10 Day Overland Tour China - Sost to Rawalpindi/Islamabad Pakistan

First, you will pass the Pakistani Custom and immigration post after the Khunjerab Pass border. Here you will complete the border formalities and say goodbye to your Chinese Guide and Driver. Transfer to the Pakistani bus with Pakistani Guide. After lunch at Sost, we start our drive to Passu.

As we drive South from Sost the museum of landscape starts unfolding its secrets. Karakoram, meaning black - rock, gets very little rainfall and is dry. Stop at the charming village of Passu in the backdrop of Karakoram cones. Enjoying thrilling views of challenging Peaks rising 7000 meters and above. Overnight in Passu Tourist Lodge. (40 km,1hr drive )

Drive to Karimabad, the capital of Hunza, with beautiful views over Passu peak, Shisper Peak and Virgin Gulmit Tower. Stop in Gulmit village to visit the local museum of Gulmit, experience the Suspension bridge over Hunza river, visit the Sacred Rocks of Ganish near Ganish village, the early settlement in Hunza valley.

While in Hunza we are never short of views of soaring peaks. Small patches of sharp green fields irrigated by water from glaciers provide a very sharp contrast to the mountains. Rakaposhi, (7,788m) greets us as we enter this Shangri-La on earth. Arrive at Karimabad and transfer to the hotel for freshening up and lunch.

Afternoon visit of Altit & Baltit forts.

Overnight stay in the hotel. (50 km 2 hours drive )

Board on 4x4 soft top jeeps in the morning and drive to Hoper valley to see the fastest moving Glacier of the world. The beauty of Golden Peak (7027 meters) Ladyfinger and Ultar peaks around you. Enjoy the fascinating view of the Nagar village; the formerly independent kingdom of Hunza valley.

The beauty of fields and terraces will definitely fascinate you.

Have Lunch in your hotel and afternoon leisure in Hunza.

Morning drive towards Gilgit. Search for some precious stones along the Road near the last village of Hunza, as the area is famous for its precious stones production. Enjoy the closest view from the Karakoram Highway of Rakaposhi 7788m. See the clear impact of a continental collision near Chalt.

Arrive at Gilgit (1600m) for lunch. Visit Gilgit, its suspension bridge, the rock carving Kargha Buddha and stroll down its bazaars filled with people from remote mountain valleys. Gilgit is a big market these days of Chinese and Pakistani goods. Overnight hotel (110 km, 3 hours drive ).

Morning leisure at Gilgit. Drive to Besham after lunch.

Enjoy the view of Haramosh Peak 7409m from Karakoram Highway. Arrive at the meeting place of the world’s three highest mountain ranges: the Karakoram in the north, the Himalayas in east and Hindukush in the west. It is also the meeting point of Lion river Indus with Gilgit river, enjoy thrilling views from this unique place of Nanga Parbat (8,125 M).

Nanga Parbat is the 9th highest mountain in the world and second to K2 in Pakistan. Enjoy the most beautiful view over Nanga Parbat in the South, Stop at Chilas rock carvings from the Buddhist period.

Overnight in hotel (230 10hr Drive ).

Today we will leave the Karakoram Highway and enter into Swat valley. Karakoram Highway is reputed as the 8th wonder of the world and this vital connection to North Pakistan & China cost 850 lives and took 20 years to complete. We will drive along the Indus River through the Indus Gorge. We will turn west from Besham and ascend to cross over Shangla Pass (2100m) leading to Swat Valley.

We pass through the alpine landscape of Swat, with snow-covered peaks, rice & barley fields perched along the steep slopes and arrive the twin capital cities of Swat Valley Mingora and Saidu Sharif.

Arrive and transfer to hotel for meals and overnight stay. (305 km, 8/9 hours drive)

In the morning we will visit the Swat museum with a very good collection of Gandhara period. Swat valley is the part of Gandhara Buddhist civilization for us during this tour.

We will visit the Butkara excavation site with its interesting Stupa near the museum. Drive to Peshawar, en route stop at Takht-e-Bahi monastery; the best-preserved monastery from Gandhara Buddhist times in Pakistan. We will continue driving to Peshawar centuries-old town that lies at the confluence of the Indian subcontinent with central Asia, currently capital of Frontier Province of Pakistan.

In the evening we will visit the Peshawar museum, the colourfull Bazaar of Peshawar, Mahabat Khan Mosque, Karavan Sarai, Qissa Kowani bazaar (Bazaar of storytellers) and the bazaar of Gold and Silver (Kasera bazaar).

Overnight Hotel. (140 km,5/6 hours drive)

Morning Excursion to Khyber Pass, the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the most important historic and strategic land route leading to Indian sub-continent. All the historic invaders including Alexander, the Macedonian, had used this (Grand Trunk Road) route to explore the wonders of fertile land that lies south of this Pass.

Lunch at Peshawar. Later drive to Islamabad. En route visit Taxila, the former centre of Gandhara Buddhist civilization. The splendid site museum and the archaeological site of former cities & monasteries. Provide an impressive insight to this civilization. Arrive at Islamabad and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (180 km 3/ 4 hours Drive )

Full day city tour of the twin cities Rawalpindi & Islamabad. Visit Lok Virsa museum in the Federal Capital of Pakistan and the Raja bazaar in Rawalpindi; an interesting place to visit. Go to Shakar Parian and Damn-e-Koh; the viewpoints of Islamabad. Overnight hotel.

Departure day