Cultural Tours
12
14 Dyas
This tour is crafted to uncover the hidden gems of ancient history and the natural wonders of the northern valleys of Pakistan. Throughout the centuries, the land now known as Pakistan has been the birthplace of numerous civilizations. While the Indus Valley civilizations (Harappa from the 7th millennium BC and Mohenjo-Daro from the 4th millennium BC) stand as milestones of early human development in the southern plains, the Gandhara Civilization (500 BC to 10th Century AD)—primarily focused on Buddhism—became a center of spiritual influence, art, and architecture.
From here, Buddhism spread eastward as far as Japan and Korea. Despite the passage of time, Taxila and Swat Valley have managed to preserve these cultural treasures in their art and crafts. In addition to museums in London, Delhi, Karachi, and Srinagar, those in Taxila, Peshawar, and Swat house some of the finest relics of this ancient civilization. What is even more fascinating are the archaeological sites scattered across Taxila, Swat, and other regions of North West Frontier Province and Gilgit-Baltistan, many of which were uncovered in the 20th century.
As we journey along the Karakoram Highway, we will revisit history by exploring petroglyphs found along the Indus, Gilgit, and Hunza Rivers. These carvings serve as both “guest books” of passing traders and pilgrims and as depictions of the natural beliefs of ancient fairy worshippers.
Baltistan | Gilgit | Hunza | Swat
Autumn | Spring | Summer
Easy
Normal
Arrive Islamabad – sightseeing: Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, Daman-e-Koh viewpoint. Overnight at hotel in Islamabad.
Drive from Islamabad to Peshawar with a sightseeing visit at Taxila on the way. Taxila has been the centre of the ancient Gandhara kingdom, we will visit the museum and archeological sites of Jaulian and Sirkap where lots of Buddhist artefacts can be seen. Overnight at hotel in Peshawar.
Sightseeing day: Gorkhatri, Pashto Academy, Shahji ki Dheri. Overnight at hotel in Peshawar.
From Peshawar we drive to the Swat Valley to visit the two most important sites: Takht-i-Bhai is a Parthian archaeological site, after first having been a Zoroastrian complex it was later converted into a Buddhist monastic complex. It is dated to the 1st century BCE and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Sahr-i-Bahlol (Seri Bahlol) is also listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site and can be found not far from Takht-i-Bahi. It is said to contain the remains of Buddha, but the area has not been properly excavated. Overnight at hotel in the Swat Valley
Sightseeing: Swat Museum, Ranigat. Overnight at hotel in the Swat Valley.
We drive over the Shangla Pass to Besham which is located on the KKH – the Karakoram Highway. Overnight at hotel in Besham.
A beautiful drive through the Indus gorge will take us north to the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, along the way we will stop at several places where ancient Buddhist petroglyphs can be seen. If the weather is clear we might also be able to have an amazing view of Nanga Parbat (8125m – the 9th highest mountain in the world) and we will visit the junction of the three greatest mountain ranges in the world: the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu-Kush. Overnight at hotel in Gilgit.
Sightseeing: Bazaar, Danyor Buddhist rock carvings, Kargah Buddha. Overnight at hotel in Gilgit.
We drive further north to the famous Hunza Valley, on the way we stop at Rakaposhi viewpoint, a very impressive and one of the most beautiful mountains (7788m). After arriving in Karimabad we will visit the Bazaar area and the Baltit Fort. Overnight at hotel in Karimabad.
One of the highlights of today is Ganish Village, it was recognized for its strategic location on the breech of the Silk Road and has received an UNESCOs Heritage Award. We will also visit the Altit Fort and at the end of the day we will visit the viewpoint at Duikar for an incredible view of the sunset over the entire Hunza Valley and the surrounding mountains. Overnight at a hotel in Karimabad or Duikar.
A great sightseeing day all the way to the border with China at the Khunjerab Top (4733m), along the way you will see the clear blue Attabad Lake and the Passu glacier. Overnight at hotel in Gulmit.
We start the day with sightseeing in and around Gulmit including visting the Old House, Gulmit Museum, and the Polo Field. At the end of the afternoon we will drive back to Gilgit for our overnight stay.
In the morning take a flight to Islamabad, the afternoon can be spend at leisure. Our goodbye dinner will be at one of the restaurants on top of the Margalla hills which gives you a great view over Islamabad & Rawalpindi. Overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.
We will bring you to Islamabad airport for your flight back home or to an onward destination. We hope you had a great trip!
For all trips to Pakistan you will require a visa, depending on the the type of tour you will either need a standard tourist visa or a trekking visa. Our sales team will provide you with all the necessary information as well as a visa invitation letter and related supporting documents after you have booked your tour with us.
The timing of your flight will depend on your specific itinerary and preferences, wherever possible. For the standard K2, K2 Gondogoro La, and Snow Lake treks, we typically schedule the flight on day 2 of your itinerary, flying from Islamabad to Skardu. This flight is incredibly scenic, and if the weather is clear, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the mountains, including Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest mountain in the world.
However, if the weather is unfavorable, the flight to Skardu may be canceled. In this case, we will drive from Islamabad to Skardu over two days, with an overnight stop midway. To account for any potential delays, a contingency day is always included in your itinerary.
Trove Travel Tours representative will meet you at the airport and will bring you to your hotel.
