Karachi to Islamabad

Nothing breaks the ice better than taking a private boat trip in the Arabian Sea, and so that’s exactly what we’ll do today! Our boat will sail us across to the uninhabited Charna Island, which is rich with marine life. Snorkellers and scuba divers have the option to swim with the fish in the clear, warm waters and explore the coral reef. Or, simply relax on the beach with a book and get to know your travel buddies. Now we’re all pals, tonight we’ll sit down to a seaside dinner back on dry land in Karachi and sample local delicacies.

Today we’ll explore the treasure trove that is Karachi on a full-day private city tour. We’ll pay our respects at the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar, the mausoleum of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and admire at the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, St Patrick’s Cathedral. We’ll visit the library at Frere Hall, built during the days of the British Raj. Cast your eyes over art, textiles and crafts at the Mohatta Palace – a fancy seaside residence turned museum. Keep your energy levels up with local snacks from Port Grand and swap some of your rupees for souvenirs at Empress Market.

After a wake-up coffee, we’ll take a morning flight inland to Multan one of the oldest cities in the Asian subcontinent. From here we’ll hop aboard by our own private bus for a 3 hour road trip taking us to one of the highlights of this tour! We’ll set up camp at the majestic, ancient 9th century Derawar Fort in the Cholistan desert. It was built under the kingship of Rai Jajja Bhati, a Hindu Rajput from Jaisalmer, India. After your long day of travel, it’s time to relax. What could possibly end a day more perfectly to settling down around a smouldering camp fire and sharing stories over a BBQ dinner? Gaze up at the stars whilst local melodies and songs hum in the background. There’s a reason this evening is a favourite of the Geo Tours team – it really adds a touch of magic to your trip.

If waking up in the middle of the desert wasn’t bucket-list enough for you, you’ll start your day with a camel ride through the rolling sand dunes of the Cholistan desert. Home to nomadic tribes, we’ll visit their local villages and gain insight into this way of life. We will take a guided tour of the Derawar Fort before saying our farewells to the desert and heading to Sadiq Ghar Palace. This mammoth complex spans 125 acres and is over 100 years old. It was built by the Nawab family of the princely state Bahawalpur, which passed from British India to Pakistan. The road trip commences with a 6 hour drive to Lahore, in our private air-conditioned minibus. Enjoy the scenery or take a nap – it’s up to you.

On our first of three days in this former Mughal era capital city we will begin with a leisurely amble around the ‘paradise’ fountains, pavilions and flowerbeds of Shalimar Gardens and explore Lahore’s bustling local markets. This afternoon you’re in for a unique (and quite bizarre) experience! Our private minibus will take us to the Wagah, which is the border crossing between Pakistan and India. Every day border officials put on a flag-lowering service to mark the end of the day. You’ll see representatives from both nations perform ceremonial marching and dancing in tandem. It’s a competitive, rowdy but good-natured affair as border officials compete to see who can kick their legs up the highest during this ceremony.

We’ll spend all of today exploring the finest mosques and monuments within old Lahore. The city historically sat within a walled fortress and 13 gates from the Mughal era, and is known as the Walled City. Beginning our private guided tour 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. We will tour the elegant Wazir Khan Mosque, which is famous for its ornate tiles (kashi-kari) and intricate frescoes. Pakistan’s second largest mosque, the Badshai Mosque is found to the west of the Lahore Fort. We’ll have chance to explore these as well, and questions are welcome. A trip to Lahore won’t be compete until you’ve sampled typical Lahore dishes at the famous Food Street!

After a busy week of travels, your eighth day gives you chance to rest and explore other parts of Lahore on your own or with your new travel pals. Check out markets and The Mall – ask your Tour Coordinator for recommendations if you can’t decide what to do. In the evening, we’ll regroup and enjoy visiting what is possibly the most sacred place in Lahore, Data Darbar. This huge shrine is the largest of its kind in South Asia. Within this marble tomb lays the remains of the Muslim Sufi (mystic), Abul Hassan Ali Hujwiri.

We hope you managed a sleep-in yesterday, we rise bright and early today to make our way to Islamabad, with a couple of stops along the way to break up the long drive. 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 from! The next stop is an optional but highly encouraged detour – 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’ll arrive into Pakistan’s capital late this evening.

Now at the final port of call on our road-trip, we have three days to explore the capital city of Pakistan! After getting your bearings in the city, 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.

Don’t forget your walking boots, your penultimate day of the tour begins with a trek into the Margalla Hills which forms the foothills of the Himalayas. Fresh, clean air, and views for days. Now you’re warmed up, on your bike! We’ll take a cycle tour around Islamabad to take in the sights and ambience of Pakistan’s metropolis. You have some free time after this, so ask your Tour Manager for tips on where to explore.

Today is our final day together, and we’ll divvy up the day between another trek into the beautiful hills that envelope Islamabad before going on a short drive to Islamabad’s next-door-neighbour, Rawalpindi. Pindi is home to markets and excellent cuisine so you can try any dishes you’ve missed so far and pick up souvenirs for yourself and friends and family back home, before we enjoy our final dinner together.

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!