Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the following post are mine and does not reflect the views of Rocky Road Travel. This was not a sponsored trip.
Pakistan can be an enriching experience. With its history, rugged roads, towering peaks and the warmth of their people, why wouldn’t you want to visit? I decided to take the guess work out of planning this trip and chose to join a tour group to navigate the country. I’ve never joined an organized tour before so let’s have an honest review whether I thought if it was worth it.
Contents
- To Tour or not to tour?
- The Review
- Was there a Local Guide?
- Expectations from Group Tours
- Practical Advice for group tours
- Would I recommend Rocky Road Travel?
- Who are they for?
To tour or not to tour?
There’s a lot of ways to explore Pakistan. The most common way is to join a pre organized tour. You could also do a private tour by finding a local tour company to take you around the region. There are a lot of well-known tour companies that operate within the region – Intrepid recently re-started their Pakistan tours. However, they tend to have a much higher cost for the same itinerary and a larger group.
One of my initial thoughts was to rent a tuktuk and self drive the Karakoram Highway with Large Minority, what a story that would’ve been! The premise is simple. You would be driving the tuktuk on the Karakoram Highway, passing through the villages and having the ability to interact with the locals a lot more than if you were in a minivan/bus. There are checkpoints you’ll have to get through to and they do support you if you’re in a bit of a pickle. Unfortunately, my partner didn’t fancy spending 9 days driving in a tuktuk.
We narrowed it down to Crazy Puffins Adventures and Rocky Road Travels. Both had similar itineraries and time frames, just a month apart from one another. Crazy Puffins tend to include a bit more hiking in their itinerary. I can’t speak to how their organize tour compares but we opted for Rocky Road Travels since their dates suited us better. If you’re a mountain goat and all you want to do is explore the mountains, maybe Epic Expeditions would be for you? They do various hiking/trekking expeditions throughout Pakistan and primarily focused on spending time amongst the giants.
Why Rocky Road Travel?
As mentioned before, this trip is by no means associated to them or was this a sponsored trip. I had been a long time follower of their social media. My main influence to join Rocky Road Travel was their experience in touring in “unconventional” destinations. What I wanted out of the tour group was to have the security of everything being pre-planned and hopefully an authentic experience.
Rocky Road Travel is founded by Shaun Horan. He and his team have local fixers they use in conjunction to run their tours. For Pakistan – they had one foreign guide and of course the local guide and bus driver. The max participants they seem to have on their tours is 12, we had 11 on ours. It’s a great size to get to know each other throughout the journey. This was one of my decision factors, I wanted a smaller group rather than joining a tour with a tour bus. It was important to me that I didn’t feel like herd cattle when visiting the attractions.
Another factor was their emphasis on sustainable tourism through the projects they support and partner with. It’s always slightly delicate balance when visiting certain countries that our visit would support local communities without contributing to over tourism.
The Review
Booking the Tour
Booking the tour was a really straight forward process. We reached out via the email on the contacts page and we got a mini package about the tour and a brief itinerary. To secure our spot, we had to wire our deposit over and bring a lumpsum in cash to Pakistan. As cash is still very much king, it would be easier for the fixers to organise, pay and book for our accommodation, food and activities.
First Impressions – Pre Departure
Approximately a month before the tour started, we were added to a WhatsApp group to connect with our fellow adventurers. This gave us a chance to introduce ourselves beforehand. Mainly also to panic because some of our visa hadn’t come through yet. It was quite an international group – primarily Europeans and Australians. We were sent the tentative plan of our route – which in hindsight was going to change. From the beginning, it was quite clear the group would be a safe space for the solo travellers and those part of a pair.
While it’s such a small thing, this initial impression made me a bit more comfortable with the idea of joining a tour. It felt like we had made the right choice. United by curiosity, it felt like we had a good group… and spoiler, we did.
Stress less with navigation Pakistan
I feel like this goes without saying, but one of the main benefit of joining a tour would be navigating. Finding your feet in a foreign country can be difficult enough but throw in different languages and let’s not forget about the checkpoints…
Our chariot for the adventure was a minibus for 11 of us (plus our two guides and driver). We traversed from busy city streets to remote mountainous terrains without a hitch. What was nice about the tour was not having to worry at the checkpoints, our guides had it covered and had all the necessary documents so we zoomed through them with ease!
On our first day northbound, we had to make an unexpected stop in a random village because there was a landslide the previous night blocking the entirety of the road ahead. In the countryside, English isn’t widely spoken so a knowledge of Urdu/local dialect would be needed. Without a local guide, I would imagine navigating this would pose a small challenge. Within a matter of hours and after several phone calls, our guides had come up with a plan and informed us of the change in plans.
Perks of Group Travel
As a solo traveller (and recently a couple travel), I had never truly experienced group travel.
I was aware of the practical advantages of group travel. What I was not expecting were the “community/social” perks of group travel. As the group was quite international, it allowed for a bit more of a cultural connection. My fellow travellers were well read in politics, history and cultures. It made for several good discussions on the long bus rides.
Everyone in the group were incredibly well travelled so it was fantastic getting tips, advice and first hand accounts for future travels. What I appreciated the most was exchanging unique travel experiences with one another and the genuine interest people had in your story.
These unexpected perks of group travel added layers of enjoyment and security to the overall experience, making the trip through Pakistan not just a journey but a shared adventure.
Security in Group Travel
What I do not want is you, my dear reader, to think that Pakistan is an unsafe destination. I personally felt extremely safe during our trip and our guides made sure that we were comfortable. This just unfortunately happened while we were there.
