Itinerary

1. Day 1: Islamabad - Shopping for Salwar Kameez (local clothes)

   Main Attractions:

   • Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, Daman-e-Koh, Margallag Hills, Lok Virsa, Golra Railway Station, Museum. 

   • Faisal Mosque: Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan, you will see amazing and unique infrastructure as the main body does not have any pillars. 

   • Pakistan Monument: Amazing museum to explore. 

   • Daman-e-Koh: Scenic lookout point and landscape garden. Best for photography. 

   • Margalla Hills/Shah Allah Ditta Caves: is a centuries-old village and a union council located at the foothills of the Margalla Hills in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

   • Lok Virsa Museum: Explore the culture of Pakistan 

   • Golra Railway Station/Museum: This railway station is the site of a venerated railway museum housing the relics and memorabilia associated with railways dating back to the days of the British Raj.

   Accommodation: Overnight in a Hotel/guest house. 

2. Day 2: Taxila - Ayubiya - Nathiagali - Abbottabad

   • Taxila UNESCO Buddhist Sites, Ayubia, Mushkpuri, Natha Gali, Taxila, UNESCO Buddhist sites more than 1,000 years old, Ayubia National Park Natural beauty, birds and butterflies and monkeys to bother.

   • Mushkpuri Top Landmark mountain, popular for hiking.

   • Miranjani Picturesque peak with a forested trail.

   • Nathia Gali waterfall (Abshaar) Beautiful waterfall and view.

   Accommodation: Overnight in a unique guest house.

3. Day 3: Taxila - Ayubiya - Nathiagali - Abbottabad

   • Taxila UNESCO Buddhist Sites, Ayubia, Mushkpuri, Natha Gali, Taxila, UNESCO Buddhist sites more than 1,000 years old, Ayubia National Park Natural beauty, birds and butterflies and monkeys to bother.

   • Mushkpuri Top Landmark mountain, popular for hiking.

   • Miranjani Picturesque peak with a forested trail.

   • Nathia Gali waterfall (Abshaar) Beautiful waterfall and view.

   Accommodation: Overnight in a unique guest house.

4. Day 4: Shogran, Paye Lake, Kaghan, Lake Saif-ul-Muluk - Naran

   • Seri Paya, Lake Saif -ul-Muluk, Jalkhand,

   • Shogran Hotels Hill station on a green plateau in the Kaghan Valley.

   • Shogran Hotels Visit Paye Lake, visit Siri Paye and enjoy the mesmerizing weather.

   • Kaghan Valley Small town full of beauty, Saif-ul-Muluk Lake Reach Naran, short stay and move towards the lake.

   Accommodation: Overnight stay in Jalkhand.

5. Day 5: Shogran, Paye lake, Kaghan, Lake Saif-ul-muluk - Naran

   • Seri Paya, Lake Saif -ul-Muluk, Jalkhand,

   • Shogran Hotels Hill station is on a green plateau in the Kaghan Valley.

   • Shogran Hotels Visit Paye Lake, visit Siri Paye and enjoy the mesmerizing weather.

   • Kaghan Valley is a small town full of beauty, Saif-ul-Muluk Lake Reach Naran, short stay and move towards the lake.

   Accommodation: Overnight stay in Jalkhand.

6. Day 6: Lulusar- Babusar & Chilas

   • Stop for a picnic lunch and chai whenever you feel like it. Babusar Pass is Pakistan's 3rd Highest Road Pass.

   • Sightseeing - Cold Weather - Breathtaking views -Fairy Meadows Junction Point of Karakoram, Hindukush and Himalayan Range. Photo stop at the junction point of Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Himalaya mountain ranges

   Accommodations: Overnight stay in Gilgit

7. Day 7: Lulusar- Babusar & Chilas

   • Stop for a picnic lunch and chai whenever you feel like it. Babusar Pass Pakistan's 3rd Highest Road Pass.

   • Sightseeing - Cold Weather - Breathtaking views -Fairy Meadows Junction Point of Karakoram, Hindukush and Himalayan Range. Photo stop at the junction point of Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Himalaya mountain ranges

   Accommodations: Overnight stay in Gilgit

8. Day 8: Gilgit - Naltar Valley - Sacred Rocks of Hunza Discover history

   • Gilgit - Naltar Valley - Sacred Rocks of Hunza Discover history - Visit sacred rocks of Hunza Naltar Valley Visit Stunning Lakes - Jeep Safari - Pine Forest - Skiing in winter.

   • Indus-Gilgit Confluence Visit Gilgit - Discover NLI Market for cheap shopping - Visit Kargha Nala - Budha.

   Accommodation: Naltar

9. Day 9: Naltar - Rakaposhi - Altit Fort - Baltit Fort - Rakaposhi View Point

   • Lunch and photo stop at Rakaposhi viewpoint

   • Altit Fort 900+ years old royal fort and a royal garden with several trees and magnificent colours.

   • Baltit Fort is an 800+ years old Royal Fort filled with history.

   Accommodations: Karimabad

10. Day 10: Karimabad & Altit (Central Hunza)

    • Karimabad & Altit (Central Hunza) -Sunset at Eagle’s Nest, Baltit Fort, Lunch at a women-run cafe, Altit Fort, Local women’s empowerment initiative
    • When Pakistanis tell you “You must visit Hunza!”, this is where they’re talking about. By far the most popular place in Hunza (which actually stretches all the way to Khunjerab, but not many people realize that), Karimabad and Altit are as close to touristy as it gets in Pakistan.

