South Pakistan Cultural Tour
We take a tour of the 5000 year old Indus valley civilization and marvel at the magnificence of architecture that covers the most historical and culturally rich areas of Pakistan’s ancient history.
Rock Carvings on Ancient Silk Road
12 DAYS / 11 NIGHTS
- Culture
The ancient Buddhist Rock Carvings of 2nd to 4th century A.D. at Shatial and Chilas before arriving in Gilgit, an important historic town of the Silk Route. Another breathtaking sight is the famous Ganesh rock and Sacred rock. Along the Hunza river, we will cross the Ganesh bridge and record 2000 years of travel by various people along the silk route. Rock inscriptions that are best translated have been carved in various languages of the ancient world.
Ashoka inscriptions as old as 2500BC are an astounding vision of history as occurred during that period. A trip to Shahbas Garha near Chardsada (between Peshawar and Swat) will be a lifetime experience.
By now you are probably quite familiar with the adventures encompassing the mountain ranges and valleys of the North. Now we are about to take you a little back in time on a trip that will inform you about the ancient people that inhabited this region for thousands of years and how they portrayed their cultural heritage on stones, rocks and mountain sides.
One can learn a lot from pictorial stories carved by the ancients onto rocks about their lives, their environment and their habitat.
Come and see for yourself!
Itinerary
Arrive Islamabad and Transfer to Hotel
Morning drive to Besham, enroute visit Archeological Museum in Taxila and other archeological sites, Daharmarajika stupa, Sirkap and Julian monestry. After visiting these sites we will continue our journey through the scenic abbotabad and Mansehra valley, visit the Asoka Rock inscription at Mansehra and continuously drive to Besham, we will meet the River Indus at thakot and drive along the Indus to Besham. Meals and overnight at hotel.
After breakfast drive to Chilas along the Indus River, we pass through the many scenic Valleys and villages in Indus Kohistan. We will visit the Rock carving inscriptions at Shatial dates back to 6th century Ad, the carvings are in Soghdian and Khshroti alphabets, the animals and the image of Buddah. After visiting the Carvings we drive continue to Chilas. Overnight hotel.
River Indus. these Rock Carvings are images of Buddhist Pilgrims travels from China to visit the Holy Buddhist shrine in swat, Taxila and Peshawar. After visiting the Rock Carvings we stop at Thalichi to have the magnificent view of Nanga Parbat and continue drive to Gilgit. After lunch visit the 7th century Ad Buddha Rock carving at Kargha. Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive to Karimabad the Capital of Hunza valley, we drive through the lush green villages of Hunza and Nagar valley, on the way we stop at the Rakaposhi view point at gulmit to have the magnificent view. After lunch we will visit the 700 years old Baltit Fort built by the Tibetan Artisans. Evening enjoy the Traditional Music of Hunza valley. Overnight hotel.
After breakfast we will drive to Hoper village in Nagar valley, excursion to hoper glacier. lunch at hoper in local hotel drive to Gulmit, enroute visit the ancient Rock Carvings at Ganesh. Arrive Gulmit and transfer to hotel for overnight.
Morning drive to Khunjrab pass 4733 meters, through the scenic villages and hanging towers and snow covered peaks in upper Hunza. Ibexes, Marco polo sheep and Snow leopards are the main attractions of wild life species in Khunjrab National park. After a short excursion to Pak-China border we drive back to Gulmit by the same Route. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast drive to Chilas, enroute stop at the Rakaposhi viewpoint at Gulmit and Thalichi to have the magnificent view of Nanga Parbat and Rakaposhi. Overnight hotel.
Drive to the beautiful and historic swat valley famous as seat of Buddhism and its archeological sites. Arrive Swat and transfer to hotel for overnight. Afternoon visit the Archeological museum in saidu Sharif and mingora Bazaar. Overnight hotel.
Drive to Peshawar, enroute visit the Takht Bhai Monestry, and Ashoka’s Rock inscription at Shabaz Ghari. Arrive Peshawar visit the Peshawar Museum, Kisa Khawni Bazaar and mahabat Khan Mosque. Overnight hotel.
After breakfast drive to Islamabad through the Grand trunk road, enroute visit Taxila Archeological Museum, Julian Monestry, Sirkap and Dharmarajika stupa. After lunch at Taxila we drive to Islamabad the Capital city of Pakistan. Overnight hotel.
Transfer to airport.
MAIL US YOUR QUERIES
Discover Pakistan
Culture Tours
Makran Coastal Highway Tour
The adventurous trip of Balochistan is a seven-day trip, in which we will explore the beauty and the culture of the Makran Coastal Highway in the largest province of Pakistan (Balochistan).
Uchal Kalash – Summer Festival
Uchal Kalash Summer Festival is the perfect trip for those who are enthusiastic in studying the life styles and ancient customs of the Kalash tribes living in three isolated valleys of Bumboret, Rambur and Birir in the heart of the Hindukush mountains.