Indus Domes, Deserts & Islamabad

Welcome in Pakistan at Karachi airport. Transfer to our hotel and take a rest before starting with our city tour.Our tour begins on a high with a full day's sightseeing in and around Karachi. The National Museum gives us a complete vista of Pakistan’s cultural heritage from Stone Age to the birth of the nation. After visiting the oldest Sufi shrine in Karachi, Mohamad Ali Jinnah Mausoleum, we can unwind at Clifton Beach or maybe take a soak in the Manghopir hot sulphur springs, that many believe to have curative powers (and just a few crocodiles!)We are sure to enjoy some of the variety of restaurants in around the city.

Our destination today is Hyderabad, however we'll have a number of stops en-route to visit Chaukundi, Makli Hills and Thatta.The Chaukundi Tombs are known for their elaborate and exquisite stone carvings and the style of architecture found here, is unique in that it can be found nowhere else in the Islamic world. Whilst in Thatta we'll visit the Shah Jahan Mosque, famous for its beautiful architecture, which was constructed during in the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan; better known as the visionary who created the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Our final visit before heading to Hyderabad will be to the nearby Makli Hills. Makli Necropolis covers an area of around 10 kilometers and is thought to house up to 1 million tombs, built over a period of 400 years, it is perhaps the worlds largest necropolisBefore arriving in Hyderabad, we'll make a captivating stop at Kinjhar Lake, a wildlife haven and internationally recognized Ramsar site. This vast freshwater lake, the largest in Pakistan, teems with life. Lush reedbeds and vibrant underwater plants create a rich ecosystem that attracts a stunning array of birds.Imagine flocks of ducks, geese, flamingos, and cormorants gracing the waters – a haven for both resident birds and those seeking a winter refuge. Kinjhar Lake is especially important for breeding birds like the Cotton Teal and the striking Pheasant-tailed Jacana.Beyond its ecological significance, the lake supports a thriving fishing community of around 50,000 people, and even provides essential drinking water for Karachi. Since 1977, Keenjhar Lake has been protected as a Wildlife Sanctuary, ensuring this remarkable place remains a vibrant home for both nature and people.

Today is all about the industries which the region around Hyderbad is famous for. In Hala and Bhit Shah, known as the hub of Sindhi handicrafts, we visit traditional craft workshops which are largely family-owned. Any purchases you choose to make here contribute to the local ecomony, with funds going directly into the hands of local artisans. Amongst many handicrafts that Hala is known for, glazed ceramic, earthenware and terracotta are the most popular. These pots and tiles are available in various shapes and sizes and are famous for their exquisite hand painted designs. The artists use only signature colours which include: cobalt blue, turquoise, mustard, purple, brown and white; this form of art is known as ‘Kashi Kari’. After seeing these talented artists at work, you'll have the opportunity to release your inner potter, as we join a pottery workshop, learn time-honored skills, and let your creativity flow as you mold the clay into your own unique masterpiece. Nearby Bhit Shah is best known for being the home to a shrine dedicated to the Sindhi Sufi Poet, Shah Abdul Latif-Bhittai, who also gave his name to the town. We'll take time to visit the shrine before moving on to learn about Ajrak; a traditional block printed cloth which was a hallmark of the Indus Civilisation.

A real treat is in store this morning as we visit Ranikot Fort, also known as the Great Wall of Sindh, due to its huge 32km circumference, making it the worlds largest fort. The ramparts of the fort have often been compared to those found along the Great Wall of China and we'll have time to explore and get some great photos of the walls straddling the nearby hillsides. Our day ends in Sehwan, a city famous for the shrine of the 13th century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

This morning we'll drive to Manchar Lake which is home to the Mohana Tribe who are thought to be descendants of the first inhabitants of the Indus Valley. The Mohana are a fascinating people who live in houseboats at the heart of Lake Manchar. Their unique way of life centers around fishing, a skill they've honed for generations. They partner with trained cormorants and night herons, who help them catch an abundance of fish – enough to sustain both the birds and the Mohana families. Sadly, this traditional lifestyle is endangered. The Mohana lost their exclusive fishing rights, facing competition from larger contractors. Water shortages and dams further disrupt their livelihood. To support the Mohana, we spend time with them, learning about their culture. We hire their boats to explore the lake (when water levels allow). This provides a crucial income source for the fishing community, which in turn helps to preserve their ancestral way of life. After boating on the lake with the Mohanas, we'll visit their original settlement of Mohenjo Daro, be prepared to be impressed! Mohenjo Daro flourised as the centre of the Indus Civilisation for around 800 years, during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC. The city was one of the largest in the old world and was the first city in South Asia to demonstrate urbanisation. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980, the first site in South Asia to be so designated.

Larkana is home to the famous Bhutto family, who have held the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) since it's inception in 1967. Two members of the family have gone on to be Prime Ministers of Pakistan, including Benazir Bhutto, who's widower Asif Ali Zardari also went on to be President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013. Whilst exploring Larkana we'll make a stop at the Bhutto Family Mausoleum, an impressive building which attracts large crowds on a yearly basis, to commemorate the death of Benazir Bhutto. As we leave Larkana behind, we'll make our way to Sukkur, with a stop en-route to visit Kot Diji Fort, an important Harappa site (3000–2600 BC), which is situated at the foot of the Rohri Hills where the fort stands majestically above us.

