Venturing to Pakistan often prompts concerns and questions of "why" from others, a reaction that Josh Kohler notes is fueled by "years of negative media coverage of this region of the world". This negative coverage has "blinded" people's assumptions, keeping them unaware of the reality of the country. Determined to discover the truth for himself, Josh Kohler and his friends decided to spend a few weeks exploring Pakistan, ultimately finding a nation defined by authentic culture, profound friendliness, and landscapes that stretch from chaotic cities to the soaring Himalayas.
The group's adventure began in Lahore, a city Josh Kohler immediately described as "wild" and "hectic," filled with tuk- tuk and bikes. Despite the chaos, the defining feature was the people: "everyone's so friendly here," smiling, and seemingly "super happy". Josh Kohler experienced a deeply authentic visit, noting they had not seen "a single other tourist in 2 days," which added to the cultural immersion. He described Lahore as "easily the most like crazy place I've ever been" and "just incredible".
Leaving the intensity of the city, Josh Kohler and his companions headed for the Himalayas, catching a flight that was anticipated to be "one of the most beautiful flights in the world". The flight lived up to the hype, described as "absolutely incredible," flying through the mountains and bending around valleys, with scenery that was "stunning".!
Pakistan - It's not what I imagined!
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The exploration of Northern Pakistan commenced at Doctor Rijal National Park, situated at roughly 4,000 meters up, a location that reminded Josh Kohler of the Scottish Highlands. Despite the heat of the sun at 3,400 meters during their hike, the high altitude brought unpredictable weather, including "half hell half snow". The group embarked on a hike to a viewpoint atop a mountain, a strenuous climb that collectively took four hours and about 30 stops, but Josh Kohler affirmed it was "definitely worth it for this View".
The journey to Fairy Meadows was particularly challenging, requiring travel along a route described as "the most dangerous highway in the world" and "the second deadliest Road in the whole world". During the ascent, Josh Kohler and his friends encountered a landslide that had occurred only two days prior, forcing them to exit their Jeep and walk past the debris to meet a different vehicle. Further up, they met another landslide where a bridge had collapsed, forcing them to cross a waterfall area to reach a third Jeep. After a full day of traveling—five hours in a mini-bus, three hours along the dangerous highway, and three hours of horseback riding—they finally reached Fairy Meadows, where they stayed in a small hut and were treated to an incredible view as the "Sun's just rising up on the Peaks". From Fairy Meadows, they embarked on an eight-hour hike to the base camp of Nanga Parbat, the ninth tallest mountain in the world, which looms over 8,000 meters high. Nanga Parbat is known as "Killer Mountain" because "many people died in front of this mountain". Reaching the first-ever base camp was exhausting but rewarding, though Josh Kohler admitted he was "shattered" after returning.
The trip continued to showcase the country's diverse appeal, including visiting an "insane road" framed by the mountains called Passu Cones, which Josh Kohler called "truly stunning", and attending a highly energetic local football match. Ultimately, the experience provided Josh Kohler and his friends with a powerful counter-narrative, proving Pakistan to be a destination that offers overwhelming cultural authenticity and awe-inspiring natural beauty, challenging the preconceived notions held by many outsiders.
