Visit Peshawar

The city of saints: blue-tiled Sufi shrines and the hottest summers in the subcontinent.

The world's largest car-free old city.

Alexander the Great's easternmost city, the Panjshanbe bazaar and the Syr Darya river.

Visit Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan. Explore the Lahore Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Mughal-era palaces and gardens), see the Badshahi Mosque (one of the largest mosques in the world, built in the 17th century), stroll through the Walled City (historic old town with bustling bazaars like Anarkali), and sample local dishes like nihari and halwa puri at Food Street.

Visit Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic hub. Explore the historic Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum (white marble tomb of Pakistan's founder), wander through the bustling Empress Market (Victorian-era market with diverse food and goods), and relax at Clifton Beach (popular seaside promenade with camel rides and food stalls).

The base for K2 and the Baltoro expeditions, cold desert dunes and Shangrila lake.

The Hunza valley capital under Rakaposhi, the Baltit fort and apricot orchards on the Karakoram Highway.

Hokkaido's southern port: the night view from Mount Hakodate, red-brick warehouses and the morning fish market.