Today’s the day, today’s the day, yes, it’s the day to answer the big question everyone on and offline has been asking me for so long: Is Pakistan safe for women travelers?
Undoubtedly, Pakistan is an incredibly beautiful country full of rich history and stunning natural beauty. It’s home to some of Asia’s most fascinating ancient civilizations and the world’s most hospitable people, making it an incredible travel destination. However, as a woman, there’s no way to get around the big elephant in the room when crafting travel plans to Pakistan: Is Pakistan safe for women travelers?
The hesitance female travelers may feel about traveling to Pakistan doesn’t come out of nowhere: on top of having a very conservative culture that draws strong distinctions between what men can do and what women can do (hint: not a lot for the latter), Pakistan has been plagued by instability up until recently. Compared to other destinations around the world, relatively few people tend to visit Pakistan, most of whom are men. Or couples. Or group tours. Therefore, there isn’t all too much information out there about what it’s like to travel to Pakistan independently as a woman and whether Pakistan is safe for women travelers. And that’s where some first-hand information is needed.
For this reason, I decided to talk about my first-hand experience of traveling to Pakistan as a woman. I recently spent half a year traveling and living in Pakistan as a young foreign woman, during which I experienced all kinds of ups and downs. I spent most of my time living with a local family, but I also went on some epic trips with my boyfriend, foreign friends, local friends, foreign groups, local groups, and even alone, thanks to which I hope I’ll be able to share my experience from a diverse point of view.
While the main purpose of this post is to objectively answer the question ‘Is Pakistan safe for female travelers?’, there are also so many emotions and untold stories that I hope to let out in this post. I’m not only trying to give out accurate information but also share with you some of the cute, funny, strange, and sad anecdotes that I accumulated after half a year of living and traveling in one of the world’s most patriarchal societies as a young foreign woman.
So grab your popcorn and a glass of milk, because some of these stories are going to be SPICY!
*DISCLAIMER: All advice and statements in this post are solely based on my personal observations and may not be the case for everyone. My goal is not to generalize an entire country but to make educated predictions based on my own and others’ experiences.*
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Is Pakistan Safe For Tourists?
Decades of negative media portrayal have created the image of Pakistan as a dangerous destination for tourists. It’s no lie that the country has gone through some bad times and up until a few years back, traveling to Pakistan wasn’t as advisable. But what about now? Is Pakistan safe for tourists? Let’s take a look:
Terrorism/kidnapping
The absolute nightmare of every traveler. Fortunately, the risk has decreased significantly after some major cleaning up over the past couple of years and in most parts of the country, the risk of anything of this sort happening to tourists is extremely low. Even former problem zones such as the Swat Valley are now very safe to visit and have transformed into popular tourist destinations. The only regions where there’s still some potential for instability, such as Balochistan and the area around the LOC in Kashmir, are very restricted and foreigners are not allowed to visit without special permission.
Petty crime
It’s undeniable that poverty is a problem in Pakistan and wherever there’s poverty, there’s crime. That being said, petty crime such as pickpocketing does exist in Pakistan, however, I found it to be less of a problem than in many other countries I’ve visited. Just take the regular precautions such as keeping your belongings close to your body in crowded places and not excessively flashing wealth and you’ll be fine!
Local laws
Well, they have to be respected! But no worries, there’s nothing too crazy to be aware of and no, you won’t get stoned to death for anything. Just be a responsible traveler and don’t engage in activities that you know are illegal.
So, in short, the answer is YES, Pakistan is safe for tourists.
Is Pakistan Safe For Women Travelers?
Ok, so the main concern may be out of the way, but what about female safety? Is Pakistan safe for women travelers?
This question is more complex than the prior one, but in general, Pakistan is safe for women travelers, especially when traveling with a group, tour guide, local friend, husband, or any other male companion. The rule of thumb is, as long as you have a male “guardian” with you, you don’t have to fear anything. Everyone will treat you with respect and nobody will dare to come too close to you.
Of course, there’ll still be some restrictions. Depending on your companions, they might not want to take you to certain places that are labeled “male-only places” or let you participate in “male-only activities”. Such places may include anything from goat markets to barbershops and the activities I’m talking about can range from sitting on the roof of a bus to dancing in public. I think the reason behind this has more to do with social norms than safety concerns if you aren’t alone. And of course, dressing and behaving modestly is a must at all times.
