Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has been named one of the top 25 must-visit destinations for 2025 by CNN, highlighting its status as a premier adventure tourism location. This region in the Karakoram Mountains draws thousands of tourists annually for activities like mountaineering, paragliding, and expeditions.
CNN Travel’s recent feature emphasized the area’s ruggedness, noting that while accessing GB can be challenging due to unreliable flights and seasonal road closures, the regionβs breathtaking peaks make it a bucket-list destination. It is home to five of the 14 tallest mountains in the world, including K2, the second-highest peak globally, known for its extreme difficulty and danger.
The article also mentions that hiking in Gilgit-Baltistan is far from easy, with some trails being more demanding than those in the Himalayas. Solo travel is not recommended for visitors due to the region’s challenging terrain and conditions.
Adventure tourism in the area continues to grow, with over 1,700 foreign climbers applying for permits to scale various peaks in 2024. Notably, 175 climbers aimed to summit K2 during the summer season.
In recent achievements, four climbers, including two Pakistani mountaineers, successfully summited Nanga Parbat, and 11 climbers, including a Pakistani team, conquered Gasherbrum II, overcoming harsh weather and personal setbacks.
To further bolster its mountaineering reputation, the Pakistani government is setting up a state-of-the-art mountaineering school in Gilgit-Baltistan. This initiative aims to train climbers while promoting sustainable practices and providing employment opportunities to local communities.
