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I'm turning 40 next year and am giving thought to travelling solo to ****stan next year. From an initial look travelling into Lahore and focussing on the north areas including Kashmir seems appealing.
I would be travelling on my own and would be looking to both experience the bustle of city life, life in rural communities and, of course, look at stunning mountains in incredible light.
Flexible on when in the year I could go .
Has anyone experienced such a trip and any advice would be very helpful.
Thanks
This is what the FCO has to say:
Summary
Still current at:
26 August 2018
Updated:
9 August 2018
Latest update:
Summary and Safety and security section (Local travel - Gilgit-Baltistan) - information about attacks on schools and security operations in response; you should seek and follow the advice of the local authorities
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:
the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
the districts of Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner and Lower Dir in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
the city of Peshawar and districts south of the city, including travel on the Peshawar to Chitral road via the Lowari Pass
northern and western Balochistan
travel on the Karakoram Highway between Islamabad and Gilgit
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:
the Kalesh Valley, the Bamoboret Valley and Arandu District to the south and west of Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
the city of Quetta
the city of Nawabshah in Sindh Province, and areas of interior Sindh to the north of Nawabshah
On 14 August ****stan celebrates Independence Day. Large public celebrations are expected on and around this date. Terrorists have attacked large gatherings in ****stan in the recent past. National and provincial elections took place on 25 July 2018. Terrorist attacks on political rallies in the run-up, and on polling stations on election day, killed over 200 people. It’s possible that there may be further violence in the aftermath of the polls. You should remain vigilant and avoid demonstrations, large crowds of people and public events.
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in ****stan. There’s a high threat of terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence throughout the country, including the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. You should be vigilant, avoid all crowds, public events, political gatherings, religious processions and sporting events, and take appropriate security precautions.
Foreigners, in particular westerners, may be directly targeted. Densely populated unsecured areas, such as markets, shopping malls, restaurants and places where westerners and the ****stani elite are known to congregate, are potential focal points for attacks. You should be extra vigilant at all times and minimize your exposure to areas that pose a higher risk.
Security forces in ****stan remain on high alert following previous attacks. Alert levels in major cities can fluctuate, and travellers should monitor local media. There may be increases in security force presence and restrictions on movement may be put in place at short notice. See Terrorism
During holy periods/religious holidays, there’s an increased risk of targeted attacks, including on western interests and religious minorities. On 17 December 2017, an attack at the Bethel Memorial Methodist church in Quetta killed nine and injured over 50 people. It’s possible that further Christian gatherings will be targeted in this way.
In early August, militants attacked a number of schools, including over a dozen schools in the Chilas, Darel and Tangir areas of Daimer District, Gilgit Baltistan. In security operations that followed, 2 militants were killed and over 30 arrested. Further attacks on schools and security operations in response are possible. You should seek and follow the advice of the local authorities.
There have been a number of recent terrorist attacks in Lahore. At the present time, you should exercise caution travelling to and around Lahore. Busy public places and events are often targeted, including public transport, major international hotels, the airport, parks, shopping malls and religious sites. Government, military and law enforcement facilities are also targeted. See Terrorism for more information.
On 14 March 2018, an explosion at the Nisar police check post near Raiwand on the southern outskirts of Lahore, close to the Tableeghi (Jamait e Islami) religious centre, caused numerous fatalities and multiple injuries.
****stan is in a major earthquake zone and remains at risk from further earthquakes, aftershocks, landslides and flooding. You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake. See Natural disasters
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.
Around 270,000 British nationals visit ****stan every year. Most visits are trouble-free.
I particularly like the last sentence!!
Other destinations are available .. That's all I'll say.
If you’re able to blend in, go for it. I’d feel very vulnerable with my pasty white face and zero ability to speak the language.
It’ll probably end something like this but it will be a once in a lifetime experience.
Ask this guy
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Appeal+as+Midlander+is+jailed+in+****stan.-a087393705
https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87698711.html
I know knob all about ****stan, but I spent a few months in Colombia back in the 1990s when it had a pretty bad reputation and a lot of people thought we were barking mad going there. We were reasonably careful, with where we went and when we caught buses - not at night - and nothing bad happened.
Official warnings tend on the side of caution for obvious reasons and mostly bad things don't happen, though of course that's no consolation if you're one of the minority of people who bad things do happen to. Statistically though, you're more likely to die or be injured in a road traffic accident than through an act of violence in most developing countries.
I'd be doing some extensive research and maybe, if you don't like what you find, also asking whether you could get a similar experience with less risk in say India or Nepal.
Why ****stan in particular? Just wondering.
I work alot in the region and think that ****stan is one of the greatest and most authentic travelling experiences. I think it's so much more wonderful than India; Lahore is a wonder, the food is brilliant and the Karakorum are the most spiky, wonderful mountains in the world. I think a trip round Lahore, followed by a fairly beaten track trip to Skardu, onto Hunza and over to chitral etc would be fantastic and pretty safe on the grand scheme of this miserable world.
