7-Day Archaeology Tour of Pakistan from Karachi with Mohenjodaro

• Get welcomed at Karachi Airport and transfer to your hotel.

• In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of Karachi, beginning with a visit to the modern Defense Mosque of Masjid-i-Toba to see the world's largest concrete shell dome with your Pakistani tour guide.

• Continue to New Clifton Beach, followed by a visit to the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum, where the Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, lies buried. Built entirely of white marble, the mausoleum has an impressive dome housing a huge crystal chandelier of Chinese origin.

• Next, stop at the National Museum with its fascinating display of ancient relics from the Indus Valley Civilization and an excellent collection of Gandhara art, before ending with a visit to a handicraft gallery.

• Depart for the ancient town of Thatta. Situated 100 km east of Karachi, Thatta is an old town with an exciting history dating back to Alexander the Great, who used the port to rest his weary troops. The present-day city was founded in the 15th century. Under the Mughals, it was a provincial capital, and during this period, there were as many as 400 institutions of learning in the city. Some outstanding architecture from the Mughal period remains in its religious and historical monuments.

• Makli Hill is a large necropolis of mausoleums made up of stone tombs with geometric and floral carvings. They retain the indigenous beauty of the coloured brick enamel and glazed tile used in their construction. The great Mosque of Emperor Shah Jehan, built in the mid-17th century CE, has 99 domes with incredible acoustic quality.

• In the afternoon, drive back to Karachi with your Pakistani tour guide.

• Early in the morning, head to Karachi Airport for the flight to Mohenjodaro at 08:45 hours.

• Arrive at Mohenjodaro and take a tour of the archaeological site. Mohenjodaro is an archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished here some 5000 years ago. This is the third oldest civilization in the world, preceded only by Egypt and Mesopotamia. Mohenjodaro excelled in practically every conceivable facet of town planning. The museum displays interesting relics found during excavation, such as engraved seals, utensils, ornaments, weapons, sculptures, and pottery.

• Once the tour is finished in Mohenjodaro, resume your journey to Sukkur.

• On arrival, transfer to the hotel.

• Take a morning train journey to Multan in 1st class soft sleeper, AC.

• On arrival in Multan Cantt., transfer to Ramada.

• Enjoy an afternoon city tour of Multan, beginning with a visit to the Old Fort, which is an eloquent example of the city's proud history. Among the attractions inside the fort are the elaborately decorated shrines of Sheikh Bahad-ud-din Zakriya, Shah Shams Tabriz, and Shah Rukn-e-Alam. Damdama, the highest point in the fort, provides a bird's-eye panoramic view of the city, which has survived the destruction of invaders since Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE.

• Visit the Eid Gah Mosque and Hussain Agahi Bazaar.

• Drive to Lahore via Harappa. Harappa is an ancient and important settlement of the prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization from the 3rd to 2nd millennium BCE. It stands witness to the 5000-year-old cultural continuity of civilization in Pakistan. Harappa was the cradle of one of the earliest civilizations known to man and conjures up images of fifty centuries ago, a period about which very little is known. An interesting and well-maintained museum at the site houses artifacts found in the area. The Harappa site is located about 175 km from Multan and about 30 km (19 miles) from Sahiwal.

• At the end of the visit to Harappa, drive to Lahore.

Overnight in a hotel in Lahore. (2 nights)

• Today is your journey into the cultural center of the Subcontinent. In just one corner of Lahore is a heterogeneous example of Mogul, Sikh, Colonial, and Contemporary architecture.

• The historic Lahore Fort, built in the 11th century CE, is the only place to see different phases of Mogul architecture, as a long line of rulers made additions. Inside the fort, visit many rooms, including Shish Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors.

• Overlooking the fort is the Badshahi, or Royal Mosque, beside the tomb of the philosopher and poet Iqbal, who infused the idea of Pakistan among the Muslims of British India.

• Another interesting complex of nearby buildings is the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Guru Arjun Dev, both solid gold tombs dating back to the Sikh era.

• The tour concludes with a visit to Shalimar Gardens, which were laid out during the reign of Shah Jehan in the early 1640s and are a tribute to the aesthetic and artistic sense of the Moguls.

• In the afternoon, continue the city tour of Lahore.

• Lahore Museum houses a rich and varied collection of historical objects. This is the oldest museum in Pakistan and has many galleries displaying artifacts from the Gadara, Buddhist, Jain, Mogul, and Colonial periods. The famous statue of the fasting Siddhartha (Buddha) is also on display here.

• Next, visit Emperor Jahangir's mausoleum, built in the 1630s, another example of talented Mogul architecture. Nearby is the tomb of Empress Nur Jehan, wife of Emperor Jahangir.

• In Old Lahore, the walled city of narrow, dimly lit alleys leading from Sarafa Bazaar (Jewelers Bazaar) to Kashmiri Bazaar, find bargains in the local handicrafts, including brass inlay work.

• Visit the Golden Mosque and Wazir Khan's Mosque, which reflect the nobility of Persian design with floral patterns, superb calligraphy, and lofty minarets. (B)

• Transfer to the airport for your flight to your onward destination.