Pakistan does not have one trekking season, it has several, and they barely overlap. Picking the wrong month is the most expensive mistake a first-time visitor makes.
Late March to mid-April — blossom
Apricot and cherry blossom in Hunza and Skardu, with snow still on everything above the valley floor. The high routes are shut, but this is the most photogenic fortnight of the year in northern Pakistan.
Late June to mid-September — the high season
The only reliable window for the Baltoro, Concordia, Snow Lake, Gondogoro La and every 8,000m expedition. July and August are the most settled. Late June still carries snow on the passes; mid-September gets cold fast.
October to November — the shoulder
Clear, cold, quiet, and spectacular for the lower treks and for Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat views. High passes are closing or closed.
December to February — the south
The north shuts down. This is the right time for Lahore, Sindh, Mohenjo-daro and the Makran coast, when the plains are pleasant instead of brutal.
Build in contingency days
Whatever month you choose, weather closes roads and grounds the Skardu flight — it is a normal part of travel here. Our itineraries carry spare days for exactly that, and it is why we insist on insurance that covers delay.
