UNDISCOVERED PAKISTAN

Pakistan is one of the least explored countries on earth, with the mighty Indus River at its heart. We’ll follow it from its mouth at Karachi 1000 miles north to Lahore, passing through regions that have seen very few western visitors since Partition. Pakistan expert and Central Asian explorer Michael Prato will lead the expedition along the golden Indus - the cradle of one of the earliest human civilizations. Along the way we shall visit teeming and sophisticated cities, vibrant bazaars and glorious desert shrines. Pakistan is a truly undiscovered destination which offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the heart of the sub-continent. Our expedition has been devised to provide deeper insights into Pakistan’s history, culture, politics and contemporary issues from Karachi street politics to mystic sufis.  On this exhilarating undiscovered world expedition we will meet desert villagers, fishing communities and river gypsies whose way of life has not changed for millennia, and hopefully see the endangered Indus River dolphins. Along the way we’ll visit ancient cities, imposing forts, majestic temples and grand gardens, and journey through some astonishing national parks to see a desert teeming with wildlife.

At various points along our journey, we will be joined by special guest speakers to provide context to our journey. The tour will end with a visit to the unforgettable ‘lowering of the flags’ ceremony at the India/Pakistan border  at Wagah. India and Pakistan have fought four wars since independence over ownership of the idyllic Himalayan valley of Kashmir. At Wagah, the continuing rivalry between these brother nations is acted out in dramatic style, cheered on by enthusiastic crowds.

Sufism is a major theme on the tour. Its central belief is that the nature of the Divine is so complex that it cannot be rationally understood, but that it may be glimpsed through poetry and music. The tour incorporates visits to major Sufi shrines where impromptu performances of hypnotic Qawwali music is part of their everyday ritual, and in Lahore, to the informal concerts that take place in streets and parks where devotees gather to sing their ecstatic choruses far into the night. As well as a centre of Sufism, Lahore is also Pakistan’s cultural capital. The annual Lahore Literary Festival is a growing international event, showcasing the best of contemporary Pakistani writers, and attracting guest speakers from around the world. Our guide will be John Zubrycki, former Delhi correspondent of the Australian newspaper, former diplomat, and author of the Last Nizam of Hyderabad, who will be appearing to speak about his latest book ‘Indian Magic’.

Meet Pakistan’s mysterious river gypsies.

Be amazed by Sufi shrines

Observe the rare Indus river dolphin

Witness the dramatic flag lowering ceremony at the Pakistan/India border.

Visit the massive Derawar fort in the awe-inspiring  Cholistan desert.

Marvel at the beauty of Pakistan’s textiles and handicrafts.

Explore and bargain in an Aladdin’s cave of colourful  bazaars

Contemplate the haunting ruins of one of man’s earliest civilizations

Be transported by the ecstatic rhythms of Qawwali music

Experience the tranquillity of the most beautiful mosques in Islam

Tread in the footsteps of Moghuls, Viceroys and Alexander the Great.

Attend the Lahore Literary Festival in the hometown of Kipling.

Highlights

Arrival at Karachi Airport where you will be met by your Undiscovered World guide.

Both early morning arrivals and arrivals later in the day will be at liberty to either rest at the hotel or take

part in some gentle sightseeing.

Karachi is Pakistan’s great melting pot. For those willing to jump straight in we’ll take in a city tour

visiting Mazar-i-Quaid, Frere Hall, St Patrick's Cathedral, Saddar Bazaar and other markets all in the centre

of the city.

Day 1

Arrive Karachi

An early morning departure for the Chaukhandi Tombs, 27 km from Karachi. These tombs are part of an

early Muslim cemetery and are unique in the world for their Islamic art. We’ll return for lunch and

sightseeing around Karachi, followed by a visit to Clifton Beach.

In the evening a special VIP guest will join us for an exclusive event at the Karachi Press Club about what’s

happening in Pakistani current affairs and contemporary politics, as well as the complexities of Pakistan’s

difficult ongoing relationship with India.

Overnight Karachi.

Day 2

Karachi – Chaukhandi – Karachi

We drive from Karachi to

Hyderabad stopping along the way

at Haleji Lake, a haeven for

migratory Siberian birds and

crocodiles; and Makli/Thatta, an

ancient town that was a river-port

and the capital of Sindh, until the

Indus changed its course.

In the afternoon we will visit Jamia

Masjid, built by Shah Jehan, who

went on to build the Taj Mahal, the

delicately stone-carved Dabgir

Masjid, and the Makli Necropolis,

claimed to be the largest graveyard

in the world.

Overnight Hyderbad

Day 3

Karachi – Hyderabad

We drive out from Hyderabad to Ranikot Fort, also known as the Great Wall of Sindh, which is believed to

be the biggest fortress in the world, and was the last stronghold of the Talpur Mirs before the British

takeover. We then cross the Indus to visit Bhit Shah, the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif, Sufi saint and poet and

the uncrowned king of Sindh. Especially beloved of the poor, there is a daily musical gathering at the

shrine.

We return to Hyderabad to explore its famous bazaar, the longest in Pakistan, and its many handicraft

workshops.

Overnight Hyderabad.

Day 4

Hyderabad - Ranikot Fort - Bhit Shah - Hyderabad

Leaving Hyderabad we drive to Sehwan, site of one of Alexander the Great’s fortresses, and the shrine of

Shaikh Usman Marvandvi, popularly known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a 12thC Persian Sufi mystic, whose

riotous annual festival is attended by thousands. In the afternoon we will visit Manchar Lake, where

fishermen descended from the original Indus Valley peoples use the same ancient fishing techniques.

