Depart Islamabad in the morning for Shah Allah Ditta, an ancient site featuring caves and rock carvings used by Buddhist monks and Hindu pilgrims over 2,000 years ago. Continue to Taxila, once a thriving center of Buddhist learning and art, to explore the Taxila Museum and key archaeological sites including Dharmarajika, Julian, and Mohra Moradu. In the afternoon, drive to Khanpur Lake for an evening of relaxation by the water. Dinner and overnight stay at a lakeside resort.

After breakfast, enjoy a boat ride across Khanpur Lake to visit Bhamala Monastery, home to the world’s oldest reclining Buddha statue. This 4th-century site offers insight into the Gandhara Civilization’s artistic and spiritual achievements. Afterward, continue your scenic journey toward Chattar Plains, stopping en route for lunch at a countryside resort. Arrive by late afternoon and unwind amid rolling green hills. Dinner and overnight stay at a resort in Chattar Plains.

Travel north along the Karakoram Highway, tracing the footsteps of ancient Silk Road traders. Stop at Shatial, one of the most significant rock art sites in the entire Indus Valley. The cliffs here are adorned with thousands of petroglyphs and inscriptions depicting Buddhist stupas, ibex, traders, and travelers. Sadly, these irreplaceable carvings are expected to vanish once the Diamer-Basha Dam reservoir fills. Continue to Chilas for dinner and overnight stay.

Spend the morning visiting additional Chilas petroglyph clusters, where carvings and ancient inscriptions line the Indus River banks. Then, continue north along one of the world’s most scenic drives, with a stop at Thalechi Viewpoint for breathtaking views of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), the world’s ninth-highest mountain. Arrive in Gilgit by afternoon for dinner and overnight stay at a comfortable hotel.

After breakfast, travel to Hunza Valley, where ancient history and mountain majesty converge. Stop en route to admire the landscapes of the Hunza River before visiting Altit Fort, a beautifully restored 900-year-old stronghold that once guarded the valley’s trade routes. Spend the evening exploring the charming streets of Karimabad. Dinner and overnight stay in Hunza.

Begin the day with a visit to Haldeikish (Sacred Rocks of Hunza), one of the most important Buddhist petroglyph sites in Gilgit-Baltistan. These carvings of stupas, ibex, and inscriptions record centuries of Silk Road travelers and monks passing through the region. In the afternoon, explore Ganish Village — Hunza’s oldest settlement — and its historic fortified homes that reflect the cultural blend of Central and South Asia. Dinner and overnight stay in Hunza.

Depart Hunza for Skardu, following the Indus River through dramatic mountain gorges. Stop at Alam Bridge to see another cluster of ancient rock carvings — many of which will also be submerged once the new dams are completed. Upon arrival in Skardu, visit the iconic Manthal Buddha Rock, an 8th-century carving depicting a serene seated Buddha surrounded by Bodhisattvas, reflecting the region’s pre-Islamic Buddhist legacy. Dinner and overnight stay at a scenic resort in Skardu.

After breakfast, transfer to Skardu Airport for your flight to Islamabad. As you fly over the great mountains and river valleys, reflect on the vanishing legacy of the Indus petroglyphs — an ancient archive of human faith and creativity soon to be lost beneath the waters. Your journey concludes with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for Pakistan’s Silk Road heritage.