Pakistan is a paradise for trekkers. Most of the trekking routes lies in the northern mountains of the Hindukush, the Karakorams and the Himalayas. For most of the treks, trekking season is between May to October.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan, has defined trekking as walking below 6000 m. It has designated three zones for trekking; open, restricted and closed. Foreigners may trek anywhere in open zone without a permit or services of licensed mountain guide.
For trekking in restricted zone, foreigners must pay a fee of US $20 per person per trek to obtain a trekking permit from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of Pakistan Islamabad. It also requires to hire a licensed mountain guide; buy a personal accident insurance policy for the guide and the porters and to attend mandatory briefing and de-briefing at the Ministry of Tourism, on the beginning and end of the trekking trip. No trekking is allowed in closed zones which are the areas near Pak-Afghan border and near the Line of Control with Indian-held Kashmir.
FOLLOWING REGIONS/TREKS ARE LOCATED IN OPEN ZONE:
-- District Chitral: treks in Kalash Valleys, Chitral Gol National Park, Shishi Gol & Golen Gol, Lutkhu Valley, Laspur Valley and Bashqar Gol. However, a permission from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chitral is required.
-- District Ghizer: treks in upper Ghizer River Valley, Yasin Valley to Yarkhun Valley and Yasin Valley to Ishkoman Valley.
-- District Gilgit: Bagrot & Haramosh Valleys, Naltar & Pakora Valleys.
-- Diamer District: Nanga Parbat region.
-- Hunza Valley: Nagar, Hunza proper, Gojal.
-- Baltistan: Basha, Tormik & Stak Valleys, Deosai Mountains and Plains, Biafo Hispar traverse, Thalle La & Tusserpo La and Aling Glacier & K-6 Base Camp.
FOLLOWING REGIONS/TREKS ARE LOCATED IN RESTRICTED ZONE:
-- Chitral District: Turikho Valley and upper Yarkhun Valley.
-- Hunza: Chapursan Valley
-- Baltistan: Ashkoli to Concordia, Masherbrum Base Camp, Gondogoro Valley and K-7 Base Camp.
-- For a list of treks in open and restricted zone, and to have a copy of latest trekking rules & regulations, please write to the Public Relation Officer, Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan.
-- Mountaineering in Pakistan
Northern Pakistan has the greatest concentration of the highest peaks of the world. It has 05 peaks over 8,000 metres including the world's second highest, K-2 (Chogori, 8611 m), 29 peaks of over 7,500 metres and 121 of over 7,000 metres. Hundreds of peaks are still lying un-climbed. This, is a great challenge for the mountaineers and mountain climbers the world over.
All peaks/routes for mountaineering have been designated as open zone or restricted zone. Permits for climbing peaks in open zone, are issued by the Ministry of Tourism, within 24 hours of the receipt of application. However, for peaks/routes in restricted zone, permit is issued within 14 days from the date of receipt of the application in Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan.