British travel vlogger Isaac Elam recently shared what he really thinks about travelling in Pakistan and India while answering questions from his Instagram followers in a special YouTube Q&A video.
Isaac admitted that before visiting Pakistan he was nervous because of what he had always heard about the country.
“I think that’s mostly because of the news and the western media,” he said. “A lot of friends and family were actually worried and nervous about me coming over. When you’re shown things like terrorism and danger, of course they say don’t go.”
Isaac did not let the fear stop him. He explored Islamabad, Lahore and the breathtaking northern areas, calling it one of the best trips of his life.
“Pakistan is actually one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to,” he said. “I can now quite easily say I’ve recommended Pakistan to every single one of my friends and family. Even family that were scared and nervous about me going now want to visit.”
“I have never experienced hospitality like Pakistan. The taxi drivers refused my money. Restaurants did not want to take money from me. People were so kind, so gentle and generous. That’s something we don’t have back home,” Isaac shared.
One of the questions he was asked was about comparing Pakistan to India. Isaac spent six weeks in India before his Pakistan trip and did not hold back his thoughts.
“Before I visited, I thought India and Pakistan were very similar. But they are not. They are absolutely nothing alike,” he stated firmly.
He described landing in Delhi as an intense and overwhelming experience. Emphasising that he meant no disrespect, he said, “Delhi is very dirty, smells a lot and everyone’s trying to rip you off. It’s quite a busy place to land for the first time and you really need to be prepared.”
On the other hand, Islamabad left him shocked.
“Islamabad is so clean, so quiet and everybody is very gentle. No one’s trying to get money off you. It is peaceful and a really nice introduction to the country,” he said.
Talking about scams, he shared a brutal truth about India. “In India there are a lot of scams. It just seems part of the culture that people are trying to take your money. In Pakistan, maybe a shopkeeper hikes the price a bit but people try to give you things for free. You won’t ever get a free taxi in India. But in Pakistan, it happens.”
Isaac praised both countries for their natural beauty but said Pakistan’s north took the top spot for him.
“The flight into Skardu is unbelievable. You can see K2 out your window. There is a cold desert, rivers, mountains and Fairy Meadows is truly heaven on earth,” he stated with a smile.
He did face one cultural reality check when he wore shorts and a t-shirt in a small northern village and locals reminded him to respect the local customs. Isaac said it was a good lesson in being mindful as a traveler.
In his Q&A, Isaac also spoke about using his voice when he and his friends discovered that a hotel (Lexus Hunza) was allegedly dumping sewage into Lake Attabad.
“This has not changed my opinion on Pakistan at all. Pakistan is an incredible place. Some things just need to be fixed. I am glad we could use our platform in a positive way to speak up,” he said.
Western media tried to keep him away but now Isaac says Pakistan is on top of his list for travelers in 2025.
“If I could, I would take a flight tomorrow,” he said. “Pakistan is one of the best countries I have ever traveled to, potentially number one. The people, the places, the hospitality, it is unmatched. I want to show the world how incredible the Pakistani people are.”
