Pakistan is a beautiful country. It has the world’s best places for tourists to visit but the northern areas are exceptionally fascinating. This part of the country is admired all over the world because of sky-high and snow-capped mountains, virtuous valleys, lush green meadows, glacial lakes, and magnificent waterfalls. Leaving behind all your rituals and rites and visiting these majestic places for a weak would be your best decision in life. Indeed These superb marvels will humble you to the idea of nature. It is unbelievable standing between these extremely glorious scenes, however, you are still, unable to move unable to speak. All you can do is glorify GOD. Always nature is close to the soul, you can find tranquility and peace which is quite unusual in your life.

The majesty of GOD is limitless, when it comes to viewing it, you realize how big this world is and how tiny we humans are. Ultimately you become humble and modest.

Recently I spent 10 days in northern areas. Though these are magical places so it is right to call them heaven on earth. Here I am to share my visit experience to northern areas. Especially for those who are setting their hearts for the first time to visit them.

Basically, my university organized this trip initially they had two packages, one for them who wanted to go by Air and the other was for them who actually wanted some adventure in their lives by traveling via train. So these two packages collapsed with each other and the third package evolved. I asked them, I want to go by train and would like to come back by plane. Luckily without any delay, they accepted my request.

So here the journey begins, train took almost 25 hours from Karachi to Rawalpindi station which was quite unexpected for me. I had no idea about the train journey before and therefore I took nothing for 25 hours no food and no extra cloth to cover my body when I sleep. There come many stops where you can get food but it’s better to have your home-cooked food with you and make sure you keep everything necessary in your hand carry for quick use. Well, the train journey was quite good it was feeling like home after spending 25 hours in it. Especially when you are with your friends in it.

After reaching Rawalpindi station, we moved towards our Hotel in Islamabad. It was 2 am now when we had our dinner, after dinner we wanted to take bath I along with my 4 other friends we took bath literally with cold water and we were shivering like a leaf. The next day we had to wake up at 5am, life was taking the exam, everything was happening against my imaginations. After spending a day on the train we had nothing needed at our hotel other than beds no good food and not even warm water to take bath. Aargh!

After breakfast, we moved towards Balakot our first stop was at Kunar river, no doubt it is a beautiful valley. When I saw it I couldn’t believe in my eyes that finally I’m here exploring these beautiful places. our second stop was at Kiwai waterfall. Kiwai is as magical as a crystal curtain so the water is as cold as ice. We were guided to take one slipper with us in our hand carry, but we didn’t follow it we went there putting off our shoes without slippers. There are sitting areas and restaurants you can have food with a beautiful view between the waterfalls.

Next, we moved towards our Hotel in Naran. After taking some rest we had dinner at a nearby restaurant. The Hotel was in Naran market so some of my friends bought some beautiful gifts for family and friends while I took coffee only. In the streets of Naran market, we explored a lot we kept asking prices for every other shopkeeper, and we knew we are not good at bargaining at all. It was all fun asking prices only and buying not a single thing.

Then, on another day we had breakfast at the same place after breakfast we rushed towards jeeps for saifulMalook Lake. The way towards SaifulMalook was quite challenging, it was all above the mountains so you may lose your heart before reaching SaifulMalook. Most beautiful and everyone’s eye of attraction this place seems like a dream place. Moreover, the high mountain named MALAKA PARBAT adds beauty to it. Moreover, if you are tired of hiking and want to enjoy horse riding there are horses that may take you towards the lake.

Next, we moved towards kunhar river and did rafting and zip line. You do rafting in a group of 10 Or 12 and they cost you around 2000 to 3000 per group. While ziplining costs around 700.

So at the end of the day we returned back towards our hotel in Naran.

On the third day we explored, lulusar lake, piyala lake and babusar top, at this point I realized these all places seem same everywhere you see mountains and lakes. Well, it went good but I couldn’t enjoy it too much due to similarities. We lived in Naran hotel for two days and next we moved towards our hotel in Hunza.

There they gave us just one bed and we were five girls, they gave us an extra mattress and we adjusted accordingly.

We moved towards our next adventure, I did know it is about hiking, we have to go to glaciers. When the guide told us it is about 5 to 7 hours hiking, at first I lost my heart then I thought I’m not going to regret this opportunity in the future so it is better to do it now. Our teachers and guides just filled our hearts with fear they kept guiding in a way that it seemed difficult. Finally, I was ready for this adventure. It was a challenging and different experience for me. It was unique which could be remembered for later, and now I had something surprising to tell my family and friends about this trip.

Next, we went shopping at Karimabad market. We found nothing worth than shawls and stones however there were many things to buy but as tourists, we did not have enough money to buy gifts for everyone.

We had a good day because of glaciers till that.

Another day we went to Hussaini bridge, which was no doubt an adventure for me all way while crossing it I was reciting Quran in my heart. The bridge connects to a village and it has space in planks, therefore, people are enthusiastic to cross it.

Then, we went to khunjerab pass which is the border between China and Pakistan. Usually, that place is cold so we had our coats and gloves with us.

Then our second stop of the day was in Attabad Lake where we did boating, again in a group of 8 which cost us around 3000.

Also, we went through a junction point where three mountains meet, Himalaya Hindukush and Karakoram. Now we returned back to our hotel in Naran same restaurant which we had before in Naran.

The next day we went to siri paye shogran by jeeps. This place is above the clouds, it is most beautiful and romantic. For me siri was the best place though it is 9498 feet high from sea level but you would love and lost yourself there however the way towards it was more challenging than the Saif ul Malook

Again upcoming thing was challenging, I had never thought of it before. Well, I did parasailing which was the most dreadful unlikely most enjoyable experience for me. When I was high in the sky I thought this is another world, completely I had different feelings at that time. When I saw down towards water it was so dreadful but when I saw up in the sky it was most beautiful, most enjoyable and fearless. Next, we went to Faisal masjid and then came back hotel in Islamabad. On the next day, we had a flight, way back to Karachi.

So it was all fun, challenging, and beautiful journey all way towards northern areas. I meet different people and made new friends there. I learned so many things, it would not be wrong to say that this place gave me new life which is beautiful and fearless. Above all I found myself there, I explored myself there. I must say everyone should visit such places which we call nature. Whenever you feel like giving up you must go there also I had read once that when you are worried and you want to make a decision but you don’t know, how to decide, go on a trip surely you will cone with lighten the heart and indeed with a better decision.

Here are some photos that were taken while Tour: