Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan
The Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour is our most complete 16-day journey through Buddhist Pakistan: the monasteries of Taxila and Gandhara, the stupas of Swat, the Ashoka Edicts and the Silk Road rock carvings of Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu.
- Duration16 Days
- PaceEasy
- RegionsGandhara, Swat & Silk Road
- Best SeasonApril – October
- GroupPrivate, 2+
From Gandhara to the High Silk Road
The Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage tour brings together every major Buddhist site in Pakistan in one journey. It begins in the plains of Gandhara, where Buddhist art and learning flourished, and climbs into the mountains along the Silk Road routes that carried the dharma to Central Asia and China.
We visit Taxila, Peshawar, Takht-i-Bahi and the Ashoka Edicts at Shahbaz Garhi, the stupas and rock Buddhas of Swat, the edicts at Mansehra, and then follow the Karakoram Highway to the carvings of Chilas, the Kargah Buddha, the Sacred Rock of Hunza and the Manthal Buddha Rock in Skardu.
Trip Highlights
- Taxila, Takht-i-Bahi and the Peshawar Museum
- The stupas and rock Buddhas of the Swat Valley
- The Ashoka Edicts at Shahbaz Garhi and Mansehra
- Silk Road rock carvings near Chilas
- The Kargah Buddha, the Sacred Rock of Hunza and Manthal
- Time for prayer and meditation at every site
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Islamabad
Our team meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel. Evening introduction to Buddhist Pakistan.
Overnight: HotelDay 2Taxila
Dharmarajika stupa, the Taxila Museum and Sirkap.
Overnight: HotelDay 3Jaulian and Mohra Moradu
The hilltop monasteries of Jaulian and Mohra Moradu, with time for meditation.
Overnight: HotelDay 4Drive to Peshawar
About 2.5 hours to Peshawar. Afternoon at the Peshawar Museum.
Overnight: HotelDay 5Takht-i-Bahi and Shahbaz Garhi
The monastery of Takht-i-Bahi and the Ashoka Edicts at Shahbaz Garhi, then drive to Swat.
Overnight: HotelDay 6Butkara and the Swat Museum
Morning prayers at the Butkara stupa and the Swat Museum.
Overnight: HotelDay 7Amluk Dara and Jahanabad
The great Amluk Dara stupa and the carved Jahanabad Buddha.
Overnight: HotelDay 8Swat to Besham
Drive via Shangla to Besham on the Karakoram Highway.
Overnight: HotelDay 9Besham to Chilas
Through the Indus gorges to Chilas, stopping at carved rocks.
Overnight: HotelDay 10Chilas rock carvings
A day among the carved boulders of Chilas and Thalpan.
Overnight: HotelDay 11Drive to Gilgit
Past the Nanga Parbat viewpoint to Gilgit and the Kargah Buddha.
Overnight: HotelDay 12Drive to Hunza
Drive to Karimabad and visit Baltit Fort.
Overnight: HotelDay 13Sacred Rock of Hunza
The Sacred Rock of Hunza near Ganish, and Altit Fort.
Overnight: HotelDay 14Drive to Skardu
Return to Gilgit and drive along the Indus to Skardu.
Overnight: HotelDay 15Manthal Buddha Rock, fly to Islamabad
Morning at the Manthal Buddha Rock, then fly to Islamabad (or drive if flights are cancelled). Farewell dinner.
Overnight: HotelDay 16Depart
Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for your flight home.
Overnight: —Itineraries can change with weather, flights, road conditions and festival dates. Your guide will always put safety first.
What's Included
Included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Hotels in Islamabad, Peshawar, Swat, Besham, Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu
- Domestic flight Skardu–Islamabad, or road transport if flights are cancelled
- Daily breakfast and the meals listed in the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
- English-speaking cultural guide throughout
- Entry fees to all monuments and museums in the itinerary
- Letter of invitation (LOI) for your Pakistan visa
Not Included
- International flights to and from Pakistan
- Pakistan visa fee
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses such as shopping, laundry and phone calls
- Anything not listed under "Included"
Moments from the Trail
Why Choose the Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour?
The Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage tour is for pilgrims who want to see everything: the art and monasteries of Gandhara, the holy valley of Swat and the Silk Road carvings in the high mountains. It is the journey of a lifetime for anyone interested in the history of Buddhism.
The pace is easy but the trip is long, with several full days on the road in the mountains. For a shorter trip, choose the 10-day Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan or the Buddhist Rock Carvings tour.
Before you travel, read our Pakistan visa guide and our advice on travel insurance, or browse all our Buddhist pilgrimage tours in Pakistan.
Plan the rest of your trip
Good to Know
Pace & Comfort
This is an easy tour with comfortable hotels and plenty of time at each site for prayer, meditation and photography. Some sites involve short uphill walks.
Prayer & Ceremonies
Groups are welcome to chant, meditate and make offerings at the stupas and monasteries. Tell us in advance if you travel with a monk or teacher, and we will plan quiet time at each site.
Permits & Safety
Foreigners register at police checkpoints in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and along the Karakoram Highway, and some sites need advance permission. Our team arranges this and follows current security advice.
When to Go
April to October is the best time for the Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage tour, when the mountain roads to Hunza and Skardu are open. Read our guide to the best time to visit Pakistan.
Reserve Your Place on the Tour
Message us with your preferred dates and group size, and our team will send you full details and a quote for your Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage.