So, is Pakistan safe for women travelers? Yes, but there are things to keep in mind.
Not sure what clothes to bring to Pakistan? Find out in this complete Pakistan packing list!
Is Pakistan Safe For Solo Female Travelers?
Now this is where it gets tricky. Is Pakistan safe for solo female travelers?
To say right off the bat, solo female travel in Pakistan isn’t impossible, unlike what most locals will want to make you believe. However, it’s anything but easy and there a lot of things women must keep in mind before venturing off onto a solo trip to Pakistan. Here are my first-hand observations:
Although still rare, solo female travel is becoming increasingly popular among upper-middle-class women in Pakistan. These women are breaking deeply anchored social norms and oftentimes like to share their happy adventures on social media. However, there’s one difference between us and them: they are locals. They have spent their entire lives in the country and know the local culture very well. They know how most men think, what’s considered appropriate or not, and what situations to avoid at all costs. And this is something that no book can teach you. You must have spent some significant time in the country with locals in order to really understand the culture well enough to reduce negative experiences to the minimum.
Read more: Top 10 Taxi Safety Tips For Solo Female Travelers
The Challenges Of Solo Female Travel In Pakistan
But what exactly are those negative experiences I’m talking about? They include mostly sexual harassment. Unfortunately, sexual harassment is almost unavoidable when traveling alone in Pakistan as a woman. Mild forms include street harassment, such as cat-calling, men casually “bumping” into you or searching your proximity in crowded places, or the infamous selfies where men oftentimes touch you way more than they should. More worrisome forms of harassment may include men following you down the street or uncomfortable experiences when spending time alone with men. And unlike in some other places I’ve been to, dressing modestly and covering your hair won’t prevent these things from happening. Unfortunately, many men see women simply being alone as an open invitation to do whatever they want.
Another challenge that solo female travelers face in Pakistan is the lack of tourism infrastructure. I’ve talked to women with extensive solo travel experience and they all agreed that Pakistan is difficult on another level. Whether it’s getting around outside of the big cities or dealing with the bureaucracy, there are many things that are difficult to figure out without local support.
Therefore, the best advice I can give to women who wish to travel alone to Pakistan is: make local friends beforehand who can host you and show you around or hire a reputable tour guide (more on that later). This will make your experience 100 x easier, safer, and more fun!
Tips & Resources For Solo Female Travelers In Pakistan
Tips and connections are invaluable for travelers but in few situations are they as important as for solo female travelers in Pakistan. Here are some tips and resources that all solo female travelers should know before coming to Pakistan.
Tips:
- Dress and act modestly – chances are you’ll already attract enough attention by roaming around alone, so you really wouldn’t want any more of it. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in, be it western clothes or traditional wear, but make sure your clothing covers your legs, chest, and shoulders, bonus points if it’s loose-fitting. Covering your hair is optional but I always do it. Avoid talking too loudly and dancing in public, even if performers invite you to a dance.
- Avoid crowded places – women are more likely to get harassed in crowded places. Unfortunately, crowded markets and events are usually the most interesting places to visit. So instead of skipping those experiences, I recommend visiting together with a trusted local friend.
- Don’t be too friendly – to men. Women and families are usually no concern but men tend to interpret even the smallest gestures such as smiles as invitations to do anything. Be polite and respectful but keep your interactions brief and don’t accept invitations from single men.
- Say ‘No’ to selfies – again, this only applies to men. I’m used to having a lot of people ask me for selfies in countries such as China or the Philippines and I usually say yes, but in Pakistan it’s different. Most men get wayyy too close and will attract one guy after another. I’ve had plenty of negative experiences with this, so I only take photos with women or families now.
- Join girls trips – one of the best ways to travel Pakistan as a woman is accompanied by other women. Not only will experienced and knowledgeable group leaders keep you safe from all dangers, but girls trips are also an incredible opportunity to experience another side of Pakistan and have a ton of fun. Plus, you’ll make amazing new friends!
Resources:
- Couchsurfing – the number one platform for any independent traveler in Pakistan. I know of women who got to visit some of the most remote parts of Pakistan and always felt safe thanks to the generosity of local couchsurfers. The Pakistani community is amazing and full of helpful and open-minded people from all parts of the country. But as always, it’s important to read the references (reviews) about a specific person before meeting up in real life.
