Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has earned a spot among CNN Travel’s top 25 destinations to visit in 2025, recognising its breathtaking landscapes and adventure opportunities.
The region, nestled in the Karakoram Mountains, attracts thousands of tourists and climbers annually for mountaineering, paragliding, and other activities. CNN Travel described GB as a remote yet rewarding destination, noting its “more tantalising peaks than a lemon meringue pie.”
Home to five of the world’s 14 “eight-thousanders,” including the formidable K2, GB offers a hiking experience that, according to CNN, “makes the Himalayas look like a walk in Central Park.” However, solo travel is discouraged due to the region’s challenging terrain.
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In 2024, over 1,700 foreign adventure enthusiasts applied for permits to climb GB’s peaks, including 175 climbers attempting K2, as per a government report. Deputy Secretary of the GB Tourism Department, Sajid Hussain, highlighted the booming adventure tourism industry, with several permits already issued.
Meanwhile, Pakistani mountaineers achieved significant feats in 2024. On July 9, two climbers from Pakistan and two from Nepal summited Nanga Parbat (8,125m). Later, on July 23, 11 climbers, including a Pakistani team, scaled Gasherbrum-II despite harsh weather.
These accomplishments underscore GB’s reputation as a global hub for adventure tourism and mountaineering.
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