic. North again is the empress market, opened in 1889. This is the vast Victorian structure in Moghul Gothic style, with a clock tower, 50 meters high, housing hundred of shops and stalls. With in and around it are the meat and fish markets, fruit, and vegetable stalls. Section's of different Bazaar's specializing in different handicraft's and good's.

While in Lahore the Anarkali Bazaar is the most fascinating. The alleys and lanes of this bazaar are full of exciting wares, especially traditional crafts like leatherwear, embroided garments, glass bangles, beaten gold and silver jewelry, creation in silk- anything that you wish to bargain. It is named after the Akbar's Courtesan called Anarkali, Who, according to legend was put to death by Emperor Akbar for having a love affair with prince Salim, Later known as Jehangir. Old brass and copper are another good buy from the shops around the Charing Cross. Some good buys can be found in the brass bazaar in the old city but it is difficult to find and is usually unpolished or still coated in tin. Brass is poisonous and cannot be used for food until tinned. Other Shopping areas in Lahore may include the Sarafa Bazaar, Copper and Brass Bazaar, Kashmiri Bazaar, Liberty Market etc.

While in the city Multan, the Mangoes of Shujabad district are the best in the world. Apart from this, Multani khussa (shoes); embroidered clothes for ladies; embroidered cholas for men; earthenware pottery, painted potter, camel skin ware (e.g. lamps); carpets wooden products, especial lacquered wood are all best buys for tourists. Back to Top