What to Pack for Pakistan: A Real Packing List

This pakistan packing list is for the trips we run, private, mountain-leaning, with a city or two attached. Pack soft, pack modest, pack layers. North Pakistan in October can hit −5 °C at night and 25 °C at midday in the same valley; one outfit does not solve that.

Three packing principles

1. Modest cuts, not costume. Long sleeves and long trousers in light fabrics work everywhere.
2. Layers, not single warm pieces. A merino base + fleece + down jacket beats one heavy coat.
3. Soft bags, not hard cases. Local 4WDs and porter loads do not love wheeled hard cases.

Clothes by season

Spring and autumn (April-May, Sept-Oct)

• 2 merino base layers (top), 1 long sleeve
• 1 light fleece or mid-layer
• 1 packable down jacket (650+ fill)
• 1 waterproof shell jacket
• 2 long trousers (one hiking, one casual)
• 1 light salwar kameez or kurta (buy in Lahore)
• Warm hat, light gloves, buff or scarf
• Hiking boots, plus one casual shoe

Summer (June-August)

• Lightweight long-sleeve shirts (linen or technical)
• Loose long trousers, light colours, light fabric
• Sun hat with brim, sunglasses (Cat 3+)
• Light fleece for evenings above 3,000 m
• Light waterproof for monsoon edges

Winter (Dec-Feb, southern Pakistan)

• Lahore and Islamabad: light puffer for mornings, otherwise long sleeves
• Northern winter trip: full alpine kit, down to −20 °C rated parka and sleeping bag

Gear

• Day pack (25-30 L)
• Soft duffel for main luggage (90-110 L)
• Reusable water bottle (we provide filtered refills in vehicle)
• Trekking poles if trekking
• Headtorch (always, power cuts in the mountains)
• Sleeping bag liner (silk) for basic mountain stays

Electronics

• UK 3-pin and Europlug 2-pin adaptors, Pakistan uses both
• Power bank, 20,000 mAh+
• Camera + spare batteries (cold kills them fast)
• Unlocked phone for local SIM
• Avoid drones, permit-only, frequently confiscated

Medical kit

• Diamox (acetazolamide) for altitude trips, if your doctor approves
• Ibuprofen and paracetamol
• Loperamide (Imodium) and ORS sachets
• Broad-spectrum antibiotic, discuss with your travel doctor
• Antiseptic, blister plasters (Compeed), micropore tape
• Personal prescriptions for the whole trip, in original packaging

The small things that change the trip

• Small gifts for hosts, chocolate, a pen, postcards from home. Children love them.
• Cash USD for backup (clean notes, post-2017 series).
• Photocopies of passport and visa, separate from the originals.
• Earplugs and eye mask for early mornings and mosque calls.
• A book. Mountain evenings are long and offline.

Leave at home

• Hard-shell wheeled suitcases (porter and 4WD reality)
• Shorts for men outside the mountains
• Loud athleisure colours (you will stand out enough already)
• Drones, satellite phones (regulated, we provide on treks)
• Anything you'd be devastated to lose to dust