- Northern Pakistan’s dramatic mountain scenery and improved security situation highlighted
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan has been listed in Financial Times’ 50 best places to visit in 2025, with the publication noting its stunning mountain scenery and improved security as key reasons for its inclusion.
Key Points
- Financial Times has recognized Gilgit Baltistan as home to some of the world’s most dramatic mountain landscapes.
- The region’s improved security situation, easier access, and better accommodation options have led to an increase in visitors exploring the area.
- In August 2024, Pakistan began offering online visas for citizens of over 120 countries, boosting tourism.
- The publication also highlighted a 14-day group tour that offers an immersive experience in the region’s culture, history, and landscapes, including six days of trekking.
CNN’s Mention
- U.S.-based broadcaster CNN also named Gilgit Baltistan in its list of top 25 destinations for 2025.
- CNN noted that the region is home to five of the world’s fourteen “eight-thousanders,” including K2, the second-tallest mountain in the world, known for its extreme difficulty and danger.
- CNN also stated that hiking in Gilgit Baltistan is much more challenging than a simple walk in Central Park compared to the Himalayas.
Tourism Activities
- Thousands of local and foreign tourists visit the region each year for mountain expeditions, paragliding, and other outdoor activities.
- In 2024, there was a surge in mountaineering expeditions and trekking, although nine mountaineers tragically lost their lives attempting to summit various peaks.
