Pakistan’s picturesque northern region, Gilgit Baltistan, has been included in the US-based broadcaster CNN’s list of the top 25 destinations worth visiting in 2025.
“CNN Travel described the Gilgit Baltistan region in the Karakoram Mountains as challenging to access — with unpredictable flight schedules and seasonally blocked roads — but offering peaks more tantalizing than a lemon meringue pie.”
The region is home to five of the world’s 14 “eight-thousander” peaks, including K2, which is not only the world’s second-tallest mountain but also the most difficult and dangerous to climb.
The report further highlighted that in terms of tourism and infrastructure, hiking in this region is far more adventurous and challenging than trekking in the Himalayas.
Every year, thousands of local and international tourists visit the sparsely populated northern region for mountaineering expeditions, paragliding, and other adventure sports.
In 2024, Gilgit Baltistan witnessed a remarkable rise in mountaineering and trekking activities. However, nine climbers lost their lives attempting to summit various peaks, including five from Japan, two from Pakistan, and one each from Russia and Brazil.
