December

December

December is the start of winter, and the best places to visit in Pakistan in December are the mild south, from Karachi to Hingol National Park, the Kalash valleys for the Chaumos winter festival and the snowy north for travellers who enjoy the cold. Adventure Planners arranges December trips with local drivers and warm stays.

Pakistan in December at a glance

December splits the country by climate. Karachi has sunny days in the mid-20s Celsius and cool nights, while the Punjab plains often sit under thick fog that can close the motorway after dusk and delay night flights into Lahore. In the north, Hunza and Skardu are well below freezing at night and the high passes are under snow.

Best places to visit in Pakistan in December

  • Hingol National Park: the cool, dry season on the Makran coast. Our 8 Days Balochistan Hingol National Park Tour runs in December.
  • Karachi: the best weather of the year for the city, its markets and Clifton beach.
  • Lahore and Islamabad: cool days for museums, mosques and old bazaars, with late starts on foggy mornings.
  • Mohenjo-daro: winter is the right time for the Indus Valley ruins near Larkana.
  • Malam Jabba: the ski season opens in December, although early-season snow is not guaranteed.
  • Northern Pakistan in December: Hunza is reachable along the Karakoram Highway, and Skardu by road or by flights that run in clear weather. Expect snow, frozen streams and very few visitors.

Chaumos festival in the Kalash valleys

Chaumos is the most important festival of the Kalash, held for about two weeks around the winter solstice once the harvest has been stored. The first week is kept for the Kalash community; the public days, with music, dancing and sacrifices, follow in the second half of December. Chitral can be reached all winter through the Lowari Tunnel, opened in 2017. Guests are welcome at the public days, but ask before taking photographs and follow the lead of your Kalash hosts.

December travel tips

  • Fog: we avoid night drives on Punjab motorways and allow extra time for flights.
  • Balochistan: foreign visitors to Hingol may need a Balochistan NOC, which we can arrange.
  • Mountain stays: many seasonal guesthouses close for winter, so we book hotels with reliable heating.
  • Packing: thermals and a down jacket for the north, light clothes for Karachi.

Plan your December trip

Tell us your dates and we will suggest a winter route that fits them. For more options, see November and January, or read about the Kalash valleys.