Saidpur Village

Tours to Saidpur usually start in Islamabad in the morning. Walk around the village with your guide, if you have one, as they explain all about the 500 years of history of this village, and how religion influenced it. There are shops and galleries to purchase antiques, pottery, and other locally made wares if you like. You could also do some rock climbing or soak in the hot springs, followed by lunch at one of the village’s restaurants.

• Make sure to dress conservatively to respect local culture.

• If you’re there in the summer, be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Note that the village is not wheelchair accessible.

It’s best to either join a tour that takes you straight from your hotel in Islamabad, or hail a taxi. If you take the taxi option, then negotiate for your driver to stay for however long you plan to be there. You can spend anywhere from an hour to a half a day in the village, depending on which activities you want to do, or if you want to stay for lunch.

Try to get here in the morning, so you can tour for a few hours and then have a bite of Pakistani food before returning to the big city. You’ll see more tourists in the summer, since there are school holidays and the weather is warm. Islamabad winters are cold, so if you visit then, bundle up.

There’s a lot to delight food lovers in Pakistan, and carnivores have it made, since many meals revolve around meat. Often a large spread is shared around the table, including kabobs, a flatbread like roti or chapati, plus some lentils, vegetables, and often a side of a yogurt and herbs. Make sure to wash this down with plenty of tea.