Mesmerising Architecture Trail

Key Highlights: Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar & Rawalpindi

Join us on an 11 day tour and journey around different cities & towns in Pakistan to discover and learn about the different forms of architecture prevailing in the country dating back to different eras. This tour will make you look at all of the places you visit from the perspective of the architect within you. The trip will start from Islamabad, from there we will move on to Peshawar, then Lahore and eventually back to Islamabad. We will be taking to you to various monuments to explore different forms of architecture. We will also be visiting museums and architecture schools to dig deeper into the history of this skill. We will also organize a few sessions with some architects from the region to look at art from their lens. This trip is a treat for all the people who love architecture.

Brief Daily Overview

Day 1:

• Airport transfers
• Gathering at Hotel
• Visit the malls in Islamabad
• Visit Daman-e-koh
• Visit Monal
• Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad

Day 2:

• Visit Faisal Mosque
• Visit Pakistan monument
• Visit Lok virsa museum
• Visit Golra railway station
• Visit Shah Allah dita caves
• Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad

Day 3:

• Visit Taxila
• Visit Saidpur village
• Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad

Day 4:

• Visit the markets of Rawalpindi
• Explore old architecture of Rawalpindi
• Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad

Day 5:

• Departure for Peshawar
• Visit Takht-bai
• Reach Peshawar
• Visit Qissa Khwani bazaar Peshawar
• Overnight stay at Pearl Continental Peshawar

Day 6:

• Visit Bala Hisar Fort
• Visit Muhabbat Khan Mosque
• Visit Sethi House
• Visit Peshawar Museum
• Overnight stay at Pearl Continental Peshawar

Day 7:

• Drive to Lahore
• Visit Rohtas fort
• Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore

Day 8:

• Visit the shrines of Lahore
• Visit Shalimar gardens
• Visit Wagah border for flag lowering ceremony
• Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore

Day 9:

• Visit Walled city of Lahore (Delhi gate, Shahi hamaam, Wazir khan mosque, Lahore fort, Badshahi mosque, Rangeela rikshaw ride)
• Visit Faqir Khana Museum
• Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore

Day 10:

• Visit the temples and gurdwaras of Lahore
• Visit havelis of Lahore
• Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore

Day 11:

• Drive to Islamabad
• Visit Katas Raj temples
• Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1:

This will be a relaxed day. We will pick you from the airport. After freshening at the hotel we will be visiting the malls to shop for some local clothes. We will visit Daman-e-koh. The day will end with dinner at Monal overlooking the entire city of Islamabad.

Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad.

Day 2:

Let’s start exploring the architecture in Islamabad. We will be visiting some beautiful monuments comprising of Faisal mosque; the largest mosque of Pakistan, and Pakistan monument; symbolizes the unity of Pakistani people. We will also be visiting Lok virsa museum, Golra railway station and Shah Allah dita caves.

Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad.

Day 3:

We will be visiting Taxila museum and site. Buddhism was widespread in the region before Islam’s introduction. UNESCO-listed Taxila is one of the country’s biggest Buddhist sites, spanning hundreds of square kilometers. Will also visit Saidpur village and explore the art there. There is an old Hindu temple in Saidpur village. If you a lucky sometimes you can come across a melodious flute player in the area.

Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad.

Day 4:

On this day we will head to Rawalpindi to explore the hustling and bustling bazaars full of vibrant colors and stunning architecture. We will be exploring different forms of arts and crafts in these markets. Will also explore the truck art market. Stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad.

Day 5:

Time to head to Peshawar now. We will be exploring the Buddhist ruins of Takht-bai along the way. Peshawar’s markets are also full of life. The architecture of the building there and the crafts found in the market are mind blowing. This day will be spent exploring Qissa khawani bazaar and its surrounding areas.

Overnight stay at Pearl Continental Hotel Peshawar.

Day 6:

We will now head out to dig deeper into the architecture and history of Peshawar. This day will be spent exploring Bala Hisar Fort, Muhabbat Khan Mosque, Sethi House and Peshawar Museum.

Overnight stay at Pearl Continental Hotel Peshawar.

Day 7:

Time to head to Lahore now. We will break down the journey by stopping over at Rohtas fort along the way. Will have a scenic picnic lunch at this ancient fort.

Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore.

Day 8:

On this day we will be heading to Shalimar gardens to explore the architecture of these beautiful gardens built during the Mughal time period. We will also explore some of the shrines of the city to explore the sufi culture, as well as the architecture of these shrines. In the evening we will head out to Wagah border to attend the flag lowering ceremony.

Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore.

Day 9:

Now it is time to visit the Walled city of Lahore that is full of stunning architecture dating from Mughal, British and Sikh eras. We will be exploring the architecture of these buildings starting from Delhi gate, Shahi hamaam, Wazir khan mosque, Lahore fort and Badshahi mosque. We will also make you ride on a colorful rikshaw popularly known as Rangeela rikshaw. This is going to be one hell of a ride. We will then head to Faqir Khana museum, which is a treasure for art lovers with its wide variety of art collection.

Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore.

Day 10:

On this day we will set out to explore the architecture of the old havelis as well as the gurdwaras of Lahore. We will also be meeting some architects on this day to look at things from their lens.

Overnight stay at Nishat Hotel Lahore.

Day 11:

Time to drive back to Islamabad. There will be a stop along the way to explore Katas Raj temples dating from the Hindu times. Will have picnic lunch once again.

Overnight stay at Crown Plaza Hotel Islamabad.

• Air Conditioned Transport rent, fuel and toll taxes
• Driver charges (including food and accommodation)
• Guide charges (including food and accommodation)
• Accommodation at hotels for 11 nights (double occupancy)
• Breakfast and Lunch
• Entry Tickets
• Letter of invitation charges (for visa)

• Dinner
• Extra snacks
• Laundry or room service at hotels
• Porter for carrying personal equipment
• Insurance or liability coverage
• Any other items not mentioned in the above plan

We believe in being responsible and watchful of our actions while traveling. Through taking the following measures we try to ensure that we live by this motto and inculcate the same values in the people who travel with us.

• Carry a portable water filter with us to reduce plastic waste. All the trip participants are advised to bring their water bottles that can be refilled from filtered water.
• Carry our own boxes and cloth bags to get things packed from restaurants and to use while shopping, in order to avoid the use of single use plastic boxes and shopping bags.
• Sometimes we organize spontaneous cleanup drives and engage the participants of the trip to collect trash from a certain area.
• We support local communities by engaging local tour guides and buying from local businesses, in order to ensure growth and welfare of their economy.