Pakistan: Always worth a trip

Why Pakistan?

Pakistan lies between Afghanistan and India, China and Iran. Pakistan is the right place for you if you want to combine the solitude of the mountains with the hustle and bustle of the big city. If you are traveling to Pakistan with the idea of ​​lots of untouched nature, it is best to start your trip in the far north. The three highest mountain ranges in the world - the Hindu Kush, the Karakoram and the Himalayas - meet there. The Karakoram is also characterized by the Baltoro Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the world. A true paradise for experienced mountaineers, but also for inexperienced hikers who want to broaden their horizons and are not afraid of a little sore muscles. Of course, the view can also be enjoyed from below.

The capital Islamabad

After the ultimate nature experience, the holiday continues in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. Islamabad now has around a million inhabitants. The capital was planned in the 1960s, but it wasn't until the 1990s that it boomed and the population has skyrocketed since then.

Here you can admire at many sights, such as the Faisal Mosque, which became known for its striking design and enormous size, or the Pakistan Monument, which was built to symbolize the unity of the Pakistani people, with an adjoining museum and large reference library. There is also a lot of green nature, parks and lakes in and around the big city that you should definitely discover.

Preparing for the trip to Pakistan

If you don't want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the big city on vacation, there are many other cities in Pakistan to explore. Faisalabad with just over three million inhabitants and Lahore with over eleven million inhabitants are just two options.

For those of you who like to make it easy on your vacation, there are now many offers for tours including hotel stays and flights over a period of several weeks. You will be taken care of in every way and you don't have to worry about where you will spend the next night.

Those who prefer to deal with planning and booking themselves will get their money's worth in Pakistan.

You can book your flight from Frankfurt, after which you are free to decide whether you travel from sight to sight in Pakistan or think about your perfect route beforehand. Backpacking is also not a problem in Pakistan. The culture in this country is generally super welcoming as long as their values ​​and ideas are respected.

Before you book your flight, you should definitely make sure to apply for your visa early enough. There are also various visa options for Pakistan. You can apply for your visa either online or either in Berlin at the Pakistani Embassy or in Frankfurt at the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. However, it doesn't matter whether you want to enter for a business trip or for this year's summer vacation, you always need a visa. The Federal Foreign Office is currently also pointing out on its website that from October 5th, 2020, anyone who wants to travel to the country must prove that they have installed the Covid-19 app PakPass and registered with it.

Travel safety in Pakistan

When it comes to travel safety, everyone should be aware that there are regions in Pakistan that have not been safe for decades and, above all, not accessible to tourists at all. If you travel to Pakistan as an average tourist, it is not necessary to constantly worry about safety, the only important thing is that you travel consciously. This also means finding out beforehand which regions are open to tourists and which are not. For this purpose, it is particularly worthwhile to regularly check the statements from the Foreign Office, which can easily be found on their website (you can also find out about the current infection rate in the respective country or region via the Foreign Office's country information). In addition, the police on site are particularly helpful. If it ever happens that you as a tourist go into a dangerous environment, the nearest police escort is usually less than five minutes away. This is free for tourists, you don't have to call anyone or worry about anything, in most cases the police will be there before you.

Culture & Religion in Pakistan

In addition, you have actively and with good reason decided to choose Pakistan as your travel destination. This also means that you have to be aware of how different Pakistani culture is from German culture. It is not dangerous to travel in Pakistan, but there are cultural differences that you should be aware of and deal with accordingly. Pakistanis pay a lot of attention to clothing and appearance. Every person of any gender is asked not to show bare arms or legs in public. However, traveling as a woman in particular involves adhering to the unofficial dress code. It's best to choose wide trousers, a loose shirt and a scarf or scarf that can also be used as a headscarf. Pakistanis call these garments salwar (harem pants), kameez (loose shirt) and dupatta (scarf). The most important thing is to respect the cultural and religious values ​​of Pakistanis. If you want to visit a mosque, you must not forget to take off your shoes and, if you are a woman, be sure to cover your hair with a headscarf. If you are traveling with your partner, you should avoid direct expressions of affection in public, whether holding hands or a kiss on the cheek, all of which are unfortunately considered offensive in Pakistan and are not welcomed.

Bringing an impact

For Buckle and Seam, Pakistan means sustainability and tradition. What matters to us is that we have found a country with Pakistan and the Pakistanis in which we can produce our products sustainably, fairly and of high quality. Through our direct contact with the production facilities, we make it possible to pay our employees fairly for their work. We also go one step further and donate three percent of our sales to the #onebagonechild initiative we founded. With this we can enable girls in Pakistan to attend school.

No matter whether with a backpack or on a planned tour. Pakistan has something to offer for everyone. Whether adventure in nature, big city flair or a cultural sightseeing trip. It's exciting to get to know traditional Pakistani cuisine. Here you will also notice how hospitable the Pakistanis are.

If you haven't decided yet where your next vacation should go, this is a great source of inspiration.