Indus Civilization Tour from Karachi to Hunza

A heritage tour that starts in Karachi and visits Makli, Thatta and Mohenjo-daro before flying north to Islamabad, Taxila and Peshawar, continuing to Chitral, Swat and Hunza, and ending with Lahore.

About the Indus Civilization Tour

Pakistan is home to one of the world’s ancient civilizations that thrived 4500 years ago along the Indus River. The Indus Valley Civilization developed a highly organized culture and commerce as land and sea routes with Sumerian and Mesopotamian cultures connected it.

From the cosmopolitan city of Karachi to the capital city of Islamabad in northern Pakistan. The Ancient Culture Tour combines varied cultures and ethnic groupings of Pakistan with their rich traditions. The tour includes visits to the grand monuments, the minarets, mausoleums of the great Moguls, the deserts of lower Punjab as well as the 2nd largest Salt Mine in the world at Khewra, archeological sites/museums of Swat, Peshawar, Taxila, and the lost horizon “Hunza.”

Introduction as published on the Cultural Tours page.

Key facts

Duration: 15 days
Starts and ends: Karachi Airport, Sindh, Pakistan

Who it suits

It is the widest-ranging cultural programme on the site, covering the south, the north-west and the Karakoram Highway. The programme lists entry tickets to Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Kot Diji and the National Museum in Karachi among its inclusions.

The tour starts at Karachi airport rather than Islamabad.
The published day plan runs to day 15 (day 13 is not listed), so check the final schedule when you plan.
Visa processing fees and personal insurance are listed as not included.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Departure
Arrive in Karachi – sightseeing: Chaukandi Tombs, Mohatta Palace, Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum, Clifton Beach.
Day 2
Karachi – Makli / Thatta.
Day 3
Thatta – Moenjodaro – evening flight to Karachi.
Day 4
Karachi – fly to Islamabad – sightseeing: Shakar Parian, Lok Virsa Museum, Faisal Mosque.
Day 5
Islamabad – Taxila – Peshawar.
Day 6
Peshawar – Sightseeing.
Day 7
Peshawar – Chitral.
Day 8
Swat Drive to Swat.
Day 9
Chilas Drive to Chilas.
Day 10
Chilas/Hunza Drive along Karakoram Highway along the breathtaking scenery of the Hunza Valley.
Day 11
Hunza Visit Khunjerab Pass.
Day 12
Gilgit Drive to Gilgit.
Day 14
Lahore Afternoon, fly to Lahore Half day sightseeing. Hotel.
Day 15: Return
Islamabad/Rawalpindi Fly to Islamabad to connect home-bound flights. Hotel.

Included and not included

Listed as included

Hotel Accommodation on a sharing basis (standard 3/4-star hotels & guest houses)
Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (local traditional Pakistani cuisine)
Air-conditioned luxury transport throughout the tour route
Professional English-speaking guide specialized in Indus Valley archeology
All entry tickets to archeological sites and museums (Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Kot Diji, National Museum Karachi)
Site access permits and archeological department approvals
Toll taxes, fuel charges, and driver allowances
Domestic airport transfers and baggage handling tips at hotels & airports

Listed as not included

International airfare tickets to and from Pakistan
Pakistan entry visa processing fees
Personal travel and medical insurance
Personal expenses such as room service, laundry, telephone calls, alcoholic or soft beverages
Extra charges for commercial or documentary filming and photography equipment at historical monuments
Unforeseen expenses caused by flight delays, road closures, strikes, or extended hotel stays beyond the scheduled itinerary

As listed in the programme's service details; confirm the current inclusions when you plan your dates.

Places on this route

Destination guides for the places this itinerary passes through:

Compare other cultural tours

Other cultural programmes
Programme	Days	Best time	Starts from
Kalash Festival	11	14th – 15th May/19th – 20th August/7th – 22nd December	International Airport, Islamabad
Polo Festivals	13	—	International Airport, Islamabad
Gandhara Civilization Tour	14	—	Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad