Islamabad Tours in Fall

Outstanding trip. Spectacular scenery. Open Jeeps in the mountains. Painted lorries. Stunning lakes. Glaciers. Hike to base camp of 25th highest mountain in the world. I’ve used Explore a lot. This trip is in my top 3. You will not be disappointed

This was a postponed trip from 2023 and I didn't have that many preconceptions about the trip. Some friends were concerned about security and safety issues. This turned out to be one of the best trips I've ever done and probably rates better that Patagonia, Nepal, Bhutan, Switzerland and Greenland. The scenery was stunning and the people couldn't have been more friendly and always wanted to stop and talk with us. The main tour guide, Sanjit, was marvelous and the supporting drivers and guides were very professional, safe and friendly. Sanjit in particular had to handle one difficult traveler and he did this in an extremely professional and courteous way and kept his patience throughout. This is not an easy trip with a lot of time spent in open topped jeeps in very dusty conditions. The roads are unsealed and difficult in a lot of places. There is some trekking at high altitude and with getting in and out of the jeeps, you need to have a relatively good level of fitness. The jeeps often are close to the edge of some very steep drops so if you are afraid of heights, this might not be for you. Not once did I feel any risk though as the drivers were so good. The accommodation was actually quite reasonable for the remote locations we were visiting. The food was very good throughout and with care about drinking the water and not eating salads washed in tap water, most people survived without an upset stomach. All meals throughout the trip were included in the price of the tour so we hardly needed any extra spending money. I would highly recommend this trip if you have an adventurous nature and want to see some spectacular scenery.

It was an amazing trip made even better by the dedication of our two guides Sajid and Jehangir. They went out their way to make sure we had everything we needed. There is a lot of driving on some of the worst roads in the world but the scenery and the people make it all worth while

What an adventure, amazing trip not to be missed!! From arrival in Islamabad to returning two weeks later we found ourselves totally emerged in this little-known country. Breathtaking scenery, it has it all from snowcapped mountains, deep gorges, the fastest flowing rivers, lovely people and delicious food, it just needs an updated guidebook now... Our Explore guide Sajid, shared with us his knowledge of the mountains and what life was like, we met a nomadic family returning to Kashmiri, a journey that would take two months to meeting a friend on the road and being invited into the family's home for chai, nuts and lots of fruits. His local team were excellent and took such care of us, from the drivers - who drove fearlessly those jeeps up mountains, into the valleys stopping whenever we needed a photo to the local guide who found us a polo match (only women there) to arranging a surprise night at the 'Gilgit Serena Hotel', complete change from the itinerary. The warm welcome and the friendliness of the local people everywhere we went was just as magnificent as the scenery throughout this trip.

This was a very full-on, very demanding tour, for the type of seasoned traveller who enjoys days of being driven in an open Jeep over very poor roads; absolutely not for those who go on holiday to relax. That said, the tour was excellent. Our tour leader, Sajid was outstanding, and we could not have been better looked after. The scenery in the mountains was breathtaking; regrettably the clouds covered many of the high mountain peaks, but we did briefly see the summit of Nanga Parbat (26600 feet). The locals were welcoming, friendly and hospitable, and the itinerary was excellent. The "pincnic lunches" were not the usual sandwich and drink, but involved tables chairs, crockery, cutlery and hot food; a real treat! Our jeep driver was friendly and very helpful, acting almost as a personal assistant to my wife. Of the 20 or so Explore trips we have done, this was one of the best.

Wow, what an amazing trip. This is a must do country. Pakistan was such a surprise to us. The scenery was so beautiful, the people were some of the friendliest we have ever met. The 4WD vehicles were so much fun and having the tops off gave us great views and a chance to greet the local people. The variety of accomodation and activities was excellent. Some of the highlights for us were the hike to Nanga Parbat base camp, the driving adventures on the Karakoram Highway and the variety of glaciers. The walks through the local villages allowed us to interact with the villagers and they were so warm and welcoming. We really enjoyed the food throughout the trip.