Indus Domes & Deserts

Arrive in Karachi, clear airport formalities and meet our local team before we transfer into the city to check in. You have time to rest and settle in, then we head out on a guided tour, taking in the National Museum, evocative Sufi shrines and the Mohammad Ali Jinnah Mausoleum. We end by the coast – at Clifton Beach or the Manghopir hot springs – to witness how modern life and history meet in Pakistan’s largest city.

We leave Karachi for the Chaukundi Tombs, admiring the finely carved sandstone graves with their geometric motifs and inscriptions. Continuing to Thatta, we explore the Shah Jahan Mosque – renowned for exquisite brickwork and blue tiles – before driving up to the Makli Hills to walk among the vast UNESCO–listed necropolis. We then follow rural roads to Kinjhar Lake – a Ramsar–listed freshwater haven – watching for flocks of ducks and herons along the shore. We finish the day in Hyderabad and check in at our hotel.

We drive to Hala through semi–rural Sindhi landscapes to visit family workshops where artisans create glazed ceramics, tiles and terracotta. We learn about the Kashi Kari tradition and try shaping clay in a hands‑on pottery session. Travelling on to Bhit Shah, we visit the shrine of the Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, then see how Ajrak textiles are block‑printed and dyed using time–honoured techniques. We return to Hyderabad, and you can unwind at the hotel.

We set out for Ranikot Fort – the Great Wall of Sindh – where we explore its sweeping ramparts and bastions and enjoy panoramic views across the rugged hills. Leaving Ranikot, we descend towards the Indus plains and continue to Sehwan. At the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar we experience the powerful atmosphere of devotion at this vibrant pilgrimage site.

We travel to Manchar Lake, one of Pakistan’s largest freshwater lakes, passing villages and irrigated fields. Here we spend time with members of the Mohana community, learning how lake life shapes their traditional fishing practices, including cooperation with water birds such as cormorants and herons. We then continue to the UNESCO–listed ruins of Mohenjo Daro to wander streets, brick houses and public buildings that reveal the sophistication of the Indus civilisation. After our visit we drive to Larkana to check in – you can rest after a day rich in archaeology and culture.

We visit the Bhutto Family Mausoleum near Larkana to take in its monumental design and reflect on the family’s political legacy. Driving onward to Kot Diji Fort on the edge of the Rohri Hills, we explore this pre–Indus and Harappan site and consider its links to later Indus culture. We continue to Sukkur on the Indus River, arriving in time for dinner and a well‑earned rest.

We board a boat to Sadhu Belo Island to visit its revered Hindu temples and learn about the site’s role for pilgrims. A scenic cruise reveals river islands and daily life along the banks, with chances to spot birdlife on the water. We then visit the Indus Dolphin Conservation Centre to hear about efforts to protect the endangered river dolphin, before climbing Masoon Shah Jo Minaro for sweeping views over Sukkur and the Indus.

We depart Sukkur for Bhong Mosque amid rural Punjab, admiring its intricate decoration – a fusion of influences from Pakistan, Iran, Spain and Turkey – and learning how its long construction earned the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. We then continue to Bahawalpur, once the capital of a princely state, and settle into our hotel.

From Bahawalpur we head into the Cholistan Desert to explore Derawar Fort, circling its massive bastions and hearing how it once safeguarded caravan routes. We pause at the nearby Derawar Mosque, its white domes reflecting Mughal–era aesthetics, and visit the Abbasi royal graveyard with its ornate mausoleums. Driving to Uch Sharif, we admire the Bibi Jawindi Tomb – famed for blue‑and‑white glazed tilework – and consider both its spiritual significance and the challenges of preservation. We return to Bahawalpur for dinner, and you have the evening at leisure.

We tour Bahawalpur, visiting Nur Mahal, characterful local mosques, the city museum and the bustling bazaar while tracing how former rulers shaped the city’s culture and architecture. Later we drive to Multan – the city of saints – and check in for the night.

We delve into Multan’s spiritual and craft heritage, visiting richly tiled shrines, the old city bazaar and the historic Eidgah Mosque. We watch artisans at work and absorb the city’s powerful devotional ambiance.

We depart Multan for the archaeological site of Harappa, travelling through rural Punjab to this key centre of the Indus Valley Civilisation. We explore foundations of homes, streets and public buildings that reveal advanced urban planning stretching back millennia. We then continue to Lahore, arriving in time for you to settle into your hotel ahead of tomorrow’s discoveries.

We begin at Lahore Fort – a UNESCO–listed complex of palaces, courtyards and grand gateways – pausing for views over the old city. We continue to the Badshahi Mosque, its vast courtyard and red sandstone an enduring symbol of Mughal power, before crossing the river to the serene tomb of Emperor Jahangir set within formal gardens. We explore the Lahore Museum, where Gandharan sculpture, manuscripts and Islamic art illuminate the region’s layered past. As evening falls, we sample local dishes on the old city’s lively food street.

We take a walking tour through the Old Walled City, threading narrow lanes and traditional bazaars where brassware, textiles and handicrafts fill the stalls. At the restored Shahi Hamam – a Mughal–era royal bathhouse – we admire frescoes and domed ceilings and learn how it served travellers and dignitaries. We continue to the Wazir Khan Mosque, renowned for exquisite tilework and richly painted interiors, then later travel to the Wagah border to witness the daily flag–lowering ceremony – a highly choreographed display matched by an energetic crowd.

You have free time in Lahore to relax, shop for souvenirs or revisit favourite places. Later, we transfer you from your hotel to the international airport in good time for check‑in and security. Check in and depart from Lahore as your Indus Domes & Deserts journey concludes – a final farewell to river plains, deserts and historic cities as you fly home.