With the tourism industry showing promising growth, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has secured a spot on CNN’s list of the top 25 must-visit destinations for 2025.
In an article published on Wednesday, CNN Travel highlighted, “The Gilgit-Baltistan region in the Karakoram Mountains isn’t the easiest place to reach – flights can be unpredictable, and roads are often seasonally blocked – but it boasts more breathtaking peaks than a lemon meringue pie.”
The report emphasized GB’s mountaineering significance, stating, “It’s home to five of the 14 ‘eight-thousander’ peaks, including K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain and the most challenging and perilous to climb.”
CNN Travel also described hiking in GB as a matchless adventure, noting, “It makes the Himalayas feel like a stroll in Central Park.” However, the report warned that solo travel in the region is “not an option.”
Famous for its awe-inspiring landscapes and adventure tourism, GB attracts thousands of local and international visitors annually for trekking, paragliding, and mountain expeditions.
The region’s growing appeal is evident in the rising number of climbers seeking permits. In 2024, over 1,700 foreign adventure tourists applied for permits for various expeditions, with 175 attempting to conquer the formidable K2 during the summer, according to a senior government official.
Deputy Secretary of the GB Tourism Department, Sajid Hussain, previously revealed that adventure tourism in the region is experiencing a significant boom.