Day 5

Hyderabad - Sehwan - Manchar Lake - Larkana

Leaving the beautiful garden city of Larkana we drive to Mohenjo-daro, the most impressive and best-

preserved ancient site on the Indian subcontinent. An entire city belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization,

contemporary with that of Ancient Egypt and Sumeria, it displays advanced town-planning techniques.

Later in the afternoon we will continue on to Sukkur via Bukkur, an island in the Indus surmounted by a

fort and surrounded by shrines dedicated to river gods. Sukkur itself contains much of interest, including

the leaning Masum Tower.

Overnight Sukkur.

Day 6

Larkana - Mohenjo-Daro - Sukkur

We leave Sukkur via the Lansdowne bridge and the stupendous irrigation works completed by the

British. We drive north and enter the Punjab, stopping first at Uch Sharif, which contains some of the

most poignant ruins in Islamic antiquity, notably the Tomb of Bibi Jawindi.  We continue on to the

charming city of Bahawalpur.

Overnight Bahawalpur.

Day 7

Larkana - Mohenjo-Daro - Sukkur

We drive to Derawar fort, a huge citadel towering over the surrounding Cholistan desert,  where we will

meet some of the desert people and take the opportunity of a camel ride and learn something of their

way of life.

Later in the afternoon we drive to Multan with a few refreshment stops along the way.

Overnight in Multan.

Day 8

Bahawalpur - Derawar Fort - Multan

All day wandering around the monuments and bazaars of Multan, the ancient capital of Lower Punjab,

and renowned as the City of Sufis. The Tomb of Shah Rukn-i-Alam is a must-see, as is the shrine of Shams-

ud-din Tabriz. Multan is a centre for the production of fine embroidered cottons, tilework, ceramics and

traditional camel-skin lamps, and also famed for its halwa and mango chutney.

In the evening there will be an immersive Sufism experience in the company of a renowned local mystic.

Overnight in Multan.

Day 9

Multan

Leaving in the morning we drive to the ancient site of Harappa, contemporary with Mohenji –Daro, but

also containing the remains of a later Bronze and Iron-Age city. We arrive In Lahore in the afternoon. In

the evening, after checking into our hotel, we will attend a traditional Sufi street-concert of Qawwali

music in the picturesque Old Town.

Overnight in Lahore.

Day 10

Multan - Harappa - Lahore

Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan and on our tour of this remarkable city we will take in the

famous Badshahi mosque, the Fort of Shahi Qila, and the incredible Shalimar Gardens. In the late

afternoon we will witness the unflinching flag ceremony at the Indian border at Wagah. Dinner will be at

the Village restaurant with traditional Pakistani food and live music. Our special guest author will be on

hand to discuss Pakistan’s traditional and contemporary arts and literature scene.

Overnight in Lahore.

Day 11

Lahore

Guests will be transferred to the airport for their outbound flights or the option of joining our 2 day

exclusive literary festival tour.

Day 12

Lahore

Michael Prato is Orientalist and an expert in Central Asian rugs and handicrafts with decades of experience travelling throughout Eurasia and the sub-continent. Born in London in 1953, he first travelled to Central Asia on the Overland Trail in 1975, where he discovered an abiding interest in the arts, culture, religion and politics of the region. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Michael based himself in Tashkent where he spent two years trawling the art markets and carpet bazaars of Uzbekistan, Pakistan,  Afghanistan  and Iran. Since the 1990’s he has been the proprietor of Afghan Interiors, a Sydney-based importer and high street retailer and splits his time between Sicily, Sydney and Peshawar on the Pakistan/Afghan frontier.  Michael is a founder and board member of Frontier Development and Support, a charity promoting progress in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas, and a graduate of Sydney University, where he studied Political Economy and Modern Languages. 

John Zubrzycki is a Sydney-based author, journalist and researcher, specialising in international affairs. John is an accomplished foreign correspondent having spent years in New Delhi covering South Asia for The Australian, The South China Morning Post and The Christian Science Monitor. John is a former deputy foreign editor of the The Australian newspaper and has also worked as an Australian diplomat, a radio broadcaster, and an academic. He is the best-selling author of The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback (2006 Pan Macmillan) and The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy (Random House). In 2018 he penned his third book ‘Indian Magic’ investigating the historical links between Indian and Western stage magicians. 

Expedition Leader   Michael Prato

Expert Guide   John Zubrzycki

TOUR PRICE

Dates

Inclusions

USD$4425   Per Person Twin-Share.

USD$940    Single Supplement.

All meals included; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Transport by luxury minibus with driver. All entry fees to museums, national parks and monuments.

EXCLUSIONS

Pakistan visa fees and airport taxes. Any alcoholic beverages. Any tips or gratuities to support staff.

12th Feb - 23rd Feb 2019

Airfares

Undiscovered World is a full service travel agency and we can issue point to point air ticketing anywhere in the world at competitive prices. No booking fee is charged for flights

associated with any of our tours.

Weekly to Pakistan from Sydney.

Return ECONOMY flights start from USD$1242              

Return BUSINESS class flights start from  USD$4485     

We can also book through airfares to Pakistan from anywhere in the world. Please Contact us for a competitive quote.

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Inclusions