Tour overview

This 15-day small-group trip travels from Pakistan's capital into the high Karakoram and back down to Lahore, its cultural capital. Groups have no more than 12 travellers, with a local leader throughout, and most meals are included. The trip is land-only: you arrange your own international flights to Islamabad and home from Lahore, and arrival and departure transfers are included.

In Islamabad you see the Faisal Mosque at sunset, once the largest mosque in the world, and a truck art workshop. You also visit the World Heritage-listed ruins of Taxila, where Persian, Greek and Buddhist influences overlapped for centuries. A flight to Skardu, gateway to the Karakoram, brings you into the mountains, with visits to Kharpocho Fort, the 8th-century Manthal Buddha Rock and the cold Katpana Desert.

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The Karakoram Highway then leads north to Passu, your base for three nights. Rakaposhi and other peaks over 7,000 metres line the road. From Passu you hike to the ruins of Ondra Fort above Gulmit, walk to Borith Lake at about 2,600 metres and out to the Passu Glacier, and see the Hussaini Suspension Bridge and the jagged Passu Cones. An evening of local music rounds off the stay.

A 4WD road, built by hand by the villagers over 18 years and only opened in 2003, climbs to Shimshal. You spend two nights in simple guesthouses in this mountaineering village, meeting families and walking its trails. In Hunza you stop at the vivid blue Attabad Lake, formed by a landslide in 2010, and the UNESCO award-winning Silk Road village of Ganish. In Karimabad you walk up to the 700-year-old Baltit and Altit forts, have lunch at a women-run café and watch the sunset from Duiker, the Eagle's Nest.

After a flight back to Islamabad, you drive to Lahore for three nights. You explore the Walled City, the Lahore Fort, the Badshahi and Wazir Khan mosques, and the spice and cloth markets. Other visits include the Shalimar Gardens, the Tomb of Jahangir, and the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border with India. The trip ends with a farewell dinner on Food Street.

The physical rating is medium, with regular hikes on uneven ground at altitude. Accommodation ranges from hotels to basic guesthouses, and some have shared bathrooms. This trip suits curious, flexible travellers who want to see one of Asia's least-visited mountain regions with an experienced local leader.

Trip highlights

  • Islamabad's Faisal Mosque at sunset and the World Heritage ruins of Taxila (Day 2)
  • The Karakoram Highway, with views of Rakaposhi and other 7,000-metre peaks (Day 4)
  • Hikes to Borith Lake and the Passu Glacier, and the Hussaini Suspension Bridge (Day 6)
  • Two nights in Shimshal, a remote mountain village reached by 4WD (Days 7–8)
  • Attabad Lake, Baltit and Altit forts, and sunset from Duiker above Hunza (Days 9–10)
  • Lahore's Walled City, Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar Gardens and the Wagah border ceremony (Days 13–14)

Your route

8 stops from Islamabad to Lahore

15-day route: Islamabad – Taxila – Skardu – Passu – Shimshal – Karimabad – Skardu – Islamabad – Lahore
  1. Islamabad Days 1–2
  2. Taxila Day 2
  3. Skardu Days 3 & 11
  4. Passu Days 4–6
  5. Gulmit Day 5
  6. Shimshal Days 7–8
  7. Karimabad Days 9–10
  8. Lahore Days 12–14

Why choose this tour

An experienced local leader takes a small group through some of Asia's most dramatic mountain scenery, with flights to Skardu cutting out long drives. Most meals and visits are included, along with time in villages and at women-run enterprises, so you meet the people as well as see the sights.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers looking for somewhere few people visit
  • Hikers comfortable with day walks at altitude
  • Travellers interested in Silk Road history, Islamic architecture and local life
  • Solo travellers, who can share a room at no extra cost
The jagged Passu Cones above the Hunza Valley, Pakistan

Day-by-day itinerary

15 days from Islamabad, Pakistan to Lahore, Pakistan

  1. Day 1 · Islamabad Arrive in Islamabad

    Arrive in Islamabad, the capital, built in the 1960s, and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early, you could visit Golra Railway Station and its heritage museum or the Lok Virsa Museum. The trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm, followed by dinner with your group and local leader.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Islamabad, Faisal Mosque, Taxila, Saidpur Islamabad and Taxila

    Your leader introduces Islamabad and Pakistan's history, with a chance to buy a shalwar kameez, the traditional dress. Visit the World Heritage-listed ruins and museum at Taxila, shaped by Persian, Greek and Buddhist cultures, and a truck art workshop. Then see the Faisal Mosque at sunset. Dinner is in nearby Saidpur village.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Skardu, Kharpocho Fort, Manthal Buddha Rock, Katpana Desert Fly to Skardu

    Fly from Islamabad to Skardu, gateway to the Karakoram range. Explore Skardu Bazaar, the 8th-century Manthal Buddha Rock, Kharpocho Fort and the high-altitude Katpana Desert.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Karakoram Highway, Rakaposhi View Point, Passu Karakoram Highway to Passu

    Travel north on the Karakoram Highway, which links Pakistan and China, stopping for views of 7,000-metre peaks including Rakaposhi. Passu, a small town among mountains and glaciers, is your base for three nights.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Gulmit, Ondra Fort, Passu Gulmit and Ondra Fort

    Drive to Gulmit to visit a carpet-weaving centre run by local women and the Old House Gulmit. Hike up to the ruins of Ondra Fort, believed to date from the 16th century, for wide views of the valley and peaks, then return to Passu.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Hussaini Suspension Bridge, Borith Lake, Passu Glacier, Passu Cones Borith Lake and Passu Glacier

    See the Hussaini Suspension Bridge over the Hunza River, which you can cross carefully if conditions allow. Hike to Borith Lake, at about 2,600 metres, and out to the Passu Glacier beneath the Passu Cones. Try local apricot cake, and in the evening a local band plays traditional music.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Shimshal By 4WD to Shimshal

    Travel by 4WD to Shimshal, which had no road until 2003, when villagers finished building one by hand after 18 years. The village has produced many of Pakistan's best-known mountaineers, including Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to climb Everest.

