Adventure Road Trip in Sindh

Meet on arrival transfer to Movenpick Hotel, Karachi where you will check into your Executive Room to rest at leisure. The Executive Rooms come with a balcony, city views, and several premium amenities. You can choose between a king bed or twin beds and refresh in the bathroom which features a bathtub and eco-friendly amenities. The rooms also feature a seating area, work desk, LCD TV, personal safe, and minibar. A lavish Pakistani Dinner will be served at the on-site restaurant called The Pakistani with live music. The restaurant gives guests the option to choose between a table or traditional floor seating. We have recommended the Sindhi cuisine for your first day with their specialty Palla fish a unique fish that lives in both fresh and salt waters of Sindh during its life and tastes distinctly from its head to its tail.

After a wholesome breakfast, we take you out for a morning tour of Karachi. We start our day with a visit to the famous Saddar Bazaar, Karachi s commercial cluster with several buildings reflecting the colonial architectural preferences. Built with Gizri stone, the buildings in Saddar are an aging account of the Gothic and Renaissance revival styles dominant in Karachi in the 1920s. The bazaar is located approximately 5 minutes away from the hotel and offers a quick glimpse into the commercial sector of the metropolis as well as into the roadside food culture of Sindh. We will try Saddar s specialty bun kebab (subcontinental spin on burgers with potato, chutney, and egg) and limca (local lemonade with flavor and soda water). Keep walking to visit the Empress Market and Bohri Bazaar. The Empress Market was built to honor the Queen Victoria of the UK and is still considered a gem in Karachi s crown. Shop for herbs, spices, 100% pure fresh-pressed oils, honey, and dry fruits here and witness the majestic Indo-Gothic architectural style. The highlight of this area, however, is the 140 feet high clock tower made with buffed colored stone in Indo-Gothic style. Located close to the Empress Market is the Saint Patrick s Church. Marvel at the intricate design of this church that is considered the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. The cathedral is built in Gothic Revival architecture and can host up to 1500 worshippers at one time. We drive for 5 minutes from St Patrick s Church to the Jinnah Mausoleum with its adjoining museum. Visit the mausoleum and the museum of relics of Pakistan s leader Quaid E Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The tomb is located at the top of a stepped pyramid in the middle of a massive park. The white marble structure was built in 1958-68 and is inspired by modernist designs with an architectural theme of displaying purity. Sit in the park with a beverage and enjoy the view of this massive marble beauty. You will then head to Tooba Mosque to see the largest single-dome mosque in the world with a diameter of 212 feet. The drive is approximately 15 minutes long by car and gives you a sneak-peak of old Karachi as well as new Karachi. Next up is a food-tasting tour in the diplomatic area of Clifton which houses 5-6 of the most popular fusion eating concepts in Karachi s culinary scene. Caf Flo - a French restaurant, Okra - a Pan-Asian restaurant, and Khanji offers delicious traditional cuisine. After a tantalizing lunch, enjoy a cup of tea at a popular chai caf called Chai Master. They have improvised the concept of tea sipping in open trendy spaces and include some of the best fusion dessert in town. Head to the popular Clifton beach spot which is more popular for its activities than its swimming. Enjoy the unique experience of a decorated camel ride on a seashore. In the end, we will visit the Mohatta Palace Museum. The museum was once home to Fatima Jinnah (sister of the founding father of Pakistan) but the palatial structure has been turned into a museum dedicated to the Sindhi arts & culture. After an eventful day, we return to the hotel for a late dinner at The Pakistani. We have recommended the Punjabi cuisine for you today. Try the freshly baked Lachaydar paratha made on request in a live cooking spectator kitchen. We recommend having it with their minced green onion chicken and hand blended cold lassi.

