Pakistan, End to End: A 27-Day Journey North and South

Spend the morning touring Baltit Fort, perched above Karimabad with commanding views across the valley. The afternoon is free to wander Hunza's bazaar and take in the pace of daily life in the valley. Overnight: Hunza

Cross the river into Nagar Valley, noticeably wilder and less cultivated than Hunza, and walk to Hoppar village at the edge of the glaciers for a lunch stop with views of several 7,000m peaks. In the afternoon, continue up to Duiker (2,850m/9,350ft), the highest overnight stop of the trip, where the sparse landscape opens into wide panoramas — capped off with a short sunset walk to a viewpoint. Overnight: Duiker

Head north along the Karakoram Highway to Attabad Lake, a striking turquoise stretch of water; a boat trip across it offers a different perspective on the surrounding peaks. There's an optional stop at the quieter Borith Lake before continuing to Sost, the last town before the Chinese border. Overnight: Sost (~2,900m/9,514ft)

A full-day excursion into Khunjerab National Park, climbing steadily to Khunjerab Pass (4,700m/15,420ft), right on the China border. It's stark, high-altitude terrain, home to Marco Polo sheep and Himalayan ibex, with an outside chance of a snow leopard sighting. Return to Sost for a second night. Overnight: Sost

A scenic 3–4 hour drive retraces the highway south to Gilgit, with a stop en route at Kargah to see a Buddha figure carved into the cliff face. In Gilgit, browse the bustling bazaar, stocked with everything from dried fruit to mountaineering gear. Overnight: Gilgit

The drive to Skardu follows the Indus River through dramatic mountain scenery, with views of Nanga Parbat's sheer west face along the way. Beyond Skardu, the road passes through an unusual "cold desert" of sand dunes set against snow-capped peaks before opening into the fertile, orchard-lined Shigar Valley. Overnight: Shigar (2,230m/7,316ft)

A relaxed day exploring Shigar on foot, walking past orchards of apricot, apple, and walnut, and visiting the beautifully carved wooden interior of the Amburiq Mosque. An optional 4WD excursion climbs into the surrounding hills for wide views over the valley. Overnight: Shigar

A short transfer to Skardu's airport for a scenic morning flight to Islamabad, weaving between peaks for much of the hour-long journey. In the afternoon, visit the Pakistan National Council of Art Museum for a look at contemporary painting and traditional crafts. (If the flight is cancelled, the group travels back by road instead, over today and tomorrow.) Overnight: Islamabad

A day trip to Peshawar, exploring the old walled city on foot — narrow lanes and bazaars still organised by trade, selling everything from spices to jewellery. Return to Islamabad by evening. (Runs only if the Day 13 flight operated as planned.) Overnight: Islamabad

The drive to Lahore includes a stop at the Katas Raj temple complex, built around a sacred pool, with a narrow stairway leading up to rooftop views across the Salt Range. Continue on to Lahore, arriving in the evening. Overnight: Lahore

A full day inside Lahore's historic walled city. Visit the Shahi Hammam, a restored bathhouse near Delhi Gate, then wander deeper into the old streets to the Wazir Khan Mosque, known for its elaborate tiled facade. The Badshahi Mosque, with its vast courtyard and three marble domes, is one of the largest mosques in the world, and Lahore Fort's carved sandstone halls and mirrored chambers close out the day. Overnight: Lahore

Visit the Lahore Museum for its coin and sculpture collections, then the Shalimar Gardens, a formal garden with terraced lawns and fountains. In the evening, join the crowds at the Wagah Border for the theatrical flag-lowering ceremony, complete with high-stepping drill and cheering crowds on both sides of the gate. Overnight: Lahore

A four-hour drive brings you to the Harappa archaeological site, with excavated brick ruins and a museum of ancient seals and pottery. Continue three more hours to Multan, with a possible stop at a workshop to see the region's famous blue pottery being made. Overnight: Multan

Explore Multan's shrines and old city, starting with the domed Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, then the shrines of Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Shams Tabrez, both still active pilgrimage sites. Visit Multan Fort, and finish with a walk through the busy stalls of Hussain Agahi Bazaar. Overnight: Multan

A two-hour drive to Bahawalpur. View the grand Noor Mahal Palace, Al Sadiq Mosque in the old city, then visit the Library of Bahawalpur, housed in an elegant building with a collection of rare manuscripts and old texts. Overnight: Bahawalpur

A day trip into the Cholistan Desert to Derawar Fort, its high walls and bastions rising dramatically out of the sand. Nearby, visit the ornately decorated tombs of the Abbasi Nawabs before returning to Bahawalpur. Overnight: Bahawalpur

Drive to Uch Sharif to see the finely tiled Bibi Jawindi shrine and the simpler tomb of Jalaluddin Bukhari, then continue about four hours to Sukkur, a busy city on the banks of the Indus. Visit the Tomb of the Seven Sisters and the Lansdowne Bridge, then end the day with a sunset boat cruise on the river, keeping an eye out for the Indus's rare freshwater dolphins. Overnight: Sukkur

Stop at Kot Diji's hilltop fort en route to Mohenjo-Daro, one of the world's best-preserved Bronze Age cities. Wander the excavated streets, including the Great Bath and Granary, before continuing to Larkana in the late afternoon. Overnight: Larkana

The drive to Hyderabad passes through Sehwan Sharif, where the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is rarely quiet — expect music, drumming, and dancing around the tomb at almost any hour. Settle into Hyderabad, known for its lively food scene, by evening. Overnight: Hyderabad

Visit the tiled Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta, then the vast Makli Necropolis nearby, one of the largest cemeteries in the world, spreading across the landscape as far as the eye can see. Stop at Keenjhar Lake for a break before the final drive into Karachi. Overnight: Karachi

A full day in Karachi, starting at the marble Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, then the National Museum of Pakistan for its archaeology and art collections. Visit Mohatta Palace, an elegant pink stone building near Clifton Beach, with a stop at the bustling Empress Market. End the day with sunset over the Arabian Sea at Clifton Beach and a farewell group dinner. Overnight: Karachi

Transfer to the airport for departure from Karachi, bringing the journey from the mountains of the north to the shores of the Arabian Sea to a close with lifetime memories.