Gandhara Pakistan Tour

KPK, Punjab, and Islamabad, Pakistan

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Duration

10 Days / 09 Nights

Tour Type

Specific Tour

Group Size

20 people

Languages

___

Overview

Gandhara, an ancient Indo-Aryan civilization, was centered in present-day north-west Pakistan and north-east Afghanistan. It occupied the Peshawar and Swat valleys, with influence reaching Taxila in the Potohar Plateau and the Kabul valley in Afghanistan.

The Kingdom of Gandhara, once a revered center of Buddhism, flourished from the 6th century BCE to the 11th century. Its pinnacle came from the 1st to the 5th century under Buddhist Kushan Kings. Mahmud of Ghazni conquered it in 1021 CE, leading to the disappearance of the name Gandhara. During the Muslim period, Lahore and Kabul administered the region, and in Mughal times, it was part of Kabul province. The Gandharas, settled along the Kabul River, later crossed the Indus into north-west Punjab. Gandhara, on the northern high road (Uttarapatha), facilitated international trade, connecting ancient Iran and Central Asia. Peshawar Valley, known since Vedic times, played a crucial role in Gandhara’s history.

The legacy of Gandharan Buddhism and its art persists, spreading through Central Asia to the Tarim Basin. Ideas and images from Gandhara reached China, Korea, and Japan, making Gandharan art enduringly significant.

HIGHLIGHTS

Discover the major cities of Pakistan, including Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, and Swat.
Visit some of the Pakistan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, Rohtas Fort, Takht-e-Bahi and Taxila.
Witness the blend of Mughal, Sikh, and British influenced architecture in Lahore.
Explore the vibrant capital city of Islamabad and its key attractions.
Explore the Buddhist heritage in Swat, Gilgit and along the Karakorum Highway.
Shop at the top malls in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
Savor the diverse flavors of Pakistani cuisine across different cities.
Engage with people from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Itinerary

Arrival in Lahore, meet & greet, and transfer to the hotel for check in and overnight stay.

Drive from Lahore to Islamabad with en route visit to Rohtas Fort - one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Pakistan. Transfer to a hotel in Islamabad for overnight stay.

Full day sightseeing of Rawalpindi & Islamabad. Overnight stay at a hotel in Islamabad.

Drive to Swat Valley with en route visit to Taxila - A UNESCO World Heritage Site near Islamabad. Upon arrival, overnight stay at a hotel in Swat.

Explore Swat Valley - visit key attractions in Swat including the Swat Museum, Butkara, Jahanabad Seated Buddha, White Palace, Shingardar Stupa, Gumbat Stupa, Ghalegay Buddha etc. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Drive from Swat to Peshawar en route Mardan, Takht-e-Bahi Monastery: A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, transfer to a hotel for overnight stay.

Full day sightseeing of Peshawar - visit Mahabbat Khan Mosque, Cunnigham clock Tower, Sethi Street, Peshawar Museum, Balahisar Fort, Gorgathri etc. Retern to the hotel for overnight stay.

Drive from Peshawar to Lahore. Upon arrival, transfer to a hotel for overnight stay.

Full day sightseeing of Lahore - AM: Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, and Jahangir's Tomb. PM: Proceed to Wahga Border for flag-lowering ceremony. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Transfer to the Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport for onward flight to homeland. End of services.

Included/Exclude

All domestic flights and ground transportation including airport transfers.
All accommodation (hotel) on a twin sharing basis during the tour
Single supplement as per demand or for single female participant
All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and coffee/green tea/hot water
Professional tour guide and support staff
Personal insurance of all support staff.
Fresh and packed meals as per itinerary
Basic First Aid Kit
Visa assistance

Personal Insurance of foreign participants
Visa fee
International flight ticket
Personal clothing (shoes, trousers, etc.)
Personal Equipment can be arrange upon request
Extra hotel stays
Tips and gratuities to staff
Miscellaneous expenses
Anything not mentioned in the “services included section” above

Tour's Location

KPK, Punjab, and Islamabad, Pakistan

FAQs

The Gandhara Pakistan Tour provides an in-depth exploration of the rich Buddhist heritage, showcasing the glorious history of Buddhism in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. This tour is tailored for all types of travelers, including history enthusiasts, Buddhist followers, students, archaeologists, and more.

Please share your plan, dates and other people planning to travel with you so that we can arrange accordingly.

Both provinces are visited all year. However, June-August, like other cities of Pakistan experience a hot weather while rest of the year is well recommended to visit these regions.

The weather is moderate in the southern regions; you may pack up ordinary things including

● Important medicine/first aid kit
● Sunglasses
● Sunblock and lip balm
● Water bottle
● Cap/hat, and scarf (to avoid scorching sun)
● Full sleeves shirt
● Comfortable shoes and flip-flops
● Warm Layers of clothing for winters
● Camera with additional batteries (optional)
● Cell phone with charger and charging bank (optional)

We do. We can organize customized tours for solo tourists and groups of any volume, but we prefer not more than 20. All we need is the information on the interest, dates, and number of persons with special instructions if any.

The maximum size of our groups is 20 persons. The average size of our groups is 10 members.

During this tour, all three meals including breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be served to the participants. A combination of Foreign and Pakistani meals will be included in our food plan. Breakfasts will have coffee, cereal, tea, eggs, muesli/porridge, bread/chapatti included. Lunches include fresh meat and veggies, chapatti, rice etc. The dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant or at a famous food outlet in the vicinity of your hotel.

Accommodation will be arranged as per the commitment. We always try not to compromise on services and provide the highest standards of accommodation.

The Gandhara Pakistan Tour is a ten day journey that highlights the key attractions of Gandhara Heritage in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan, besides a full day sightseeing of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Each day begins with breakfast at the hotel, followed by travel to the next destination, with stopovers at the major attractions outlined in the itinerary. The day includes a lunch break, hotel check-in, and time to explore the local markets and city.

All nationalities must obtain a valid visa for entry into Pakistan. Tourists are advised to contact the nearest Pakistan Embassy/High Commission/consulate in their respected country/city. For the detailed information on visa, please refer to https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/ Pakistan does have visa on arrival facility for a number of countries. Please check the details here https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/visa-on-arrival-tourist/

Portable chargers, storage cards and extra batteries may be required during the trekking holiday. We advise you to make a relevant list of adapters, sockets and any other kind of electrical items you might require keeping your devices function as long as possible.

Tipping in Pakistan is not obligatory; it is entirely at one’s own discretion. Staff generally expects to be tipped at the end of the tour. If the staff during the trip performed well, a good tip is considered well-deserved. However, there is no defined amount as it depends on the situation, number of days spent and performance of the staff. With groups clients can join in to add to an amount.

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