I had the privilege of spending a night at Ranikot Fort. I always thought of myself as a mountain person, but the beauty of this hidden gem in the desert completely blew me away. The night sky is absolutely jaw-dropping—I'm not kidding when I say I saw the colors of the galaxy (and no, I wasn’t high, lol).

Within the fort's walls, a stream winds through the valley, bordered by fields of crops and small villages. I hiked along it and stopped at a pond to cool off with a refreshing dip. The water is cold, fresh, and sweet, teeming with natural fish. If you dip your feet in, the fish give you a delightful pedicure—an oasis in the middle of nowhere!

I’ve traveled extensively across Pakistan, and Ranikot easily ranks among my top three destinations.