Sufi Shrines Tour of Punjab & Sindh
The Sufi Shrines Tour is a 10-day journey from Lahore to Karachi along the Sufi trail of Punjab and Sindh, with qawwali music, blue-tiled tombs, desert forts and the famous dhamaal of Sehwan Sharif.
- Duration10 Days
- PaceEasy
- RegionsPunjab & Sindh
- Best SeasonNovember – February
- GroupPrivate, 2+
Music, Poetry and Devotion on the Sufi Trail
Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam, has shaped the culture of Punjab and Sindh for centuries through its saints, poetry and music. The Sufi Shrines Tour follows this living tradition from Lahore to Karachi, visiting the great shrines where pilgrims gather every day.
We hear qawwali at the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore, see the blue-tiled tombs of Multan and Uch Sharif, cross the Cholistan Desert to Derawar Fort, and join the evening dhamaal drumming and dancing at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif. The tour ends at the Makli necropolis and Karachi.
Trip Highlights
- Qawwali music at the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore
- The blue-tiled tombs of Multan and Uch Sharif
- Derawar Fort and the Cholistan Desert near Bahawalpur
- The evening dhamaal at Sehwan Sharif
- The Makli necropolis near Thatta, a UNESCO site
- Expert cultural guide and all logistics handled by TGA
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Lahore
Our team meets you at Lahore airport and transfers you to your hotel. Evening welcome briefing.
Overnight: HotelDay 2Lahore
The Walled City, Badshahi Mosque and the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh, with qawwali on Thursday evenings.
Overnight: HotelDay 3Drive to Multan
About 4 hours on the motorway to Multan, the "city of saints".
Overnight: HotelDay 4Multan
The shrines of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Shams Tabrez, and the old city bazaars.
Overnight: HotelDay 5Uch Sharif to Bahawalpur
Visit the tiled tombs of Uch Sharif, then continue to Bahawalpur and the Noor Mahal palace.
Overnight: HotelDay 6Derawar Fort
Day trip into the Cholistan Desert to the great walls of Derawar Fort.
Overnight: HotelDay 7Drive to Sukkur
About 5 hours to Sukkur on the Indus. Evening at the Sukkur Barrage and the Sadh Belo temple island.
Overnight: HotelDay 8Sehwan Sharif
Drive to Sehwan Sharif and join the evening dhamaal at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Overnight: HotelDay 9Makli to Karachi
Visit the Makli necropolis and Thatta, then continue to Karachi and the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.
Overnight: HotelDay 10Depart
Transfer to Karachi 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 Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sukkur and Karachi
- 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 Sufi Shrines Tour?
The Sufi Shrines Tour shows a side of Pakistan that most visitors never see. The shrines are full of life, music and colour, and pilgrims are usually happy to welcome respectful guests.
It suits travellers interested in music, faith and history. Combine it with the Indus Valley Civilization Tour, which follows a similar route, or start with the Lahore & Mughal Heritage Tour.
Before you travel, read our Pakistan visa guide and our advice on travel insurance, or browse all our culture tours in Pakistan.
Plan the rest of your trip
Good to Know
Pace & Comfort
This is an easy tour with comfortable hotels, but the drives between cities can be long. Shrines are busy and noisy, especially in the evenings.
Dress & Etiquette
Dress modestly, with arms and legs covered. Women should cover their hair at shrines, and everyone removes their shoes. Some inner areas are for men or women only.
Permits & Safety
Foreigners register at checkpoints in southern Punjab and Sindh, and some routes need a police escort. Our team arranges this and follows current security advice.
When to Go
November to February is the best time for the Sufi Shrines Tour. Large annual festivals (urs) can be very crowded, so ask us about dates. 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 Sufi journey.
