Skiing has a nearly five-thousand-year history. Despite the fact that modern skiing has its origins in Scandinavia, historical drawings suggest that it may have been practiced more than 100 centuries ago in what is now China. In more recent times, the sport has begun to take off in another Asian country: Pakistan. Most people are unaware of the potential of skiing and snowboarding in Pakistan. Despite the fact that both sports are still in its infancy in Pakistan, there are a number of places where you may hit the slopes. Pakistan has some interesting ski locations with breathtaking scenery; among them Malam Jabba, Naltar in Gilgit, Astore, Nathiagali and several others. Malam Jabba, around 300 kilometers from Islamabad, offers the best skiing prospects of all the locations and is Pakistan’s only real ski resort. If you are looking for huge super modern ski resorts with miles and miles of ski slopes then Pakistan might not be it, but if you are looking for a skiing adventure, then it just might be the perfect place for that.
Here are three options if you want to go skiing to Pakistan:
Gilgit-Naltar, Baltistan
Skiing in the Naltar Valley
Our adventure begins in Gilgit, at Naltar. Naltar is one of Pakistan’s oldest skiing destinations, located in the Gilgit Karakoram range. It is 40 kilometers from Gilgit and can only be reached by jeep. From Gilgit to Naltar, public transportation is available for a limited distance, beyond which you must make your own arrangements. It is a woodland village with beautiful mountain landscapes and fauna.
Accommodation
The best lodging facilities are offered near the Naltar valley for tourists and guests. The small Hilltop Hotel, with three very plain double rooms, a permanent tent, and a lawn where you can pitch your own tent, is a trustworthy and welcoming place to stay.
Skiing season
In Naltar, the winter skiing season runs from January to March.
Malam Jabba
Malam Jabba is a hill station in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, about 40 kilometres from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley. It is a popular and attractive skiing destination. Islamabad is 314 kilometres away, while Saidu Sharif Airport is 51 kilometres away. Malam Jabba is Pakistan’s sole ski resort, managed by the Pakistani Tourism Development Corporation, with an 800-meter ski slope and a highest height of 2804 meters (9200 feet) above sea level. The Pakistani government collaborated with its Austrian counterpart to build this ski resort, which features modern amenities such as roller/ice skating rinks, armchair lifts, and skiing levels.
Accommodation
There are various hotels in Malam Jabba where you can find quick and affordable lodging. The most highly recommended places to stay here include Hotel Zahgeer Continental, Number Eleven, Peacock Houseboats, Hotel Sadaf, The Residency, The Mandalay Houseboats, and Dawer Heaven.
Skiing season
The winter season in Malam Jabba normally lasts from January through March, with an average of 16 feet (about 5m) of snowfall. The resort is reachable by road from Islamabad, with a travel period of approximately 6 hours.
Deosai in Skardu
Deosai is a huge high-altitude plateau south and west of Skardu that borders Indian Kashmir and is roughly 4000 meters high. Numerous pure streams with rare snow trout can be found in this deserted alpine grassland. There is also a big river nearby. From Skardu, a jeep route leads to this plateau. Skardu has flights and road connections to Islamabad. Traveling by road takes two days, with a night in a hotel in between.
Possibilities for Skiing
Due to its height the plateau and the surrounding mountains can get snow throughout the year. There are various slopes here where you can hike or journey up before skiing. The real snow season starts after the 15th of December and lasts until the beginning of March.
How to get to Pakistan?
There are a couple of airlines that fly to Pakistan, the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines and the Airblue are probably the most well known. The easiest way to get to Pakistan from practically anywhere is through Dubai airport. Dubai is super connected to all the corners of the world and there are regular flights from there to Islamabad and other Pakistan cities.
If you are on a budget you will probably want to go with Airblue airline. This airline is changing its whole inventory to budget airlines, they’re also discontinuing proper meal offerings in favor of snacks and desserts to be able to further cut ticket prices. Airblue was also Pakistan’s first airline to offer e-ticketing, wireless check-in, and self-check-in kiosks. The airline also joined the Sabre system, which is used by more than a hundred airlines for ticket automation services. You can go here to check airblue flight status and buy tickets.
All in all, while it may be challenging to find adequate lodging and the type of infrastructure you might be used to as a skier, Pakistan is a great spot to visit for an adventure off the beaten track – one that you won’t forget any time soon. For more information about this country’s diverse ski resorts, visit the Adventure Pakistan website.