Flights
Direct connections to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad from the Gulf, the United Kingdom and parts of Asia; from continental Europe, usually one stop. The Gulf carriers offer the densest network. Flights are heavily booked around Eid, when the diaspora returns, and fares double.
Getting around
The motorway network between Islamabad, Lahore and Multan is modern and fast, and long-distance coaches on those routes are comfortable. Domestic flights link the main cities and are the practical way to reach Gilgit or Skardu, though mountain flights are weather-dependent and cancel often — keep two spare days. The railway is slow and scenic. The Karakoram Highway north is one of the great roads of the world and demands respect.
When to come
The plains are hot from April to September, reaching extremes in Sindh and southern Punjab; the best months are October to March. The monsoon affects the north and east from July to September, with flooding a recurrent risk. The mountains invert this: May to September is the only window for Gilgit-Baltistan, and the passes close outside it.
Orders of magnitude
| Return flight from Europe | €550 to €1,000, more around Eid |
|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel night | PKR 8,000 to 20,000 |
| Restaurant meal | PKR 500 to 2,500 |
| Domestic flight | PKR 15,000 to 35,000 |
What holds everywhere
- Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation stops being optional as soon as local healthcare is limited. Check it actually covers the destination: many policies exclude areas under adverse travel advice.
- Carry cash. In much of the world cards work in the big cities and nowhere else. Check the ATM situation and your bank's charges before leaving.
- Leave margin on connections. A tight transfer on a thinly served route is expensive: the next flight may be tomorrow, or in three days.
- The real budget runs over two years, not one trip: repeated flights, paperwork, translations, legalisations, any support sent. It is always underestimated.