60 pictures of Pakistan that you will not see in the news
60 pictures of Pakistan that you will not see in the news



Written by Joan Torres


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Last updated on July 17, 2025

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Pakistan in fashion.

Backpackers and travelers alike from all over the world realize that Pakistan is not only a beautiful country, but it can offer some of the best adventures.

Despite this recent huge increase in popularity, Pakistan is still miles away from being a suitable tourist destination and the proof of this is that still today, some people cannot help but associate Pakistan with negative things, such as terrorist attacks, Taliban activities and Islamic extremism.

He partly attributed these negative associations to the Western media, which has done nothing but portray the worst side of Pakistan, especially since the September 11 attacks.

That’s why in this post I wanted to show you 60 pictures of Pakistan that you will not see in the newsBecause Pakistan is simply amazing.

Also, don’t forget to read Guide for my trip to Pakistan

60 pictures of Pakistan that you will not see in the news

Pakistan is the only country with the 4 highest mountain ranges on Earth, including the Himalayas, Karakorum, Pamirs, and Hindu Kush.

In fact, the second highest mountain in the world is in Pakistan. K2 (8,611 metres) It belongs to the Karakoram group.

Besides those world-famous mountains, Pakistan is also home to many dreamy valleys that you don’t want to miss. I spent two months Backpacks in PakistanHe spent most of this time in the mountains. Here are some of my favorite photos.

Rakaposhi Base Camp, camped at about 3,500 meters above sea level, next to a giant ice wall, where we can hear the constant sound of avalanches
Same location as the previous photo, but on top of a ridge, below Mount Rakaposhi (7,778 metres).
We are here at Nanga Parbat Base Camp. Absolutely amazing
This is also Nanga Parbat (8100m) a few kilometers before base camp
This is the village of Gulmit
In Pakistan, we walked over crevassed glaciers, for the first time in my life
These are the types of glaciers we passed through. The man in the photo is a local Pakistani mountain guide
Climbing a glacier with some Thai friends
With some friends at Yeezil, one of the most beautiful glaciers in Pakistan, in Shimshal Valley
More photos of Yazal Glacier in Shimshal
This is the Paso Suspension Bridge
However, Pakistan is also home to beautiful green valleys. This is Swat, in Kalam district
More photos of Paso Peaks
Same place, Kalam, in Swat. Swat district has great similarities with Switzerland. This is one of my most favorite pictures.
This photo was taken during the trip from Al-Husseini to the Paso Suspension Bridge
Trip to Burith Lake
Hanging out at a hotel in Swat. It looked like a dreamy hotel, and it really was but seriously, it was just a very simple shack in the middle of the mountains
In Swat, you find some of the most beautiful forests in the country
I’m rocking my salwar kameez, somewhere in Swat Valley
Beautiful Swat Valley 🙂
Somewhere in Astor Valley. We went with some local Pakistani friends for a long weekend of fishing
The Astor Valleys are located on the other side of Nanga Parbat
It is linked to Pakistani Kashmir, which you will reach if you follow this path
What I liked about Astor Valley is that you get absolutely amazing views, but also those mountains are full of little villages, so you can connect with the local culture as well
Enjoying my time in a local village in Astor Valley
During the day, my Pakistani friends would spend the whole day fishing. I spent some time fishing with them in the morning but after that, I would explore the surroundings on my own
Epic views of Astor Valley
Overlooking Astor Valley. I really like this picture
I absolutely love these human encounters. Those moments make me feel so happy when I travel
Or this
I mean, isn’t that beautiful? Being able to explore those amazing mountains and, at the same time, be the only tourist in a place full of hospitable and kind-hearted locals.
Check out this small settlement
Exploring Astor Valley was probably my best experience in Pakistan

Pakistan is also famous for Karakoram HighwayIt is one of the highest paved roads in the world, linking Islamabad and Kashgar (China), and also passes through it. Khunjerab PassIt is one of the highest border crossings in the world, at an altitude of about 4,600 metres.

Karakoram Highway
From the Karakoram Highway, you can see bridges like this
Views from across the former bridge
Or these mountains that are perfectly visible from your car window
Traffic jam on the Karakoram Highway. You will be able to see a lot of Pakistani trucks
The main town on the northern part of the Karakoram Highway is Karimabad, inhabited by the Hunza people (an ethnic group that practices a very moderate branch of Islam) and home to the Baltit Fort.
Same, but different point of view
More photos of the Karakoram Highway
And more
This is not the Karakoram Highway but a crazy side road that leads to Fairy Meadows, near Nanga Parbat Base Camp. The beginning of this road is located at the intersection of the Karakoram Highway

But Pakistan is not only about the landscapes but also about the beautiful people who will constantly bless you with their hospitality, and the thing you will always remember the most when you return home, is the interactions with the locals.

Expect, literally, hundreds of invitations to the house, lunch, dinner and tea.

Local Pashtuns in Peshawar
These guys are just fucking awesome
The people here are really authentic
The street photography opportunities are great
Not only will you get to see the Himalayas, but you will also get to see the beauty and the beach!
I met these two men in Astor Valley
The cultural diversity is great too. This is a Kalash woman, an ethnic group from northwest Pakistan with traditional animist beliefs
This man who looks like a Hollywood actor belongs to a remote Pakistani village, on the other side of the Afghan border

And then, of course, you get all the mosques and shrines that Pakistan is famous for. You probably already know that from the news, of course, but did you know that she was very beautiful?

This is Badashi Mosque, the most impressive mosque in Lahore
Then you have this Sufi shrine in Multan. Sufism is an esoteric branch of Islam
The second most important mosque in Lahore is Wazir Khan
This is not a famous mosque but I like it. You can find it in Chitral
This photo may be more similar to what you’ve seen on the news but it’s still pretty cool

More information for visiting Pakistan

📢 in Travel resources page You can find a list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance, and more.

Don’t forget to check out our website Travel guide to Pakistan.

And also all our Pakistani articles:

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