Packing for kids on a Northern Areas trip means planning around long drives, temperature swings and limited shops once you're past the last big town, more than it means packing more of everything. The essentials are layered clothing, enough snacks and any regular medicine to need nothing from a shop for several days, something to keep a bored child occupied on a five-hour drive, and, if you have a car seat at home, bringing it with you rather than assuming one will be provided.
This list is specifically about what to pack; for how to plan the drives, naps and pacing themselves, see our guides to taking toddlers on the road, planning a family trip and our general travel guide.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Car seats | Not legally required in Pakistan and not supplied by rental cars; bring your own |
| Clothing | Layers for a valley-to-pass temperature swing, same principle as for adults |
| Medicine | A week's worth of anything regular, plus common paediatric basics |
| Snacks | Enough for a full day in the car, since shop choice narrows past main towns |
| Entertainment | Downloaded, offline options; signal drops for long stretches |
Car seats and safety
There is no legal requirement in Pakistan for child car seats or passenger seatbelts, and hired vehicles, whether a private car with driver or a jeep for a mountain stretch, will not supply one. If your child normally travels in a car seat or booster at home, bring it. It is bulky, but it is the single biggest safety upgrade you can make for hours of mountain road each day, and you cannot rely on finding one locally.
If bringing a full seat isn't practical, a portable inflatable booster or travel harness designed for aeroplane and car use is a reasonable compromise for an older toddler or young child, though it is not a substitute for a proper seat for an infant.
Clothing
Pack for the same temperature swing adults face, scaled down: valley towns can be warm by day and cold once the sun drops, and any pass or high viewpoint on the itinerary will be colder still.
- Layers, not one heavy coat: a base layer, a fleece or light insulated layer, and a windproof outer layer
- A warm hat and gloves, even for a summer trip, for early mornings and any high altitude stop
- Comfortable closed shoes, since paths are often stony or dusty rather than paved
- Extra changes of clothes, more than you'd pack at home, for the inevitable spill, mud or car sickness
- Sun hat and sunglasses, since the sun at altitude is stronger than it feels
Medicine and first aid
Bring more than you think you'll need, since pharmacies thin out fast once you leave Gilgit, Skardu or the main Kaghan and Swat towns, and a specific children's formulation may not be stocked in a small-town shop.
- Any regular prescription medicine, packed for a few extra days beyond your planned return in case of delay
- Children's paracetamol or ibuprofen, for fever, headache or the mild discomfort that can come with altitude
- Oral rehydration salts, useful for both car sickness and any stomach upset
- Motion sickness remedies suited to your child's age, taken before a long or winding drive rather than after symptoms start
- Plasters, antiseptic and insect repellent, for the ordinary bumps and bites of an active trip
- A thermometer, small and easy to pack, useful for judging whether a headache or tiredness at altitude needs attention
Read our guide to altitude sickness in the Northern Areas for how it presents in children specifically and when to turn back or descend.
Snacks and food for the road
Long driving days are normal here, and food options along the way can be limited to a roadside dhaba rather than anything a young child will eat easily.
- Familiar snacks from home, since local shops may not stock what your child usually eats
- Something for each hour of a long drive, rather than one packet for the whole day
- A refillable water bottle, topped up whenever you stop, since bottled water isn't always available at every roadside stop
- Wet wipes and hand sanitiser, more of both than seems necessary
Keeping children occupied
Mobile signal drops for long stretches on mountain roads, so anything that needs a live connection won't work when you need it most.
- Download shows, games or audiobooks before you leave any town with reliable Wi-Fi
- A few small, low-mess toys or books, rather than anything with a lot of loose pieces
- A window seat and simple games (spotting animals, counting bridges) work surprisingly well on the more dramatic stretches of road
- A travel pillow and blanket, useful for naps on longer legs and doubling as extra warmth at a cold stop
Frequently asked questions
Are car seats required by law in Pakistan?
No. There is no nationwide legal requirement for child car seats or passenger seatbelts, and none will be provided by a hired car or driver. Bring your own if your child uses one at home.
What medicine should I pack for a child on a mountain road trip?
A supply of any regular prescription, children's paracetamol or ibuprofen, oral rehydration salts, and an age-appropriate motion sickness remedy, since pharmacy choice narrows quickly outside the main towns.
How do I keep a child entertained on a long mountain drive?
Download shows, games or audiobooks before you lose signal, pack a few low-mess toys, and expect a window seat and simple spotting games to do more work than any screen once the scenery gets dramatic.
Will local shops have baby food, formula or nappies?
Choice is limited outside Gilgit, Skardu and the larger Kaghan and Swat towns. Bring what you need for the whole trip rather than planning to restock along the way.