Breakfast will be served at the hotel before we take an approximately 45 minutes helicopter flight to the east of Karachi towards Thatta (subject to prior approvals). You will fly over to the Makli Necropolis - one of the largest funerary sites in the world spread out over 10 kilometers. Visit the nearby Shah Jahan Mosque one of the most intricately designed historic mosque from the Mughal times and then drive down to Haleji lake and its makeshift crocodile sanctuary. Enjoy a sand-pit roasted corn for a unique woody flavor. After exploring Makli and Thatta, you set out in your 4x4 towards Nagarparkar at the East end of the arid Tharparkar desert. The journey is approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes which gives you enough time to familiarize yourself with the rugged charm of the desert. Experience off-road safari as we drive through the dunes. Thar is the world s 7th largest desert. It is uniquely known as a friendly desert as it supports many life forms. Wildlife and human villages thrive in Thar. Peacocks are a spectacle of the Thar desert, though bred in captivity. You may spot an endangered blue bull in this area along with several endangered birds so do not forget to keep your cameras ready. We will spend the evening in the dunes taking pictures of the sunset as it hides behind the dusty mountains. You will check-in at Rooplo Kohli STDC Motel where you will enjoy local dinner before calling it a day. Rooplo Kolhi Resort is located behind the natural Karoonjhar Mountains. Go out for a walk or ask your driver to help you explore the magical area comprising Jain temples, Mithi and Marvi s Well, Bhodesar Mosque, and Qasbo all of them have an enchanting past and your guide will tell you the stories over the desert bonfire.

You will set out early to explore the desert after your breakfast. Experience the village life, try local snacks from roadside stalls and hop on a camel to trek the area. You will visit Mithi city to witness the rustic grandeur of Naukot Fort also known as The Gateway of Thar Desert . The fort is known in the area because it was built with bricks without any support from wood or iron. The fort was built with burnt bricks and mud mortar and is 113 meters in length and 98 meters in breadth. After exploring the fort, meet the diverse locals, and ride a Sindhi tractor on the uneven ground in the desert for a thrilling experience. The villagers of Thar live a very harmonious life in their community. They are great artisans. Handcraft work, embroidery and block printing are the beauty of the Thar people. Dress up in the local colorful attire, try a hand at carving, pottery, fur weaving, and learn the tricks of snake charming. Depending on the season of your visit you will see drastically changed landscapes. In the monsoon season the desert comes to life and the plains turn into fertile and green valleys. You will see seasonal specialties that are a spinoff and organic version of the common fruits. Different in appearance, color, and name but with a complete and sweet taste. Shahi (watermelon), Chibhar (melon) and Peroon (grapes). We will have home-cooked lunch at the local village with the fresh organic vegetables of the season. You will return to Nagarparkar and rest at leisure till dinner is served. For your dinner tonight you will enjoy camel meat specialties of the desert. Camel biryani and camel BBQ cooked to your taste. Although you have your campsite, you may choose to sleep in the desert under the stars and the visual Milky Way. Ask us and we will setup a dune-sight for you. Deserts can get cold, so this might be a seasonal option.

After breakfast, you will depart by road to Sukkur. The total journey time from Nagarparkar to Sukkur is approximately 9 hours however we have broken down the journey for your comfort. We will stop at Mirpur Khas and Sanghar. This is a remote off-road highway and we will challenge against time to complete this 9 hours journey in our speedy 4x4 and get to Sukkur by dusk. Get ready for a fast ride through the desert. We will drive through Mirpur Khas to enjoy their world-famous mangoes which are readily available between June-Sep and are produced in over 200 varities. In other seasons we will stopover for the cold beverage Thadal to freshen our spirits. Along the way we will cross over the wildlife sanctuary, Makhi Forest and Chotiari damn in the attractive city of Sanghar where we will have our lunch with the half meter Rohu fish roasted on an open fire pit in a dish called Fish Sajji. The cook is Abdul Jabbar Mallah who for the past 20 years has gained celebrity status with his roadside fish stall. For dessert we will make way for the Gajar ka Halwa (a local dessert made with carrots, milk, and cardamom). Curious faces, unique cities with never seen before cultures and people, this tour is a must for those who love the diversity of cultures this world has to offer. Do make sure to buy some of their high quality honey produce from the Makhi forest. Sindh is known for its roots in Hinduism and we want you to experience it all. After a journey of approximately 9 hours, we reach Sukkur City. Our first stop would be at Kalkan Devi Temple in Arore. Kalkan Devi Temple is considered one of the holiest shrines for Hindus residing in Pakistan. If legends are to be believed, Kalkaan Devi appeared here during her Hinglaj journey. The temple is surrounded by 5-6 feet high caves and rooms that host thousands of visitors during Hindu festivals. We will climb the cliff to reach the top temple called (Ganjo Takar) and then continue the journey to caves of Hindu practices. The site is lit in the evening and you can sit down with the priest to have a cup of tea. We will also visit the remnants of the mosque built by the 8th century hero Mohammed bin Qasim who introduced Islam to the subcontinent. We return to Sukkur to view the sunset at Lansdowne Bridge and take a calm evening boat ride on the Indus River. This evening you will check in-to Hotel One Sukkur by the river canal. Enjoy local dinner, hot showers, clean bedsheets, and premium suite spaces to rejuvenate after the desert adventure.

