Cultural Tours

We offer great cultural trips to our valuable visitors with in Pakistan and with the combination of Pakistan and China.

As a travel destination, Pakistan remains well off the beaten track, and its striking beauty and rich cultural heritage are remarkably intact.

Journeys in this region conjure up images of a time gone by, of powerful empires and ancient trading adventures along the Indus River and the Silk Route.

Get to know Pakistan on a private tour. Recommended itineraries range from seven days visiting frontier towns and bustling cities to a 14-day cultural exploration with a focus on archaeological sites.

Guided by knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides, you can adjust any of the itineraries to meet your schedule and interests. Accommodation is generally first class.

The 14-day Ancient Cultures of Pakistan tour takes you to archaeological sites, scenic valleys, and several important cities. You begin by exploring Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Next, en route to the scenic Swat Valley — known as the Switzerland of the East — you stop at the rich archaeological site of Taxila.

You also visit Peshawar, located near the Khyber Pass, and on to Lahore, the heart of Mogul culture. Multan dates back 4,000 years and is considered by many archaeologists to be the oldest surviving city on the Indian subcontinent. Visit Sukkur and the impressive Mohenjodaro, the greatest of all the Indus Valley civilization sites.

Travel to the land immortalized in James Hilton's novel, Lost Horizons, following the 11-day Shangri-La and the Khyber Pass itinerary. Today's Shangri-La is a region of snowy peaks and awesome valleys.

Departing the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, you travel via Taxila to the frontier town of Peshawar. Tour the historic Khyber Pass along the Afghanistan border.

Next, head north to the lovely Swat Valley and travel along the Karakorum Highway to Gilgit and the Hunza Valley. Meet local Hunzakuts and Naris whose ancestors once ruled mighty mountain kingdoms. Continue to Skardu, where you will board a breathtaking flight over the mountains back to Islamabad.

Hill Stations and Capitals, an eight-day adventure, also begins in Islambad. Travel to the hill stations of Muree and Bhurban, where the impressive snow-clad mountains of Kashmir provide the backdrop for treks in the alpine hills. Journey to the frontier trading town of Peshawar, gateway to the legendary Khyber Pass. End your journey in Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital, filled with splendid Moghul architecture.

The Kalash Valleys offer sublime, mountain scenery in one of Pakistan's most intriguing states, Chitral. This region is the focus of the 10-day Chitral and Khyber Pass program. From Islamabad, tour the famed ruins of Taxila as you travel onwards to the North West Frontier Province. The Kalasha people of these valleys practice their own religion and follow unique customs passed down through the centuries.

Trek at the foot of the Hindukush and explore the valleys before descending to the frontier town of Peshawar for an excursion to the historic Khyber Pass

Trip Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrive in Islamabad. In the evening we visit the old garrison town of Rawalpindi, followed by a look at the modernity of Islamabad. This is followed by the Shakarparian (sweet hills) Garden, which gives us a panoramic view of Islamabad before we drive past various modern streets and buildings. Our tour culminates at one of the world's largest mosques, Shah Faisal, which also houses a university specializing in Islamic Philosophy and Law.

Day 02: Islamabad, Taxila, and Swat. Before we head off on the Grand Trunk Route we take a brief tour of the old garrison town of Rawalpindi. Our next stop is Taxila, which was once the seat of oriental culture. It is famous for the rare specimens of stucco from the Gandhara period excavated from Sirkap and various Buddhist Stupas and Monasteries. The museum houses objects and sculptures dating from the 4th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. We then continue into the Swat Valley. Driving on the picturesque Malakand Pass, we visit the famous Churchill's Picket en route.

Day 03: Swat. A tour of Saidu Shariff and its colorful twin town of Mingora includes a visit to the impressive Swat Museum which is richly stocked with local artifacts followed by Butkara site and a tour of the colorful bazaars of Mingora. In the afternoon we tour the Islampur Weaver's Village, where we'll get an insight into the traditional and rural life of the Swatis. This village has a very highly developed traditional weaving industry using traditional textile, designs and local materials. Most of the embroidery consists of small circular mirrors woven into the design making it a unique piece of cloth.

