As one of the most ancient cities of the Indian subcontinent, Peshawar has for centuries been a center of trade between much of Asia. Modern day Peshawar continues to be a city that links Pakistan to Afghanistan. Sadly, Peshawar was immensely affected by the Taliban throughout their prevalent years, often in the news for suicide … More Peshawar, Pakistan
Many have compared Swat Valley’s beauty to Switzerland. They both provide stunning views of snowcapped mountains as a scenic backdrop. At the base of the Hindu Kush mountains, the valley has become a picturesque tourist destination within Pakistan. Visitors are often surprised to learn about the valley’s rich history with Buddhism. Once the cradle of … More Swat Valley, Gandhara’s cradle of Buddhism
It was the 17th day of our journey and the last leg of our epic roadtrip, en route to Islamabad. The capital of Pakistan since the 1960’s and the ninth largest city in Pakistan (although, the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area is the fourth largest in the country). About two hours out, we passed through Abbottabad, the city … More Islamabad
The distance from Gilgit to Skardu is approximately 120 miles, but dependent on road conditions, which are constantly fluctuating, the drive can take anywhere from 10 to 14 hours. Being so, we left Gilgit in the early morning hours to hit the road. The narrow, winding, paved road was constructed by the Pakistan Army Engineers … More The Journey to Skardu
Duikar is a small village about 30 minutes from Karimabad, perched on a hilltop about 10,000 feet high. The rightfully named Eagle’s Nest Hotel offers sensational views of surrounding peaks, while enjoying tea from their rooftop terrace. The most notable peak, to us anyhow, was the 19,600 foot rock-spire, Bublimotin, also known as Lady Finger. … More Eagle’s Nest, Onward to Gilgit
Across the river from Hunza Valley is Nagar Valley. From Karimabad, the route to reach the town of Nagar, the largest town in the valley among 24 villages, follows windy dirt roads along cliff sides, crossing the Hunza River and Nagar River junction. As we approached Nagar Valley, we became surrounded by some of the … More Nagar Valley & Hopper Glacier
Karimabad truly feels like a dreamy utopia, nestled in a lush valley surrounded by dramatic snowy mountain peaks. Upon checking-in to the lovely Hunza Serena Inn, I literally had to pinch myself to be sure I wasn’t staring at a digital green screen simply projecting such a stunning backdrop. Almost too beautiful to be real! … More Karimabad, Hunza Valley
From Kashgar, we started the infamous Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world (maximum elevation is 15,466 ft). The highway traces one of the many paths of the ancient Silk Road. A path crossed and written about by Marco Polo. The highway was built by the governments of Pakistan and China. … More Crossing the Khunjerab Pass from China into Pakistan
Kashgar, also known as Kashi in Chinese, is the largest westernmost city in China, located in the Xinjiang region near the border with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. It’s been a crucial trading center and strategically important city along the Silk Road between China, the Middle East, and Europe for over 2000 years. In addition, … More Kashgar, China: Start of the Karakoram Highway
Wandering Ways 