*** Trips to Balochistan and most of Sindh are best done between November and March. From April to September it is very hot!!
*** Know that itineraries can always change, we try to do our best to see as much as possible.
*** For this trip you need a special permit for the national park, to be arranged two weeks before!

Meaning: you need to book this tour at least two weeks before to get the permit!! 

Southern Punjab is lesser-known among tourists than it’s northern brother and is therefore an ideal destination for those who want to explore a region which is not too well discovered by tourists yet. This huge area has a few historical and cultural highlights such as the archeological site of Harappa and the immense fort of Derawar, surrounded by the Cholistan Desert, where you can hop on a camel and visit the many villages dotted in the sand. This tour includes quite some driving as we go quite south from Lahore and will offer you a great opportunity to discover and witness the wide variety in landscape and culture the south of Punjab has to offer.

Day 1: Lahore
Today we’ll have a full day in Lahore, the cultural capital of Punjab and often called the cultural capital of all of Pakistan as well. Lahore’s Pakistan second biggest city with roughly 8.5 million inhabitants and the Inner City (or Walled City) as the pounding heart of Lahore. The city is rich in cultural attractions and has attracted tourists, artists and intellectuals for thousands of years with Mughal and Sikh influences, British colonial architecture, but it also houses modern malls and buildings as well. It is also one of the most liberal cities in all of the country. We’ll start our tour around 8 am and we’ll try to visit as much of the archeological and cultural sites and hotspots as possible, such as the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Minare Pakistan, Sikh Guradwara Dera Sahib, Shees Mahal, Royal Hammam, Deewan-e-Aam, Deewan-e-Khas and the tomb of Jahangir. We’ll make sure you’ll be directed to an excellent restaurant for lunch and our last stop of the day will be the famous Flag Ceremony at the border with India. This ceremony takes place every evening before sunset. It starts with a parade by the soldiers from both sides and ends in lowering of the two nations’ flags. The ceremony ends with a handshake between soldiers from both sides, followed by the closing of the gates.

Day 2: Harappa and Multan
After breakfast we’ll drive to Harappa. On our way to Harappa, we’ll have a quick stop in Changa Manga, which is home to the largest man-made forest in Pakistan and home to several animals such as jackals and deer. After our visit we’ll continue to Harappa. Harappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, the site of the ancient city contains the ruins of a fortified city from the Bronze Age and was part of the Indus Valley Civilization centred. The city had roughly 23,500 residents living in clay brick houses at its peak during the Harappan phase (2600 BC – 1900 BC). During British rule, many bricks were looted to be used for the railway between Lahore and Multan and many archaeological artefacts have been stolen.

Day 3: Multan
Multan is one of the oldest cities in Pakistan and once was part of ancient India. It has a long history and was renown for the Hindu Multan Sun temple and was besieged by Alexander The Great. Multan was one of the most important trading centers during medieval Islamic India and home to many Sufi mystics during the 11th and 12th century earning the title ‘City of Saints’. The city, together with Uch, is known for the many Sufi shrines. Today we’ll have a full tour in the city with a free evening. 

Day 4: Uch Sharif
Uch, also called Uuch Sharif is a historic city not too far from Multan and was founded by Alexander the Great during his invasion of the Indus Valley and was an important metropolitan center between the 12th and 17th century and home to many Muslim refugees. It is famous for its shrines built in the typical Southern Punjab architectural style by Muslim mystics. The Uch Monument Complex is home to 1.400 graves and three shrines

After our visit we’ll then proceed to the Cholistan Desert and visit the Derawar Fort and the Abbasi Mosque. The bastions of Derawar are visible from many kilometers away and are up to thirty meters high. It is an impressive sight in the middle of the desert. The fort was built in the 9th century AD and taken over by Muslim Nawabs in the 18th century who rebuilt it in its current forms.

We’ll make some time to go on a camel ride in the Cholistan Desert, which covers an area of 25.800 sq km, mostly made up of sand and classified as arid and semi-arid tropical desert. Tonight we’ll sleep in Bahawalpur.

Day 5: Bahawalpur
Today we’ll visit Bahawalpur and Lal Suhanra National Park.
Bahawalpur has a rich architectural heritage and is known for its monuments dating from the 18th and 19th century. It is located at the edge of the Cholistan Desert and the Lal Suhanra National Park. The park was founded in 1972 and is a wildlife refuge home to many mammal species and birds, including the chinkara gazelle. Black bucks have also been re-introduced. There is also a pair of Indian rhinoceros which have been brought over from Nepal.

Day 6: Back to Lahore
Today we’ll drive back to Lahore and expect to be back somewhere during the late afternoon. We’ll have a free evening.

Day 7: Chiniot and Bhera
After breakfast we’ll go to the town of Chiniot, which is famous for its woodworking and furniture making. The town has several mosques and is home to the Omar Hamat Mahal, a five-story tall mansion built in the twenties with outstanding examples of Chiniot’s local woodworking. Afterwards we’ll go to the city of Bhera where we’ll visit the old city center. Bhera is a city which is known for woodcarving and textiles. There is an Old Town surrounded by a newer developing part. The Old Town is surrounded by a large city wall with eight gates and divided into several neighborhoods, which historically were assigned to different castes.

Day 8: Khewra Salt Mine to Islamabad
After breakfast we’ll proceed to Khewra Salt Mine, which is known for its production of pink Khewra salt, often called Himalayan salt. It is the second largest in the world. It was discovered by Alexander The Great’s army, but started trading during the Mughal era and was further developed during British rule. Over 350.000 tonnes of salt is produced annually.

Tonight we’ll sleep in Islamabad.

Day 9: Islamabad and Taxila
Today we’ll have a free morning and after lunch we’ll go to the Faisal Mosque, the sixth largest mosque in the world, followed by a hike in the Margalla Hills which will treat us to an amazing view of the city and the surroundings. The Margalla Hills are part of the Margalla Hills National Park and are part of the Himalayan foothills.

Day 10: Taxila
After breakfast we’ll go to Taxila, which will be our last destination on our trip.

Taxila, meaning ‘City of Cut Stone’, is an archaeological 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. End of tour.

Includes:
– Transport
– Professional English speaking guide
– All entrance fees
– Accommodation

Doesn’t include:
– Meals and drinks 

Price:
1 person: 2.780 usd
2 persons: 1.495 usd per person
3 persons: 1.295 usd per person
4 persons: 1.079 usd per person 

** Single supplement: 850 usd