Pakistan features in Forbes’ list of top 10 ‘coolest places’ to go in 2019

The piercing blue waters of the Attabad Lake which are nestled in an area near the Karakoram highway. (AN photo by Sabah Bano Malik)

The Hunza valley’s terrain is varied from lush green pastures to out-of-this-world rocky mountain tops. (AN photo by Sabah Bano Malik)

A flat plain lies among tall mountains in the Hunza valley. (AN photo by Sabah Bano Malik)

Greenery fades into granite which is encapsulated by snow-capped mountains in the Karimbad area of the Hunza valley. (AN photo by Sabah Bano Malik)

• Has steadily regained its reputation as a place to explore
• Country is known for its picturesque landscapes, world-famous glaciers, transparent water lakes, and cultural heritage sites

ISLAMABAD: Forbes released its list of the ‘coolest places to go in 2019’ earlier this month and Pakistan has made the cut.
The report’s author wrote that she spoke to a number of ‘high-end travel companies’ to compile a list of “newly (or still) safe” destinations that could “transform” and the northern areas of Pakistan were among the top picks.
Speaking to a travel specialist from GeoEx, the report cites reasons why Hunza, Shigar, and Khaplu should be on everyone’s travel list. Forbes identifies, in particular, the area’s “startlingly striking scenery”, its majestic landscape, the warm welcome of the people, and the “juxtaposition of granite to greenery”.
Over the past few years, with a crackdown on militant activities which has been widely promoted by the administration, more and more travelers have made their way to Pakistan.
This has subsequently lead to more positive press, including in 2017, with the British Backpackers Society naming the country as the top destination to visit in 2018. It also eased up, if not our actual borders, but the borders of doubt people may have about venturing into unknown territory.
“There has been a definite increase of visitors, even from within the country,” Aamir Khan, owner of a private luxury travel and tours company, said.
Khan’s company curates trips to Gilgit-Baltistan for explorers with a diverse range of needs and travel goals. From those want to take in the scenery, walk through apricot fields, canoe across Attabad Lake, trek across Passu Glacier, or climb atop the snow-dusted Rakaposhi base camp – there’s something to suit everyone’s palette.
“Many years ago, we would have thousands of visitors. That, of course, had slowed down but I would say every year it gets better in small numbers and I think these lists and more people coming and sharing on social media is helping,” he said, adding that when people visit, they say that they “could never imagine that all of this is hidden in Pakistan”.
“It seems no one knows really that [all of this beauty] and the chance for adventure, especially if you like hiking and climbing, is all right here,” he said.
Other countries to feature on the Forbes’ list were Azores, Portugal, Eastern Bhutan, Los Cabos in Mexico, Colombia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mongolia, Rwanda, and The Turkish Riviera.