For those who don’t have a lot of time in Pakistan and want to get a good taste of what the country has to offer, this one week programme offers just enough to get to know the essential Pakistan when it comes to culture and history. We will hit Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar and the most important sites. Our trip starts in Lahore which has an international airport, but you can also fly in from Islamabad. It ends in Peshawar from which you can also take an international flight.
Day 1: Arrival at Lahore International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. If there is enough time, we will visit the bazaar. Overnight in Lahore.
Day 2: After breakfast we’ll have a full day sightseeing. We’ll have a stop at the Lahore Fort in the Walled City, Shalimar gardens, Badshahi Mosque and the museum. We’ll especially focus on the UNESCO sites of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens, two royal complexes dating from the Mughal area. The fort is found in the Walled City of Lahore and has been rebuilt several times. The Shalamar Gardens were designed under emperor Shah Jahan in 1642 and show Persian and Islamic traditions.
We will visit the Tomb of Jahangir, a 17th century mausoleum built for the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Dating back to 1637, the mausoleum is located in Shahdara Bagh in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, along the banks of the Ravi River. The site is famous for its interiors which are elaborately decorated with frescoes and marble, and its exterior which is richly decorated with pietra dura. The tomb, along with the adjacent Akbari Sarai and Asif Khan’s tomb, are part of an ensemble that is currently on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Also on our list today is the Tomb of Nur Jahan, a 17th-century mausoleum, which was built for the Moghul Empress Nur Jahan. The marble of the tomb was looted during Sikh times in the 18th century for use at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The red sandstone mausoleum, along with the nearby tomb of Jahangir, the tomb of Asif Khan and Akbari Sarai, is part of an ensemble of Mughal monuments in Lahore’s Shahdara Bagh.
The Vazir-Khan Mosque is a 17th century mosque in the city of Lahore, the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. The mosque was inaugurated during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as part of an ensemble of buildings that also included the nearby Shahi Hammam baths. Construction of the Wazir Khan Mosque began in 1634 C.E. and was completed in 1641. It is considered as the most ornately decorated mosque of the Mughal era.
Day 3: After breakfast we’ll drive to Islamabad and on the way we’ll visit the Rohtas Fort, near the city of Jhelum and still in the Punjab province. The fort is known for its large walls and gateways and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tonight we’ll sleep in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
Day 4: We’ll have a full day sightseeing in Islamabad. We’ll go to Faisal Mosque, Shakar Parian, Pakistan Monument and the Raja Bazaar. Together with Rawalpindi, Islamabad forms a twin city, with Islamabad being the modern city of diplomats and officials. Rawalpindi is a bulging city with busy bazaars and traffic circles. Islamabad is slightly higher and therefore slightly cooler than Rawalpindi. You will have time to stroll through the bazaars of Rawalpindi. The imposing, modern Faisal Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world, with space for 15,000 worshipers in the mosque and 85,000 in the courtyard. Those interested can visit Daman-e Koh park with a nice view, the Pakistan monument, and the Heritage Museum.
Day 5: We’ll drive to Peshawar today and on the way we’ll visit Taxila and the museum. Taxila, meaning ‘City of Cut Stone’, is an archeological site about 25 km northwest of Islamabad. Taxila was an important city of Ancient India with origins going back to 600 BCE and has been in the hands of several empires as it was an important crosspoint for ancient trade routes. It was eventually destroyed in the fifth century and declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. We’ll spend the morning here and will bring you back to Islamabad around noon. Tonight we will stay in Peshawar.
Day 6: Today we’ll have a full day of visiting the old historical part of Peshawar and the markets. An exciting place where there are no other tourists to be seen and you’ll receive a warm welcome from the residents. We’ll also visit the Mohabat Kahn Mosque.
Day 7: We’ll have a nice interesting drive to Lahore today, where you’ll have a free evening to fly out tomorrow. Alternatively you can fly out from Peshawar to Islamabad or another destination. PCR-testing should be done today in the morning or the evening before depending on departure.
*** Know that itineraries can always change, we try to do our best to see as much as possible.
Included:
– Accommodation
– Transportation
– Activities and entrance fees as described in the itinerary
– English speaking, professional local guide (government licensed)
Not included:
– Meals and drinks
– International flights
Price
1 person: 7.500 usd
2 persons: 3.790 usd per person
3 persons: 3.395 usd per person
4 persons: 2.790 usd per person
** Single supplement: 1.450 usd
