The Best Photography Locations in Pakistan
Fifteen places I return to, from the Karakoram to the Arabian Sea, with the season that suits each one.
Pakistan has five peaks above 8,000 metres, some of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions, a cold desert, a hot desert and a thousand kilometres of coast. For a landscape photographer it is close to inexhaustible.
This list is personal. These are the places I have photographed again and again over 18 years, and the ones I take other photographers to. Each links to a fuller guide where there is one.
The list
Fifteen places worth the journey
Passu Cones, Upper Hunza
The defining skyline of the Karakoram Highway, best at dusk. Best: Any season; dusk. Read the guide.
Karimabad and Eagle's Nest, Hunza
Rakaposhi, Ultar and Ladyfinger above terraced villages and two ancient forts. Best: October and April. Read the guide.
Attabad Lake
Turquoise water between bare rock walls, formed in 2010. Best: Spring to autumn; morning. Read the guide.
Katpana Cold Desert, Skardu
Sand dunes at over 2,200 m with snow peaks behind. Best: Sunrise, any season. Read the guide.
Haldi Cones and Khaplu
Granite spires over the Shyok River, far quieter than Passu. Best: April and October. Read the guide.
Deosai Plains
A plateau above 4,000 m with wildflowers, brown bears and dark skies. Best: July and August. Read the guide.
Fairy Meadows
A high meadow at about 3,300 m facing the north face of Nanga Parbat, 8,126 m, reached by jeep track and a hike. Best: June to September.
Nagar and Hopar Glacier
Rakaposhi and Diran close overhead, and a glacier beside the road. Best: October. Read the guide.
Ghizer and Phander
A river valley of poplars and still water west of Gilgit. Best: Mid-October. Read the guide.
Broghil Valley, Chitral
Remote high grassland and lakes near the Wakhan Corridor. Best: July to September. Read the guide.
Kalash valleys and Chitral
A distinct culture and the Hindu Kush under Tirich Mir. Best: May to October. Read the guide.
Kumrat Valley
Old deodar forest and a clear river in Upper Dir. Best: June to October. Read the guide.
Rainbow Lake, Domail
A small alpine lake beyond the Burzil Pass, open for a short summer. Best: July to September. Read the guide.
Hingol and the Makran coast
Badlands, mud volcanoes and empty beaches on the Arabian Sea. Best: November to February. Read the guide.
Thar Desert, Sindh
Dunes, villages and desert life in the far south-east. Best: November to February.
From my archive
Photographs from across Pakistan
Plan your trip
Photograph Pakistan with me
Tell me your dates and what you want to photograph, and I will plan a private itinerary around the light. Tours are operated through Travelbug, the travel company I co-founded, which arranges transport, stays and permits.
Every tour is privately quoted. No fixed packages or departure dates.
Questions
Good to know
What is the most photogenic place in Pakistan?
For mountain landscapes, most photographers would choose Hunza and the Passu Cones. Skardu offers the greatest variety, and Deosai the most space and wildlife.
Which region is best for a first photography trip to Pakistan?
Hunza. It is the easiest to reach and travel, with the highest density of viewpoints, and it combines well with Nagar and Passu.
Do I need a guide to photograph these places?
Many are accessible independently, but timing, permits, road conditions and access to private land make a real difference to the pictures. That is what a guided photography tour provides.
Can I buy prints of these locations?
Yes. Every photograph on this site is available as a signed archival print.
Keep exploring
Related tours and guides
Muhammad Asmar Hussain
Award-winning Pakistani landscape photographer, Sony Brand Ambassador for Landscape Photography, TEDx speaker and Co-Founder of Travelbug. Published by National Geographic and a winner at the Sony World Photography Awards. More about Asmar.