- Facebook groups – did you know that the world’s biggest social media platform is full of amazing travel groups? Check out the Female Pakistan Travelers and Girls Trippin’ groups to seek Pakistan travel advice from women for women and find female travel buddies. For general solo female travel tips, join the Solo Female Travelers group, and the Every Passport Stamp group for visa and immigration questions.
- Female-owned tour companies – such as She Travels Pakistan. These companies frequently organize all-female tours across Pakistan and know how to fulfill the needs of women. Plus, you’re supporting women entrepreneurs!
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to me via Instagram!
What It’s Like To Travel To Pakistan As A Woman
After answering some of the questions I frequently get about traveling to Pakistan as a woman, it’s time to share my personal experiences of traveling and living with a local family in Pakistan as a woman for half a year. There have been so many feelings I never had the chance to properly express about this topic, so what I’m writing here truly comes from the bottom of my heart.
Read more: Celebrating Eid Al-Adha In Pakistan: My Eye-Opening Experience
The Culture Shock
When I arrived in Pakistan for the first time in December 2019, there were many things that were different from what I had been used to seeing. The most shocking difference however was the stark contrast that the society seemed to draw between men and women. My first visit was very brief and I didn’t notice much until my mom commented under my photos taken at a local bazaar:
“Is this a men’s market?”
At first, I was very confused about her comment, but during my next very long and extensive visit, I started to think more about its meaning. While the sprawling high-end restaurants and shopping malls of the wealthy urban neighborhoods are frequented by women – that is with their families, in groups, or alone – alongside men, this wasn’t always the case in other parts of the country. In many places, I would only see men with a few families sprinkled in between, but never groups of women or women alone.
When I asked why it was like this, I was told that “good women stay inside” and that many jobs that people work on the street are “only for men”. This was a real culture shock for me because I had never heard about such restrictions in my home country. But in the end, it was just like any other cultural difference for me that wouldn’t affect me personally – I thought.
Another thing I noticed was the widespread segregation of the genders. For example, while most modern restaurants looked just like anywhere else in the world, I saw that the more traditional restaurants were segregated by gender: one general dining hall, and one special dining hall for women, or “family hall”. The same went for many other places and activities. The gym that I went to had special opening hours for women alongside its regular times, and I kept getting ads for ‘girls only’ trips to the northern areas.
At first, this segregation seemed superfluous to me. Why would I want to go to the gym at specific times just to be around girls? Or pay double the price just to join a ‘girls only’ tour? Throughout my life, I just never felt the need to be only around women. I went to school with boys, participated in the same sports as boys, and some of my best friends were boys, so why should I exclude them? Turns out there was so much for me to learn about Pakistani culture and the longer I stayed, the more of my questions were answered.
The Restrictions
My first few weeks in Pakistan were pretty laid-back. It was in the middle of July, so temperatures were hot and I was told that people usually stay inside during daytime. I spent most of my days in my room with my newly adopted kitten, working on school assignments and my blog. Tired of being confined to the same four walls all day, I asked my boyfriend if I could join him on his daily errands, such as going to the barbershop. He turned around and told me it was impossible, because barbershops are “male-only places” and there’s no place nearby where women could wait. I tried to argue that I always waited in the corner when my dad went to the barbershop, but my boyfriend just replied: “This is Pakistan. I know this place better than you.”
A few weeks later, I couldn’t resist the urge to explore more of the beautiful city I was in but at the same time, I didn’t want to bother asking people who had lived in Lahore all their lives to show me around, so I decided to do what I always do: venture out by myself. However, whenever I voiced my desire to go out alone, people looked at me as if a snake had bitten me. “No, you can’t go out by yourself because this is Pakistan,” my boyfriend would always say. I thought it was him being close-minded. but the picture became more clear when his female friends got angry for letting me take a taxi by myself and told me they wouldn’t even walk in the nearby park on their own. “If my little brother doesn’t want to accompany me for a walk in the park, I just walk in circles inside the house,” one girl told me.
The perhaps biggest struggle was when I had gotten invited for a two-week tour the northern areas and my host family didn’t want to let me go on the last day because “if anything happens to you, it will be our responsibility for letting you go by yourself”. It took me a lot of effort to eventually join this fun and safe tour where I made plenty of amazing friends.
