PILGRIMAGE
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan
Our classic 10-day pilgrimage through Taxila, Peshawar, Takht-i-Bahi and the Swat Valley, the holy land of Gandhara.
Duration10 Days
View Tour Licensed DMC · DTS Licence DTS-GB-094
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours in Pakistan
Taxila, Swat, Takht-i-Bahi and the Silk Road carvings of Gandhara, guided by heritage experts. Run by The Golden Adventure (TGA).
CHOOSE YOUR PILGRIMAGE
Our Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours
PILGRIMAGE
Taxila Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour
A short pilgrimage to the stupas and monasteries of Taxila, a UNESCO site and great centre of Buddhist learning.
Duration4 Days
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PILGRIMAGE
Swat Valley Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour
A pilgrimage to Swat, the ancient land of Uddiyana, with great stupas, carved rock Buddhas and monastery ruins.
Duration6 Days
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PILGRIMAGE
Ashoka Edicts & Gandhara Monasteries Tour
The rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka and the hilltop monasteries of Takht-i-Bahi, Jamal Garhi and Sahri Bahlol.
Duration7 Days
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PILGRIMAGE
Silk Road Buddhist Rock Carvings Tour
Follow ancient monks along the Karakoram Highway to Buddhist rock carvings at Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu.
Duration11 Days
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PILGRIMAGE
Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan
Our most complete pilgrimage: Taxila, Gandhara, Swat, the Ashoka Edicts and the Silk Road rock carvings to Skardu.
Duration16 Days
View Tour BUDDHISM IN PAKISTAN
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours to the Holy Land of Gandhara
For more than a thousand years, northern Pakistan was one of the great heartlands of Buddhism. In ancient Gandhara and Uddiyana, kings such as Ashoka and Kanishka built stupas and monasteries, artists carved some of the first images of the Buddha, and monks carried the teachings along the Silk Road to Central Asia, China, Korea and Japan.
Our Buddhist pilgrimage tours visit these holy places with expert guides, comfortable hotels and private transport. We plan quiet time at each site for chanting, meditation and offerings, and we are happy to arrange tours for monasteries, temples and Dharma groups.
6tours to choose from
4–16days per trip
100%local guides, drivers and crew
DMClicensed operator, DTS-GB-094
Compare
Compare our Buddhist pilgrimage tours
Short on time? The Taxila Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour takes just four days from Islamabad. For the full picture, choose the Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan or the Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour.
| Tour | Days | Pace | Region | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxila Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour | 4 | Easy | Taxila & Haripur | October – April |
| Swat Valley Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour | 6 | Easy | Swat Valley | March – November |
| Ashoka Edicts & Gandhara Monasteries Tour | 7 | Easy | Mardan, Peshawar & Mansehra | October – April |
| Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan | 10 | Easy | Taxila, Peshawar & Swat | October – April |
| Silk Road Buddhist Rock Carvings Tour | 11 | Easy | Karakoram Highway & Skardu | April – October |
| Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of Pakistan | 16 | Easy | Gandhara, Swat & Karakoram | April – October |
BEFORE YOU GO01 02 03 04
How to Choose and Prepare for a Buddhist Pilgrimage in Pakistan
Which pilgrimage is right for you?
For a short visit, choose Taxila. For the holy valley of Uddiyana, choose Swat. For the words of Ashoka, choose the Ashoka Edicts tour. For the Silk Road and the mountains, choose the Buddhist Rock Carvings tour, or combine everything on the Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour.
Season and weather
Taxila, Peshawar and Mardan are best from October to April, when the plains are cool. Swat is pleasant from March to November, and the Karakoram Highway to Hunza and Skardu is best from April to October. Read our guide to the best time to visit Pakistan.
Ceremonies and groups
Groups are welcome to chant, meditate and make offerings at the stupas. Tell us if you are travelling with monks, nuns or a teacher, and we will plan the itinerary around your practice, including vegetarian meals.
Permits, visas and insurance
Foreigners register at police checkpoints in some regions, which our team arranges. We provide a Letter of Invitation for your visa; see our Pakistan visa guide. Travel insurance is essential; read our travel insurance policy.
Plan around your pilgrimage
FAQ
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours FAQ
More questions? See our Pakistan travel FAQ, read reviews from our guests, or plan your trip with our team.
Which are the most important Buddhist sites in Pakistan?
Taxila (Dharmarajika and Jaulian), Takht-i-Bahi, the Peshawar Museum, the Ashoka Edicts at Shahbaz Garhi and Mansehra, the stupas of the Swat Valley, and the Silk Road rock carvings of Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu.
Can we hold ceremonies at the sites?
Yes. Groups are welcome to chant, meditate and make offerings at the stupas and monasteries. We plan quiet time at each site and can help with any special arrangements.
Do you arrange tours for monasteries and Dharma groups?
Yes. We regularly design private pilgrimages for monasteries, temples and Dharma centres, with vegetarian meals and a pace that suits your practice.
When is the best time for a Buddhist pilgrimage in Pakistan?
October to April for Taxila, Peshawar and Mardan; March to November for Swat; and April to October for the Karakoram Highway and Skardu.
What is included in your pilgrimage tours?
Hotels, private transport with a driver, an expert English-speaking guide, entry fees, daily breakfast and a Letter of Invitation for your visa. Each tour page lists the full details.
PRIVATE PILGRIMAGES
Planning a Group Pilgrimage?
Every pilgrimage can run on private dates for your monastery, temple or Dharma group, or we can design a route from scratch. Tell us your dates, group size and practice, and our team will plan it for you.