This morning we'll visit the island of Sadhu Belo which is famous for the highly revered Hindu Temples located here, including Teerath Asthan which is the largest Hindu Temple in Pakistan. After our visit to the island, we'll enjoy a boat ride on the Sukkur River, keep your eyes peeled for sightings of dolphins. A local legend says that the Indus River Dolphin was once a woman who was cursed to be transformed into a dolphin, by a local holy man, who was angry that she forgot to prepare his food one day. The species was once thought to be extinct, however numbers are now on the rise, though they're not yet off of the endangered species list. By taking our travellers to visit this area, our funds are helping to support the efforts being made by the Indus Dolphin Conservation Centre to: Inject funds and awareness to support vital conservation work for habitat protection, research, and anti-poaching efforts. Empower local communities by creating economic opportunities that foster a commitment to dolphin and habitat protection. Influence policy by highlighting the importance of Indus River dolphins, encouraging stricter regulations to safeguard their environment. Our final visit of the day takes us to the Masoon Shah Jo Minaro Tower, which was once the highest point in Sukkur, after ascending the 84 steps, you'll be rewarded with views of Sukkur where we'll be spending the night.

Our route today takes us to the city of Bahawalpur. The city of Bahawalpur was founded in 1748 and was the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur, which was ruled by the Abassi family. The state remained independant until the formation of Pakistan in 1947. En-route to Bahawalpur we'll visit the Bhong Mosque. With its unique design, taking stylistic elements from nearby Lahore as well as Iran, Spain and Turkey, the mosque won the Aga Khan award for architecture in 1986 after a construction period of around 50 years.

Today we drive into the Cholistan desert, where standing proudly we'll see the Derawar Fort, a famed hallmark of Bahawalpur. The Derawar Fort has around 40 bastions that stand 30 feet high and the walls have a circumference of approximately 1.5km. The Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sadeq Mohammad Khan I, captured the fort in 1733 and had it rebuilt into the design that you see today. In front of the fort stands the Derawar mosque, which was constructed in 1844 AD. The mosque has three domes and two minarets built in the style of Moti Masjid at the Red Fort in Delhi. We also visit the tombs of Nawabs of Bahawalpur, the royal graveyard of the Abbasi family. The Abbasi family was the ruling Nawab family of Bahawalpur and all of the previous Nawabs are buried here. The graveyard is still owned and controlled by the surviving family members of the Nawabs. There is also an option to do camel safari in the Cholistan desert around Derawar Fort. Drive back to Bahawalpur, visiting Bibi Jaiwandi Tomb in Ucch along the way.

Founded in 1748 by Nawab Bahawal Khan, the former state of Bahawalpur remained independant until the formation of Pakistan in 1947. The Nawabs left behind a wealth of culture and beautiful architecture and today we'll visit Nur Mahal, Bahawalpur Mosque, the Museum and the Bazaar. Later, we'll leave the city behind and make our way to Multan.

We have a full day of sightseeing ahead of us today, exploring the city of Multan. We'll start by exploring a number of shrines, dedicated to the great mystics Bahauddin Zakaria, Shah Rukn e Alam and Shams Tabrez which are decorated with beautiful glazed blue tiles. Later, we'll explore the old city of Multan, which has a bustling bazaar where you may see artisans making painted camel skin vases and lamp shades. We'll also visit the Eidgah Mosque which dates from the 16th to 17th century. Our evening will be spent in Multan.

The archaeological site of Harappa provides us with an interesting stop off, on our way to Lahore. The town flourished as a centre of the Indus Valley Civilization and dates back to 3000 BC. Later in the day, we'll arrive in Lahore where we'll have a free evening to settle in.

We'll begin exploring Lahore today, making our first stop at Lahore Fort, a marvel of Moghul architecture which was constructed between the 11th and 16th centuries. Overlooking the Fort is the Badshahi Mosque (the Royal Mosque). the world’s largest, and our next stop. The mosque was constructed during the reign of Emperor Aurengzeb. Pakistan's most famous poet-philosopher, Dr Mohamad Iqbal, lies buried outside the mosque.From here we move to Jahangir's Tomb. The Tomb was built by his son Shah Jahan (who is best known for constructed the Taj Mahal) in 1627. After making a stop at the Lahore Museum, we will enjoy the city’s love of food by visiting the ‘food street’ in the old town, where we can find many different dishes and flavours.

The Old Walled City is our next stop with its narrow and dimly lit alleys leading from Sarafa Bazaar to Kashmiri Bazaar. Brass inlay work, as well as local handicrafts can be found in abundance here. We visit Shahi Hamam (Royal Bath) and the Wazir Khan Mosque before heading to the Wagah border with India to watch the flag lowering ceremony. Each day there is an elaborate military drill which symbolizes the 2 countries’ rivalry over the last 60 years.

Drive to Islamabad, en-route visit the Rohtas Fort and Khewra Salt Mine. Rohtas Fort was built in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri. It is one of the most imposing historical monuments in Pakistan especially attractive for anyone with a taste for castles in the most romantic tradition. Sher Shah Suri built this fort to keep the Ghakkar tribe in check and kept around12000 men here. The fort also guarded his famous Grand Truck Road on which you will travel. Next we'll stop at the Khewra Salt Mine where we'll take a guided train ride into the mine complex. Explore various chambers highlighting different salt colors and formations. We'll also visit the underground mosque. After arriving in Islamabad you'll have a free evening.

Islamabad is a city of many contrasts with green avenues, splendid views of the surrounding hills and busy city life. We have a full day's guided tour around the major sights, including the old city of Rawalpindi, Daman e Koh view point and the huge structure of Shah Faisal Mosque.A short drive away is the museum of Taxila and the remains of Jaulian Monastery. We have time to browse in the museum at the artefacts, many dating back over 2000 years.

You'll have some free time in Islamabad today until you are transferred to the airport for departure.