But even on this trip, which was designed for foreign tourists, there was no day without being confronted with the gender differences. One day, our group was taking a public van from Skardu to the Shigar Valley when some of the guys decided to follow the locals and climb on the roof of the van. Full of excitement, we girls (me and a friend from Poland) wanted to climb up as well when our tour operator quickly intervened and told us to get back inside. My friend got angry and asked if it was because we were girls, to which our tour operator replied: “Well, yes. Trust me, I’ve lived in Europe for years and know it’s different over there, but here in Pakistan, there are certain things that girls just can’t do because otherwise, bad things will happen to you.” He was talking about sexual harassment, which later on the same day we did eventually experience, during the one minute our tour operator wasn’t paying attention.
There are plenty more of these stories that I simply don’t have the time or energy to type out, but the pattern is clear: Women aren’t allowed to go to X place or participate in X activity because it’s consider “male-only” by society and if women break these norms, they risk harassment. The woman’s family feels responsible for any harm that is done to her, so they will reinforce these social standards by not allowing her to go to X place or participate in X activity.
The Privilege
Experiencing these restrictions as someone who never did before is a strange feeling that I’d probably compare to a slap in the face more than anything else. Being told I can’t do something fun because I was born a women made me feel shocked, angry, but most of all sad at the same time. But that’s when I remembered that the reason I’m so shocked at these things is because I grew up in a place where things are different. And that also means that I can return to that place whenever I want. If the restrictions ever get too much for me, I can just book a flight, grab my passport, and go back to my country. Most women who live with these restrictions don’t have such an easy way out.
But after all, I didn’t. I decided to stay in Pakistan for as long as my visa allowed me because for me personally, the positives outweighed the negatives. Sometimes I even enjoyed it when shop assistants came running after me to carry my bags because I was a woman or when the entire traffic stopped for us women to cross the street. I came to the realization that these gender differences are deeply ingrained in Pakistani society. Many local women fight against it and challenge these norms on a daily basis and my support is fully with them. But in the end, I’m just a guest from foreign lands. I have no right to enforce my ideals onto the country that I’m visiting. I have two choices, either to respect the local customs or to leave, and I realize that this choice is a huge privilege.
Traveling In Pakistan Vs. Living In Pakistan
However, one question that kept bugging me during my entire time in Pakistan was: “How come these foreign women on Instagram can do all these cool and fun things while I’m stuck at home and told ‘women can’t do that?'”
The answer is, they are ‘just’ traveling. Many tour companies, guides, and couchsurfers nowadays try to create the most memorable experiences for foreign travelers who spend only a couple of weeks in the country, including women travelers. It’s their job to enrich tourists with fun experiences and at the same time they are aware that the same social rules won’t apply to short-term visitors. Everybody knows that these foreigners are only there for a short time, might do a few ‘crazy’ things here and there, but in the end nobody really cares.
The story is a completely different one if you ‘live’ with a private family. The family is judged at every step for what they do in private and whoever stays in their home. The family will live according to their own customs and values and some will be less open-minded than others. And of course, there’s a huge difference between a casual friend who might visit every now and then and their son’s possible marriage prospect. *cough cough*
That being said, if all you plan to do is travel in Pakistan for tourism purposes, you might only have to deal with half of the restrictions that I faced (and 1/10th of what a local girl might face), especially if you travel with authorized tour guides or do couchsurfing. You’ll be guaranteed to have a wonderful time and won’t have to worry too much. However, if you get invited to a local family, it’s crucial that above everything, you respect their customs, whatever they may be. This is especially important if you’ve taken some interest in their son *wink wink*.
Explore Pakistan With Me
Has this piqued your interest? I hope these articles will help you make the best out of your time in Pakistan:
- 10 Awesome Things To Do In Islamabad In A Day
- Top 12 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Karachi
- Full Itinerary For An Incredible Balochistan Day Trip From Karachi
- Hunza Valley: A Full Guide To Pakistan’s Jewel Of The North
- Fairy Meadows And Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek: Everything You Need To Know
- A Complete Travel Guide To Skardu
- The Ultimate Guide To Naran, Pakistan
Conclusion
Pakistan is a beautiful and unique country that everyone who wishes to should have the chance to visit, and that includes women travelers. Overall, Pakistan is safe for women travelers, especially when accompanied by trusted men, however, special caution is required for women who wish to visit solo. There are many things to keep in mind and women should also be mentally prepared for the gender divide they will experience in Pakistan. But if you’ve read through this entire post and think you’re ready for it, then it’s time to pack your bags because wonderful adventures are awaiting you in Pakistan!