After breakfast, you will leave early morning for Mohen Jo Daro with a stopover at Larkana. The total travel time between Sukkur and the historic city of MohenJo Daro is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes but we have added stops in this culturally rich region so that you can get the ultimate experience. Explore handicraft and Ajrak markets in Larkana boasting the artistic skills of artisans, painters, and designers in the region. The city is also a piece of heaven for the lovers of organic food. The fertile land produces all kinds of crops, for example peas, guava, rice, maize, mustard, and sugarcane. So ask your guide for a quick snack replete with freshly plucked fruits and sugarcane juice that is locally known as gannay ka rass. You will then explore the centerpiece of this tour. The ancient Indus Valley Civilization in the crumbling glory of Mohen Jo Daro. We will drive to Kot Diji to see the popular Kot Diji fort and the pre-Harappan civilization archaeological site that goes back to 2500 to 2800 B.C.E. Next we drive to Khairpur for quick visits to Faiz Mahal and Sheesh Mahal. Khairpur Faiz Mahal is a colossal palace that was built for Talpur royals in 1789. The pink palace with white trimmings, intricate design in gold, and pictures of rulers is a throwback to the extravagance of the Talpur Dynasty and a reflection of the evolution of the Indus valley civilization over the millenniums. We continue our journey back to our hotel in Sukkur and reach by sunset. Freshen up in your suite room and then enjoy a local dinner of Nihari and the pleasant conversations that always accompany this food. Nihari is by consensus the national dish of Pakistan!

Set out early to conquer the last mile of our journey the trip back to Karachi on the popular N55 road. We have arranged for a fast 4x4 and expert crew that will help you navigate through the desert and explore the spirituality of the region. Drive through Dadu, Sehwan, Ranikot, and the east end of Kirthar National Park and finally hit your campsite at Karchat before dusk. Along the way you will witness ancient rock carvings and spooky graves in Dadu. You will also cross the largest lake in Pakistan at Manchar Lake, sing devotional qawwali at the shrine of the revered 12th century Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and witness the unique spiritual culture of Pakistan, and jog along the fort wall of Ranikot. Ranikot is also known as The Great Wall of Sindh and is considered the world s largest fort with a circumference of 32 kilometers. Our premium campsite at Karchat is in the middle of a national park. While we rough it out in the wild, we have arranged for the wildlife guides to provision all the needs and security in the park. Stories at night, quiet of the park, and the thrill of the wild in one of the biggest national parks in Pakistan this tour packs a punch for the thrill-seeker in you! Dinner will be cooked at the campsite. The Sindhi specialty Bughal Teewarn tender mutton chops cooked with tomato, garlic and onion paste along with a mix of Sindhi homegrown spices and pholka flatbread.

We get out at sunrise to explore the national park and enjoy a cup of tea with freshly cooked breakfast by the crew from the Sindh Wildlife Department. After breakfast, you will hike the mountains to spot wildlife including a canyon top where you may see the Ibex and Urial herds grazing in the land below you. We get on a helicopter from Kirthar Park and travel for around 1.5hrs to reach Karachi. Witness the aerial view of the fort and this great national park as you head towards Karachi s coastline. Check-in at Movenpick Hotel, Karachi and enjoy an on-site spa therapy session at Movenpick to cleanse, relax, and rejuvenate. Bring the trip to a close with a relaxing experience at Movenpick Hotel with on-site facilities. Take a dip in the outdoor heated swimming pool Jacuzzi or hit the steam room to melt away your stresses and enjoy your high-tea buffet with your premium access to the executive floor lounge You will visit Port Grand in the evening to witness the vibrant city life and enjoy evening snacks and tea with a calming view of the port and food vendors on both side marina promenade. Take some great pictures as you bring the journey to a close tonight.

After breakfast, depart for Jinnah International Airport for your homebound flight. We hope you loved exploring the mystic and rich province of Sindh with us. Remember there s no extra charge on taking extra pictures and if you miss the adrenaline road adventure or the gritty allure of Karachi city, you can always book a re-tour with us. Chalo Pakistan!