SOUTH PAKISTAN The Civilizations of the Indus Valley

April 30 to May 08, 2022 Led by Local Guide

Can be combined with our Pakistan tour (May 08 to 20, 2022) An amazing journey through Pakistan’s Indus River Valley from Karachi to Lahore to explore some of the most impressive historical sites of the country including Several UNESCO World Heritage sites and stunning architecture of mosques, Mughal constructions, Hindu temples, Buddhistmonasteries, and Greco-Bactrian ruins. Along the way, you will savor the diverse attractions of modern Pakistan such as its color- ful bazaars, the hospitable people from Punjab and Sindh provinces and mouth-watering cuisine everywhere you go. As you drive along the Indus Valley looking at ancient monuments from bygone era you will immerse yourself in the joyful appreciation of the Pakistanis of today, with their musicians playing their music or chanting in shrines of saints to farmers doing what they have done for millennia with their fertile land, to passing through marshes that are home to some beautiful birds and palm trees with tasty dates, your appreciation of Pakistan will be a thrill. Ihab Zaki Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel

Saturday, April 30 er Wheeler in 1947. Now in the hands of the Pakistan Archaeolog- Arrive in Karachi ical Survey team and supported by UNESCO, the site is excellently presented. We’ll tour the great bath, the granary, the College Upon arrival in Karachi (depending on your arrival time), meet Square and Pillared Hall, private homes, and the Mohenjo-Daro and transfer to Pearl Continental Hotel for check-in and overnight. Museum, and then return to the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D)

Sunday, May 01 Tuesday, May 03 Karachi-Sukkar Sukkur - Bahawalpur

After breakfast, head out on a tour of Karachi with a visit to the After breakfast, head to visit the Hindu Shrine, located near the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan town of Sukkur, the Sadh Belo shrine gets its name from “Sadh then continue on to the National Museum of Pakistan with its Belo” or a “Hermitage of a Monk”, the Lodhy Barrage built on the numerous galleries. The museum features a multitude of artifacts Indus River during the British Raj in the early 20th century. It is the including objects from the pre and ancient history of the region largest single irrigation network of its kind in the world, providing (5000 to 1500 BC). After lunch, tour the Mohatta Palace Museum water to Sindh Province. The name Barrage is borrowed from the near Clifton Beach, where there are always unique collections of French word “barrier” meaning “to bar”. You’ll also visit the famous art and textiles on display. The Mohatta Palace was built in 1927 Hindu pilgrimage center of Sadh Belo. This beautiful temple, by Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta, a Hindu Marwari merchant considered sacred for Hindu pilgrims, sits on an island on the In- from modern-day Rajasthan in India. After partition, the palace dus River. Continue to Bahawalpur and transfer to Hotel One for became the property of the state and initially housed Pakistan’s check-in and overnight. (B,L,D) foreign affairs office when Karachi was the capital of Pakistan.- Af ter the capital was moved to Islamabad, the palace became the Wednesday, May 04 private residence of Fatima Jinnah, a Pakistani dental surgeon and political leader and one of the founders of Pakistan. Later, the Bahawalpur Sindh government converted it to a museum and meticulously Enjoy a full-day tour of Bahawalpur, visiting the Cholistan Desert, restored it to its former glory. If time permits, we may visit the locally known as Rohi, the Deraward Fort, a large square fortress Saddar Bazaar (Empress Market). In the Evening, transfer to the in Yazman Tehsil. Visit the town of Uch Sharif, believed to have airport for your flight toSukkar . Upon arrival, meet and transfer to been founded by Alexander the Great during his invasion of One Hotel for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) the Indus Valley and renowned for the extensive tile work of its Monday, May 02 shrines dedicated to Muslim mystics. If time permits, we might visit the famous library of the Abbasi family. Return to the hotel Sukkar for your overnight. (B,L,D) We’ll begin the day with a morning drive to the Kot Deji archae- ological site to visit the famous fort of Khairpur. This site stands Thursday, May 05 on one of the rare outcroppings of limestone that are part of the Bahawalpur - Multan Rohri Hills to the north. The site, which dates from 3500 to 2500 BC, has two distinct parts to the site. Excavation of the upper lev- Begin your day with a morning drive to Multan, stopping on- el revealed pottery of the Harappan civilization, while the lower route at a factory that produces the famous blue pottery of levels exposed evidence of an unknown pre-Harappan culture, Multan. Visit the tombs of Sheik Baha-ud-din Zakariya and designated as Kot Deji. We’ll head to visit the famous archaeolog- Shah Rukn-e-Alam. Rukn-eAlam was an eminent Sufi saint from ical site of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the most important and well Multan and the grandson and successor of Baha-uddin Zakari- known archaeological sites in South Asia and one of the best-pre- ya. He was buried in his grandfather’s mausoleum, but he was served and restored prehistoric sites in the world. Built-in 2500 BC, later transferred to the present mausoleum, which dates from it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley the 14th century. His tomb is a pilgrimage site, drawing over and contemporaneous with ancient Egypt and Minoan Crete. The 100,000 pilgrims a year. Visit the Hussain Agahi Bazar, a huge site was first excavated by the Indian Archaeological Survey team market full of local color, then transfer to Hotel One for check-in under Sir John Marshall in 1922 and 1931, followed by Sir Mortim- and overnight. (B,L,D) Friday, May 06 Multan - Lahore

