Planning a Cultural and Heritage Itinerary
Pakistan's history runs from the Indus Valley Civilisation through Gandhara Buddhism to the Mughals. This guide shows how our cultural tours divide that story and what each covers.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites on our routes
- Taxila and the Buddhist ruins of Takht-i-Bahi: Gandhara tour.
- Mohenjo-daro and the Makli necropolis near Thatta: Indus civilisation tour.
- Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Gardens: Lahore, the end point of the Indus tour.
The four cultural tours
| Programme | Days | Starts from | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalash Festival | 11 | International Airport, Islamabad | 14th – 15th May/19th – 20th August/7th – 22nd December |
| Polo Festivals | 13 | International Airport, Islamabad | — |
| Gandhara Civilization Tour | 14 | Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad | — |
| Indus Civilization Tour | 15 | Karachi Airport, Sindh, Pakistan | — |
Heritage days in the itineraries
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Islamabad – sightseeing: Shakar Parian, Lok Virsa Museum, Faisal Mosque.
Day 4
Peshawar Takht-i-Bahi – Sehri Bahlol – Swat.
Day 5
Swat – sightseeing: Swat Museum, Ranigat.
Day 7
Besham Shatial & Chilas & Alam Bridge Buddhist rock carvings – Nanga Parbat viewpoint -Gilgit
Day 8
Gilgit – sightseeing: Bazaar, Danyor Buddhist rock carvings, Kargah Buddha.
Day 12
Gulmit sightseeing: Old House, Gulmit Museum, Polo Field – drive back to Gilgit.
Day 3
Thatta – Moenjodaro – evening flight to Karachi.
Day 4
Karachi – fly to Islamabad – sightseeing: Shakar Parian, Lok Virsa Museum, Faisal Mosque.
Choosing between them
- Buddhist heritage and the mountains: Gandhara tour.
- The widest sweep, from Karachi to Hunza and Lahore: Indus tour.
- Living culture: Kalash festival tour.
- A mountain festival: polo at the Shandur Pass.