Islamabad: Eid Al Fitr is the time everyone has been waiting for the whole year to enjoy the holidays.
While many Pakistanis still prefer to spend time with family and friends on Eid, the trend of travelling during the holidays is becoming more frequent as people want to escape the summer heat in search of cooler destinations in the north.
Technology and social media are greatly influencing our travel decisions as people are relying on Instagram photos and website reviews instead of tour guides.
Inspiration from social media
Amina Jaffri, 24, an Islamabad student, mostly relied on social media for travel ideas.
“The breathtaking sights I see on Instagram every day compelled me to explore undiscovered places of Pakistan,” she says.
“After finalising the places, I sought expert opinion on hotel and car bookings on Facebook groups” she shared, adding that plentiful group tour ads on social media also helped her plan the itinerary.
Responsible tourism
Everyone wants the perfect photos with puffy clouds against the backdrop of gorgeous mountain scenery. “But what those photos don’t reveal is the long line of travellers and traffic jams at Eid time that can ruin your vacation,” said Altaf Ahmed, CEO of travel company, Awesome Adventure Pakistan. Altaf suggests that families visit northern areas after the Eid rush when tickets, hotels and cars are affordable.
Sher Ali Saafi, one of Pakistan’s top travel photographers, who currently has 30k followers on Instagram, urges responsible tourism by treating people, culture and environment with respect. “Pakistan is beautiful and we can only keep it that way by not littering. The least we can do is bring back our own trash,” he advised.
As many adventure lovers are all set to brave crowds and traffic to vacation over the Eid holidays, Gulf News checks out the top five places Pakistanis are planning to travel to this Eid
1. Hunza
The mountainous valley of Hunza situated in a remote, pristine area of northern Pakistan is about 100 kilometres from Gilgit. The valley offers exceptional experiences and views from lofty peaks to historic buildings to unique culture and heritage. In central Hunza, the 1000-year-old Altit fort and 700-year-old Baltit fort offer a glimpse into local history. The famous Attabad Lake is also near Hunza, where visitors can enjoy fishing and boating. The mighty Passu Glacier and Hopper Glacier, are only two hours away from the Centre. British mountaineer Eric Shipton called the Hunza valley “the ultimate manifestation of mountain grandeur” with the magnificent Rakaposhi (7788m) as the valley’s star attraction. Eagle’s Nest Hotel in the village of Duikar, preached on a 2850 meter high ridge in Hunza valley offers splendid views of some of Pakistan’s highest peaks and unforgettable sunrises, according to the visitors.
2. Astore
Astore, a valley 120km long with an area of 5,000km2, is located at the eastern face of Nanga Parbat, a peak 8,125 meters high. The valley has more than 100 villages of which Chilm is the most gorgeous as it is the starting point of Deosai, the world’s second highest plateau. The main attraction of this place is Rama Meadows, a place covered with pine trees, milky-white steams, and ice-covered peaks in background. One-hour jeep ride away from the meadows is the heavenly Rama Lake at an elevation of 11000 feet. Altaf Ahmed, Gilgt-based tour operator, described Astore Valley as an “undiscovered paradise.” Minimerg is another secret location near Astore valley. Harpo Pass, Bubin Pass and Mazino Pass are a must visit too. “Astore is perfect for camping with a breathtaking view of towering mountains. The best time to visit is May to October,” says Altaf.
3. Fairy Meadows
The Fairy Meadows are unquestionably one of the most picturesque destinations in northern Pakistan that offers a little taste of heaven. This lush green, eye-soothing plain, offers striking views of Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest mountain, known to climbers as the ‘Killer Mountain’. “Clean white carpets of untouched snow. Mighty peaks of blue and grey and silver and purple flinging themselves into the sky, blocking out the last of the sun and promising a radiant evening filled with stars” is how Will Hatton of The Broke Backpacker described the Fairy Meadows. For him, trekking around the fairy meadows, and spending time with locals, was a truly magical experience. Reaching the place doesn’t require any mountain experience as most of the way can be covered on 4×4 vehicles.
4. Neelum Valley
This 144km-long bow-shaped valley located in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, is known as the blue gem of Pakistan. Located in the Neelum district of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, it is almost 200km away from the capital, Islamabad. The valley surrounded by green terrain and mountains offers view of sparkling freshwater streams and dense forests. The valley is expected to receive more than 600,000 tourists this year, according to the officials. More than half of the total number of visitors to AJK in 2018 visited Neelum Valley. Some of the nearby worth visiting places are Dhani Waterfall, Upper Neelum, Keran, Ratti Galli Lake, Sharda, Kel and Arrang Kel.
5. Swat and Kumrat
Swat Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is rightly known as the Switzerland of East. The valley with its green pine trees, snow-capped peaks, and the crystal-like Swat River is known as a traveller’s paradise. Swat attracts tourists all year around, but the best time to visit is from April to October when the fresh green grass carpet cover the slopes. There are several worth visiting sights nearby in Mingora, Saidu Sharif, Madyan, Miandam, Bahrain and Kalam.
The remote and scenic valley of Kumrat, located 8,100 feet above sea level, is one of the most scenic and least explored alpine valleys. The person behind the rising popularity of this undiscovered valley is Prime Minister Imran Khan whose visit to the valley in 2016 prompted local tourists to enjoy its natural beauty. PM Imran described it as the “most beautiful and scenic valley”. This year, the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) has set up camping pods and tent villages at scenic spots in Swat, Kaghan, Thandiani and Shangla to facilitate tourists.
Although the number of tourists in Pakistan on average is estimated to be 2 million annually, accounting for 2.7% of GDP, the promising tourism facilities along with PM Imran Khan’s efforts to promote tourism, shows that the tourism sector has great capacity to create jobs and generate revenue for the country.