After an early breakfast, drive to Lahore, stopping on-route at Harappa. Founded over 5,000 years ago, it is one of the world’s earliest cities. Visit the archaeological site and the museum. Transfer to PC Hotel for check-in and overnight. (B,L,D)

Saturday, May 07 Lahore

After breakfast, head to visit the Wazir Khan Mosque, the Shahi Hammam (Royal Bath), and the 17th century Badshahi Mosque. This marble structure is an example of some of the most aestheti- cally pleasing architecture of the Moghul period. Continue to the Lahore Fort, locally known as Shahi Qilla. Built in 1631 by Shah Ja- han as a private apartment for his empress, it has several pavilions including Shish Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors. Visit the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, a 19th century building housing the funerary urn of this ruler, and the Gurdwara Dera Sahib temple, which marks the spot where Guru Arjun Dev, the 5th century guru of Sikhism, died. Return to the hotel for your overnight.(B,L,D)

Sunday, May 08 Lahore - Islamabad

After breakfast, drive to Islamabad. On the way, head to visit the Salt Mines and the Hindu temple at Kitas Village then transfer to Pearl Continental Hotel for check-in and overnight. (B,L,D)

“We (STS) reserve the right to replace lecturers, change ho- tels or the order of activities if/as needed. The program is also subject to changes based on the sched- ule of internal flights within the country”.

“We will do our best to ensure that any necessary changes when/if needed meet the needs of our clients”.

Special Trip Notes and Trip Grade: Moderately Rigorous Touring, anyone joining this trip must un- derstand that in many places the tourist infrastructure (roads, restaurants and bathrooms) is primitive. Some days are long and hard, and the level of services will not match those offered in most tourist locations. The hotels and lodges (outside of large cities) are comfortable but some lack the usual luxuries of the west. By signing up for this tour, participants are acknowledging their full understanding and acceptance of all terms and conditions and are admitting that they are in good physical and mental health and are equipped with an open mind, a sense of adventure and a tolerant and patient spirit to cope with the tour. Internal flights can possibly be cancelled at the very last minute and hence it may require a longer drive to replace the flight and this is part of the adventure, so you need to be totally flexible and accepting such changes.

Tuesday, March 16 Beirut - USA Tour Cost (Land Only) 1 traveler (in single): $7,995.00 2-3 travelers: $5,995.00 4-7 travelers: $4,995.00 per person sharing in double occupancy Single Supplement: $795.00 Price based on group size minimum of 4 participants and maximum of 12 participants Trip Grade: III Lodging Level: **_****

Tour includes: Tour does not include:

• Transfers - airport/hotel/airport. • International airfare (approx. $1,000 from NYC) • Accommodation at hotels mentioned or similar. • Pakistan Visa - can be obtained online (Currently • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary $60.00 - subject to change). (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner). • Beverages with or without meals. • Water & juices on the bus. • Gratuities to guide, and driver. • Transportation by A/C van or 4x4 vehicles. • Items of a personal nature (camera fees, laundry, phone • Entrance fees to all sites and museums. calls, emails, excess luggage, etc.). • Licensed experienced local English-speaking guides. • Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled tour dates. • Internal flights listed in the itinerary. • Dayroom/overnights necessitated by changes in • Accompanying local guide/tour manager. airline schedules. • Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants. • Travel protection insurance (HIGHLY Recommended).

Trip Grade: III Challenging - Parts of the trip are physically challenging, in- volve hiking on rough terrain or in sand or at high altitudes. There may be very long drives on rough roads; weather conditions will be cold in the north and warm in the south. You may have simple picnic lunches, primitive bathroom facilities along the road, and remoteness from modern towns or cities.

Lodging Level: **_**** Basic to Superior Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined service and comfort level acceptable to western standards (2 or 4 stars in some small cities and a few 5 stars-luxury properties in the larger cities.)

Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc. 18421 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021 Phone: 1-800-645-3233 Fax: 586-775-9556 www.mideasttrvl.com [email protected]