- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotels in Pakistan
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Useful details
- Perfect travel to Pakistan
Pakistan can hardly be called a popular tourist destination among Russian travelers, but on a global scale, the Islamic republic enjoys a well-deserved popularity, despite the precarious political situation. Firstly, Muslim pilgrims go on a trip to Pakistan, and secondly, fans of ancient civilizations and historical architectural monuments.
Important points
- Russian citizens need a visa to travel to Pakistan. The entry document is drawn up at the diplomatic mission of the Islamic republic, located in Moscow. Travelers will have to present not only air tickets, a passport and an invitation from a travel company, but also a detailed description of the upcoming route. Private travel must be accompanied by an invitation from the host, certified by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. The price of a visa with a single entry opportunity is $ 120, "multivisa" will cost $ 300.
- When crossing the border of Pakistan, it is advisable to avoid Jewish paraphernalia in clothing.
- It is strictly forbidden to bring alcohol into the country.
- Be sure to take out health insurance before traveling to Pakistan and, ideally, get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Choosing wings
The main international airports of Pakistan, from where most of the tourist routes begin, are located in Islamabad and Karachi:
- The capital of the country can be reached from Moscow on the wings of the ubiquitous Turkish Airlines. The flight will take approximately 9 hours, excluding the connection in Istanbul. The ticket price is about $ 600.
- Emirates also fly to Islamabad. With a transfer in Dubai, you can keep within $ 650. The travel time between the Russian and Pakistani capitals in this case will be about 8.5 hours without taking into account the duration of the docking.
- Air Arabia and Flydubai fly from Moscow to the largest city and cultural capital of the country, Karachi. Docking is carried out in both cases in Dubai, the journey will take about 7 hours, and the cost of the flight will result in at least $ 500.
Hotels in Pakistan
The hotel base of the Islamic Republic is quite diverse and in large cities there are hotels of the most different levels. Fives are represented by well-known chains like Marriott. Prices per day in such hotels correspond to world standards and amount to $ 200-250. To services of guests - free Wi-Fi, parking, fitness center, spa, classic continental breakfast buffet and a huge selection of food and drinks in the hotel restaurants.
The price of a day in a 4 * hotel in the capital of Pakistan starts from $ 50. It offers parking, internet and airport transfers, and air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom.
Inexpensive hotels in the capital of Pakistan are hotels without stars on the facades, but equipped with air conditioning and private bathrooms and offering Wi-Fi, parking, food and drinks delivery to the rooms. The cost of living in such hotels does not exceed $ 25-$ 30 per double room per day.
In Karachi, the situation is similar and for a night in a Marriott hotel you will have to pay up to $ 300, and for a double room in an inexpensive hostel-type hotel, the owners will ask for about $ 30.
Transport subtleties
Between the cities of Pakistan, the most convenient and safest way to travel is by local airlines. If you have a very short journey, use the services of a licensed taxi, which, at your request, will be ordered by the hotel receptionist.
Car traffic on the roads of Pakistan is left-hand, and therefore, when renting a car, it should be borne in mind that the steering wheel will be on the right. The driving style of Pakistanis is not very correct, especially in large cities. Some of the road signs are duplicated in English, but in the provinces this rule is not always followed.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
If you are not used to eating in expensive Michelin-starred restaurants, Pakistan will seem like a very pleasant country from the point of view of a gourmet. Firstly, all local dishes are very tasty and satisfying, and secondly, the average bill for a dinner for two with a portion of hot and snacks in a Pakistani restaurant is unlikely to exceed $ 10.
Pakistani fast food is even cheaper and consists of lamb or poultry dishes cooked over charcoal or clay ovens. The meat is wrapped in a flat cake and served with rice and herbs. Typical fast food can also be found at McDonald's. A hamburger will cost $ 2, and a full meal will cost $ 5.
Various oriental sweets are also popular in the country. Sherbets and biscuits, cakes and halva - a portion will cost only $ 0.5-1 $ on street stalls.
Most shops and some restaurants, even in tourist areas, are closed on Friday and Saturday in Pakistan. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.
Useful details
- Save your receipt for your handmade rugs or antiques. They will have to be presented at customs when leaving Pakistan.
- When exploring the ancient city of Mohenjo Daro, book a hotel in nearby Karachi. In the very pearl of ancient architecture, protected among other masterpieces of the UNESCO World Heritage List, the tourist infrastructure is practically absent.
- Carry a photocopy of your passport and visa page with you. This will avoid unnecessary problems with the police. The original documents should be kept in the hotel safe.
- When checking into guesthouses or budget hotels, do not hesitate to bargain. This will help reduce the price significantly.
- Bargaining is appropriate in markets and souvenir shops. However, you should "knock down" the price politely and benevolently, without offending the seller or entering into conflict with him.
Perfect travel to Pakistan
The Islamic Republic is located in several climatic zones. The dry and continental climate in the center of the country ensures a clear change of seasons with hot summers. In the mountains, frosts occur in winter down to –20 ° С, and on the coast of the Arabian Sea, the thermometers rise in July to + 35 ° С and + 28 ° С in air and water, respectively.
The beach season in Pakistan begins in March and ends in late autumn, but the most comfortable period for a vacation on the Arabian Sea lasts from March to May.
