Pakistan Expedition

15 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
View all 9 photos
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
93%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Group Tour
Get set for a 15-day expedition through an ancient land. Beginning in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, the expedition takes you north to the stunning and rarely visited Hunza Valley region. Here you’ll find nature unleashed: imagine imposing jagged peaks, alpine lakes and glaciers creeping into the valleys. Hike between ancient fortifications scattered among ...
$6,102
From$4,520
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Learn about Pakistan – its turbulent past, fascinating present, and hopeful future – from a local leader who knows and loves the country best.
    • Discover the jagged snow-capped peaks, bright blue lakes and traditional culture of the Hunza Valley, a little touristed but unbelievably beautiful region of northern Pakistan.
    • From its ancient museums, gardens and forts to its fantastic food scene, Lahore has so much to offer. Spend three days discovering this dynamic city.
    • Travel to the incredibly remote village of Shimshal where you’ll meet the local families who live in this challenging environment and hike through the surrounding mountains.
    • Visit a women’s group supported by the Aga Khan Foundation to learn about their projects and have lunch at a cafe run by local women.

What's this trip about?

    Get set for a 15-day expedition through an ancient land. Beginning in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, the expedition takes you north to the stunning and rarely visited Hunza Valley region. Here you’ll find nature unleashed: imagine imposing jagged peaks, alpine lakes and glaciers creeping into the valleys. Hike between ancient fortifications scattered among rural villages and learn about the modern innovations that help the local people prosper. Finish in Lahore, a city that not only stood strong through the rise and fall of empires but also preserved the culture that makes Pakistan such a mesmerising, all-consuming country.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityIslamabad
End CityLahore

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

Attractions

  • Delhi

Activities

  • Trekking

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Islamabad - Faisal Mosque at sunset
    • Islamabad - Taxila Museum & archeological sites
    • Islamabad - Truck art workshop
    • Skardu - Kharpocho Fort visit
    • Skardu - Manthal Buddha Rock
    • Skardu - Skardu market visit
    • Skardu - Katpana Desert
    • Nagar Valley - Rakaposhi view point
    • Gulmit - Women-run carpet weaving center visit
    • Hunza Valley - Ondra Polygah hike
    • Gulmit - Old House Gulmit visit
    • Hunza Valley - Traditional music performance
    • Hunza Valley - Passu Glacier hike
    • Hunza Valley - Borith Lake hike
    • Hunza Valley - Hussaini Suspension Bridge
    • Shimshal - Village tour & optional hike
    • Hunza Valley - Sacred Rock of Hunza
    • Hunza Valley - Attabad Lake
    • Karimabad - Market tour
    • Hunza Valley - Ganish Village walking tour
    • Karimabad - Lunch at women-run cafe
    • Karimabad - Ciqam women's social enterprise visit
    • Karimabad - Baltit & Altit Forts
    • Karimabad - Duiker (Eagle's Nest) sunset viewing
    • Lahore - Anarkali & Liberty Markets
    • Lahore - Bagh-e-Jinnah (Lawrence Garden)
    • Lahore - Lahore Museum
    • Lahore - Akbari Mandi & Azam Cloth Market
    • Lahore - Wazir Khan Mosque
    • Lahore - Shahi Hammam
    • Lahore - Walled City of Lahore
    • Lahore - Badshahi Mosque
    • Lahore - Tomb of Jahangir
    • Lahore - Tomb of Allama Iqbal
    • Lahore - Shalimar Gardens
    • Lahore - Wagah Border ceremony

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Islamabad

Welcome to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city. Translating as ‘City of Islam’, Islamabad was built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the nation’s capital, though there’s evidence that humans have lived in the area for many thousands of years. Your expedition begins w...

Day 2 Islamabad - Taxila - Islamabad

Make the most of the opportunity to explore Islamabad with your fellow travellers. Your local leader will speak with you about the history of both Islamabad and Pakistan and be able to answer any questions about this oft-misunderstood destination. There’ll be a chance...

Day 3 Islamabad - Skardu (2228m)

Fly this morning from Islamabad to Skardu. Being the gateway to the Karakoram Mountain Range, it’s a popular spot for hikers and outdoorsy types, and your day will be spent exploring all that Skardu has to offer. You’ll head to the Skardu Bazaar, where you can pick up...

Day 4 Hunza Valley (2500m)

Today, travel north to Passu, a small town surrounded by mountains and glaciers. It sits by the famous Karakoram Highway, which is also known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway as it connects the two countries. This is an achingly beautiful part of the world and...

Day 5 Hunza Valley (2900m)

Drive to nearby Gulmit today. Take a walk around this remote village and visit a carpet-weaving centre run by the local women. You’ll also hike out to the ruins of Ondra Fort. Sitting atop a rocky outcrop above Gulmit, it would’ve commanded views of several strategica...

Day 6 Hunza Valley (2500-2900m)

Visit the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, described by some as the "most dangerous bridge in the world". Though the bridge’s condition is questionable its location is enviable, suspended above Hunza river and surrounded by jagged mountains. Walk to Borith lake, which sits at...

Day 7 Shimshal (3100m)

Travel by 4WD to the remote town of Shimshal, which was inaccessible by road up until 2003. The road took 18 years to build and was constructed by the local community, who previously had to walk for several days to reach other parts of Hunza. Shimshal is so remote tha...

Day 8 Shimshal (3100m)

Spend the day exploring Shimshal and learn about the challenges that come with living in such an inhospitable environment. Almost every house in Shimshal is powered by solar electricity, as is the local school. Meet the local families and hear their stories, and lace ...

