Islamabad Tours in September 2025

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.

This is a super road trip. There's a lot of driving, but plenty of opportunities to stop for sightseeing and some nice short walks throughout the trip too. The scenery is magnificent but, at least as impressive was the warm welcome we received from the local people throughout the trip - right from the start in Islamabad to the most remote areas of the mountains. The service from the local guides and drivers, as well as from the Explore guide, was excellent, and they all worked really hard to ensure that everyone was able to make the most of the experience.

This truly was a trip of a lifetime. Having travelled to Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro (with the tour operator) we thought we had a pretty good idea of what to expect on this trip. We were so wrong! This was so much tougher and in many different ways. Firstly, whilst there's an itinerary, it quickly became apparent that there's a lot that's outside the control of the operator and the on-the-ground operator. We were held up in Islamabad for longer than expected (due to leave on Saturday, left on Wednesday). Our flight to Skardu was cancelled as a result of bad weather and with just one flight a day, it wasn't possible to get re-booked until Wednesday. Once in Skardu, although visa and permits have been granted, there's still a step to complete on the ground and it can't be started until you arrive in Skardu. Here you're at the very of the Authorities and 'it takes as long as it takes'. We weren't granted permission to enter the national park until around 9pm on the day we arrived in Skardu. Sara, our tour guide, kept us informed at every step and went over and beyond, using the local operator and 'connections' to try to get us back on track. She discussed the options with us and as a group, we decided on a plan to try to keep the overall tour intact. This meant combining 2 days of itinerary into 1, twice! The terrain is hard and unpredictable, this is where Sara and the local team were invaluable in their knowledge and expertise. We really were in their hands, finding safe passage and negotiating an ever-changing landscape. This made it feel really natural and exciting. It was one of the most breathtaking places on earth, with a real sense of pure and raw beauty. We worked hard to get to Concordia and even harder to get K2 base camp. The team were unbelievably amazing, we simply could not have completed this trek without their encouragement, support, humour and importantly expertise. This isn't a well trodden path and you need to know the environment. It was obvious from day 1, Sara had an incredible relationship with the local team, she knew the country and local environment well. She had a wonderful nature and approach to the people, the country and the environment, all of which she shared so generously, with true enthusiasm and passion. She's such a modest person, someone that would shy away from the attention or thanks, instead passing it on to others. However, she was at the centre of everyday, every step and for that we are very grateful. An incredible trip and one we'd highly recommend.

It takes a large team to support 14 trekkers in their ambition to walk to K2 base camp over the 58km Baltoro glacier. With no habitation and unforgiving terrain everything must be carried in by mule or on the backs of porters. This trek makes it possible for ordinary people to walk in the footsteps of the great mountaineers and experience the magnificence of K2 close up.