14 Days Safari Boats & Camels Of Indus River Pakistan
About this tour
14 Days tour, Exploring the culturally rich mainland Pakistan, 02 days boat safari, 02 days Camel caravan, visits of Salt range, Taxila archaeological, 13 nights hotels/GH.
Winters in South Pakistan offer mild climate to explore the treasures of the Land of Five Rivers - Punjab. We drive to mystic Multan to explore its shrines & old walled city, and then drive to Indus river to take a two days Boat Safari on the smooth waves of Indus river. As we get off the boats, the 13th century romantic monuments of Sufis greet us in Uch and Sitapur. Driving in soft top 4x4 jeep through the irrigated cotton belt of Pakistan we make our way to Cholistan desert. We then ride the ship of the desert - Camel for two days through the wilderness of desert to Derawar - the massive Fort that stand in the middle of nowhere. From Derawar Fort we drive to Bahawalpur and on to Lahore for short rest and much needed showers.
From Lahore we follow the motor way to Rawalpindi, en route visiting the Khewra salt mines & 11th century Shiva temples at Katas Raj. On the way to Peshawar, we will visit Taxila archaeological site and museum. At Peshawar, we make excursion to legendry Khyber Pass and explore the old city. The tour ends as we return from Peshawar to Lahore.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan to Lahore City, Pakistan
Arrive at Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan, the capital of Punjab and the premier Moghul city. Above all, in Pakistan the city is known for its lively atmosphere. Dinner in a typical Lahori restaurant.
Day 2: Lahore City, Pakistan to Lahore, Pakistan
To see Lahore is to be born again. That’s what the village folk tell each other in Punjab. We visit the Moghul monuments: The 17th century Badshahi Mosque, with marble domes and red sandstone arches. The fort of Lahore is rightly called a mosaic of Moghul architecture as it displays the taste of all the Moghul Emperors. Walk though the old walled city and visit the masterpiece of art: mosaic of glazed tiles - the Wazir Khan Mosque. In the evening we visit the Shalimar Garden. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 3: Lahore City, Pakistan to Multan Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Lahore - MULTAN (350 km, 5 ½ hours) Board morning Bus from Lahore for Multan (travel time 4 & half hours). At Multan Daewoo terminal you will be greeted by our staff with soft top 4x4 jeep. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit to the old walled city with its lively bazaar where artisans still work on traditional handicrafts. Multan, the most important city of Southern Punjab, has been famous for the pilgrimage to the sun god’s temple even before Alexander laid siege to it in 326 BC. The monuments that remain today date from the Islamic period between the 11th and 15th centuries, when Multan was a center of Sufi teachings. Overnight at hotel. (Lords Inn/Holiday Inn)
Day 4: Multan, Pakistan to New Taunsa Sharif Marble Showroom, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
_ MULTAN - TAUNSA (130 km, 3 hours) In the morning we visit the fort mound on which is found the landmark of Multan, the shrine of Rukne-e-Alam a renowned Sufi. The shrine of his grandson is within walking distance and here at the entrance can be found musicians singing Sufi poetry. The square & octagonal construction of the shrine was trend-setting architecture in its day. Lunch at your hotel. Afternoon drive from Multan to Taunsa on the bank of the Indus River. Here we meet the boat people who live for centuries on the bank of Indus river supporting themselves with fishing and transporting goods on their boats. We move to our Camp by the river, Meals & overnight at Hotel.
Day 5: Taunsa Barrage, Pakistan to Tounsa Mor Bus Stop, Pakistan
BOAT SAFARI After breakfast at the camp we load our camping equipment and luggage on traditional wooden boat and start our boat safari on Indus river. The jeep will travel overland, away from the river bank. We shall have a medium size, locally made wooden boat for ourselves Boats is operated by the local fishermen who are experts in navigating them without engines, by drifting downstream on the calm waters. The boats will not have a mechanical engine, so your peace on the river will not be disturbed by the sound of the engine. Overnight camp on the bank of the river. Meals & overnight at Hotel.
Day 6: Taunsa City Court, Taunsa, Pakistan to Panjnad, Pakistan
BOAT SAFARI In the soft morning light, we pack up our tents and have breakfast at the boat. Floating on the rhythmic waves of the Indus we pass through the heart of Punjab - the land of five rivers. In winter the banks of the river which are underwater in summer are exposed and present a varied landscape, form sand dunes to thick jungle and then flat lands of straw and other vegetation. By evening we arrive at Ghazi Ghat on the bank of Indus river. We meet our camping staff here who travel by the jeep, meals & overnight at Hotel
Day 7: Panjnad Canal, Pakistan to Uch Sharif, Pakistan
PANJNED - UCH – CHANAN PIR With our experience of the waterways of Punjab, we now begin the exploration of the once great and low lost cities of a great & by-gone civilization. Drive by soft top 4x4 jeep to Uch, to visit the exciting 13th century monuments in blue glazed tiles - half fallen to the floods of the roaring rivers and the rest still bravely facing the winds of time. The monuments were erected to pay homage to the great Sufi Saints of that period who are still loved by the locals. Later we drive to the pottery village of Ahmed Pur Sharqia to experience the art of clay pottery. Drive on to the shrine of the patron saint of the Cholistan desert. Here we meet our companions for the next two days - the ship of the desert & their captains - Camels and their proud and elegant owners. , meals & overnight at Hotel.
