15-Day Indus Valley Tour through Pakistan's Civilizations

15 Days Round trip from Karachi Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore 5,000-year-old Indus Valley archaeological sites comparable to Mesopotamia and Egypt
02 Discover Karachi, Pakistan's most populated city, with its mix of cultures from across the country
03 Visit Multan, the renowned City of the Sufis, with its shrines, mausoleums, and bazaars
04 See massive mud-brick forts and dome-roofed, tiled tombs set in the desert
05 Experience Pakistan's painted buses, bustling bazaars, and famed blue pottery
06 Encounter Muslim, Hindu, Sufi, Sikh, and other religious traditions across the journey
07 Explore Lahore's historic reminders of the Moghul, Sikh, and British Empires
08 Travel from south to north through striking contrasts in landscape, culture, and tradition

Pakistan, though established in 1947, is deeply rich in ancient civilization and vibrant Islamic culture. This journey from Karachi to Islamabad travels through the Indus Valley's 5,000-year-old archaeological heritage, extraordinary mosques, Mughal monuments, Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Along the way, you experience colourful bazaars, local food, painted buses and trucks, blue pottery, shrines, and the varied traditions, dress, and daily life of Pakistan's people from south to north. The tour also explores Karachi, Mohenjo-daro, Cholistan's Derawar Fort, Multan's renowned Sufi heritage, and Lahore's historic reminders of the Moghul, Sikh, and British Empires.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 15 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, Taxila, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, Thatta, Sehwan Sharif

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Flight to Pakistan

Flight: Departure for Karachi - Pakistan from your home country.

Day 02

Arrival in Karachi and City Tour

Arrival: Arrival at Karachi airport, where you will meet your guide and transfer to the hotel.
City tour: Afternoon city tour of Karachi.
Visit: Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum.
Visit: Defense Mosque.
Visit: Clifton Beach.
Visit: Mohatta Palace Museum. (Modern Muslim architecture)
Visit: National Museum.
Visit: Masjid-i-Tuba.
Visit: Bohri Bazar.
Visit: Empress Market.
Visit: Sufi Mausoleum of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.
Visit: Empress Market (Victorian style).
Note: Visit as much as possible depending on the available time.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Karachi.

Day 03

Karachi to Hyderabad via Thatta

Drive: Drive to Hyderabad via the Chaukundi tombs, known for their 15th to 18th century stone carvings on Muslim graves.
Visit: Banbhore, the earliest Islamic city outside Arabia (711 AD).
Visit: Makli, the largest Muslim cemetery, with magnificent mausoleums of kings from the 17th century.
Visit: Shahjehan Mosque, a masterpiece of Shahjehan, the builder of the Taj Mahal, in Thatta.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Hyderabad.

Day 04

Hyderabad to Sehwan Sharif

Drive: Drive to Sehwan Sharif.
Visit: En route, visit the Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif.
Visit: The world's largest fort, Rani Kot Fort.
Overnight: Overnight in Sehwan at a hotel.

Day 05

Sehwan Sharif to Sukkur via Mohenjo-daro

Visit: Morning visit to the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Drive: Later drive to Moen Jo Daro.
Drive: Afternoon drive to Sukkur.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Sukkur.

Day 06

Day 07

Sukkur to Bahawalpur

Drive: Drive to Bahawalpur.
Visit: En route, visit the mosque at Bhong.
Visit: The shrines of Uch Sharif.
Visit: Mausoleum and Mosque of Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari.
Visit: Bibi Jawindi Mausoleum.
Overnight: Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08

Bahawalpur to Multan via Derawar Fort

Excursion: Morning excursion to Derawar Fort.
Drive: Later drive to Multan.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Multan.

Day 09

Multan City of the Sufis

Tour: Full-day visit to Multan.
Visit: Visits to the Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and other shrines and bazaars.
Visit: Big Mosque Eidgah.
Visit: Hussain Agahi Bazar.
Visit: Chowk Bazar.
Visit: Mausoleum of Baha-ud-Din Zakaria.
Visit: Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din Sabzwari.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Multan.

Day 10

Multan to Lahore via Harappa

Drive: Drive to Lahore.
Visit: En route, visit Harappa, a site of the Indus civilization.
Visit: Old city.
Visit: Cemetery.
Visit: Barn.
Visit: Irrigation system and museum.
Overnight: Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11

Lahore Heritage and Border Ceremony

Tour: Full-day tour of Lahore.
Visit: The Lahore Fort.
Visit: Badshahi Mosque.
Activity: Flag ceremony at the border with India.
Visit: Anarkali Bazaar.
Visit: Wazir Khan Mosque.
Visit: Shalimar Garden.
Visit: Mausoleum of Jahangir and Nur Jahan.
Visit: Mausoleum of Data Ganj Baksh.
Visit: Mela Chiragan - Light Festival near Shalimar.
Note: Visit as many places as time allows.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Lahore.

Day 12

Lahore to Islamabad

Drive: Drive to Islamabad.
Visit: En route, visit the Salt Mine.
Sightseeing: Sightseeing in Islamabad.
Visit: The Shah Faisal Mosque.
Visit: Shakarparian viewpoint.
Visit: Pakistan Monument.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.

Day 13

Islamabad to Peshawar via Takht-e-Bahi

Drive: Drive to Peshawar.
Drive/Visit: First drive to Mardan to visit Takht-e-Bahi (the Buddhist monastery).
Drive: Then continue to Peshawar.
Visit: Bazaar and museum.
Visit: Mahabat Khan Mosque.
Visit: Qissa Khawani Bazaar.
Hotel: Hotel.

Day 14

Peshawar to Islamabad via Taxila

Drive: Drive back to Islamabad from Peshawar.
Visit: En route, visit Taxila sites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Buddhist period, including the site and museum.
Visit: Rawalpindi.
Visit: Truck printing.
Visit: Shah Faisal Mosque and Raja Bazaar.
Visit: Shakarparian.
Visit: Mausoleum of the Sufi Bari Imam Shrine.
Visit: Truck Painting Repair District.
Visit: Saeed Pur Village.
Overnight: Overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.