The Best Time to Photograph Pakistan
A month-by-month guide from 18 years in the field: what is in season, what is open and where the light is.
There is no single best month to photograph Pakistan. There are four distinct seasons in the north, and a fifth on the coast, and each suits a different kind of picture.
The short answer: come in the second half of October for autumn colour, in early April for blossom, in July and August for the high plateaus and lakes, and between November and February for the deserts and the coast.
The longer answer is below. Dates shift by a week or so each year with the weather, which is why my tours are built around the season rather than fixed departure dates.
At a glance
Pakistan photography calendar
| Month | Where to be | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| January – February | Makran coast, Thar Desert, Skardu in snow | Mild coastal light; snow on the Katpana dunes; many northern roads closed |
| March | Lower Hunza and Nagar | First apricot blossom from the last week of the month |
| April | Hunza, Passu, Skardu, Khaplu | Peak blossom under snow peaks; quiet valleys |
| May | Hunza, Chitral, Kumrat | Fresh green terraces, clear rivers, Kalash spring festival |
| June | Skardu, Deosai from mid-month, Fairy Meadows | High roads reopen; long days; first wildflowers |
| July – August | Deosai, Broghil, Minimarg, Kumrat | Wildflowers, green plateaus, Milky Way; monsoon showers in the lower valleys |
| September | Deosai, Broghil, Hunza | Clear air, golden grass, fewer visitors |
| October | Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu | Peak autumn colour, fresh snow on the peaks |
| November | Hunza early in the month, then the coast | Last gold leaves; the start of the Makran season |
| December | Makran coast, Balochistan | Mild days, clean winter light on the sea |
Spring: late March to May
Blossom is the event. It begins in lower Hunza in the last days of March and reaches Passu and Skardu by mid-April. Light is soft and the snow line is low. See the spring blossom tour.
Summer: June to August
This is the only season for the high country. Deosai, Broghil and Minimarg are open, the plateaus are in flower and the nights are dark enough for the Milky Way. The main valleys are hazier at midday, so shooting moves to dawn and dusk.
Autumn: mid-September to early November
The clearest air of the year, then about three weeks of gold and red in Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer and Skardu. This is the season most photographers travel for. See the autumn tour.
Winter: December to February
Snow closes the high passes and many northern roads, though Hunza and Skardu remain reachable and very quiet. It is the right time for the Makran coast and the Thar Desert, where summer heat makes photography impractical.
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 single best month to photograph northern Pakistan?
October, for most photographers: clear air, autumn colour and fresh snow on the peaks. April is the best alternative, for blossom.
When are the high passes and plateaus open?
Deosai, Broghil and the Burzil Pass are usually open from about mid-June to September. Babusar Pass is typically open from about June to October, and the Khunjerab Pass from spring to late autumn.
Is the monsoon a problem?
The monsoon affects the lower valleys and the approach roads in July and August, with occasional landslides. Gilgit-Baltistan is much drier, and itineraries include buffer days.
When should I avoid travelling?
Avoid the coast and deserts from May to September because of the heat. In the north, deep winter is beautiful but limits where you can go.
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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.