Day 8: Channan Pir, Pakistan to Channan Pir Road, Channan Pir, Pakistan
CHANAN PIR - HILLAO RANI CAMEL SAFARI After breakfast at the camp we have a training session of camel riding with our camel drivers teaching us how to mount and dismount this elegant and friendly animal of the desert. Each person shall have a camel; controlled by the camel driver walking in the front holding the reigns. You may decide to trek through the desert, to have better frame for your camel pictures. By late afternoon we arrive at the camp, a small shrine in the middle of nowhere, meals & overnight at Hotel.
Day 9: Derawar Fort Road, Chak 101 DNB, Pakistan to Derawar Fort, Derawar, Pakistan
TO DERAWAR FORT CAMEL SAFARI Camel Caravan through Cholistan, the ninth largest desert of the world, with a varied landscape. As this is no ordinary desert, it is called the land of the lost river that once used to flow through it few thousand years ago and supporting some 406 settlements. Today we have chance to meet the nomads at the occasional water holes. Arrive at Derawar, the largest fort of the desert that is part of the chain of forts built to protect the central Asian trade route to India proper. , meals & overnight at GH/Hotel.
Day 10: Derawar, Pakistan to Lahore, Pakistan
DERAWAR FORT - BAHAWALPUR - LAHORE. In the morning we take a walking tour of the Derawar; its landmark fort with forty buttresses, the elegant and charming 19th century Abbasi Mosque and the exquisitely decorated tombs of the members of the royal family. Later we drive through the desert on soft top 4x4 jeeps to Bahawalpur, the capital city of the former princely state. Afternoon Daewoo bus Lahore overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, Lahore, Pakistan to Islamabad, Pakistan
LAHORE – SALT RANGE - RAWALPINDI
Day 12: Islamabad, Pakistan to Rawalpindi, Pakistan
ISLAMABAD – RAWALPINDI
Day 13: Islamabad Expressway, Islamabad, Pakistan to Peshawar, Pakistan
Arrive Peshawar You will be met on arrival at Islamabad airport, freshen up at a hotel & then drive to Peshawar along the Grand Trunk Road which was created by the Pathan emperor of the United Indian Empire: Sher Shah Suri. Crossing Indus River at Attock, we may stop for photo at the meeting point of Indus & Kabul rivers just beyond Attock bridge. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Peshawar. (170 km, 3-4 Hours)
Day 14: Peshawar, Pakistan to Khyber Pass, Pakistan
Peshawar Morning excursion to Khyber Pass, the most important and strategic land route leading to the Indian sub-continent. Historic invaders, including the armies of Alexander the Great of Macedonia, have used this route to explore the wonders of fertile land that lies south of this pass. We may be allowed to visit Michni Post from where we have a panoramic view of the Pak-Afghan border. (45 km one way) Afternoon city tour. Peshawar has always been important in the history of the sub-continent because of its location near the Khyber Pass & Gandhara civilization. The city is now known more for its special feel of being a frontier town than for its monuments. Visit the street of story-tellers, Kissa Khawani bazaar, the street of gold (Kasera bazaar), Karavan Serai and Mahabat Khan Mosque. The museum of Peshawar, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts, should also be visited. Overnight at hotel Evening OR Morning transfer from hotel to Islamabad airport for your international departure flight.
What's included
Cost Includes: Accommodation on twin sharing basis at standard category hotels in towns. Meals: half board at hotels, full board during camping. Transport: One Camel for each member, Air-Conditioned Transport. Camping Facilities: Spacious desert Mogul tent with mattress - pillow & sheets, dinning tent with folding table & chairs, kitchen tent with complete kitchenette and staff, toilet tent. Portage of 15 Kg during trek. Tips & Porter age at airport & hotels, entrance fee at sites & museums. English speaking Guide.
Cost Does Not Include Domestic/International airfare and airport taxes. Any expense due to forced measures, cancellation of flight, landslides, natural calamities, acts of God, forced majeurs: beyond the control of Land Logistic Services Provider, their staff and suppliers. Any expense of personal nature not mentioned above.
What to know
14 Days tour, Exploring the culturally rich mainland Pakistan, 02 days boat safari, 02 days Camel caravan, visits of Salt range, Taxila archaeological, 13 nights hotels/GH
Route & locations
Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan to Lahore City, Pakistan