Have you traveled to Pakistan as a woman? How did you feel? Let me know in the comments below!
This such a complete article ! All the information is there, I think I can say that you answered every concern. I’ve been looking for such articles for a while and I’ve never seen one as good as yours ! You are truly skilled and this article is so interesting and inclusive.
I learnt many important things and will definitely be applying your tips when I get the chance to travel Pakistan. As a woman I still have some worries since you mentioned several bad experiences… but I hope that someone *wink wink* will be around to provide me with a wonderful experience of this country, just like you had.
Now I’m heading off to read all of your articles about Pakistan and more 🙂
Much love x
Thanks a lot for all this praise! I’m beyond excited to hear that my articles are useful and I hope I was able to answer all your questions!
This blog is very insightful. You write that you don’t want to type all the incidents that happen to you. I’m actually interested in them. If you have time, you should do it.
As for segregation of the genders, can you believe that it never really schocked me when I traveled? And now I’m so used to it after traveing to countries where it’s common.
Last but not least, “the good women stay at home” thing is also common in North-Africa and the Middle East.
What an interesting insight, I can imagine there are quite some cultural similarities between Pakistan and MENA countries. But since Pakistan was the first of such countries that I visited, it gave me the biggest cultural shock as someone who traveled and lived mostly in Europe, East Asia, and the Americas.
And thanks for the idea, I might perhaps write a separate post about more of these incidents in the future 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Such an interesting read!
Thank you!
Woosh! This was such a detailed post!! I’ve never thought about Pakistan as a holiday destination an definitely not solo either. It’s really interesting to read the obstacles and the culture shock like a male only market!? Never heard of that before but yeah this post is a MUST READ for anyone thinking of visiting Pakistan!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yeah, it was the biggest culture shock I’ve ever experienced!
So interesting to learn about travelling in Pakistan as a woman! Good to know you should take a man with you as well so you aren’t bothered.
Yes, that’s the number one advice for all female travelers 🙂
Very interesting. Pakistan certainly fascinates me, but I wouldn’t attempt exploring it on my own. I spent a few years in China back when foreigners were considered almost as tourist attractions but that interest was driven mostly by curiosity. It was a nuisance, especially in the touristy places, but it was harmless. Not sure I’d like to try this in a conservative Muslim country as a solo female traveler. It was interesting to read your reflections on it.
Yes, my classmates and I certainly had many such experiences when we were living in China. Luckily, none of us was ever sexually harassed but of course, caution is advised at all times.
What a gorgeous post – I’m so envious of your photos! This looks like an incredible trip, I found all of the info you presented very interesting. So, men will just come up and ask to take photos with you? Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! Yes, it’s very common for people in Pakistan to ask for selfies with foreign tourists. Unfortunately, this can easily get quite uncomfortable for women, so caution is advised.
I grew up in a conservative Muslim family in a quite rural part of Malaysia, and although it wasn’t as bad as what you experienced in Pakistan, I’m already familiar with the gender gap and disadvantages of living as a woman. It took me a long time to eventually break free from the shackle of patriarchy, but it was not without repercussions, some of which I’m still experiencing today. So, I’m not sure I would feel comfortable visiting a country that puts me back in a place that I worked so hard to escape from. I would still love to see Pakistan someday, but maybe not in the near future. Nevertheless, I admire your courage and willingness to respect other cultures. All the best for your future travels.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It’s true that how we grew up greatly affects our experiences as travelers and you should only do what you feel comfortable with. But if you do decide to visit Pakistan someday, I’d be beyond happy to hear about your experience. It’s a beautiful country.
Assalamu Alikum Ummi Nadrah , Most well come to Pakistan. Pakistan is safe for all tourist and we warmly well come international tourist and give our best hospitality. i am a local tour guide from north pakistan if you are interested. let me known please. Thanks
thank you for sharing such an important information
regards: Al Ajr Travel