Renting camping gear in Pakistan means choosing between two different things: a standalone tent, sleeping bag and stove hired from a shop or online rental listing before you travel, or gear bundled into a guided camping trip once you're in the mountains. This guide covers both, what to check on rented gear, and when it's worth buying instead.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where to rent before travelling | Outdoor equipment shops and rental listings in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore |
| Where gear comes bundled | Guided camping packages in Gilgit, Skardu and around Fairy Meadows |
| What to rent | Tent, sleeping bag rated for the season, sleeping mat, stove |
| Book ahead by | At least a week in peak season (June to August) |
| Deposit | Common on rented gear; check the terms before you pay |
Renting before you travel
In Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore, camping and trekking equipment shops sell tents, sleeping bags, mats and stoves, and some also rent gear out for a set number of days; ask directly when you call, since not every outdoor shop offers rental alongside sales. Online rental listings and classifieds sites also carry tents and sleeping bags for hire in these cities, typically for a daily rate, though availability and price vary a lot from one listing to the next, so confirm the actual condition of the gear and the deposit before you commit.
Renting in a city before you travel makes sense if you're driving north yourself and have room in the car, and it means you can check zips, poles and the stove properly before you leave rather than discovering a problem at altitude.
Gear bundled into a guided trip
In Gilgit-Baltistan, most camping happens as part of a guided package rather than a standalone tent rental: operators running trips around Skardu, Deosai and the trek to Fairy Meadows commonly include tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipment as part of the price, with a guide or porter who sets everything up and knows the specific site. This is the more common route for anyone not bringing their own gear, since it avoids carrying rented equipment on a long road trip or a jeep track, and the operator is responsible for maintaining it.
If you're doing the trek to Fairy Meadows or a night out on Deosai, ask exactly what's included before you book: whether the sleeping bag is rated for the season and altitude, whether mats are provided, and whether the price covers food as well as the gear itself. Our Fairy Meadows guide has more on what a typical trip there involves.
What to check on any rented tent or sleeping bag
- The sleeping bag's temperature rating, not just its size. A bag rated for a mild city night is not warm enough for Deosai or a high camp near Fairy Meadows, where temperatures drop well below freezing even in summer.
- The tent's waterproofing and zips. Ask when it was last used and check the seams if you can see the gear before paying, since a leaking tent is a much bigger problem in the mountains than at a weekend campsite near a city.
- Whether a stove and fuel canister are included, and what type of fuel it takes, since not every canister is available to buy locally once you're north.
- The deposit and what happens to it if gear comes back damaged versus normally worn, in writing if you're renting from an individual rather than an established shop.
Renting versus buying
For a single trip, renting is cheaper and avoids storing gear you might use once a year. If you expect to camp in Pakistan's mountains more than a couple of times, buying your own sleeping bag in particular is usually worth it, since a well-rated bag matched to your own comfort and the altitude you're heading to matters more for a good night's sleep than almost anything else in your kit. Tents and stoves are easier to keep renting or borrowing, since condition and fit matter less.
Is renting gear the right call for your trip?
If your trip is built around a guided camping package, such as a Skardu and Deosai itinerary or the Fairy Meadows trek, let the operator's included gear do the work and spend your energy confirming it's warm and dry enough rather than sourcing your own. If you're planning an independent trip and driving yourself, renting a tent and stove from a city shop before you leave, and checking it properly, is the more practical route than buying gear for a single trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to rent camping gear or buy it?
Renting is cheaper for a single trip. If you expect to camp more than once or twice, buying a properly rated sleeping bag usually pays for itself and gives you gear you know works for your own comfort.
Do guided camping trips in Skardu or Fairy Meadows include tents and sleeping bags?
Most do, as part of the package price, but confirm exactly what's included and whether the sleeping bags are warm enough for the altitude before you book.
What temperature rating should a sleeping bag have for camping in the northern areas?
It depends on the season and altitude, but a bag rated well below freezing is a safer choice for high camps such as Deosai or near Fairy Meadows, even in summer, since nights there drop sharply once the sun goes down.
Can I find fuel canisters for a rented stove once I'm in the north?
Not reliably in smaller towns. Check what fuel type the stove needs and buy or bring enough for the whole trip rather than assuming you can restock along the way.
Should I rent gear in Islamabad or wait until I'm in Gilgit or Skardu?
If your trip is self-organised, rent or buy before you travel, since dedicated standalone gear rental is limited once you're in Gilgit-Baltistan. If you're on a guided camping trip, the operator will normally supply the gear itself.
