While Murree and the northern areas are under snow, the south of Pakistan is at its most pleasant. December to February is winter's warm season along the Makran coast, in the Thar desert and around Mohenjo-daro and Cholistan, with daytime temperatures typically in the low-to-mid twenties Celsius and nights that only turn properly cold well after dark.
These are also the only months to visit most of these places at all. The same desert and coastal plains that are mild in winter are close to unbearable by May.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Best months | December to February |
| Makran coast (Gwadar area) | Days around 24°C, nights rarely below 12°C |
| Thar desert (Tharparkar) | Days around 25-28°C, nights can drop to single figures |
| Mohenjo-daro | Days around 20-27°C, cooler mornings |
| Cholistan | Warm days, cold desert nights; best around the February jeep rally |
| From Karachi to Gwadar | About 653 km, 7-10 hours by the Makran Coastal Highway |
The Makran coast
Gwadar and the string of fishing towns along the Makran Coastal Highway (Ormara, Pasni, Jiwani) have Pakistan's mildest winter climate. The sea keeps temperatures even: January's average is around 18-19°C, and December days sit in the mid-20s, with December and January also the wettest months of the year, though rainfall is still light.
The drive from Karachi along the N-10 coastal highway is fully paved and runs about 653 km to Gwadar, doable in 7 hours non-stop but usually spread over two or three days to stop at beaches such as Kund Malir and Hingol National Park along the way, with its mud volcanoes and the Princess of Hope rock formation.
A safety note. The Makran coast is in Balochistan, and the UK government's Pakistan travel advice currently advises against all travel to the whole province, including this stretch of coast. Pakistani visitors travel the coastal highway regularly and it is a well-established route, but check current local advice and road conditions before you go, and know that a foreign government's advice against travel can affect your travel insurance if you hold a foreign passport.
The Thar desert (Tharparkar)
Tharparkar, in the far southeast of Sindh, is Pakistan's true desert winter destination: rolling sand dunes, mustard fields after the winter rains, and villages of round mud huts around Mithi, Islamkot and Nagarparkar. January is the coldest month, with lows around 13°C in Mithi and daytime highs comfortably in the 20s, a contrast to the 40°C-plus heat the district sees from April onward.
Nagarparkar, at the desert's eastern edge below the Karoonjhar hills, sits close to the border with India; stay well clear of the border itself and travel with a local guide who knows the area, as is normal practice here. The rest of the Tharparkar circuit is open, ordinary domestic travel.
Mohenjo-daro and the Indus plain
Mohenjo-daro, the 4,500-year-old Indus Valley city near Larkana, is at its best from November to February, when daytime temperatures run from the low twenties to around 27°C rather than the 45°C-plus of summer. The ruins and site museum reward two to three hours of walking, and there is little shade, so a winter morning visit beats the midday sun even in the cool season.
Cholistan desert
Cholistan, stretching south from Bahawalpur in Punjab, is a working desert of dunes, forts and, in winter, a proper event calendar. Derawar Fort is the anchor sight, and the Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally, organised by the Punjab government, is usually held in early to mid-February; the most recent edition ran from 11 to 15 February 2026 across Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan. Days are pleasantly warm and nights in the open desert are genuinely cold, so pack for both.
Planning a warm-weather trip
Combine one coastal or desert leg with a short stay in Karachi or Lahore rather than trying to cover Makran, Thar and Cholistan in one trip: they are far apart and a comfortable Karachi-Gwadar-Karachi loop or a Sindh-desert loop (Karachi, Mohenjo-daro, Tharparkar) each work better as their own trip. Our travel guide has more on getting around Pakistan by road at different times of year.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Pakistan is warmest in December and January?
The Makran coast around Gwadar has the mildest winter climate in the country, staying in the low-to-mid twenties by day and rarely below 12°C at night, because the sea moderates the temperature.
Is the Thar desert cold at night in winter?
Yes. Daytime highs are comfortable, around the mid-20s, but January nights in Tharparkar can fall to around 13°C or lower, so pack warm layers for the evening even on a warm-day trip.
Is it safe to drive the Makran Coastal Highway to Gwadar?
The highway itself is a well-used, paved domestic route, but it runs through Balochistan, which the UK government currently advises against all travel to. Check current local advice, travel in daylight, and be aware that foreign passport holders may find this affects their travel insurance.
When is the best time to visit Mohenjo-daro?
November to February, when temperatures are in the low-to-mid twenties rather than the summer's 40°C-plus heat, and a morning visit avoids the little shade the site offers.
