Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Islamabad
You'll arrive late at night in Islamabad and get transferred from the airport to your hotel. It's a straightforward check-in after your flight, so you can rest up for the days ahead.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hill View Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Ramada Hotel oder ähnlich)
- Day 2
Islamabad
This morning starts with a guided tour of Islamabad's main sites. You'll head to Shakarparian Park first for views across the city, then see the Pakistan Monument with its Mughal-inspired design. After that, the Museum of Pakistan gives you historical context, and you'll walk through the Folk Heritage Museum's collections. By afternoon, you'll visit Faisal Mosque, which holds over 100,000 worshippers and sits among the city's most recognizable landmarks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hill View Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Ramada Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- City tour of Islamabad
- Visit Shakarparian Park
- Visit Pakistan Monument and Museum of Pakistan
- Visit Folk Heritage Museum
- Visit Faisal Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Shakarparian Park Pakistan Monument Folk Heritage Museum Faisal Mosque - Day 3
Islamabad to Besham
You're driving from Islamabad to Besham today, a 245 km journey on the newly opened Hazara Highway. Along the way, you'll stop at Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with roots going back around 1000 BC. You'll explore the Taxila Museum, walk through the Bhir Hill ruins from the 6th century BC, and see the Dharmarajika Stupa dating to the 3rd century BC. This ancient Greek Buddhist site gives real perspective on the region's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Besham Hilton Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Taxila UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Taxila Museum
- Visit Bhir Hill
- Visit Dharmarajika Stupa
Landmarks/POIs Taxila Taxila Museum Bhir Hill Dharmarajika Stupa - Day 4
Besham to Gilgit
The drive to Gilgit takes you along the famous Karakoram Highway, considered one of the world's most impressive engineering feats. You'll pass through dramatic mountain landscapes and see construction sites for major dams at Dassu and Diamar-Basha. Stop to see rock paintings at Shatial and the Thalpan petroglyphs near Chilas. As you approach Gilgit, you'll reach the confluence where the Indus and Gilgit rivers meet, with views of where the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush mountains converge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Avari Hotel Gilgit oder ähnlich), Hotel (Serena Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Drive Karakoram Highway
- Visit rock paintings at Shatial
- Visit Thalpan petroglyphs at Chilas
Landmarks/POIs Shatial Rock Paintings Thalpan Petroglyphs - Day 5
Gilgit to Hunza (Karimabad)
After breakfast, you'll drive to Kargah to see the 7th-century Buddha rock engraving carved into the mountainside. This site once served as a resting place for Buddhist pilgrims traveling from China. Later, you'll explore Gilgit's bazaar before heading toward Hunza, stopping at Rakaposhi viewpoint to see the north face of this 6,000-meter peak. You'll have tea there and take in the mountain views before continuing 2 hours to Karimabad in Hunza.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Darbar Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Serena Altit Fort oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Kargah Buddha rock engraving
- Explore Gilgit City bazaar
- Stop at Rakaposhi viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Kargah Buddha Rakaposhi 
- Day 6
Hunza (Karimabad)
You have a free day to explore Hunza Valley at your own pace. Check out the restored Altit Fort, which has a women's workshop where local artisans display wooden furniture and handicrafts, plus quiet orchards to walk through. Head to nearby Baltit to see the 800-year-old Baltit Fort, a UNESCO-recognized restoration that was the former stronghold of the Ayasho dynasty. Spend your afternoon wandering through Karimabad Bazaar and picking up whatever catches your interest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Darbar Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Serena Altit Fort oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Altit Fort
- Visit women's workshop at Altit Fort
- Visit Baltit Fort
- Explore Karimabad Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Altit Fort Baltit Fort - Day 7
Hunza
You're driving the Karakoram Highway to Haldeikish to view ancient petroglyphs, then continuing to Gulmit in Upper Hunza along scenic Attabad Lake. This peaceful village once served as winter capital of the Hunza kingdom, and you'll watch local women weaving carpets and creating traditional handicrafts. From there, head to Passu village for views of peaks over 7,000 meters, check out Passu Glacier Viewpoint, and experience the 'Indiana Jones Bridge' at Hussaini before returning to Karimabad.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Darbar Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Serena Altit Fort oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- View petroglyphs at Haldeikish
