TORONTO — With Pakistan emerging as one of 2025’s hottest destinations, G Adventures is introducing its first trips to the country, giving travellers the chance to explore its landscapes, trails and villages while directly benefiting local communities.

Two of the new itineraries fall under G Adventures’ Active travel style and revolve around the historic Thallay La Trail. Once a vital link between the ancient kingdoms of Khaplu and Shigar, the trail was essential for trade and survival. However, modern roads have made the route largely obsolete, leaving many communities isolated and without a sustainable source of income. With only a handful of hikers venturing onto the trail each year, G Adventures aims to reinvigorate the region through responsible tourism.

The new tours will create a lasting impact by providing villagers in the Thallay Valley with economic opportunities. Local residents will take on roles as porters, chefs and guides, allowing them to earn supplemental income while sharing their culture and traditions with travellers. Participants will gain unique insight into local life while trekking through dramatic mountain passes, past glaciers, and across meadows where yaks and goats graze.

Beyond the trek, travellers will stay in historic forts and castles that have been transformed into hotels to drive economic development in Khaplu and Shigar. This combination of cultural immersion and adventure ensures guests experience the region much as traders once did, while still enjoying modern comforts.

“While travel to Pakistan is increasing, many regions and communities remain overlooked. Our goal when launching in a new destination is always to put local people at the heart of our product development,” said Yves Marceau, vice-president of product at G Adventures. “We want to ensure tourism income reaches those who need it most while offering meaningful cultural exchanges. The Baltistan region, near the border with Ladakh in India, sees few foreign tourists aside from K2 climbers. The travel season here is short, so we’ve designed these tours to have a maximum positive impact within that time frame.”

For younger adventurers, G Adventures is also launching a new 18-to-Thirtysomethings tour that explores Pakistan’s hidden regions without the longer hiking days of the Thallay La Trail. This itinerary includes street food experiences at women-owned stalls in Lahore, a hike up Miranjani Peak, visits to glacial valleys, and a traditional lunch with a local family in Hunza.

The three new Pakistan tours include:

• Pakistan: Lahore & Hiking the Karakoram Mountains (11 days) – This adventure travels from Islamabad to Lahore, passing through the Baltistan mountains and the Thallay La Trail. Travellers will embark on challenging treks, take in serene glacier views and stay in the historic Shigar Fort. The journey concludes with a visit to Islamabad’s truck art workshops and a tour of Lahore’s walled city. Priced from $3,899 per person, departures from July 1, 2025.
• Pakistan: Hike the Karakoram Mountains (9 days) – Focused on Islamabad and the Thallay La Trail, this tour features steep ascents and a sunrise summit of Thallay La Mountain. After days of hiking and camping, guests will enjoy a luxurious stay at Shigar Fort before exploring Islamabad’s vibrant street food scene. Priced from $3,399 per person, departures from July 1, 2025.
• Pakistan: Karakoram Highway, Local Eats & Village Life (13 days) – Designed for travellers aged 18 to 39, this itinerary combines light hiking with cultural experiences. Highlights include a trek across the Passu Glacier, a visit to the Korgah Carpet Centre (a female-led social enterprise in Hunza), and family-hosted meals in mountain villages. Priced from $1,999 per person, departures from June 21, 2025.

G Adventures’ new Pakistan trips are available for booking now. For more details, visit www.gadventures.com.