Day 9 Karimabad (2500m)

Say farewell to the locals before returning to Passu by 4WD, then switch into a private van for the drive to Karimabad. On the way we will make a stopover at Lake Attabad and Ganish village. There’s a sad story lurking below Lake Attabad’s shimmering surface. The lake...

Day 10 Karimabad (2500m)

Karimabad is a town known for its locally made handicrafts, carpets, and, of course, its next-level views of the surrounding mountains. Today you’ll walk to Baltit and Altit forts, which have stood in the region for over 700 years and are a testament to the valley’s p...

Day 11 Skardu (2228m)

After breakfast, make the drive back to Skardu. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to stop and stretch your legs at the picturesque Upper and Lower Kachura lakes. Stay in Skardu overnight before your flight to Islamabad tomorrow morning.

Day 12 Skardu - Islamabad - Lahore

Depart Skardu for a flight back to Islamabad. From here, your group will drive to Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and the capital of the Punjab region. It’s a wealthy city known for being relatively cosmopolitan with a focus on education and the arts.

Day 13 Lahore

Your first full day in Lahore will be spent visiting some of the city’s most famous places. First up is the Walled City of Lahore, which was constructed around the year 1000. Within its walls, you’ll find the Delhi Gate, the World Heritage-listed Lahore Fort, the huge...

Day 14 Lahore

There’s another full day of exploration to be had today. You’ll visit the Tomb of Jahangir, a 17th-century mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who ruled from 1605–27. Continue to the splendid Shalimar Gardens, built in the 17th century by the Emperor Shah...

Day 15 Lahore

Your Pakistan expedition comes to an end today. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time after breakfast, but please ensure you check out by 12 pm.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $4,520
Price per day$301
Last Updated: 6/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
11 May 2025
25 May 2025
$4,730
25 May 2025
08 Jun 2025
$4,700
07 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025
$5,095
21 Sep 2025
05 Oct 2025
$4,880
28 Sep 2025
12 Oct 2025
$5,270
01 Oct 2025
15 Oct 2025
$4,700
05 Oct 2025
19 Oct 2025
$5,105
19 Oct 2025
02 Nov 2025
$4,520
26 Apr 2026
10 May 2026
$4,745
10 May 2026
24 May 2026
$4,745

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
Excellent
3,502
Great
674
Average
156
Disappointing
87
Terrible
241
Write a Review

Other Intrepid Travel Reviews

C

Caitlin

Apr 2025

Written on

Great tour company from start to finish

I went on the Intrepid 15 day "Best of Morocco" tour in 2025 and had such an amazing time that I wasn't ready to leave by the time the trip finished! It exceeded my ...

M

Mr Mark Wiggin

Apr 2025

Written on

Egypt with Intrepid - an unmissable experience

Egypt with Intrepid is a seamless series of archeological, cultural and social events from one end of the country to the other. We travelled in style by minibus, tra...

S

Sarah Caitlin

Apr 2025

Written on

Extremely disappointing tour / substandard accommodation

I am writing to express my profound disappointment and dissatisfaction with the Intrepid Travel trip I undertook to Morocco earlier this year, specifically "Best of ...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nights),Guesthouse (3 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private Vehicle,4WD,Plane,

Transportation & flights

Private Vehicle,4WD,Plane
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements Important Update on Tourist Visa Application Process for Pakistan Due to recent changes in the tourist visa application process for Pakistan, we strongly advise utilizing the official e-visa platform: PAK VISA. When you begin a new visa application, you will be required to provide the following information: Application Information Personal Information Family Information Financial and Employment Details Previous Travel History Visit Information: Supporting Documents/Photograph Key Details for Your E-Visa Application: Visa Category: Visa Prior to Arrival Visa Sub-category: Tourist Entry Port: Islamabad Airport Departure Port: Islamabad Airport Arrival Date: Please select your intended date of arrival in Pakistan Departure Date: Please select your intended date of departure from Pakistan In the next stage, you will need to provide additional information, including Personal Information, Passport Details, Financial and Employment Information, and your planned Visit Details. For the Visit Details section, please use the following information: Type of Stay: Hotel Check-in Date: Arrival Date Check-out Date: Departure Date Hotel Address: Ramada by Wyndham, Islamabad Province: Islamabad Contact Number: +92 111 379 379 District: Islamabad Hotel Name: Ramada by Wyndham Please ensure all information is accurately entered to avoid delays in the visa approval process.
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines WOMEN'S SAFETY: Women should exercise caution when travelling in Pakistan. While the risk of an incident occurring on your trip is very low, below are some things you can do for your safety and peace of mind when travelling: - Respect local dress codes and customs and dress more conservatively than you do at home. Please see section on conservative dress. - Avoid isolated areas, including beaches, unlit city streets and village lanes when alone at any time of day. - Avoid travelling alone on public transport, or in taxis or auto-rickshaws, especially at night. - If you have to use a taxi get them from hotel taxi ranks and use pre-paid taxis at airports. Try to avoid hailing taxis on the street. - If you’re being collected at the airport by a driver make sure they have properly identified themselves before you set off. For further information and advice, visit: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/pakistan/is-it-safe-to-travel-pakistan https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-british-nationals-overseas/2010-to-2015-government-policy-british-nationals-overseas#appendix-2-advice-for-women-travellers https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/who-you-are/women PERSONAL BELONGINGS: We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. FREE TIME: Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. PERSONAL SAFETY: While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. SCAMS: Scams involving ATM and credit cards, train tickets, taxis, temple donations and tourist guides operate throughout Pakistan. If you are the victim of a scam, report it immediately to the nearest police station. Even though they may not be able to get your money or goods back, they can issue you with an official loss report for insurance purposes.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
intrepid-HQSP

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!