13 Days Riding Experience on Karakoram Highway

Islamabad

The places to visit in Islamabad, Pakistan's green capital on the edge of Punjab's Potohar plateau, include the Faisal Mosque, the Margalla Hills trails and the old village of Saidpur. Islamabad is also the starting point for most trips north, and our city tours and longer journeys begin here.

Why visit Islamabad

Islamabad is a planned city, built in the 1960s at the foot of the Margalla Hills to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital. It sits in its own federal territory beside Rawalpindi, on the northern edge of the Potohar plateau. Wide avenues, parks and forested hills give it a calm that surprises many first-time visitors.

It is also the natural base for a longer trip around Pakistan, with good hotels and an international airport. The Karakoram Highway heads north from nearby, domestic flights leave for Gilgit and Skardu, and Taxila and Rohtas Fort are both within easy reach.

Places to visit in Islamabad

  • Faisal Mosque: designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay and completed in 1986, its tent-shaped hall and four minarets stand against the Margalla Hills.
  • Pakistan Monument: a petal-shaped memorial on Shakarparian hill, with the Lok Virsa heritage museum close by.
  • Daman-e-Koh: a viewpoint in the hills looking over the city and the Faisal Mosque.
  • Saidpur Village: an old settlement below the hills, restored with craft shops and cafés.

Things to do in Islamabad

  • Hike Trail 3: the best-known path in Margalla Hills National Park, climbing from sector F-6 to a viewpoint and on to Pir Sohawa.
  • Explore Rawalpindi: the older twin city, with crowded bazaars that contrast sharply with the capital.
  • Learn about Pakistan's cultures: Lok Virsa's galleries cover crafts, music and dress from every province.
  • Watch the sunset from the hills: Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa both look out over the city as the lights come on.

Best time to visit Islamabad

  • March and April: spring blossom and warm, clear days for hiking.
  • October and November: dry, sunny autumn weather, ideal for sightseeing.
  • June to August: June is the hottest month, and July and August bring heavy monsoon rain.

Islamabad tour packages

The 1 Day Islamabad City Tour is a day in the capital with a local guide. 2 Days Islamabad and Taxila adds the Gandharan ruins at Taxila, and the 11 Days Lahore Islamabad Hunza Skardu trip uses the capital as a stepping stone to Gilgit-Baltistan.

Plan your trip from Islamabad

We are based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Choose a tour above, or tell us your dates and we will plan a private city tour or a longer route that starts at your hotel.