    • We will divide our time between Karimabad, home to Baltit Fort, and Altit, where a fort of the same name is situated. Beautifully restored by the Aga Khan Foundation, the forts are some of the best-maintained historical sites in Pakistan!

    • In between fort visits, we will hit the town for local food and shopping, and meet a local women’s empowerment organization—the view from Baltit Fort in Karimabad.

    • To finish the day off right, we will watch the sunset at a place called the Eagle’s Nest, then drive down south to a town called Danyor to rest our weary heads at a local home.

    Accommodations: Karimabad

11. Day 11: Gulmit (Upper Hunza)

    • Our first day in Gulmit is about wandering around and getting a feel for this idyllic Hunzai village. Old stone and mud houses, winding dirt paths lined with trees, and men and women out on the streets always ready with a smile and greeting—what better introduction to Pakistan’s north could you ask for? We will visit a women-run carpet center (a great place for authentic souvenir shopping that directly supports local women) and a women-run cafe serving all kinds of local Hunza food.

    • Time to burn off some calories by trekking up a dirt road to the mysterious ruins of Ondra Fort. Even locals don’t know exactly how old it is, but the views from the top are spectacular—you can see Gulmit, Attabad Lake, and the Passu Cones from the top—and it’s not every day you can have an entire ancient fortress to yourself!

    Accommodations: Gulmit traditional homestay

12. Day 12: Passu & Suspension Bridge Trek (Upper Hunza)

    Village walk in Passu Hussaini Bridge to Passu Bridge trek (8km/5 mi, 3-5 hours) Sleeping: Gulmit traditional homestay. 

    • Venture into one of Hunza's oldest and most picturesque villages: Passu. Situated riverside near the feet of the famous Passu Cones, the village is a collection of cute stone houses, farm fields, and fruit trees.

    • After a filling lunch, we will head out for an afternoon trek between two suspension bridges: the Passu and Hussaini bridges. Perilous and nerve-wracking even for the most confident adventurers, the bridges are a sight and make for excellent bragging and/or Indiana Jones references for friends and family at home. The trek between the two bridges isn’t too steep nor difficult by local standards, but it includes a gradual uphill.

13. Day 13: Khunjerab Pass - Borith Lake & Glacier Trek (Upper Hunza)

    Khunjerab Pass - Borith Lake & Glacier Trek (Upper Hunza)

    • Khunjerab Pass -As far as border crossings go, it doesn’t get much cooler than Khunjerab. Literally and figuratively. The Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China is the highest paved border crossing in the world. It’s so high that oxygen machines are in the border waiting area! Obviously, we won’t be able to cross the border—unless you have a Chinese visa and want to run away from us—but we can drive through Khunjerab National Park to the border gate with China. It’s a long drive, but the road is good and the views epic. White Glacier” Pakistan has more glacier coverage than any other country; it’s time to see one up close!

    • We will first walk up a series of dirt switchbacks to Borith Lake (2,600m), about 1.5km or a little less than 1 mile from the Karakoram Highway. Bold souls can go for a dip in its chilly waters—alas, you’ll have to keep all your clothes on because #modest life—and we can all have chai at one of the guesthouses overlooking the little lake. We’ll carry on with the relatively easy walk to the vantage point above the glacier, about one hour beyond Borith Lake. It’s sometimes possible to walk on the glacier. However, we only recommend this for the fittest participants, as the way down is extremely steep and loose.

    Accommodations: Gulmit traditional homestay

14. Day 14: Chilas to Naran Valley

    • Head to Gulmit - Chilas to Naran Valley.

    Accommodations: Naran Valley

15. Day 15: Muree Rawalpindi to Lahore

    • Walk through the old city of Rawalpindi.Lunch at Food Street Rawalpindi restaurant (safer for the stomach than street food).

    • Visit the Mughal-era Shalimar Gardens in the outskirts of Lahore Offbeat sites in Lahore: Bibi Pak Daman shrine Shalimar Gardens Mian Mir shrine Etc. Musical night Sleeping: Lahore hotel They say if you haven’t seen Lahore, you haven’t lived. We agree! Lahore is Pakistan’s cultural capital, brimming with things to do both historical and modern. Of course, we’ll still be weary from the drive down. No need to rush to do everything on our first day here! We will take our time checking out some of the city’s lesser-known sights, with a healthy dose of culinary exploration in between.

    • Dine to Sufi music at one of the city’s coolest cafes. Never fear, this is no awkward touristy music night—this is live music you won’t be able to resist dancing.

16. Day 16: Lahore

    • Traditional breakfast, Historical walk around the Walled City, Lahore Fort, Shahi Hamam, Wazir Khan Mosque, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore food street, Wagah Border ceremony. 

    • We will dive deeply into Lahore’s Walled City on our final full tour day. We will begin with a typical desi nashta, a local breakfast, right next to the fort. Lahoris go big with breakfasts, so afterwards, we will need to walk it all off as we roam through the old city. We will see centuries-old mosques, an intricate Persian bathhouse, busy markets overflowing with colours and sounds…and then some!

    • After another delectable Lahori lunch—food is everything here—we will head towards the bizarre but bumpin’ Wagah Border ceremony. Cheer on as Pakistani and Indian border guards strut their stuff for the daily closing ceremony of the India-Pakistan border.

    • Final family dinner with a view of Badshahi Mosque on Lahore’s most famous food street. The food will be delicious and the view delectable.

17. Day 17: Departure

    • End of Pakistan tour.