For millions of individuals who live in the cities, the night sky consists of little more than gray smog lit up by the artificial lights of the city. However, much farther away from the pollution of city lights lies a sky full of stars and other celestial bodies waiting to be viewed by someone.

Pakistan has quickly become one of the best places for astrotourism around the world. Thanks to its large amount of high-altitude plateaus, deserts, and remote mountain valleys with Bortle Class 1 and 2 dark skies (the cleanest skies in the entire world), visitors will be able to see the core of the Milky Way, nebulae, and shooting stars with their bare eyes.

If you wish to leave all your electronic devices behind and look up at the stars again, then these are the top 5 dark sky destinations in Pakistan for you.

The Rise of Astrotourism and Dark Sky Travel

Astrotourism is one of the quickest-growing categories of adventure tourism worldwide. Instead of basing trips on daylight tours alone, astro-tourists organize trips that depend on lunar phases, meteor showers, and cosmic events.

Due to its special geographical makeup, Pakistan provides a remarkable edge to night sky watchers. The northern high altitudes help watchers get past the layers of air pollution in the sky while the southern deserts offer clean and flat horizons that have zero levels of artificial light pollution. With astronomical societies and specialized tour agencies organizing star watches and deep sky telescope camps, stargazing in Pakistan has become a travel phenomenon. To make these remote destinations reachable, National Planners, one of the best travel companies in Pakistan, develops customized itineraries that offer quick responsiveness, a safe environment, and personalized tours for tourists to visit these dark sky destinations smoothly.

Deosai National Park – The Land of Giants

Located at an average altitude of 4,114 meters (13,497 feet) above the sea level, the Deosai National Park of Gilgit-Baltistan is among the highest alpine plateaus of the world. Located in the territory of Skardu and Astore districts, this plateau with its vast alpine landscape and rivers is regarded as Asia’s premier dark skies preserve.

In Deosai during nights, the lack of city lights coupled with the thinness of high altitude air causes such a detailed sky that it almost feels like a three-dimensional night sky. By the lake of Sheosar, one is able to see the Milky Way galaxy arching over their heads in reflection on the water surface. This happens in summer season (from July till September) when tourists visit the national park for camping. Organization of a camping trip in such high altitudes necessitates professional planning; one can make contact with National Planners through info@nptravels.pk or via phone on +92 320 4522222.

Katpana Cold Desert – Stars Over Sand Dunes

The Katpana Desert, which is also referred to as Cold Desert and lies adjacent to Skardu, forms a unique geographical wonder that comprises sand dunes in high altitudes surrounded by snowy peaks of the Karakoram range.

Staying in Katpana at night, when there is no Moon out in the sky, provides a unique scenario for amateur astrophotography enthusiasts. The whitish, ruffled sand dunes reflect the ambient light of millions of stars in the sky, forming a strange world where one can see the yellow desert contrasting with the dark night sky filled with star clusters. Katpana lies close to Skardu and also remains protected from the light pollution because of the hills around it.

Hingol National Park & Bela (Taqwa Observatory)

You don’t have to make your way to the northern part of Pakistan to witness beautiful night skies. In the southern part of Pakistan in the Makran Coastal Highway region of Baluchistan province, Hingol National Park and the adjoining wild interiors around Bela offer some of the darkest night skies in South Asia.

Around Bela is where you will find the Taqwa Space Observatory, which is located in an area that is ranked at the top on the Bortle Dark Sky Scale as a Class 1 sky, the best possible ranking for night skies for astronomy. The spectacular eroded rock formations found at Hingol like the Sphinx and the Princess of Hope serve as excellent foregrounds for night sky photography. To organize tailor-made trips for groups to the dark skies of Balochistan’s coast area with clear rates and excellent communication, contact National Planners through their site at www.nptravels.pk.

Gorakh Hill Station – Night Sky Above Sindh

For people living in Karachi and Hyderabad looking for an escape where they can view stars at the weekend, Gorakh Hill Station comes up as an excellent place situated at a higher altitude far above the southern plain lands. Situated at an altitude of over 5,680 feet in the Kirthar Mountains, Gorakh is popularly known as the “Murree of Sindh.”

Since this hill station remains far from big industrial hubs, the summit of Gorakh Hill Station enjoys 360-degree views of the horizon. Once the night falls, the temperature becomes very cool resulting in stable atmospheric conditions perfect for stargazing with the help of binoculars and telescopes. It would be quite enjoyable sitting around the fire on the ridge watching stars spread out all the way to the Arabian coastline.

Shimshal Valley – High Altitude Astro Sanctuary

For the experienced adventure traveler seeking complete isolation, the Shimshal Valley in the Upper Hunza region is the final frontier. Also known as the valley of mountaineers, Shimshal is accessible through a breathtaking jeep track, which winds through steep river gorges into a remote and high-altitude village close to the Chinese border.

Since it is isolated geographically, Shimshal has very little light pollution. Because of its great height and dry mountain atmosphere, there is no atmospheric shimmer in Shimshal, which makes the stars clear and luminous. Spending time in the high meadows of Shimshal Pamir in the company of clear skies makes one realize the magnitude of isolation in the true sense, with the stillness of the Karakoram wilderness matched by that of the celestial bodies above.

Essential Gear & Tips for Astrophotography

To document the splendor of the universe, there is a need for both special equipment, planning, and patience. What you will need to make your trip successful is:

Travel During the New Moon Period: Always consult the lunar calendar before making your travel arrangements. The optimal conditions for observing the night sky occur during the new moon period (or within three days of the new moon), when the moonlight does not spoil the dim glow of the Milky Way core.
Solid Tripod and Wide-Angle Lens: In case of astrophotography, the stability is crucial. A solid tripod protects the camera from any possible movement due to wind during 15-20 second-long exposures. Match the camera with a fast wide-angle lens (f/2.8 or faster) for the maximum light intake.
Red Light LED Headlamp: The conventional white light flashlight spoils your night vision adaptation that takes up to half an hour to occur again after such exposure. A headlamp with red light mode will allow you to move around your camp without hindering your observation.
Cold Weather Sleep Gear: Temperatures of deserts and mountains drop quickly after sunset. Make sure you have thermal clothing, an insulated down jacket, and a sleeping bag for sub-zero temperatures.

Plan Your Dark Sky Expedition

Looking forward to watching the Milky Way rise above the Deosai high plateau region or photographing deep space objects from Balochistan? Connect with us today for booking your slot at our upcoming Dark Sky Astro-camp!

Company Name: National Planners
Email: info@nptravels.pk
Contact Number / WhatsApp: +92 320 4522222
Website: www.nptravels.pk
Location: Lahore, Pakistan

Astrotourism in Pakistan: Top 5 Dark Sky Stargazing Destinations!