Wild Frontiers

Flight Information

Flight time to Islamabad from London is 7:45hrs with Pakistan International Airways. Please be aware that this is not a daily service and the best alternatives are usually Emirates via Dubai or Etihad via Abu Dhabi.

Useful Tips

• Carry a bandana - the dust in the jeeps can be a nuisance

• Make sure you take a torch - power cuts happen

• Don’t drink too much Kalash wine - you WILL suffer!

• Carry something warm over the Shandur Pass - it can snow even in July

• If travelling by jeep ask the driver to take the roof off - you'll see a lot more

• Don't visit Lahore museum on the first Wednesday of the month - it'll be closed

Recommended Reading

If you want to read up on your destination we recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Odyssey Guides, The Rough Guide and Footprint Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the areas you visit.

Good books and maps of Pakistan are available at Stanfords in Covent Garden, London or online at www.stanfords.co.uk

Relevant Reading:
The first to mention is the utterly riveting, The Great Game, by Peter Hopkirk. Chronicling the extraordinary history of the region " from Genghis Khan through to the Bolsheviks " it is a wonderfully readable book, focusing primarily on the wars, alliances and intrigues caused by the imperial rivalry of Britain and Russia during the 19th Century. In our opinion this is an absolute must for anyone visiting the area.

A more recent book by Greg Mortenson " 3 Cups of Tea; One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time, highlights a mountaineer’s love for the parts of Pakistan that we visit.

Other interesting books on the region include: Kafirs of the Hindu Kush, George Robertson; A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush, Eric Newby; Full Tilt and Where the Indus is Young, Dervla Murphy; Kim, Plain Tales from the Hills, and The Man Who Would Be King, Rudyard Kipling; To The Frontier, Geoffrey Moorhouse; Danziger’s Travels, Nick Danziger; The Gilgit Game and Where Man and Mountains Meet, John Keays; Every Rock, Every Hill, Victoria Schofield, and last, but certainly not least, For a Pagan Song, by our very own Jonny Bealby.

When To Go

The weather conditions can be extremely varied. In the mountains of Pakistan, where you will often be travelling at heights of up to 3,000 metres, even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter; at the same time the temperature in Islamabad could be nudging 40 degrees. Generally though, outside of the months of June and July you should largely be OK.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Pakistan With your booking confirmation you will receive a packing list specific to your tour, so please treat this as a general guideline only.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.

On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with. However there is a need to be conservative when in towns and cities.
Therefore as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long.
• 2/3 pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear dresses and skirts.
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• Good quality fleece or warm jumper
• Warm jacket
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm Hat
• Gloves
• Sun hat or cap plus
• Women should have a scarf for their heads
• Pair of walking shoes/boots
• Pair of recreational shoes, adventure sandals, trainers or pumps

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Sleeping bag liner (cotton or silk)
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Plug adapter (see ‘Electricity’ section)
• Torch (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Flip flops/sandals for bathrooms
• A bandanna or large handkerchief is useful for dusty tracks
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle

Personal First Aid Kit:
While we do carry a large medical kit on all our group tours, we would still advise that you take some of the basics with you. This should include:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Malaria Tablets (if necessary)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers

(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Sleeping bag (2-3 seasons) should you wish to visit Jonny’s hideaway in the Kalash.
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
• Down jacket for those cold evenings
• Trekking poles
• Lyons coffee bags if you cannot survive without ‘proper’ coffee.
NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Money - Currency:
The currency in Pakistan is the Pakistani Rupee.

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

A few points to help you plan:
Payments are mainly made in cash.
Only the few large hotels and banks accept credit cards and Travellers Cheques so they are basically useless.
If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel.
It is strongly recommended you travel with US dollars or Pounds Sterling in cash.
On arrival you will be able to change money into the relevant currency and your tour leader can help you arrange this.

NB " please do not change more than you think you will need as in some cases you will not be able to change it back into hard currency.

Time:
Pakistan is 5hrs ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Electricity:
If using a camera with film we suggest photographers bring plenty of rolls. Those bringing video & digital cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a two-pin, continental style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug.

Food and Alcohol:
As an Islamic republic almost all alcohol is banned in Pakistan. Murray beer and whisky are available to non-Muslims at a few hotels but to be honest it’s hardly worth drinking. In the past customs used to confiscate any bottles they found tourists bringing into the country but in the last few years this has been eased and so long as one is subtle " no Johnnie Walker duty free bags, please! " you can bring in whatever you want. And a sundowner while at the Eagles Nest is very satisfying indeed. So if you want a good quality tipple, then bring it with you. Our local friends are also much appreciative if you have some to share!

The food in Pakistan is akin to that of its neighbouring country India. With many flavoursome dishes, it is an ideal location for vegetarians. That said, chicken and mutton are available for those that like their meat.

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can be catered for; however on some occasions the type of food may be limited. Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible so we can make any arrangements to cater for your needs.