As majority of us did not have an eSIM, we weren’t well connected to the news. That being said, you probably wouldn’t get much local Pakistani news from the global news networks. When entering Peshawar, the closest big city to the Afghan border, we were following a police car for what felt like the longest time. We were all oblivious and even joked that we are such rockstars that we needed a police escort. What we hadn’t appreciated was that there was a small bomb that had denoted earlier in the day. So, it turned out we were actually getting a police escort.
For the two days we were in Peshawar, we were escorted by the police wherever we went. It was an odd sensation going to buy kurtas and a police officer following us. That being said, I am unsure how easy it would be to organize a police escort if you were to be in the same situation. So in this instance, I would safely say it was 100% worth joining a group tour.
Was there a Local guide?
Goes without saying that going with a local guide is the best way to visit a more “off the beaten path” destination. How I saw it – Rocky Road Travels partners up with a local group to help navigate us on the tour. The main guide and the driver were both Pakistani. Personally, I found that there were several benefits to having a local guide.
Our local guide (Karim) was from Hunza, in Northern Pakistan and he’s very proud of his region. I learnt so much about his farm and we spoke in depth about the types of fruit trees he owns. A very knowledgeable man and an open book – explaining the local customs, understanding the intricacies of the society, the history and learning about the country through the lens of a local.
Logistically, it made the journey through the checkpoints a lot smoother. They were prepared with the appropriate documentations and could obviously communicate with the checkpoint agents about the road conditions ahead of our journey. It was honestly really long journeys in the minibus some days. But our driver, Ustar was a complete rockstar.
Another aspect I enjoyed by travelling with a local guide was understanding food! You know they know the best places to stop for food and order the best dishes. It was also fascinating learning about the local dishes from Hunza, especially from a Hunza born guide. Not once on the road did I have a bad stomach. It was just unfortunately my last night in Islamabad that I had a bad case of the runs… oops.
Expectations of Group Travel
As our guides were local, they knew how to navigate the local intricacies and the language barrier. They also provided insights and tibits into Pakistan’s history, political climate, and even just personal stories of their own, really enriching our understanding. I am sure you could probably get into these conversations while travelling independently but it may be hard to achieve.
Exploring Pakistan’s Highlights
The itinerary put together by Rocky Road Travel showcase the highlights of Northern Pakistan. We started off with a visit to a cultural museum and Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. Each day was a blend of history, nature, and culture. As we ventured north, the beauty of the Hunza Valley was breathtaking, offering a stark contrast to the bustling experience of Islamabad. The itinerary was paced to allow for exploration without feeling rushed.
The Group Dynamic
My main downside was that I was asleep for quite a lot of the journey on the road because I am very susceptible to motion sickness. But as we shared all our meals together, we would be sharing experiences and stories or even things we observed during the day. The art of storytelling was what created bonds. It was our shared and different interests that was a starting point for many conversations, and deep discussions. The group dynamic also provided a sense of belonging.
Practical Advice: Making the Most of Your Tour Group Experience
It’s likely your backpack will be on top of the bus so you won’t have easy access to things. Bring a daypack inside the bus with essentials like water, sunscreen, and a camera, so you’re always prepared for the stops you make along the way.
Ask questions. Be curious. Your guide is there to well, guide you and deepen your understanding about the country. I felt we were able to get to a safe space where we could ask about taboo or controversial topics because of our mutual understanding of curiosity. Take advantage of the group setting to share experiences and tips with fellow travelers; their insights might enhance your own journey.
The schedule may change. Be ready for that. Flexibility can often lead to unexpected adventures or learning opportunities. Respect the local customs and traditions presented to you; this openness will enrich your cultural experience and foster meaningful interactions with the local community.
Lastly, you probably want to check out this post about the logistics and overall guide to travelling in Pakistan.
Would I recommend Rocky Road Travel?
Looking back on my experience with Rocky Road Travel, the pros easily outweigh the cons. While being a tour group with a structured itinerary, there is flexibility and time to do “your own thing”. On our last day, some went to purchase some priceless souvenirs while the lads relaxed by the pool and one of them went on his own photographic mission. So you weren’t forced to just stick to one activity.
While I love planning my own trips, nothing could beat the convenience of pre-arranged travel and accommodations. I don’t remember a time I was this stress-free without having to think about where we would sleep, eat or do! Needless to say, the peace of mind when it came to security.
Group travel does come with limitations. Some times we may be a bit behind schedule and time in certain places may be “cut shorter”. However, when that was the case, our guides always told us before us and in some instances actually asked what we preferred to do. Of course, with an itinerary, there’s less opportunity for spontaneous detours that is easily done with solo travels.
Despite all these, I would easily recommend Rocky Road Travel for venturing around Pakistan. I personally would join them again visiting some of their other destinations – Iraq and Syria, I’m looking at you.
Who Should Consider a Tour Group in Pakistan
After being on a tour group, I can safely say it is a great option for a lot of travellers. From first time visitors to Pakistan who want to get their footing to solo travellers who are looking for companionship. Or if you’re like me, in a couple, and wasn’t sure where to start planning the trip in general! It’s a lot easier to enjoy and immerse yourself when you don’t necessarily have to think about all the logistical details. But if you’re someone who values complete freedom and flexibility, you may find this restrictive. At the end of the day, I reckon a tour group in Pakistan is best suited for those seeking a balance of adventure, cultural experience, and the ease of a pre-planned itinerary.
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