Ramadan, Eid and Public Holidays: How They Affect Travel in Pakistan
Religious and national holidays shape travel in Pakistan. Ramadan changes daily rhythms, the two Eid holidays send large numbers of domestic travellers to the mountains, and Muharram brings processions and occasional security measures in some areas. None of these stops a trip, but knowing the dates helps you plan smoother journeys and avoid surprises.
This guide explains each holiday, gives projected dates for 2027 and suggests how to plan around them. Islamic holiday dates depend on the sighting of the moon, so the dates below are estimates that are confirmed only shortly beforehand.
Why the Islamic holidays move
Islamic religious holidays follow the lunar calendar, which is about eleven days shorter than the solar year. That means each holiday falls roughly eleven days earlier every year, moving gradually through the seasons. Over the next few years, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr fall in late winter and early spring, and Eid al-Adha in late spring.
Ramadan
Ramadan is the month of fasting, when most Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. In 2027, Ramadan is projected to begin on about 8 February and end around 9 March. Daily life continues, but working hours are shorter, many restaurants close during daylight and reopen at sunset for iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, and roads can be busy just before sunset as people hurry home.
Travel during Ramadan is entirely possible. Hotels serve their guests, and many visitors find the evening atmosphere a highlight. Be discreet: avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight. In 2027 Ramadan overlaps the start of the spring blossom season; our cherry blossom tour is published for mid to late March, around the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is projected for about 9 or 10 March 2027. Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, is projected for about 16 or 17 May 2027. Each brings a public holiday of several days, during which offices close and families travel.
For visitors, the main effect is demand. Domestic tourists head north during the Eid holidays, so hotels in Hunza, Skardu and Naran fill up, domestic flights are busy and roads such as the route over the Babusar Pass can be congested. If your trip overlaps Eid, plan accommodation and flights early, and expect some shops and offices to be closed for a few days.
Muharram and Ashura
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic year. Its tenth day, Ashura, is a day of mourning observed with processions, particularly in Shia communities, which form a large part of the population in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan such as Skardu and Nagar. In 2027 Ashura is projected for mid-June. On the main days of Muharram, roads in some towns may close for processions, markets may shut, and the authorities sometimes suspend mobile phone services in sensitive areas as a security measure. Your guide will plan routes and timings around them.
National and regional holidays
Public holidays are announced each year and can change, so check the official list for the year of your trip.
- 5 February: Kashmir Solidarity Day.
- 23 March: Pakistan Day.
- 1 May: Labour Day.
- 14 August: Independence Day, with flags, celebrations and busy roads to the hill stations.
- 1 November: Gilgit-Baltistan's own Independence Day, celebrated in the region.
- 9 November: Iqbal Day.
- 25 December: Quaid-e-Azam Day, the birthday of the country's founder.
Summer holidays and the domestic season
Schools in much of Pakistan close for summer holidays, and families escape the heat of the plains by travelling north. Summer is therefore busy in the most popular valleys, especially Naran, Kaghan, Hunza and Skardu, and particularly at weekends and around Independence Day. That is also the main season for treks and high routes; our guide to Pakistan in summer describes it. Early booking matters more in summer than at any other time.
Festivals worth planning around
Some festivals are reasons to travel rather than to avoid. The Kalash valleys hold three festivals a year, in May, August and December, which our Kalash festival tour is built around, and the Shandur polo festival takes place on the high Shandur Pass in summer; see our Shandur polo festival tour and our guide to festivals in Pakistan.
2027 at a glance
Projected dates for Islamic holidays are estimates based on astronomical calculation and are confirmed by moon sighting shortly before each one.
- February: Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5 February; Ramadan projected to begin around 8 February.
- March: Eid al-Fitr projected around 9 or 10 March; Pakistan Day on 23 March; blossom season in the northern valleys.
- May: Labour Day on 1 May; Eid al-Adha projected around 16 or 17 May; the Kalash spring festival in mid-May.
- June: Muharram begins in early June, with Ashura projected for mid-June; school summer holidays begin in much of the country.
- July and August: peak domestic travel in the mountains; Independence Day on 14 August.
- November: Gilgit-Baltistan Independence Day on 1 November and Iqbal Day on 9 November.
- December: the Kalash winter festival and Quaid-e-Azam Day on 25 December.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a good idea to travel to Pakistan during Ramadan?
Yes, with a little discretion. Hotels serve guests, sights stay open and the evenings are lively. Avoid eating and drinking in public during daylight and expect shorter office hours.
When is Eid in 2027?
Eid al-Fitr is projected for about 9 or 10 March 2027 and Eid al-Adha for about 16 or 17 May 2027. Final dates depend on the moon sighting and are confirmed shortly beforehand.
Will Eid affect my trek?
Treks themselves are little affected, but flights, hotels and roads around the trek can be busier during the holidays. Plan bookings early.
Why are mobile phones sometimes switched off during Muharram?
Authorities sometimes suspend mobile services in specific areas on the main days of Muharram as a security measure. Plan to be out of contact for a day or two if your trip overlaps.
Which months are quietest for travel in the north?
Outside the summer holidays and Eid, spring and autumn are generally calmer. Our guides to Pakistan in spring and Pakistan in autumn describe those seasons.
Choose your dates with us
Tell us when you are thinking of travelling and we will flag any holidays that affect your plans. See our guide to the best time for each trip or contact us through the enquiry form.