Visit to the Indus civilization in southern Pakistan: Karachi, Mohenjo-Daro, Multan, Harappa, Lahore, Islamabad.

Pakistan, discover this 16-day trip

Visite de la civilisation de l'Indus au sud du Pakistan - Karachi - Mohenjo-Daro - Multan - Harappa - Lahore - Islamabad

Trip Description

The visit begins in Karachi, the capital of the Sindh province, the largest city and the financial center of the country. Our goal is to follow part of the Indus, from near the place where it flows into the Arabian Sea—not far from Karachi—up to Multan. After Multan, we will stop following the Indus River, but we will discover important secondary rivers as we head towards Lahore. The focus is on stops in small villages along the way, as well as on the time spent meeting different types of people and local artisans. In addition, we believe you should not miss some of the most precious and beautiful shrines of Bhong, Uch, and Multan, as well as the historical sites of Makli, Mohenjo-Daro, and the Derawar Fort. These places are true gems, and by visiting them, you will better understand the rich history and culture of the entire region, as well as the daily life of its inhabitants. According to archaeologists, the key to the mysteries of the ancient Indus civilization is buried in the sands of Cholistan. 400 archaeological sites have been discovered, but only a few have been excavated. The legendary Cholistan Desert stretches over 1,700 square kilometers into the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. The whole region is a desolate semi-desert expanse, made up of sand and salt bushes. We usually end the tour in Lahore, which is the cultural and intellectual center of Pakistan. The faded elegance, lively streets, bazaars, and the great variety of Islamic and British cultures make it a city full of atmosphere, surprises, and contrasts. As a bonus, we will continue to the modern capital, Islamabad, and take a day trip to Taxila so that you can also get a glimpse of the remains of the ancient kingdom of Gandhara.

