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People normally start all international tours of Pakistan in Islamabad. Most people only spend a maximum of 2 nights here before proceeding to the other famous northern destinations or tour the heritage cities. People often consider the capital a transit place and a gateway to the North.
The capital is the gateway to the North, but it is much more than that. The sights of Islamabad include modern mosques, visit the museum, go to the hills, drive to a UNESCO Heritage site, see the stunning architecture, see the stunning urban design, and shop for northern crafts. You can even go shopping!
An extra day will allow you to visit Taxila, while 2 days will give you time to visit the hills and the Khewra Salt Mine, and 3 days will allow you to visit the historic Rohtas Fort.
This post will help you understand what a properly arranged city tour package should include.
HospitalityTours.com.pk organizes city tours and day trips in Islamabad for both domestic and international clientele and corporate guests. We take care of everything, including coordination with your hotel and a licensed guide in a private car. Contact us for more details and to book a tour on WhatsApp.
("What Islamabad contains that most visitors skip")
Most visitors typically skip some of Islamabad's landmarks, including the Faisal Mosque. Commissioned and built between 1966 and 1986 respectively by Saudi King Faisal, and Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, the structure cannot be compared to any other major mosque, as it has no domes, rather an eight sided asymmetric structure in the shape of a Bedouin tent, four 90 meter chiseled minarets, and is estimated to be able to accommodate over 300,000 worshippers. The mosque sits at the base of the Margalla Hills at the edge of Islamabad. Visible from many places in Islamabad, the mosque encompasses a library, museum, and cafe.
Built in 2007, the Pakistan monument is located in Shakarparian Hills overlooking Islamabad. Architect Arif Masoud designed the monument which consists of four white granite petals to represent the four provinces of Pakistan. A center crescent and star of aluminum are also included. The Pakistan Monument Museum is also on the grounds and is dedicated to the Independence movement. Admission is required for the monument and the grounds offer a good view of Islamabad.
Around a 30 minute drive from Islamabad is the viewpoint Daman-e-Koh. The viewpoint overlooks the entire city, including the Faisal Mosque below. The sunset viewing is said to be much better than the daytime viewing. The Margalla Hills are part of the lower Himalayas and have several trails used by residents and hikers.
Lok Virsa Museum. It houses one of the best single building collection of Pakistan’s heritage spanning craft, textile, music, instruments and jewelry. NIFFTH is located on Shakarparian Road. An excellent place to learn Pakistan’s cultural diversity and heritage. Allow 2 hours.
Saidpur Village. A restored, heritage, and crafts village in the Margalla Hills. Walks through cobbled, restored lanes and whitewashed buildings displaying traditional architecture. This is a peaceful alternative to the hectic markets of the city.
Pir Sohawa. This is a viewpoint and restaurant located in the hills. Rawalpindi and Islamabad city lights can be viewed from here and even stretches to the horizon. You can take a leisurely lunch or dinner here as opposed to a short visit.
Rawal Lake. Located near Islamabad and Rawalpindi, this man-made lake offers boating and recreational walking. It is ideal for a morning visit as a short outing instead of a half day visit.
The bazaars. In Islamabad, you can find a great selection of Northern Pakistan’s goods from the valleys. These include woodwork, embroidery, and jewelry, and shawls from the Kashmir and Karakoram valleys. There are some excellent shops around F-7 and craft markets at the Melody Food Park. This is a more convenient shopping alternative to the valleys.
Taxila. Approximately 30 km from Islamabad and a one hour drive. Taxila was the center of the Buddhist Gandhara civilization from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1980. Taxila includes the remains of three ancient cities and several monasteries. The site has a Museum of Taxila that is considered to be one of the most widely appreciated museums in Pakistan. One full day in Taxila is required to visit the Museum and the main sites. A guide is an absolute must or the ruins would look the same as a grassy mound with fields.
Rohtas Fort. Approximately three hours drive to the southwest from Islamabad near Jhelum. This fort was built by Sher-Shah Suri in the mid-16th century to defend against the Mughal Emperor Humayun and covers over 70 hectares. This is considered to be one of the best preserved pre-Mughal fortifications in South Asia. It is a half day trip from Islamabad and is best combined with a visit to Mangla Dam and Jhelum on the same day. Rohtas Fort was inscribed by UNESCO in 1997.
Khewra Salt Mines. Approximately two and a half hours from Islamabad in Salt Range. The second largest in the world with well lit interior, a mosque built entirely of salt, and a replica of the tomb of Iqlal. Khewra Salt Mines is suitable for all ages with no strenuous walking and can be done as a half day trip with the Mine and Khewra Town and one of the outlooks over the Salt Range as well.
Murree and Galiyat. Approximately one and a half hours from Islamabad depending on traffic. The oldest hill station in Pakistan, Murree was established in the mid-19th Century and is located at around 2,100 meters. The tourist center in Murree is The Mall and the Lift Station. Bhurban and Nathia Gali a further thirty to forty minutes are relatively calm and more green with Ayubia National Park and a chairlift. Murree is completely packed on summer weekends. Visiting during the week or in the evenings may help traffic. Islamabad residents enjoy traveling to Murree in Winter because it contains snow.
