13 DAYS PAKISTAN - ROOF OF THE SILK ROAD

Transfer: Lahore Airport to Hotel 
Upon arrival, you would be met and transferred to your hotel. 

Lahore City Tour 
Explore Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan, which is known as the ‘Gardens of the Mughals’ owing to its significant rich heritage of the Mughal Empire (1526-1761).  
 
Visit the iconic Badshahi Mosque, the largest congregational mosque built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Head over to the magnificent Lahore Fort, a historical walled complex containing numerous monuments.  

Intriq Finesse Collection: Lahore Museum 
Next, visit this country’s largest museum with a museum curator; Lahore Museum, opened since 1894, holds a massive collection of treasures, including ancient artifacts, Buddhist sculptures, coins, armaments, miniature and contemporary paintings.  

Admire Shalimar Gardens & Witness Wagah Border Flag Lowering Ceremony 
A visit to Lahore is not complete without heading to the Shalimar Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising of charming Mughal architectures and three garden terraces.  
 
Later, head eastward of Lahore to Wagah Border, the border of Pakistan and India, to witness the Flag Lowering Ceremony and the synchronized movements of the soldiers are sights to behold.  

Indus Valley Civilization of Harappa 
After breakfast, set out on an excursion to the archaeological site of Harappa where history trace back to as early as fourth millennium BC, during the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Bronze Age Harappan Civilization. Visit the Harappa Museum to observe various ancient artifacts that were excavated from the Indus Valley.  

Transfer: Lahore to Islamabad 
Today, we will leave Lahore and travel about 420km to Islamabad.

Khewra Salt Mines – World’s Second Largest Salt Mine 
Enroute, visit Khewra Salt Mines, Pakistan’s largest and oldest salt mine, and second largest in the world, with 18 working levels! Hop onto the electric train, taking you through the tunnel to see where the highly raved pink Khewra salt, or commonly known as the Himalayan salt are formed.  

Exploring Taxila 
Head to Taxila, one of Pakistan’s earliest listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where it used to be a significant Buddhist centre of learning from 5th century BC to 2nd century AD. Visit the Taxila Museum which exhibits great collections of artifacts from Gandhara Civilization. Proceed to important archaeological sites including Dharmarajika Stupa, Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, and Sirkap city ruins.

Transfer: Taxila to Peshawar 
After lunch, we will drive about 2.5 hours to Peshawar, the oldest city of Pakistan.

Peshawar Bazaar Experience 
Stroll through the bustling Qissa Khwani, or Storytellers Bazaar, a key trade and cultural centre where international merchants of subcontinent and Central Asia mingle in the traditional tea houses. Peshawari cultural items, fabrics, dried fruits, spices and more can be found in this old bazaar.

Peshawar Museum Visit 
Another noteworthy place to appreciate more ancient Gandharan art would be at the Peshawar Museum. Besides showcasing the most extensive collections of Gautama Buddha objects, this museum also exhibits artifacts from all periods of Pakistani history.

The Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi 
Proceed to the UNESCO-listed Takht-i-Bahi, meaning the Throne of Bahi, is a well-preserved Indo-Parthian archaeological site of an important ancient Buddhist monastic complex sitting on a hilltop.

Journey to Swat 
Continue about 3 hours’ drive to Mingora, the largest city of Swat district. Along the way, view the Shingardar Stupa, a notable remnant of Buddhist era and one of the thousands of ancient monuments in Swat Valley. Next, get a glimpse of the Ghaligai Buddha rock carving.

Transfer: Swat to Chilas 
Today, we will travel from Swat to Chilas by transferring to a 4WD vehicle for your onwards mountainous journey towards northern Pakistan.

Full Day Scenic Road Trip: Shangla Pass & Karakoram Highway 
Keep your eyes peeled for a picturesque road trip across Shangla Pass (2,300m) and the well-known Karakoram Highway. Every bend leads to a stunning view! The 1,300km-long Karakoram Highway was co-built by Pakistan and China for over 20 years, passing through gorges, rivers and valleys, while offering spectacular mountain views.  
 
Travel along the mighty Indus River and pass by remote valleys of Kohistan. We will make a stop at the Shatial Rock Art site to admire the petroglyphs.  

Panoramic Views Enroute to Hunza Valley 
Head to the Chilas Rock Carving site where there are thousands of Thalpan petroglyphs. Afterwards, stop over at Thalichi and feel the awe of three majestic mountains: Nanga Parbat (8,126m), Haramosh (7,409m) and Rakaposhi (7,788m).  
 
Proceed to the astounding junction point of three mighty mountain ranges, namely the Karakoram, the Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush. In addition, soak in the stunning views of the confluence of Gilgit and Hunza Rivers.  

Intriq Finesse Collection: Hunza Folk Music Show 
Immerse yourself in the folk music performed by the locals, and enjoy your dinner

Discovering Hunza Valley 
Hunza, situated at an elevation of 2,438m, is the country’s most enchanting valley especially during spring and autumn. Enjoy your scenic drive to Hoper Valley, and enroute stop by the confluence of Hunza and Nagar Rivers. Feast your eyes on the magnificent view of Ulter Peak (7,388m), Lady Figure Peak (6,000m), and Golden Peak (7,027m).  

Intriq Finesse Collection: Private Outdoor Lunch 
Enjoy a private outdoor lunch with traditional food of the local and Pakistani, while being mesmerized by the captivating views of the surrounding mountains.

Traverse through Hoper Valley & Glacier 
You may choose to go for a 1-hour village walk along the irrigation channel with beautiful view of the valley, mountains and get a glimpse of the local life, or consider hiking to the glacier if you are more adventurous.  
 
If time permits, ascend to the 700-year-old Baltit Fort on a hilltop, as well as explore Karimabad Bazaar.  

Excursion to Khunjerab Pass
Get ready for a breathtaking journey as we make the excursion to Khunjerab Pass (4,733m), the world’s highest paved international border crossing, between Pakistan and China.

Enroute, we will make stops at the gorgeous Attabad Lake, Hussaini Suspension Bridge, and the viewpoints of Passu Glacier and Batura Glacier. Thereafter, continue your scenic ride to Khunjerab Pass. 

Transfer: Hunza to Gilgit 
After breakfast, we will drive about 3 hours from Hunza to Gilgit with sightseeing along the way.

Gilgit – Ancient Silk Road 
Uncover the stories behind a few interesting sites we will stop by today, including the Old Silk Road, Collision Point of Continental Plates, and the 7th-century Kargah Buddha rock carving. We will also visit Gilgit Bazaar and old rope suspension bridge.  

Intriq Finesse Collection: Traditional Freestyle Polo 
Polo is the oldest game in Gilgit-Baltistan. Watch a traditional Freestyle Polo match that is played only in this region.  

Flight from Gilgit to Islamabad 
Transfer to Gilgit Airport for your flight to Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan.  
 
In the event of flight cancellation such as due to weather condition, we will drive to Besham for overnight stay (Note: there are only basic accommodations in Besham).  

Islamabad City Discovery 
Head to the splendid Faisal Mosque, the national and largest mosque of Pakistan. Then, visit Saidpur Village from the Mughal Era. Proceed to Daman-e-Koh situated in the middle of Margalla Hills for a panoramic view of Islamabad.  

Transfer to Islamabad Airport 
After dinner, transfer to the airport for your flight home.