    Hotel
    Simple guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Shimshal Shimshal

    A day to explore Shimshal and acclimatise. Meet local families, learn how life works in this remote, solar-powered village and walk its trails for wide mountain views. An optional hike is offered, or you can stay in the village.

    Hotel
    Simple guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Attabad Lake, Ganish, Karimabad Attabad Lake and Karimabad

    Return to Passu by 4WD, then drive to Karimabad. On the way, stop at Attabad Lake, formed by a landslide in 2010, and walk through Ganish, an ancient Silk Road village with a UNESCO conservation award. You also see the Sacred Rock of Hunza, and in the evening you visit the Karimabad market.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Karimabad, Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Duiker Baltit and Altit forts

    Walk to the Baltit and Altit forts, over 700 years old and restored by the Aga Khan Foundation. Have lunch at a women-run café and visit a women's woodworking enterprise. At sunset, drive up to Duiker, the Eagle's Nest, for views of Rakaposhi, Ultar and Spantik on a clear day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Kachura Lakes, Skardu Back to Skardu

    Drive back to Skardu, stopping at the Upper and Lower Kachura lakes on the way. You stay overnight in Skardu ready for the flight in the morning.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Islamabad, Lahore Fly to Islamabad, drive to Lahore

    Fly back to Islamabad, then drive to Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city and capital of the Punjab, known for its universities, arts and food. If weather stops the flight, the group travels by road instead.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  13. Day 13 · Lahore, Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque Lahore's Walled City

    Explore the Walled City, founded around the year 1000: the Delhi Gate, the World Heritage-listed Lahore Fort, the Badshahi Mosque, the tiled Wazir Khan Mosque and the Shahi Hammam baths. Visit the tomb of the poet Allama Iqbal, then browse the Akbari Mandi spice market, the Azam Cloth Market and Anarkali Bazaar.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Tomb of Jahangir, Shalimar Gardens, Wagah Border, Lahore Food Street Shalimar Gardens and Wagah border

    Visit the 17th-century Tomb of Jahangir and the Shalimar Gardens of Shah Jahan, with their terraces, pools and pavilions. In the afternoon, watch the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border with India. The farewell dinner is on Lahore's Food Street.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  15. Day 15 · Lahore Depart Lahore

    Your trip ends after breakfast in Lahore. Check-out is by midday, and a departure transfer to the airport is included for your onward flight.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Attabad Lake among the mountains of Hunza, Pakistan

Where you stay

  • Islamabad (2 nights) Hotel
  • Skardu (2 nights) Hotel
  • Passu (3 nights) Hotel
  • Shimshal (2 nights) Simple guesthouse
  • Karimabad (2 nights) Hotel
  • Lahore (3 nights) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation — 14 nights 12 in hotels and 2 in simple guesthouses in Shimshal
  • Meals 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 9 dinners
  • Flights internal flights from Islamabad to Skardu and back
  • Transport private vehicles on the Karakoram Highway, 4WD to Shimshal, and local auto rickshaws
  • Arrival transfer in Islamabad and departure transfer in Lahore
  • Guided visits and hikes in the itinerary, including Taxila, the Hunza forts, the Passu hikes and Lahore's monuments
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to Islamabad and home from Lahore
  • Pakistan visa and permits
  • Meals not listed and optional museum entries
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
  • Single supplement, if you want your own room
Autumn colours in the Hunza Valley, Pakistan

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — international flights are not included
  • You need comfortable hotels every night — some guesthouses are basic, with shared bathrooms and limited hot water
  • You dislike long, slow road journeys — mountain roads are busy and slow
  • You hold an Indian, Israeli or Chinese passport — government restrictions mean these travellers cannot join

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Pakistan
A road through the mountains of Hunza-Nagar, Pakistan

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,220 per person, twin share, tour only. 9 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Are flights included?

International flights are not included: you fly into Islamabad and home from Lahore. The internal flights from Islamabad to Skardu and back are included, along with arrival and departure transfers.

What if the Skardu flights are cancelled?

Flights between Islamabad and Skardu can be delayed or cancelled by weather. If that happens, the group takes the next available flight or travels by road in a private vehicle. You need your passport and a copy of your ticket to enter Pakistani airports.

How active is the trip?

The physical rating is medium. There are several hikes on uneven ground at altitude, including to Ondra Fort, Borith Lake (about 2,600 metres) and the Passu Glacier, plus walking tours of forts, villages and markets.

What is the accommodation like?

Twelve nights in hotels and two in simple guesthouses in Shimshal. Some places have shared bathrooms, hot water only at peak times and daily power cuts, and not all rooms have air-conditioning.

Can anyone join?

Because of government restrictions, travellers holding Indian, Israeli or Chinese passports cannot join this trip. A visa is required for UK citizens, and a scanned passport is needed at booking for visa support.

Can solo travellers share a room?

Yes. Solo travellers can share with another traveller of the same sex at no extra cost, or pay a single supplement for their own room, subject to availability.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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