Attock Fort. About ninety minutes northwest of Islamabad, on the Indus at the border of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fort was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1581. Partially accessible and interesting for the confluence of rivers and the view across to the opposite bank, though limited army areas create constriction for full entry.
Wah Gardens. The Mughal-era Hasan Abdal gardens about forty-five kilometers from Islamabad. The historic Panjah Sahib Gurdwara is located in the same area which is one of the most valuable sites for Sikhs in Pakistan.
Islamabad Half Day City Tour. Includes Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, Daman-e-Koh with a bazaar stop. Three to four hours with a licensed guide in a private vehicle.. Can be done in the morning before a flight or in the afternoon after arriving.
Islamabad Full Day City Tour. Includes everything from the half day tour plus Lok Virsa Museum, Saidpur Village and Rawal Lake. Five to six hours with a licensed guide in a private vehicle.. More time for all the sites. Lunch is included if the package says so.
Taxila day trip: Museum and 3-4 main archaeological sites. A full day excursion from Islamabad. Requires a guide. Main site area is large and takes some time. Not suitable for rushed half-day schedules.
Murree and Galiyat day trip: Drive up in the morning, visit Murree Mall, Bhurban or Nathia Gali and Ayubia, return in the evening. Best April through October. Traffic management on weekends should be considered.
Combined Heritage day trip: Rohtas Fort and Khewra Salt Mine in one day, site time of around 7-8 hours. If you have a historic interest only, this is for you.
For any archaeological or heritage site, a licensed guide is a necessity. Taxila without a guide is essentially a field trip to a meadow. Taxila with a guide who can explain the chronology and the iconography of the Gandhara sculpture is one of the truly important South Asian heritage experiences.
A private vehicle according to the size of the group. A Sedan for 2 people, a 7-seater for a family, a coaster for a corporate group. The Islamabad to Taxila road is fairly easy for all types of vehicles. The Murree hill road after a snow or heavy rain needs a vehicle with traction.
A clear cut breakdown of what the package will include: guide fees, entry tickets, fuel and whether lunch is on the house or arranged separately.
Here is a schedule listing named sites in the order you will be visiting them with an estimate of time for each. A full-day Islamabad tour that attempts to cover 12 sites should not be overly exaggerated as a full-day tour, it is a car tour with a few stops.
Islamabad is usually the first city foreign travelers visit when they enter Pakistan. There is a lot to be said for spending two days in Islamabad before continuing north. With Taxila, Islamabad's preservation of architectural monuments, and the Margalla Hills, visitors will have an understanding of what they will see in the following days and what to expect of the region. A visitor who goes straight from the airport to Hunza may see the Karakoram and pretty much understand nothing.
Foreign visitors should not miss the Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument and Taxila. From these three sites, one can understand contemporary Pakistan's Islamic identity and its Polity, and the pre-Islamic Gandhara-Buddhist civilization. This understanding will help put the rest of the trip in perspective.
An Islamabad city tour for a visiting delegation is not a leisure tour. The priorities are usually a visit to the Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, a bazaar visit, and selecting a venue for dinner, as opposed to a full heritage circuit. Half a day, with proper guidance, will give the corporate guest itinerary enough time for meetings.
Corporate guests visiting Islamabad on a longer delegation, looking for a day out of the city: Taxila is a good option. If the schedule allows for an evening or half day outing, then Murree is a decent option.
Ensure the guide is licensed for the sites on the itinerary. Taxila, in particular, would benefit from a guide trained in Gandhara Buddhist art as opposed to a general script city guide.
If you are going to Murree, never go on a weekend unless it is in June, July, August (all bad weather months anyway) as you will be in just as much of a traffic jam as on a week day.
Find out how many sites are on the itinerary and how long is allotted for each. If your tour lists 8 destinations in 6 hours, be sure to ask if you will pass through or if you will be able to see any the sites in the allotted time.
Verify if tickets to the sites are included in the tour price. Taxila, and the Pakistan Monument and the Lok Virsa museum all charge for entry.
What are the tourist attractions in Islamabad? Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument, Daman-e-Koh, Lok Virsa Museum, and the markets. For a day trip, Taxila.
How far is Taxila from Islamabad? About 30 kilometres, 1 hour drive on the Islamabad to Peshawar highway.
A guide is required for Taxila? Yes. The sites are spread out and the historical context is not explained. The visit is worthwhile with a guide that knows the Gandhara period and the museum collection.
How many days do you need in Islamabad? One full day is adequate. Two days with Taxila. Three or four days for a comfortable pace with some of the more popular sites.
Is Murree good to visit in winters? Pack your bags for an enjoyable, less hectic trip to see snow; though driving up the steep road after January’s heavy snows is not advisable unless you call the local police for clearance.
Can Islamabad tours be arranged for a corporate group? Yes. Several standard requests include half-day and full day city tours for delegations with private transport and a protocol conscious tour guide. Also a full-day cultural tour of Taxila.
Choose your dates with your group size and the most important sites. We will book your guide and vehicle and confirm the tickets for each site and a tour schedule for adequate time at each.
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