This itinerary offers a unique opportunity to travel across the ancient Silk Road routes and high mountain passes of northern Pakistan, to visit some of the most important sites of South Asia’s rich cultural history, including Buddhist heritage, ancient towns and cities, architecture and rock sculptures. The transnational route begins in Kashgar and heads southward towards Hunza, Swat, Peshawar and Taxila, finishing in the Mughal-era splendors of Lahore.
The adventure starts in Kashgar, a historic trading hub of Central Asia, to explore the Kashgar Old Market and witness its vibrant centrality in Silk Road’s history. An epic drive across the high-altitude plateau to Tashkurgan follows, to cross the legendary Khunjerab Pass and highest paved international border in the world. The world-famous Karakoram Highway, or KKH, carries travelers and traders from China into Pakistan, descending from 4693 meters above sea level to spend the first night in the border town of Sost.
As we further drive down the KKH into Hunza, the multiply-peaked Passu Cones, welcoming village of Gulmit, sapphire waters of Attabad Lake await to tell their stories. The stoic 8th-century Baltit Fort stands guard over Karimabad and the lush green Hunza Valley surrounded by majestic white peaks. The road continues south through Gilgit, with a visit to the ancient Kargah Nala Buddha rock carving that underscores the region’s Buddhist past.
Traveling along the deep roaring Indus River, the Chilas petroglyphs bear further witness to the Buddhist travelers on the ancient Silk Road. The very same road leads us to Swat Valley, once a major center of the Gandhara civilization. We will pay visit to the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Swat, to appreciate this region’s great spiritual and archaeological significance.
As we leave the high mountains, Peshawar beckons, as one of South Asia’s oldest living cities and a crossroad of empires. Further exploration of Gandharan Buddhist heritage follows in Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a comfortable rest in Islamabad, Pakistan’s political capital, the journey concludes in Lahore, the country’s cultural capital. Enchantments of Mughal-era art and architecture include the majestic Lahore Fort, the beautifully restored Wazir Khan Mosque and Lahore Old City. What better way to ceremoniously wrap up this journey back in time with the pomp and flair of the India-Pakistan Wagah Border experience, before departure from Lahore International Airport!
This itinerary is ideal for travelers seeking a deep cultural, historical, and transnational journey, combining Silk Road history, Buddhist heritage tourism, and Pakistan’s legendary mountain landscapes, lovingly curated by Magpie Tours Pakistan for an enriching and seamless travel experience.