Day 04: Swat and Peshawar. Morning departure for Peshawar with en route stops at Takht-i-Bahi, a monastery from Buddhist times and Charsadda - identified as ancient Pushkalavati, the pre-Kushan capital of Gandhara. During the Buddhist period it was the capital of the province and according to Buddhist legends, was the place where Lord Buddha preached his faith.

Day 05: Khyber Pass and Peshawar. This day is like walking back into history with a visit first to the Khyber Pass, which has been a silent witness to countless great events. Conquered by the Greeks, ruled by the Buddhists, destroyed by the Huns, rebuilt by the Brahmins and invaded by the great Moghuls, it is said that the army of Alexander the Great of Macedonia crossed this pass in 327 BC. An afternoon tour of Peshawar city includes the Museum which houses a rich treasure of art, sculpture and historical relics dating from the Gandhara period (300 B.C. to 300 A.D.) to modern times. We then visit Yadgar Square, the beautiful Mahabat Khan Mosque and the Qissa Khawani Bazaar (storyteller's bazaar).

Day 06: Peshawar and Lahore. Free to wander and meet local folks in the narrow lane bazaars before we fly to Lahore - the cultural hub of Pakistan.

Day 07: Lahore. Our day in Lahore starts with a visit to the Imperial and magnificent Badshahi Mosque. Built in 1674, it is an example of some of the most aesthetic Moghul architecture. Next is the Lahore Fort where we also see several pavilions, including Shish Mahal, the "Palace of Mirrors", which was built by Shah Jahan in 1631 as the private apartments for his empress. Later we visit the fascinating Lahore Museum which houses the famous statue of the Fasting Buddha and Kim's Gun, immortalized by Rudyard Kipling. Our day culminates with the sensational Shalimar Gardens.

Day 08: Harappa and Multan. Our journey into the Indus valley civilization takes us first to Harappa, the site of an ancient and important settlement from the 3rd millennium BC that stands witness to the 5000 year old cultural continuity of civilization in Pakistan. Harrappa was the cradle of one of the earliest civilizations known to man and conjures up images of fifty centuries ago, a period about which very little is known. We visit the interesting and well-maintained museum before proceeding to Multan.

Day 09: Multan. Our tour of this Sufi center will take us to the Old Fort of Multan which houses eloquent and elaborately decorated shrines of well known Sufis Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakaria, Shah Shams-ud-Din Sabzwari and the marvel of Islamic architecture - the tomb of Shah Rukn-i-Alam. Multan has survived the destruction of invaders like Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.

Day 10: Multan and Bhawalpur. A spectacular drive to the Cholistan Desert oasis of Bhawalpur. We tour this historic settlement where feudalism still prevails, and visit traditional the Sadiq Garh Palace and the majestic Noor Mahal, once the State House. Bahawalpur is noted for its delicate pottery and exquisite embroidery. In the evening we are free to meet local folks including the local chieftains, known as Nawabs.

Day 11: Bhawalpur and Sukkur. Nothing like a cultural experience on the train ride to Rohri - a major railway town. The ancient capital of the area was originally at Aror, 6 miles (9 km) to the east, but since the 13th century the twin towns of Sukkur and Rohri, which face each other across the river, have been the main centers.

Day 12: Moenjodaro and Sukkur. Moenjodaro, the premier site of the Indus Valley civilization thrived from 3000 to 1700 BC. contemporary to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. What little we know of this vibrant culture of the Indus Valley civilizations comes from the work done at Moenjodaro and Harappa. The architecture is unusual and alien. The city was planned with wide avenues and streets set in square or rectangular blocks, with an elaborate and effective system of waste drainage, which has excited much interest.

An afternoon Sukkur tour includes the Faiz Mahal and the Mohana boat people, who live in their boats or in temporary thatched huts along the shore. There are some beautiful examples of tile work at some of the tombs and shrines in Sukkur, and, of course, a lively and interesting marketplace.

Day 13: Sukkur and Karachi. A short flight takes us to Karachi - Pakistan's largest city. An afternoon tour includes Dhobi Ghat, an incredible outdoor laundry stretching as far as the eye can see; the National Museum and the tomb of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan. Built entirely of white marble, the mausoleum has an impressive dome with a huge crystal chandelier of Chinese origin.

Day 14: Depart Karachi. Departure transfer after an unparalleled insight into two of the greatest civilisations in the world - Persia and the Indus Valley.


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