Pakistan's calm, modern capital and the usual arrival point before heading into the mountains. Planned, leafy and framed by the Margalla Hills.

The valley most travellers fall in love with: terraced fields, ancient forts, turquoise lakes and a famously warm, hospitable culture. Apricot blossom in spring, golden poplars in autumn.

The launch point for the world's greatest peaks and glaciers, set among cold desert, lakes and dramatic granite. The base for journeys toward K2 and the Baltoro.

The Mughal-era heart of Pakistan — grand architecture, gardens, and one of the great food cities of South Asia. A vivid cultural contrast to the quiet of the north.

Pakistan's vast, energetic city on the Arabian Sea and a major international arrival point. Diverse, fast-moving, and home to the country's best seafood.

One of South Asia's oldest living cities, famous for its blue-tiled Sufi shrines, bustling bazaars and intense, colourful heritage.

A small town on the Indus where journeys north pause for the night. The classic transit point between Islamabad and Hunza/Skardu along the legendary KKH.

The administrative heart of Gilgit-Baltistan and the natural staging point before heading into Hunza, Skardu or out to Fairy Meadows. The town itself is a relaxed mountain trading post — a useful day to rest, restock and watch the Hindu Kush meet the Karakoram.

The most postcard-perfect spot in northern Pakistan — an alpine meadow at 3,300 metres staring directly up at Nanga Parbat, the world's 9th highest peak. Access is half the adventure: a hair-raising jeep ride followed by a 90-minute hike from Tato village.

A short side-trip from Gilgit into a different world — pine forest, alpine pasture and three small lakes in startling shades of blue, green and turquoise. Quiet, low-altitude, family-friendly. The skiing here in winter is surprisingly good.

The cultural heart of the Hindu Kush, and the entry point to the Kalash valleys — home to one of South Asia's last pagan cultures. Surrounded by 7,000m peaks and connected to the rest of Pakistan by some of the most dramatic mountain passes in the country.

Lush green valleys, rivers, alpine meadows and pine forests — Swat earned its "Switzerland of Pakistan" nickname long before Instagram. The valley is also one of the country's most important Buddhist archaeological sites, with monasteries dating back to the 2nd century BC.

The most popular summer escape from the Pakistani heat — a green river valley in the Hindu Kush with the legendary Saif-ul-Malook lake at its head. The drive up the Kaghan Valley is itself the experience: roaring rivers, switchbacks and meadows of wildflowers above the treeline.

A British-era hill station in the foothills above Islamabad — Pakistanis have escaped the summer heat here for 150 years. Cool pine forests, Victorian shopfronts, and on clear days a view all the way back to the Margalla Hills. The drive up the winding road is part of the charm.