Pakistan's national parks range from a high alpine plateau at over 4,000 metres to a desert coastline on the Arabian Sea, and each one needs a different season, vehicle and amount of planning to visit properly. Deosai and Khunjerab are the two most visited, both in Gilgit-Baltistan and both built into standard northern itineraries. Machiara, Hingol and Lal Suhanra see far fewer visitors but are worth knowing about for what each protects.
This guide covers access, entry fees where they're verifiable, and the best season for each.
| National park | Location | Area | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deosai | Skardu/Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan | 358,400 hectares | June–September |
| Khunjerab | Upper Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan | Around 226,900 hectares | June–September |
| Machiara | Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir | 33,437 hectares | April–October |
| Hingol | Makran coast, Balochistan | About 6,100 sq km | November–March |
| Lal Suhanra | Bahawalpur, Punjab | About 658 sq km | November–March |
Deosai National Park: the world's second highest plateau
Deosai sits between Skardu and Astore at an average elevation of around 4,100 metres, rising to over 5,000 metres at its edges, and is regularly described as the world's second highest plateau after Tibet. It was established as a national park in 1993 specifically to protect the Himalayan brown bear, and the open, treeless plain also supports golden marmots and, in summer, carpets of wildflowers.
The plateau is only accessible from roughly June to September; snow closes it completely the rest of the year. It's reachable by jeep or a sturdy 4x4 from either Skardu or Astore, and our Skardu and Deosai Plains tour builds a night on the plateau into a wider Baltistan itinerary. Our Skardu guide and Deosai National Park guide cover the town and the plateau in more depth.
Khunjerab National Park: the road to the China border
Khunjerab, at the top of the Karakoram Highway in upper Hunza, was established on 29 April 1975, principally to protect the Marco Polo sheep, and covers roughly 226,900 hectares along the Pakistan–China border. Most visitors see it as a drive-through on the way to Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 metres, rather than a destination in its own right, with golden marmots the animal you're most likely to actually see from the road.
The park is open to visitors from roughly May into November, weather permitting, and closed by snow in winter. Our nine-day Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour includes the drive up.
Machiara National Park: Neelum Valley's forest reserve
Machiara, established in 1996 and covering 33,437 hectares in the lower Neelum Valley of Muzaffarabad district, protects Western Himalayan broadleaf and coniferous forest that's rare elsewhere in Azad Kashmir, along with markhor and a range of pheasant species. It sees far fewer visitors than Deosai or Khunjerab, partly because it isn't on the way to anywhere else and partly because it needs more effort to arrange a proper visit, typically through the wildlife department rather than a standard tour.
Most of Neelum Valley currently falls within an area the UK government advises against travelling to, given its position close to the Line of Control, and the valley also saw serious unrest and long internet shutdowns during protests in Azad Kashmir in mid-2026. Pakistani visitors continue to travel there; check current local advice before planning a visit to Machiara specifically, since access can depend on the same conditions.
Hingol National Park: desert, coast and mud volcanoes
Hingol, declared a national park in 1988 and covering about 6,100 square kilometres across the Gwadar, Lasbela and Awaran districts of Balochistan, is the largest national park in Pakistan by a wide margin. It combines coastal cliffs and beaches along the Arabian Sea with inland desert, mud volcanoes and the Hingol River, and is best visited between November and March, when the coastal heat of summer has eased.
It sits on the Makran Coastal Highway between Karachi and Gwadar, and Pakistani families make the drive from Karachi regularly, often paired with a stop at Kund Malir beach. The whole of Balochistan currently falls within an area the UK government advises against travelling to; check current security advice before planning a visit, and travel in daylight. Our Hingol National Park guide has more on the route and what's inside the park.
Lal Suhanra National Park: desert, forest and wetland together
Lal Suhanra, established in 1972 near Bahawalpur in Punjab, was the first site in Pakistan to be designated a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve, in 1977. It covers about 658 square kilometres and is unusual for combining three distinct habitats in one protected area: irrigated forest plantation, open desert and wetland lakes, with blackbuck and hog deer among the animals reintroduced there.
Being in the Punjab plains rather than the mountains, Lal Suhanra is accessible year-round by a normal car, though the cooler months from November to March are far more comfortable for a visit than the peak of summer.
Fees, permits and what to expect on arrival
Entry fees at Pakistan's national parks change often enough that a number printed today may be wrong within a season. Deosai and Khunjerab both charge a park entry fee, paid in cash at the checkpoint on the way in — for Khunjerab, at Dih — with separate rates for Pakistani and foreign visitors that have moved several times in recent years. Bring more cash than you expect to need and pay whatever is currently posted.
None of these parks require an advance permit for Pakistani citizens. Foreign nationals should check current requirements before travelling, particularly for Machiara and Hingol, where local security conditions can affect access as much as park rules do.
Which national park should you visit?
If you're already planning a Skardu or Hunza trip, Deosai and Khunjerab are easy additions and among the most rewarding landscapes in the country. If you want a national park as the main purpose of a trip rather than a stop along the way, Hingol offers the most dramatic and least crowded scenery, provided you've checked the current security picture for Balochistan first. Lal Suhanra is the most accessible for anyone based in central Punjab and needing a straightforward day out. Machiara suits a specialist wildlife visit more than a general holiday, and is the one on this list to plan with the most current local information.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most visited national park in Pakistan?
Deosai and Khunjerab, both in Gilgit-Baltistan, see the most visitors by far, mainly because both sit on well-established tourist routes through Skardu and Hunza.
What is the best time to visit Deosai National Park?
June to September. The plateau is under snow and closed to visitors the rest of the year.
Do I need a permit to visit Khunjerab National Park?
Pakistani visitors need only their CNIC; foreign nationals need a passport with a valid Pakistani visa. Everyone pays the park entry fee in cash at the Dih checkpoint.
Is Hingol National Park safe to visit?
Pakistani families visit regularly, often combined with Kund Malir beach on a drive from Karachi. The whole of Balochistan currently falls within an area the UK government advises against travelling to, so check current security advice before you go.
Which national park is easiest to reach without a 4x4?
Lal Suhanra, near Bahawalpur, is reachable by a normal car on paved roads year-round. Khunjerab is also drivable in a normal car in summer, since the Karakoram Highway is paved throughout the park.