Australian travel content creator Luke Damant has said Pakistan remains one of his favorite countries to visit because of its hospitality, affordability and the warmth of ordinary people.
Speaking on ProPakistani’s podcast How Does It Work?, Damant said this is his fourth visit to Pakistan. He said the country gives him a different kind of reception compared to many other places he has travelled to.
He said Pakistan’s northern areas offer some of the best views he has seen during his travels. However, he added that the country’s biggest strength remains the friendliness of its people.
Damant said the hospitality in Pakistan is not limited to one big moment. Instead, he experiences it daily in small ways.
He shared an example from his latest arrival in Pakistan. After landing at the airport, he took a motorbike ride to his hotel. The rider had quoted Rs. 500 for the trip, which lasted around an hour.
However, when they reached the hotel, the rider refused to take payment. Damant said the man did not know that he was a known travel creator. He later insisted and paid him Rs. 2,000.
He said this kind of generosity happens often in Pakistan, with people inviting him for food, drinks and conversation.
When asked about safety, Damant said he does not take many special precautions while travelling. He said bad things can happen in any country, but he has had very few negative experiences in Pakistan.
He added that nothing has happened in Pakistan that seriously threatened his life.
Damant said he usually goes with the flow while travelling. He makes decisions based on what feels right in the moment.
Damant said his travel journey started in 2018 after he finished high school in Australia.
At the time, he was creating YouTube videos and realized that many places in Sydney and Australia felt similar. He then decided to explore different cultures, people and beliefs around the world.
What began as a plan to travel and make videos gradually became a full-time lifestyle. He has now spent around six to seven years travelling across different countries.
During the podcast, Damant also spoke about Pakistan and India.
He said people in both countries generally understand that ordinary citizens do not hate each other. In his view, the tension largely comes from governments and politics.
He added that Pakistanis and Indians share many similarities because the two countries were once part of the same region.
Damant said the rivalry feels friendlier in sports, especially cricket, where the competition becomes part of the entertainment.
Damant was also asked whether foreign creators receive special treatment in Pakistan because of colonial hangover or white privilege.
He said his treatment in Pakistan is definitely different from what a Pakistani tourist might experience.
He added that his appearance makes it clear that he is a visitor. Therefore, people often treat him differently. However, he also said that non-white foreigners he knows have received similar hospitality in Pakistan.
Damant said there is no doubt that white privilege exists, but he also believes Pakistanis are generally very welcoming to visitors.
The travel creator also addressed criticism that foreign vloggers visit Pakistan because Pakistani audiences bring high views.
Damant admitted that views from Pakistan can be very strong. However, he said that is not the only reason he comes here.
He explained that revenue from Pakistani views is lower compared to many other markets. Therefore, if money were the only goal, he could earn more by making content in other countries.
He said Pakistan offers a mix of good experiences, strong audience interest and enjoyable travel content.
During the podcast, Damant also revealed that he recently co-founded an eSIM company called Globie.io with a few friends.
He said many major companies often approach creators like him to promote travel services, including insurance and eSIM products. Instead of only promoting other brands, he and his friends decided to build their own service.
Damant said he is using Globie during his current visit to Pakistan and that it is working very well.
He added that he is not involved in the technical side of the product. A friend and chief technology officer handles that part of the business.
According to Damant, Globie is already doing well. He described it as a fun side project that also solves a real travel problem.
He said the service creates a win-win situation because travelers get a good experience, while the company grows through a product he personally uses.
Damant also revealed that he travels with a 38-liter backpack and carries very few clothes.
Most of his bag space goes to electronics, including his camera, laptop, chargers and other content creation equipment.
He said he now knows exactly what he needs for daily life while travelling.
However, he admitted that travelling light can become difficult when moving between extreme climates. He said he was heading to Skardu after Karachi and did not have enough warm clothes for the mountains.
Damant said that after spending three weeks in Karachi, he could see himself living there for some time.
He said his earlier trips to Pakistan were too fast and involved constant movement. This time, staying longer in Karachi helped him find the things he needs in a city.
He mentioned good gyms, padel courts, a strong community, healthy food spots, wellness places, spas, ice baths and IV treatments.
For him, the main requirements for living in any place are good people, community and access to a healthy routine.
In a rapid-fire segment, Damant said Pakistan is probably the cheapest country he has ever travelled to.
He described the country as extremely affordable.
When asked about the most expensive place he has visited, he named Singapore and also mentioned Sydney, Australia.
Damant also named cheese paratha as one of the best foods he has had.
He said he loves bread and cheese, and the combination makes it a simple but excellent meal.
He also praised Pakistani chai, saying it is incredible. He joked that Pakistani chai contains a lot of sugar but still tastes delicious.
When asked about the worst thing in Pakistan, Damant named the summer heat.
He said his latest trip convinced him never to visit Pakistan again in the summer.
He added that the heat becomes very difficult, especially when spending long hours outside filming content.
Damant said Hunza is one place he would recommend to anyone visiting Pakistan.
He had not visited Skardu at the time of the podcast, but said he was heading there next.
He said many outsiders do not associate Pakistan with mountains. However, once they see the north, they realize how incredible the country’s landscapes are.
He also expressed interest in visiting Balochistan, especially Gwadar, but said many Pakistanis advise him against it because of safety concerns.
Damant said he remains interested in countries that many people view as dangerous or misunderstood.
He named Russia, Libya and North Korea as places he would like to visit in the future.
He said he is often fascinated by places that carry a reputation for risk, because his travels have taught him that countries are usually more complex than their media image.
When asked which country every person should visit at least once, Damant named Lebanon.
He called it one of his favorite countries and praised its culture, food, landscapes and diversity.
He said Beirut and the wider country offer a mix of communities, religions, mountains and beaches in a small space.
He also said the Middle East is one of his favorite regions in the world, but believes it is badly misunderstood, especially because of Western media narratives after 9/11.
In the rapid-fire round, Damant described London as one of the most overrated tourist destinations in the world.
He called it “mid” and said the usual tourist attractions did not impress him much.
On the other hand, he named Lesotho as a highly underrated country.
He described the small African nation, which is surrounded by South Africa, as beautiful and under-visited. He said its landscapes look like a Windows loading screen and praised the friendliness of its people.
Damant said he has no fixed timeline for how long he will continue travelling.
He said he has recently focused on going with the flow and choosing countries based on what interests him at the time.
He added that travel and new experiences will always remain part of his life.
Although constant travel affects his health, sleep and routine, he said he enjoys the freedom that comes with his lifestyle.
He also said his mother remains the most concerned about his travels, especially because he has visited countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan. However, he said she has become more comfortable over time as he continues returning safely.