Accomodation

No accomodation information available

Stay program

day 1
Arrival in Karachi
In the evening, upon your arrival in Karachi, your Adventure Pakistan guide will be at the airport to warmly welcome you and take you to your hotel for a good night's rest.
day 2
Karachi
We will go for a guided tour of: the Mohatta Palace, the Defence Mosque (Tooba), the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum, Frere Hall (Bagh-e-Jinnah), Empress Market, and Clifton Beach. Optional: add one or more extra sightseeing days in Karachi, for example to visit: National Museum of Pakistan, Hindu Gymkhana, Port Grand, Mughal Zoo Garden, Quaid-e-Azam House, Kemari Port - Manora Island, day boat excursion.
day 3
Bhambore
An early morning departure to visit the Chaukhandi tombs. From there, we continue to the archaeological sites of Bhambore. In the afternoon, we return to Karachi for dinner and overnight.
day 4
Karachi - Hyderabad
We drive from Karachi to Hyderabad, stopping on the way at Haleji Lake, a paradise for birds and migratory crocodiles from Siberia, as well as at Makli/Thatta, an ancient city that was once a river port and the capital of Sindh, until the Indus changed its course. Here, we will visit the Jamia Masjid, built by Shah Jehan, who later erected the Taj Mahal, the Dabgir Masjid, delicately carved in stone, and the necropolis of Makli, claimed to be the largest cemetery in the world.
day 5
Ranikot Fort
We depart from Hyderabad to the Ranikot Fort, also known as the Great Wall of Sindh, which is considered the largest fortress in the world and was the last stronghold of the Talpur Mirs before the British takeover. We then cross the Indus to visit Bhit Shah, the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif, a Sufi saint and poet, as well as the uncrowned king of Sindh. Particularly loved by the poor, there is a daily musical gathering at the shrine. We return to Hyderabad to discover its famous bazaar, the longest in Pakistan, and its many craft workshops.
day 6
Hyderabad - Larkana
As we leave Hyderabad, we will head towards Sehwan, site of one of Alexander the Great's fortresses, as well as the shrine of Shaikh Usman Marvandvi, popularly known as Lal Shabaz Qalandar, a 12th-century Persian Sufi mystic. His tumultuous annual festival attracts thousands of people. Later, we will visit Lake Manchar, where fishermen, descendants of the inhabitants of the Indus Valley, still use the same ancient fishing techniques.
day 7
Larkana - Sukkur
Leaving the magnificent garden city of Larkana, we will head towards Mohenjo-daro, the most impressive and best-preserved ancient site of the Indian subcontinent. An entire city belonging to the Indus Valley civilization, contemporary with that of Ancient Egypt and Sumer, it displays advanced urban planning techniques. Later, we continue towards Sukkur via Bukkur, an island in the Indus topped by a fort and surrounded by shrines dedicated to river gods. Sukkur itself is of great interest: Sateen Jo Astaan (the tombs of the seven sisters) and Masoom Shah Jo Minaro, two places that offer superb views of the region and have an interesting history.
day 8
Sukkur - Bahawalpur
We leave Sukkur via the Lansdowne Bridge and admire the prodigious irrigation works carried out by the British. We drive north and enter Punjab. We visit the Bhong Mosque on the way and also stop at Uch Sharif, which is home to some of the most poignant ruins of Islamic antiquity, notably the tomb of Bibi Jewindi. We then continue to the charming city of Bahawalpur.
day 9
Bahawalpur - Multan
We will head towards the Derawar Fort, a huge citadel overlooking the surrounding Cholistan desert, where we will meet desert inhabitants and learn a bit about their way of life. In the evening, we will go to Multan.
day 10
Multan
The whole day is devoted to visiting the monuments and bazaars of Multan, the former capital of Lower Punjab, known as the city of Sufis. The tomb of Shah Rukn-i-Alam is a must-see, as is the shrine of Shams-ud-din Tabriz. Multan is a center for the production of fine embroidered cottons, tiles, ceramics, and traditional camel skin lamps. It is also famous for its halwa and mango chutney.
day 11
Multan - Lahore
In the morning, we will head towards the ancient site of Harappa, contemporary with Mohenjo-Daro, but also containing the remains of a city from the Bronze and Iron Ages. We will then continue towards Lahore.
day 12
Lahore
We are in the "cultural capital" of Pakistan. During our guided tour in Lahore, we will visit the famous Badshahi Mosque and the Shahi Qilla Fort. From there, we will continue to the Shalimar Gardens, then finish with the flag ceremony at the Wagah border. Dinner will be served at the Village restaurant (traditional Pakistani cuisine, with live cooking and live music in front of the guests). Overnight stay at a hotel in Lahore.
day 13
Lahore
We continue our visit of Lahore today by going to the Lahore Museum, the Wazir Khan complex, and the tombs of Jahangir, Nur Jahan, and Asif Khan. For our dinner, we can visit the famous Food Street or go to one of the many restaurants in downtown Lahore. Overnight at the hotel in Lahore. Optional extra day - Lahore: If you wish, we can add an extra day for sightseeing or local shopping, for example by visiting the Shahi Hammam or the Anarkali Bazaar.
day 14
Lahore - Islamabad
From the cultural "capital" of Lahore, we will head west to the capital of Pakistan, the city of Islamabad. Halfway, we will stop to visit the Katasraj Temple and explore the Khewra salt mines. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Islamabad. Optional: visit the Rohtas Fort (instead of the Khewra salt mines and the Katasraj Temple, take the Grand Trunk Road to visit the Rohtas Fort).
day 15
Taxila
Full-day excursion to Taxila to visit the archaeological excavation sites from the Buddhist period of the Gandhara kingdom, as well as the Taxila Museum, which features a large collection of ancient objects discovered on site. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Islamabad.
day 16
Return flight
Your last day in Pakistan! We will have a guided tour in Islamabad which will include a selection of the following sites: Faisal Mosque, the government buildings on Constitution Avenue, Shakar Parian Park with its rose and jasmine garden, the Pakistan Monument, the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, Saidpur Village, Rawal Lake, and the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint. Our farewell dinner will be at the Monal restaurant, at the top of the Margalla Hills, where you will have a breathtaking view of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Afterwards, we will take you to the airport for your return flight. (Optional: add an extra night in Islamabad if your flight departs late at night or the next morning.) Optional: extend your trip with a tour of northern Pakistan.