Several sites of historical interest lie to the north of Pakistan around the Hunza and Chitral valleys, while the historic city of Lahore, widely considered to be the cultural centre of Pakistan is home to many examples of Mughal architecture, including the Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and the Lahore Fort. The northern highlands of Pakistan are also home to the massive Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges, which include two of the world’s highest peaks,K2 and Nanga Parbat. The Silk Road winds through the Himalayan range, crosses the 1,000-mile long Indus River and proceeds through the Hunza and Gilgit valleys.

The city of Karachi lies on the Arabian sea and is home to Clifton Beach, widely regarded as one of the best in Asia and an excellent place for shopping and sampling the delights of the local cuisine. The Pakistan capital of Islamabad is a beautiful city with modern architecture and has the imposing Shah Faisal Mosque, which is vast enough to house around 10,000 worshippers at any one time. Visitors should also make time to enjoy the man-made Rawal Lake, with its gardens and plantations it is regarded as something of a beauty spot.

Hotels in Pakistan are wide and varied from the top of the range international hotel chains such as Holiday Inn Islamabad to the mid-range Embassy Inn in Karachi. The international hotels will generally be situated in the main cities of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

Pakistan has over 100 airports, with the largest airport in Pakistan being Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. There are other major international airports such as Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad and Peshawar International Airport. There is the Karachi Circular metro for getting around this city whilst there is an established bus service that will connect most cities in Pakistan 24 hours.

Although Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, was severely damaged during recent conflicts, there are still plenty of things to see in the city. The beautiful Babur’s Gardens have now been completely restored. You can learn about Afghanistan history at the Kabul Museum and the OMAR Landmine Museum or climb the City Walls for great views of the city and the mountains.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, you should visit Samangan, a place for caves and shrines dedicated to Takht-e-Rostam, a delightful Buddhist gem. Bamiyan is also worth a visit and even though the giant Buddha statues were recently destroyed, this area is beautiful and serene.

The best time to visit Afghanistan is during April to June and September and October. In the springtime, the north of Afghanistan turns from a dusty brown colour to a beautiful vivid green and flowers appear all over the hills. The autumn is harvest time and the best time to try out the delicious Afghan fruits.

Accommodation outside the main cities can be very basic and fairly expensive; however, new hotels and guest houses are appearing every day. On the other hand, the cost of food and travelling is fairly cheap. Kabul has a handful of well-facilitated Afghanistan hotels with internet and other luxuries.

The best way to get to Afghanistan from Europe or North America is via Dubai, where you will find plenty of onward connections to Kabul. From Asia and Australia, the best way is via Delhi or Islamabad. You can also arrive by land through Pakistan and Iran. A tourist visa is required.