But... i'm not sure why, but after years and years working and holidaying in central asia and the Middle East, i'm starting to feel that I can't be bothered particulalry when i have time off. I'm not sure if its just getting old and anxious, or just a growing realisation that most of these places are never more than a fraction of a second away from mindless and brutal violence, despite the general hospitality and friendlyness of most people. Xenophobia and hatred of the west are never far from the surface in the Islamic world, despite what the luvvy travel bloggers have to say. There are also plenty of other wonderful and quiet places in the world.
The question as others have asked is what is your motivation? I've done the trip you're planning a couple of times (also by bike), and they have been some of my favourite holidays i've ever had. If you asked me to do it again though, the honest truth is that I probably wouldn't go.
My old company only drove people round in armoured cars due to kidnap risks.
if you can speak the language and blend in you are good if not you can go to Islamabad.
also remember if you are not from the country you won’t be getting visas to many places without interviews for a while...
Your company was probably scammed or working in Karachi (unless it was working in the tribal belt). There has never been a real kidnap threat in the north of ****stan or Lahore.
It is tribal areas I think. It’s also major oil so a nice target with stupid HSE.
for the most part if you are careful you can be good almost anywhere or indeed if you are a dick things can go wrong almost anywhere but why take the risk? That being said I have seen some beautiful pics.
I went to Morocco earlier this year. I don't know how it compares to ****stan, but it was pretty amazing. Felt safe and lots to do and see. I'd go back tomorrow if I hadn't used up all my holiday entitlement for this year.
Have an invite to stay with family friends at Murree, we were supposed to be going this year but new jobs mean it's on hold 'till 2020.
Friends reckon the most dangerous bit is the drive from the airport. 🙂
My dad lived there for a while after WW2 and during partition, it would be good to see the place.
A friend of mine whose parents were born there, went to wedding a couple of years ago. He arrived at the relatives' house and when he was shown to his room the conversation was something like, "There are fresh towels on the bed, the bathroom's down the hall on the left and there's a gun in the bedside-table drawer if you need it."
Can't say I know much about the area other than tv programs. What about Nepal, mountains, grasslands and a bustling city. We had some Nepalese over learning English this week, the funniest bunch I've met always laughing and very generous.
Although South America would be my pick unless your set on ****stan.
I worked in Lahore for a few months but it was 15 years ago. Great people and I felt safe wandering about but I'd travelled a lot by then and was switched on with being in non tourist locations.
Better places to be in the world though.
I can get you a proper int assessment if you'd like? PM me an email address and i'll get something together for you next week if I can.
Although South America would be my pick unless your set on ****stan.
Columbia and Venezuela look particularly appealing at the moment...
Don't know about kidnap. But speaking as someone from an area with one of the largest ****stani communities in the country, we do hear stories. Only a week or two ago a family was held up at gunpoint by people masquerading as the law after leaving Islamabad airport (they even stole their clothes). They say Kashmir would be one of the top tourist destinations on the planet if it wasn't a disputed territory, but I think you'd be taking enormous risks by visiting. Especially self supported on a bike.
I spent 9 months there during and after the first gulf war. It was an amazing place to work and travel, the people were fantastically hospitable all over the country. But that was 25+ years ago and I'm sure a lot has changed...
I think you need to speak to people who have recently i.e within the last few weeks or months been In the areas you wish to travel. Maybe try lonley planet forums?
Personally although I would like to visit ****stan I would go somewhere else as there are so many interesting amazing places in the world with a lower risk profile. But I am not an expert in the area.
I'd love to go, was booked to go in autumn 2001 but we got as far Iran and changed plans due to the safety situation at the time. The hunza valley looks amazing, not sure I'd go currently though and would just go Indian himalayas and Kashmir. Look equally amazing and safer domestic situation.
Thank you for all your input everyone
I have family in Lahore, and they don't encourage us to go over.
Could be they don't like our side of the fam though 😬
I've been, done pretty much that trip - from Kyrgzstan (Osh) on the nightbus to Kashgar, then took the bus down the Karakoram highway. Stopped in Islamabad and Lahore, then over the border at Wagah and north on the Indian side through Jammu and Kashmir.
It was a few years ago, and as above it's clearly fairly changeable there (I wouldn't go to Peshawar now, for example), but I can share some thoughts and notes if you like.
Maybe try Lonely Planet forum or UK Climbing to see if you can get some up to date experiences. I’d love to go but for me it’s a bit too volatile and sadly my crazy travelling days are over. Off to Nepal in 4 weeks, big mountains, great people, chaotic towns not much religious inspired mayhem. Good luck and have fun if you go, admit I’d be a bit jealous.
I have a number of good friends who go every year - own properties there and still have family who reside there permanently.
The pictures - especially those in mountainous rural areas are amazing. I can see very clearly why anyone would want to go.
However, despite the fact none of them have had serious trouble - there seems to be widespread corruption and needs to pay ‘taxes’ to make sure there are no issues etc...
Depends where you go in the world.
Even the U.K. has shit areas where you wouldn’t go.
Try going with a group.
didnt mark beaumont cycle through there on his first round the world trip?
No matter how careful you are, you will be spotted and identified as an outsider everywhere you go. I used to love going to ****stan especially Lahore but my agent won't allow me to go now as he says the danger of kidnap is too great. Criminality is rife and if criminals get you they might pass you on to terrorists.