England left from Heathrow on Tuesday for Pakistan with captain Michael Vaughan warning the seven-week tour will present a huge challenge.
"Pakistan are a very dangerous team. It will be a really tough test," he said.
"I think only four or maybe five of the team have played in the subcontinent so it's going to be a real challenge."
Conditions on the trip, which includes three Tests and five one-day internationals, will be totally different from those during the Ashes.
But Vaughan remained confident of his side's ability.
"The last two years have seen some very good cricket played by the England team and I think the tour of Pakistan is really going to test all our skills," he continued.
"There will be conditions which some of our players haven't played in.
"It was great to play the cricket we did in England. We're used to the conditions over here so we knew the kind of cricket we needed to play.
"Pakistan is new to a lot of the players. There are different techniques which will be required over there and a lot of skill will be required."
England are in action first in Rawalpindi, where they begin a three-day match on Monday.
And they have another three-day game in Lahore before the first Test begins in Multan on 12 November.
England coach Duncan Fletcher emphasised that the nature of the wickets England will find would play a large part in their tactics.
"One thing that's going to be different (from England) is the wickets will probably be different," said Fletcher.
"It's going to be interesting to see the wickets because if they are going to go with spinning wickets it brings our reverse swing into play.
"If they don't and they go with seaming wickets I don't know if they'll seam around much, so there's a lot of things we're going to have to look at and assess when we get out there.
"Every tour you go on it's a brand new challenge and you've got to start afresh with every challenge.
"Over the past two years and tours before that we've been thrown out a challenge and, especially over the last two years, we've risen to that challenge."
Pakistan was hit by a massive earthquake just over two weeks ago, and Vaughan said he hoped England's visit would help lift spirits at a difficult time.
"They're fanatical about the game of cricket in Pakistan and by us touring there hopefully we can bring a little bit of joy back to their lives," he added.
"Pakistan are a very dangerous team. It will be a really tough test," he said.
"I think only four or maybe five of the team have played in the subcontinent so it's going to be a real challenge."
Conditions on the trip, which includes three Tests and five one-day internationals, will be totally different from those during the Ashes.
But Vaughan remained confident of his side's ability.
"The last two years have seen some very good cricket played by the England team and I think the tour of Pakistan is really going to test all our skills," he continued.
"There will be conditions which some of our players haven't played in.
"It was great to play the cricket we did in England. We're used to the conditions over here so we knew the kind of cricket we needed to play.
"Pakistan is new to a lot of the players. There are different techniques which will be required over there and a lot of skill will be required."
England are in action first in Rawalpindi, where they begin a three-day match on Monday.
And they have another three-day game in Lahore before the first Test begins in Multan on 12 November.
England coach Duncan Fletcher emphasised that the nature of the wickets England will find would play a large part in their tactics.
"One thing that's going to be different (from England) is the wickets will probably be different," said Fletcher.
"It's going to be interesting to see the wickets because if they are going to go with spinning wickets it brings our reverse swing into play.
"If they don't and they go with seaming wickets I don't know if they'll seam around much, so there's a lot of things we're going to have to look at and assess when we get out there.
"Every tour you go on it's a brand new challenge and you've got to start afresh with every challenge.
"Over the past two years and tours before that we've been thrown out a challenge and, especially over the last two years, we've risen to that challenge."
Pakistan was hit by a massive earthquake just over two weeks ago, and Vaughan said he hoped England's visit would help lift spirits at a difficult time.
"They're fanatical about the game of cricket in Pakistan and by us touring there hopefully we can bring a little bit of joy back to their lives," he added.