Epic Pakistan

We’ll take a full day to explore the old city, also known as the Walled City, which used to be accessible via13 Mughal era gates, 10 of which are still standing. Beginning at Delhi Gate, we will call into the ancient Mughal Hammam and visit the Ranjit Singh Gurdwara, which houses the funerary urns of this former Sikh ruler.

You’ll have the chance to tour both the Wazir Khan and the Badshai Mosques, and marvel at the Moghul beauty that is Lahore Fort.A trip to Lahore won’t be complete until you’ve eaten at the famous Food Street! After dinner there is the option to take a stroll to the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia, Data Darbar, which looks stunning at night when it’s lit up.

Continuing to explore the many marvels of Lahore, today we’ll walk amongst the Shaalimar Gardens. Designed as a paradise garden this Mughal garden complex features fountains, pavilions and of course, plenty of flowers. Booklovers will enjoy a mooch around the public library of Quaid-e Azam. If you missed it last night, we’ll head to Data Darbar today and take in the grandeur of Mall Road. This 4-mile road is lined with tourist attractions including the Lahore Museum as well as colleges and other significant offices within Mughal and colonial-era buildings.This afternoon, we travel east for a real highlight of the trip – watching the daily flag-lowering service at the Wagah border crossing. You’ll see representatives from both nations perform ceremonial marching and dancing as music blares, marking the closure of the border for the day. A unique spectacle – you’ll be amazed at how high the soldiers can kick!

After a wake-up coffee, we’ll start our journey towards Islamabad. On the way we stop off to explore Khewra Salt Mines. Off the radar for most tourists, Pakistan is home to the world’s second largest salt reserves, the Khewra Salt Mines. This natural phenomena is found in the Jhelum district of the Punjab province. We’ll wander among chambers and caves as these beautiful salt crystals sparkle overhead and all around. Now you know where your Himalayan rock salt came fromAfter your long day of travel, it’s time to relax. We retreat to the hotel early so we can rest before the flight tomorrow.

We’ll fly out early from Islamabad. From Gilgit we’ll follow the mountain roads north to the Hunza Valley. Take in your first panoramas of the peaks from the Rakaposhi viewpoint including Rakaposhi itself at 7,788m.A steep (but short) walk brings us to Baltit Fort, which has been standing for a thousand years! Catch you breath and take your time to soak in the breath-taking scenery including glimpses of the ancient Silk Road. We’ll explore the cobbled streets of Karimabad and browse local handicrafts and dried fruits at the town’s bazaar before making our way to the hotel.

Your ‘fort’ for the day is the Altit Fort which has perched atop its craggy peak since the 11th century – a testament to ancient architects. If time’s on our side, we will take some time to explore the royal gardens and the village. Our day of history continues when we explore the Ganish (gold) Village settlement which was founded over 1000 years ago along the ancient Silk Road.Views of the Hunza Valley and Hunza River really are something out of this world, so we’ll take you to Duikar Village where we can appreciate them from the vertigo-inducing Eagle’s Nest viewpoint, at 2850m. We’ll hang out up here to catch the sunset over the peaks of Rakaposhi and Dehran. Reflect on the history and landscapes with some free time to shop in Karimabad before we head back to our hotel for the evening.

You’re going on what will be the most scenic road trip of your life today – so feed up on gyal! We’ll follow the Karakoram Highway through the Khunjerab Pass along the highest land border in the world: Pakistan and China. This hits 4700 meters above sea level, so we recommend altitude sickness pills, just in case.We’ll cross the Ganish Bridge in the shadow of the Shispare Sar, one of the tallest peaks of the Karakoram Ranges. There are over 50,000 ancient rock carvings from the Silk Road trading era along the way, we’ll show you our favourites! We’ll make stops at the fourth largest glacier in the world, Batura as well as the Hussani glacier. Round the corner a sweeping cluster of craggy, snow dusted peaks known as Passu Cathedral dominates the landscape. Feel your heart stop beating as you step onto the Hussaini Suspension Bridge. Only daredevils pluck up the courage to cross one of the most dangerous bridges in the world!Snaking through the Khunjerab National Park, the landscape changes with every bend in the road. At the Pakistan-China border we might be lucky enough to see snowflakes falling even during summer! Quick rest spot in Sost, and then to our very special lakeside hotel.

This morning you can join a two-hour trek to the Passu Glacier to get up close with the white ice. Alternatively, relax by the lake and we’ll reconvene at lunch before exploring the sights and wildlife of the lake as a group. We’ll head to Attabad Lake, the bluest lake in the world. This was actually the result of the 2010 landslide which wiped out Attabad Village and forced the river to change course. Opt to cruise across the crystal clear water in a boldly painted wooden boat or appreciate its glory from the lakeside, cradled between the steely Karakoram Ranges. Tonight we head to Gilgit where we spend the night.

Seatbelts on; a bumpy, two-hour dirt road adventure takes us to the Naltar Valley which is famed for its forestry and lakes as well as being a seasonal ski resort. Among glacial streams and fertile plains there are three high-altitude lakes to explore, known as the Bashkiri Lakes. We’ll admire the many colours of Satrangi Lake and the alpine splendour of glacially formed Pari Lake, before trekking 45 minutes up to Firoza Lake. Surrounded by snowy peaks, with otherworldly blue water – trust us, this one will blow your mind.

We take the early morning flight back to Islamabad today. Once back you have a time to freshen up quickly before we head back out to see the serene Pakistani capital! First we head to the Faisal Mosque. This the largest mosque in Pakistan, and with its sloping roof and geometric features it differs vastly from the traditional domed mosques.We’ll visit the 2,500-year-old Buddhist caves at Shah Allah Ditta village. These caves have been used for meditation by Buddhist monks as well as Hindu sadhus and Muslim ascetics during the Mughal period. Continuing our spiritual journey, we’ll look for the grand Hindu temple that marks the entrance to Saidpur Village, a historic place nestled in the Margalla hills.

After breakfast we head out of the city to see Taxila. The ancient city of Taxila is a UNESCO heritage site steeped in fascinating history. Known as one of the worlds lost cities, Taxila offers opportunity to explore archaeological wonders, many of which date back to 600 BC and 500 AD. For thousands of years Taxila was the epicentre of art, education, architecture, and sculpture in Buddhism.Many of it’s over 50 archaeological sites, sme which are inspired or symbolic for the life of Lord Gautama Buddha, as still visible. Be sure not to miss the sites of Bhir mound, Jandial Temple, Dharmarajika Stupa, and the Jaulian Monastery.We head back to Islamabad in the evening.

Today we explore Rohtas Fort and Katas Raj Temples. First up we take the famous colonial era Grand Trunk road to Rohtas Fort. Construction began under the reign of Sher Shah Suri in 1541. The original fort had 12 gates and 68 bastion towers, spread out across five kilometers! Much of this remain today, making it a truly fascinating walking experience. Our next stop after lunch is to the Katas Raj Temples. This Hindu complex is formed around a sacred lake nestled in the greenery of the Salt Ranges. Many Hindi myths and legends are associated with this holy spot. We get back to Islamabad for our evening farewell dinner.

The tour is now complete, so make arrangements to fly out of Islamabad in your own time or extend your stay in Islamabad if you’re not ready to leave!