13 DAYS UNVEILING THE MYSTERIES OF PAKISTAN AND THE SILK ROAD

Arrival in Lahore

Upon arrival in Lahore, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Lahore City Tour

Explore Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan, also known as the “Gardens of the Mughals” owing to its rich cultural heritage of the Mughal Empire (1526-1761).

Visit the iconic Badshahi Mosque, the largest congregational mosque built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Then, head over to the magnificent Lahore Fort, a historical walled complex containing numerous monuments.

Lahore Museum 

Visit Pakistan’s largest museum, offering unique insight into the country’s massive collection of treasures. Opened since 1894, the exhibits span ancient artifacts, Buddhist sculptures, coins, armaments, as well as miniature and contemporary paintings.

Shalimar Gardens and Wagah Border Flag Lowering Ceremony

Take a stroll through the Shalimar Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising charming Mughal architecture and three massive garden terraces.

Later, head eastward of Lahore to the Wagah Border, straddling Pakistan and India, to witness the daily Flag Lowering Ceremony and the synchronized movements of the soldiers lowering both nations’ flags.

Archaeological Site of Harappa

After breakfast, set out on an excursion to the archaeological site of Harappa and travel back in time to as early as the 4th millennium BC. This was also known as the Indus Valley Civilisation, or the Bronze Age Harappan Civilisation.

Visit the Harappa Museum to observe various ancient artifacts that were excavated from the sacred Indus Valley.

Transfer: Lahore to Islamabad

Today, we leave Lahore and travel about 420km (~7 hours) to Islamabad, with breaks along the way.

Khewra Salt Mines

Enroute, visit the Khewra Salt Mines, the second largest salt mine in the world and Pakistan’s oldest and largest with a staggering 18 levels. Hop onto an electric train, which will take you through the tunnel to locations where the famous pink Khewra salt, more commonly known as the Himalayan salt, are formed.

Exploring Taxila

Head to Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which used to be a Buddhist Centre of Learning from 5th century BC to 2nd century AD. Visit the Taxila Museum, offering great collections of artifacts from the Gandhara Civilization, before discovering various important archaeological sites including the Dharmarajika Stupa, Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, and Sirkap city ruins.

Transfer: Taxila to Peshawar

After lunch, we drive about 2½ hours to Peshawar, the oldest city of Pakistan. 

Peshawar Bazaar Experience 

Stroll through the bustling Qissa Khwani, also known as the Storytellers Bazaar, a key trade and cultural centre where international merchants of subcontinent and Central Asia mingle in traditional tea houses. Peruse Peshawari cultural items, fabrics, dried fruits, spices and more.

Peshawar Museum

Visit Peshawar Museum, which showcases one of the most extensive collections of Gautama Buddha artifacts from all periods of Pakistani history. The museum also houses a unique collection of ancient Gandharan art, recovered from excavation sites in the Peshawar Valley.

The Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi

Proceed to the UNESCO-listed Takht-i-Bahi, which translates to the Throne of Bahi, a well-preserved archaeological site of a Buddhist monastic complex from the early 1st century AD. The monastic complex is spectacularly located across various hilltops.

Journey to Swat

Drive about 3 hours to Mingora, the largest city in the Swat district, and visit the Shingardar Stupa, one of the most important ancient monuments in Swat Valley and the Ghaligai Buddha rock carving. 

Transfer: Swat to Chilas

We travel from Swat to Chilas by transferring to a Toyota Land Cruiser/SUV 2018 Model for your onwards journey towards the more mountainous northern Pakistan.

Scenic Road Trip: Shangla Pass and Karakoram Highway

Embark on a picturesque road trip across Shangla Pass (Elevation: ~2,300m) and the well-known Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world. The 1,300km-long Karakoram Highway was co-built by Pakistan and China for over 20 years and passes through deep gorges, narrow rivers and valleys, offering spectacular views of the Karakoram mountain ranges and Pakistan’s Himalayas.

Travel along the mighty Indus River and pass by remote valleys in Kohistan. We will make a stop at the Shatial Rock Art site to admire the petroglyphs.

Panoramic Road Trip to Hunza Valley

Head to the Chilas Rock Carving site where there are thousands of Thalpan petroglyphs. Afterwards, stop at Thalichi and soak in spectacular views of three majestic Himalaya peaks: Nanga Parbat (Elevation: ~8,126m), Haramosh (Elevation: ~7,409m) and Rakaposhi (Elevation: ~7,788m).

Proceed to the Indus-Gilgit confluence of Pakistan’s three mightiest mountain ranges, and be awed by views of the Karakoram, the Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush. In addition, enjoy stunning views of the beautiful Gilgit and Hunza Rivers.

Hunza Folk Music Show

Immerse yourself in folk music performed by the locals in Hunza while enjoying a scrumptious dinner.

Discover Hunza Valley

Explore Hunza (Elevation: ~2,438m), the country’s most enchanting valley, especially during spring and autumn. Enjoy a scenic drive to Hoper Valley and stop enroute at the confluence of the Hunza and Nagar Rivers. Feast your eyes on magnificent views of more Himalaya mountains: Ulter Peak (Elevation: ~7,388m), Lady Figure Peak (Elevation: ~6,000m), and Golden Peak (Elevation: ~7,027m).

Private Outdoor Lunch

Enjoy a private outdoor lunch with traditional local and Pakistani food, while indulging in captivating views of the surrounding Himalaya mountains.

Hoper Valley Village Walk or Hike to Glacier

Choose between a 1-hour village walk along one of Hoper Valley’s irrigation channels or consider hiking to the nearby glacier if you are more adventurous.

Time permitting, we ascend to the 700-year-old Baltit Fort, which is situated on a hilltop, and explore Karimabad Bazaar.

Excursion to Khunjerab Pass

We embark on a breathtaking excursion (~4 hours drive) to Khunjerab Pass (Elevation: ~4,733m), the highest paved international border crossing, between Pakistan and China.

Enroute, we stop at gorgeous Attabad Lake, the Hussaini Suspension Bridge, and other scenic viewpoints of the Passu Glacier and Batura Glacier, before reaching Khunjerab Pass, also known as the “Gateway to China”. The pass holds deep cultural significance as it lies on the ancient Silk Road.

Transfer: Hunza to Gilgit

We drive about 3 hours from Hunza to Gilgit with sightseeing along the way.

Gilgit – Ancient Silk Road

Uncover stories behind culturally significant sites in the Gilgit region, including the Old Silk Road, the Collision Point of Continental Plates, and the 7th-century Kargah Buddha rock carving. We will also visit Gilgit Bazaar and an old rope suspension bridge.

Transfer: To Airport

Transfer to Gilgit Airport for your flight to Islamabad.

In the event of flight cancellation such as due to weather condition, we will drive to Besham for an overnight stay (Note: there are only basic accommodations in Besham).

Flight: Gilgit to Islamabad

We take a short ~1 hour 15 minutes flight to Islamabad.

Upon arriving in the capital of Pakistan, the rest of the day is yours to relax and recharge.

Islamabad City Discovery Tour

Head to the splendid Faisal Mosque, Pakistan’s national mosque and the largest in the country. Then, visit Saidpur Village from the Mughal Era. Proceed to Daman-e-Koh, a hilltop garden situated in the middle of Margalla Hills, for a panoramic view of Islamabad.

Transfer to Islamabad Airport

After dinner, transfer to Islamabad airport for your flight home.