Everyone loves going on a vacation, and getting married provides the best excuse in the form of a honeymoon.

A majority of newly-wed couples in Pakistan cannot afford to splurge on a trip abroad. Luckily for them, they do not really need to.

However, despite the abundance of breathtaking vistas -- from snow-clad mountains in the north to the pristine beaches of the southern coast -- the tourism industry in Pakistan is still in its nascent stage. While a shaky security situation has scared off foreign tourists, local tourists prop up tourism in the country. Amongst these, honeymooners form the most reliable customer base.

Budget constraints are the main reason for vacationing within the country. For the price of a single ticket to any European country, a couple can stay at one of Pakistan’s northern retreats for a week. Retreat is, perhaps, too fancy a word for the simple accommodation and recreational opportunities at most of these beautiful locales. According to some young couples, that rustic environment is the main charm, making them feel like brave adventurers discovering new lands.

Nadeem Mumtaz from the tour organisers, Adventurer Treks and Tours, says "the country’s scenic northern areas are the first preference for almost all couples".

For decades, the small hill station of Murree, once the British government’s summer capital of Punjab, has been the most popular tourist destination in the country. Its past, as a retreat planned by the British colonial government, has provided Murree with an infrastructural edge over other tourist spots in Pakistan’s north. Lined by hotels and souvenir shops on both sides, the Mall road is Murree’s main tourist attraction.

Located at an altitude of 2,300 m above sea level, Murree’s chilly weather and lush green surroundings have always attracted tourists from the plains. Its proximity to the twin cities is an added bonus for visitors. Another reason for Murree’s popularity as a honeymoon destination for Pakistanis is its relative inexpensiveness.

Voicing an organiser’s point of view, Mumtaz says, "We hardly receive any requests to arrange a trip to Murree as it is cheaper for couples to organise it themselves. The expressway connecting Islamabad to Murree has made it much easier for couples travelling on their own."

Bhurban and the Galiyaat surrounding Murree are another popular choice for couples. Unlike Murree, the hamlets of Donga, Ghora, Changla, and Nathia Gali are still comparatively less commercialized, and boast of tranquility and quiet amidst a setting of pine trees. The cable car and chair lift at Patriata and Ayubia draw a sizeable number of tourists during the summer, when newly-married couples dressed in fancy clothes can be seen waiting in long lines that snake around food stalls.

Minahil Humayun, a 26-year-old from Lahore who got married recently, explains their decision to stay at a hotel in Murree and make day trips to the surrounding areas in order to avoid the higher hotel rates offered in the Galiyaat.

"Room rates at the best hotels and rest houses in Murree are almost half that of those at the (slightly elitist) nearby resort of Bhurban. We were able to spend a week in Murree at half the amount that staying at the five star at Bhurban would have cost us," she says.

Nathiagali used to be the highest altitude location that most Pakistani couples could afford to, and were willing to, visit. But with the construction of better roads and more hotels, places like Swat, Naran Kaghan, and Kashmir have become tourist hotspots as well.

Saeed Rehman, a tour guide who organises customised tours to the northern areas, reveals that travelling beyond the Galiyaat is still considered quite an adventure in Pakistan. Landslides and road blockages are common along the narrow highways that link the high altitude valleys and mountain towns to the rest of the country.

According to Rehman, "couples on a budget tend to settle for a long drive on private vehicles or tour buses while those with lesser time and more flexible budgets choose to brave a flight on the rickety planes flown on the route by the national carrier".

The younger generation of Pakistanis seems more adventurous than their elders as tour operators relate the increasing demand for trips to remote areas like Chitral, Skardu, Hunza, Swat, Naran, and different towns in AJK.

Newlyweds, Sana Shehzad and Farhan Malik from Lahore say "Murree and the Galiyaat are too mainstream now. A trip to these places might be exciting for families with small children or older people, but not for us. We want to visit places that are less commercialized and crowded".

‘Airports’ exist in only a handful of the northern cities, namely at Skardu, Chitral, Gilgit city, and Muzaffarabad, and flights are few and dependent upon weather conditions. Travelling beyond a certain point to explore the mountains and experience the beauty of Pakistan’s famous high altitude lakes requires riding in 4×4 jeeps along bumpy dirt roads.

Mumtaz relates that Swat and Naran were once the favourite destination of couples. But things are changing.

"Now", he says, "tourists complain about the trashed and polluted look that the famous Lake Saif ul Malook has. They are put off by the constant honking of trucks and buses passing right by the haphazardly built hotels along the lake. Couples ask for travel packages to places like the upper Neelam valley which is still relatively untouched."

Ali Amjad and his wife Shanzey Ali agree it is destinations off the beaten track that appeal to young couples like themselves. High on the list of the best honeymoon destinations in Pakistan are Skardu, Hunza, and Chitral. Every tour planner offers customised and public tours to these valleys, as according to them, every couple wants to visit them. Even though travelling to these remote valleys is not cheap, the stream of tourists is increasing every year. The sublime beauty of the terrain is matched by the hospitality of the locals, making these mountainous areas the perfect tourist destinations.

As with tourism everywhere, there are hotels to suit every budget. Tour operators credit social media for increasing awareness about the unparalleled beauty of Pakistan’s natural treasures. Mumtaz and Rehman say they have received many inquiries about packages to Shogran and Kalam since photographs of snowfall in the mountains started on various social media platforms.

Even those couples that can afford to travel abroad are now opting to visit these areas instead.

The locals are also aware of this changing trend. Earlier, only mountaineers and adventure seekers visited the region, but now there are as many honeymooners in the tourist crowd as there are adrenaline junkies. Sarah Sajjad and Jahanzeb Aftab recall their honeymoon at Hunza was one of their most memorable vacations.

Both tour organisers and young couples agree that a lot needs to be done to promote Pakistan as a world class vacation destination for couples. But they also say the most important ingredient for a good tourist spot, a location with mesmerising views, exists all around the country.