Gilgit Baltistan, a picturesque region in Pakistan, has been highlighted in CNN’s list of the top 25 must-visit destinations for 2025.
CNN Travel remarked on the challenges of reaching the region, nestled in the Karakoram Mountains, citing unreliable flight schedules and seasonally blocked roads. Despite these challenges, the publication likened the region’s numerous high peaks to “more tantalising peaks than a lemon meringue pie.”
The region boasts five of the world’s 14 “eight-thousander” peaks, including K2—known as the world’s second highest yet most challenging and dangerous mountain to climb.
CNN Travel also commented on the tourism infrastructure, noting that “hiking in this region makes the Himalayas look like a traipse in Central Park.”
Thousands of local and international tourists visit this remote northern area each year for climbing expeditions, paragliding, and various other sports activities.
In 2024, there was a notable increase in mountaineering and trekking activities in Gilgit Baltistan. Unfortunately, the Alpine Club of Pakistan reported the deaths of nine climbers on various expeditions, including five from Japan, two from Pakistan, and one each from Russia and Brazil.
