The list curated by CNN – US-based broadcaster Cable News Network – included Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan as a must-visit destination among the other 25 destinations globally.
Every year, thousands of tourists and climbers visit the Gilgit-Baltistan region for expeditions on several peaks, paragliding, and other activities.
CNN Travel recently highlighted the Gilgit-Baltistan region in the Karakoram Mountains, calling it “not the easiest place to get to” due to unreliable flight schedules and seasonal road closures.
However, the region boasts more towering peaks than a lemon meringue pie, including five of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders, with K2 standing out as the second-highest mountain on Earth, yet the most challenging and dangerous to climb.
The outlet noted that hiking in Gilgit-Baltistan is an arduous endeavor, with conditions far more difficult than in the Himalayas, and advised against solo travel, echoing Nepal’s 2024 ban on solo hiking.
Despite logistical challenges, Gilgit-Baltistan remains a sought-after destination for tourists drawn to its towering peaks, glaciers, meadows, and lakes.
In 2023, around 2,100 foreign adventurers visited the region to conquer its famous mountains, including K2, Nanga Parbat, and Gasherbrum I and II, with that number rising to 2,380 in 2024, as per GB tourism officials.
Source: CNN Travel