- Explore Gulmit village
- Visit Passu Glacier Viewpoint
- Cross Hussaini Bridge
Optional Activities
- Short boat trip on Attabad Lake (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Attabad Lake Gulmit Passu Glacier Hussaini Bridge - Day 8
Hunza to Gilgit
After breakfast, you'll drive to Hopper in the Nagar Valley, which sits southeast of Karimabad. The route offers nice views of the Nagar Valley and Hunza Ultar mountain range. On your return journey to Gilgit, you'll visit Ganish Heritage Village, one of Hunza's oldest settlements that's been preserved by AKCSP. This gives you a sense of how the valley's communities have lived historically.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Avari Hotel Gilgit oder ähnlich), Hotel (Serena Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Drive to Hopper in Nagar Valley
- Visit Ganish Heritage Village
Landmarks/POIs Ganish Heritage Village - Day 9
Gilgit to Khaplu
You're driving from Gilgit to Khaplu today via the newly asphalted Indus Highway, traveling through Skardu along the way. The scenic route follows mountain slopes and drops steeply down to the Indus River. You'll stop in Istak village before reaching Skardu, then continue 105 km east to Khaplu through dramatic landscapes where green oases contrast sharply with rugged mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Destination Hotel oder ähnlich), (Serena Khaplu Palace oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Drive Indus Highway to Skardu
- Stop in Istak village
- Drive to Khaplu
Landmarks/POIs Skardu - Day 10
Khaplu Area
This excursion takes you to Machulo, a beautiful village 15 km from Khaplu at 2,700 meters altitude. From the viewpoint there, you can see Masherbrum at 7,821 meters, Siachen valley, Chorbat valley villages, and the Ghanche glaciers if weather cooperates. You'll visit a historic mosque and old water channel, then take a walk with river views. By afternoon, you'll head back to Khaplu for a village walk and a visit to the old mosque.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Destination Hotel oder ähnlich), (Serena Khaplu Palace oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Machulo village
- Visit historic mosque at Machulo
- Walk to viewpoint in Machulo
- Explore Khaplu village
- Visit old mosque of Khaplu
Landmarks/POIs Machulo Masherbrum - Day 11
Khaplu to Shigar
You're traveling to Shigar at 2,300 meters on the banks of the Shigar River, a quiet location surrounded by irrigated fruit terraces. After you arrive, you'll hike for about an hour to Kari Dong where the first fortress of this fiefdom stood. You can see fort remains, ruins of an old mosque, a Buddhist monastery, and 5th-century inscriptions with views across the valley. Later you'll explore the 14th-century Amburiq Mosque, which UNESCO recognized for its restoration, and walk through the winding bazaar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Güzel Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Serena Shigar Fort Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Hike to Kari Dong (Shigar Rock)
- Visit fortress remains at Shigar Rock
- Visit Amburiq Mosque
- Explore Shigar bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Kari Dong (Shigar Rock) Amburiq Mosque - Day 12
Shigar to Islamabad
You'll transfer to Skardu airport for a domestic flight back to Islamabad (note this flight isn't included and weather can cause cancellations). Once you arrive at Islamabad airport, you'll transfer to your hotel. Late afternoon, you'll drive to Daman-e-Koh for views of Islamabad's twin cities from the Margalla Hills viewpoint.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hill View Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Ramada Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Daman-e-Koh viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Daman-e-Koh - Day 13
Islamabad to Rohtas Fort
Today you're heading to Rohtas to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rohtas Fort. You'll drive along the historic Grand Trunk Road, which dates back before Buddha and once connected regional cities over 2,600 km from Kabul to Chittagong. The fort was built between 1541-1548 by Sher Shah Suri as military architecture to suppress rebellious tribes. You'll explore the 12.63-hectare complex with its bastions, gates, mosques, residential quarters, and fountains before returning to Islamabad.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hill View Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Ramada Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Rohtas Fort UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks/POIs Rohtas Fort - Day 14
Departure from Islamabad
Your Pakistan tour ends today with a transfer to the airport for your departure. You'll head out having seen everything from Islamabad's monuments to the high peaks and valleys of the north, plus the historical sites that shaped the region.
Optional Activities
- Extension to cultural cities in southern Pakistan (bookable separately)
