meeting here. This immensely rich cultural interchange has left a diverse range of cultural remains ・carefully laid out Hellenistic cities, the astonishing combination of Greek and Hindu influences that is Gandharan art, a Mogul royal capital and the cantonments of the British.

A particular highlight is a visit to the Baltit Fort in the Hunza Valley, now restored as part of a project supported by the Aga Khan Foundation. The project included the restoration and in many places the reconstruction of this 700-year old fort, as well as the building of a new sanitation system. The fort re-opened in 1996 as a cultural centre, and the project has regenerated the local economy, revitalising the traditional skills of local craftsmen, and generating economic opportunities through the production and sale of traditional local goods. Journeying along the famous Karakorum Highway, through truly awe-inspiring scenery, you shall discover not only great ancient sites, but also experience something of the lives of contemporary peoples in this remote frontier region.

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Itinerary of The Karakoram Highway In Detail.

Days 01 : Arrival to Karachi. Classic Asia's representative will transfer to hotel, rest of the day, free.

Days 02 : Sightseeing of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Rawalpindi rose to prominence when the British made it Asian largest cantonment in the 1840s, but there are also colourful older parts of the city with fine bazaars of traditional gold and silver crafts. Islamabad is barely three decades old and our tour will visit the glittering new capital with its impressive modern buildings including the vast Shah Faisal Mosque. You will also visit the Lok Virsa Museum which contains wonderful ethnographic collections of costume, textiles, jewellery and musical instruments. Dinner and overnight in an Islamabad hotel.

Days 03 : Depart after breakfast towards Peshawar, stopping en route at Taxila, the most important city of the Gandharan civilisation, flourishing between the 3rd century BC and 5th century AD. The vast site exhibits some of the finest examples of Gandharan art and architecture, a striking fusion of Greek and Hindu styles, and is also the place from which Buddhism spread into China. You can visit the Archaeolgical Museum with its collections of site treasures and have lunch at Taxila before continuing to Peshawar. Arrive Peshawar and check in for hotel dinner & overnight.

Days 04 : A full day excursion to the famous Khyber Pass, route of invading armies and peoples since c1200 BC. The Pass begins about 18km from Peshawar at Jamrud and continues beyond the Pakistani border some 58km further on. As well as its historic importance, the Khyber Pass region is also known as the home of the Pathan people whose tribal culture and moral code has been preserved despite the attempts of foreign invaders and national government. Lunch at Khyber Rifels mess. Return to Peshawar for dinner & overnight.

Days 05 : After breakfast drive towards Swat, stopping en route at Takht-I-Bahi, the most beautiful of the Buddhist monasteries of Gandhara, and only excavated at the beginning of the 20th century. Continue to the fertile Swat Valley, formerly known as Udyana (gardens), and home of the Yousazai Pathans, Kohistanis and Gujjars. Local history tells how the Greeks fought to capture this beautiful place of lush green slopes and fast-flowing rivers, and how Buddhists chose to settle here because of its 粗ternal peace・ On arrival, check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Days 06 : Drive to Chilas via Shangla Pass, Besham. Chilas was on the ancient caravan route over the Babusar Pass into India, and the Indus trail of Besham, and there are many rock engravings left by travellers in this area. Probably dating from the 1st century BC, one set of carvings shows a warrior slaughtering a goat and a snow leopard attacking an ibex, while later carvings depict whole scenes, stories, stupas and Buddhas. Dinner and overnight in Chilas.

Days 07 : After breakfast drive to Hunza via Gilgit. This part of the Karakorum Highway follows part of the ancient Silk Road and the Hunza River, winding through some truly spectacular scenery with panoramic views of snow-covered peaks, steep mountain slopes and lush green valley floors. The Hunza and Nagar valleys are renowned for the local coarse and durable woollen cloth. Dinner & overnight in Karimabad.

Days 08 : Today you meet with people from the Baltit Heritage Trust as you explore the famously reconstructed 700-year old Baltit Fort. You also explore the Nagar Valley, with greater areas of cultivation, and flanked by high peaks and glaciers. In the afternoon you return to Gilgit and check in to our accommodation. Gilgit was the most isolated posting of the British Empire, an outpost in the Great Game, the imperial hide-and-seek between Britain and Russia well into the 20th century. A short tour of Gilgit in the afternoon before dinner and overnight.

Days 09 : After an early breakfast, depart southwards past the great peak of Nanga Parbat and along the Indus Valley towards Besham, stopping for lunch at Barasin. Besham is a small bazaar on the west bank of the Indus about half way between Gilgit and Islamabad. On arrival in Besham check in for dinner & overnight.

Days 10 : After breakfast drive towards Murree, via Abbottabad and Nathia Gali. This whole area is a maze of fresh, forested ridges, and was a popular area for the cool resorts and retreats of the British, known throughout the subcontinent as 蘇ill stations・ Abbottabad is named after James Abbott, a British administrator who served in Hazara in the 1840痴 and 50痴, and is now the base of the modern Balouch Regiment. The cantonment area is a reminder of the British era, full of spacious bungalows surrounded by gardens and pine trees. Nathia Gali is the prettiest of the hill stations with a small timbered church, bungalows, park and governor痴 house. After lunch continue drive to Nathia Gali Ayubia, named for Ayub Khan, Pakistan痴 military ruler from 1958-69, and now a resort area and national park. Upon arrival check in to the local hotel for dinner & overnight.

Days 11 : Departing after breakfast, drive to Murree, founded as a hill station in 1851, and still with a quaintly English air. Promenading and shopping are the town痴 main amusements with cashmere shawls, fruits and pistachio nuts among the country痴 finest. Sightseeing and lunch in Murree before continuing to Islamabad, and checking in to the hotel for dinner & overnight.

Days 12 : Transfer to the airport for the return early morning flight.

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Cost Of The Trip

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Includes & Excludes

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