Pakistan

[Matt..]

Have any of you been recently or have plans to visit? It’s a possible for me next year and im just doing some research on it now. If you've been how was it?

[Countdown]

Whereabouts are you planning on going?

[MarkJS]

I spent a month around Lahore, Faisalabad & the countryside in between a few years ago. I’ve been to some pretty grim places but my experience of Pakistan blows the rest of them out of the water. A truly horrible place and I cannot think of one redeeming feature of that trip. It’s filthy and felt pretty dangerous at times.

[55palfers]

Cheaper to come to Birmingham.

[ikarl]

55palfers said:

Cheaper to come to Birmingham.

[Dog Star]

MarkJS said:

I spent a month around Lahore, Faisalabad & the countryside in between a few years ago. I ve been to some pretty grim places but my experience of Pakistan blows the rest of them out of the water. A truly horrible place and I cannot think of one redeeming feature of that trip. It s filthy and felt pretty dangerous at times.

It s not all like that though - I ve seen a few motorcycle travel videos where they re travelling through the north - it s proper dirt bike riding, but the scenery puts Switzerland to shame, lovely smiling, friendly people, ladies in colourful traditional clothing (no burqas or scarves etc, no screaming islamics). It looked another world compared with the st hole you expect, and that they re trying to turn places over here into.

[Matt..]

This would be almost entirely up north in the mountains.

[Countdown]

Matt.. said:

This would be almost entirely up north in the mountains.

There's quite a few Tour Companies which do group expeditions depending on how far north you go. I'd strongly recommend going with an Agency rather than trying to DIY so that you avoid the aholes wanting bribes (this is endemic). Generally speaking it's very safe and it will gets after the further north you go.

[Matt..]

Countdown said:

There's quite a few Tour Companies which do group expeditions depending on how far north you go. I'd strongly recommend going with an Agency rather than trying to DIY so that you avoid the aholes wanting bribes (this is endemic). Generally speaking it's very safe and it will gets after the further north you go.

I think it's likely to get booked with a local agency and it would be a group of us.

[MarkJS]

Dog Star said:

MarkJS said:

I spent a month around Lahore, Faisalabad & the countryside in between a few years ago. I ve been to some pretty grim places but my experience of Pakistan blows the rest of them out of the water. A truly horrible place and I cannot think of one redeeming feature of that trip. It s filthy and felt pretty dangerous at times.

It s not all like that though - I ve seen a few motorcycle travel videos where they re travelling through the north - it s proper dirt bike riding, but the scenery puts Switzerland to shame, lovely smiling, friendly people, ladies in colourful traditional clothing (no burqas or scarves etc, no screaming islamics). It looked another world compared with the st hole you expect, and that they re trying to turn places over here into.

Of course. There are also some great looking parts of places like Sudan & Afghanistan (and many, many more) - none of which I’d want to visit/go back to because they are by & large sh*tholes.

Dog Star said:

the scenery puts Switzerland to shame

Got to be the exaggeration of the week.

[Countdown]

MarkJS said:

Got to be the exaggeration of the week.

Not really. The cities are overcrowded, polluted and full of rubbish but the northern areas (Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Hunza, Skardu) are as good as anything Europe has to offer.

[MarkJS]

Countdown said:

MarkJS said:

Got to be the exaggeration of the week.

Not really. The cities are overcrowded, polluted and full of rubbish but the northern areas (Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan, Chitral, Hunza, Skardu) are as good as anything Europe has to offer.

OK. Having spent a fair amount of time in both Switzerland & Pakistan, I really must disagree but never mind. Have a wonderful time OP.

[Matt..]

Don't worry this won't be my only trip of the year (I normally do 5+). I can balance out this trip with one to Switzerland or Norway.