Sam Dalrymple is a Delhi-raised Scottish historian, filmmaker, and multimedia producer. He graduated from the University of Oxford as a Persian and Sanskrit scholar, where he served as president and co-founder of the Oxford University Silk Road Society. In 2018, he co-founded Project Dastaan, a peace-building initiative that reconnects refugees displaced by the 1947 Partition of India.
Pakistan: In the Footsteps of Alexander with Sam Dalrymple
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/09/27 | 29/09/27 | 12 days | £6,495 pp | £1,425 | Sam Dalrymple | 15 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
More than 2,300 years ago, Alexander the Great crossed into the Indian subcontinent, forging one of history’s most extraordinary campaigns. Yet the greatest legacy of his journey was not conquest, but the exchange of ideas that followed. Across what is now Pakistan, Greek artistic traditions merged with Buddhist beliefs, shaping a remarkable civilisation whose influence spread across Asia for centuries.
Hosted throughout by historian and author Sam Dalrymple, this immersive journey traces that story from the ancient cities of Taxila and the Salt Range to the extraordinary Gandharan collections of Lahore and the mountain valleys of Baltistan. Along the way, Sam also draws on the research behind his book Shattered Lands to explore another defining chapter in the region’s history: the Partition of India, whose legacy remains visible in the cities, communities and landscapes of modern Pakistan.
Combining world-class archaeology, exceptional museum collections, living traditions and spectacular scenery, this is an opportunity to discover Pakistan through two interconnected stories that continue to shape the region today.
Introducing your expert
Sam Dalrymple
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Into Baltistan
Journey through the mountain landscapes of the Shyok Valley, staying at historic Khaplu Palace and sharing lunch with locals.
Lahore by Night
Explore the atmospheric Walled City before a rooftop evening of traditional qawwali music, overlooking the illuminated Badshahi Mosque.
Ancient Taxila
Explore one of Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, from the streets of Bhir Mound and the Indo-Greek city of Sirkap to the monastery at Jaulian.
Rohtas Fort
Stand atop the UNESCO-listed Rohtas Fort overlooking the Jhelum Valley as Sam brings Alexander’s final great battle against King Porus to life.
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Day 1
Arrive Islamabad (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
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Day 2
Explore Taxila (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
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Day 3
The Salt Ranges (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
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Day 4
Islamabad to Lahore via Rohtas Fort (The FRED Hotel)
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Day 5
Lahore (The FRED Hotel)
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Day 6
Lahore (The FRED Hotel)
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Day 7
Lahore (The FRED Hotel)
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Day 8
Lahore to Skardu (Serena Khaplu Palace)
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Day 9
Khaplu (Serena Khaplu Palace)
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Day 10
Khaplu to Broq (Broq Resort)
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Day 11
Broq to Islamabad (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
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Day 12
Depart Pakistan
Day 1
Arrive Islamabad (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
After time to rest following your arrival, enjoy a gentle heritage walk through Rawalpindi’s historic bazaars, temples and Sikh-era havelis. As Sam introduces the story of Partition, discover how the city’s changing communities provide an important foundation for the journey ahead.
Day 2
Explore Taxila (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
Spend the day exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Taxila, where Alexander met King Ambhi in 326 BC. Visit Bhir Mound, Sirkap, Dharmarajika and Jaulian before concluding at the excellent Taxila Museum, home to some of the world’s finest Gandharan sculpture.
Day 3
The Salt Ranges (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
Travel into Pakistan’s remarkable Salt Range, visiting Khewra Salt Mine, the sacred temples of Katas Raj and the beautifully preserved Malot Temple. Together these sites reveal centuries of religious and architectural exchange influenced by both South Asia and the Hellenistic world.
Day 4
Islamabad to Lahore via Rohtas Fort (The FRED Hotel)
Visit the vast UNESCO-listed Rohtas Fort overlooking the Jhelum, where Sam explains the significance of Alexander’s final great battle against King Porus. Continue south to Lahore for four nights.
Day 5
Lahore (The FRED Hotel)
Explore Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque and the monuments of the Sikh Empire before witnessing the remarkable Wagah border ceremony, where the legacy of Partition is performed daily on the frontier between Pakistan and India.
Day 6
Lahore (The FRED Hotel)
Examine the exceptional Gandharan collections of Lahore Museum before visiting the remarkable Fakir Khana Museum and exploring the atmospheric Walled City. End the day with traditional qawwali music overlooking Badshahi Mosque.
Day 7
Lahore (The FRED Hotel)
Visit the Shalimar Gardens and the magnificent funerary complex of Emperor Jahangir and Nur Jahan at Shahdara, exploring another chapter in Pakistan’s rich cultural history.
Day 8
Lahore to Skardu (Serena Khaplu Palace)
Transfer to the airport for flights to Skardu before travelling through the Shyok Valley to Khaplu. En route visit the Manthal Buddha Rock and the historic Sufi shrines of Kiris, where Buddhism and Islam followed many of the same mountain routes.
Day 9
Khaplu (Serena Khaplu Palace)
Spend the day exploring the villages surrounding Khaplu. Enjoy lunch with a local family before visiting the beautifully restored Khaplu Palace, Chaqchan Mosque and the Khanqah-e-Mualla.
Day 10
Khaplu to Broq (Broq Resort)
Follow the Shyok River west to Broq, where an optional walk to the Marsur viewpoint offers superb views across the Skardu basin. Those preferring a gentler afternoon can simply relax and enjoy the peaceful mountain setting.
Day 11
Broq to Islamabad (Islamabad Serena Hotel)
Fly back to Islamabad before visiting the Faisal Mosque and enjoying free time to browse local artisan studios and craft shops. Gather for a farewell dinner this evening.
Day 12
Depart Pakistan
Transfer to Islamabad International Airport for your onward flights.
When Greece Met Buddhism
Alexander's Lasting Legacy
Alexander’s campaign in South Asia lasted only a matter of years, but its influence endured for centuries. Across northern Pakistan, Greek artistic traditions merged with Buddhist beliefs to create the distinctive Gandharan style, producing the first human representations of the Buddha. From the ancient streets of Taxila to the monasteries of Jaulian and the outstanding collections of Lahore Museum, discover how ideas travelled, evolved and gave rise to one of the ancient world’s most remarkable artistic traditions.
From Empire to Partition
Lahore: A City Divided
Lahore has been shaped by successive empires, from the Mughals and Sikhs to the British Raj. Yet perhaps no event transformed the city more profoundly than the Partition of India in 1947. Drawing on the research behind Shattered Lands, Sam explores how the creation of new borders reshaped communities, collections and identities. From Rawalpindi’s abandoned temples to Lahore Museum, whose collections were themselves divided between two nations, discover how the story of Partition continues to resonate through modern Pakistan.
Where History Runs Deep
The Salt Range
The Salt Range has long been a crossroads for armies, pilgrims and traders, but its story stretches back even further. According to tradition, it was Alexander’s army that first discovered the vast salt deposits at Khewra when their horses stopped to lick the exposed rock. More than 2,000 years later, Khewra remains one of the world’s largest working salt mines and the only source of the distinctive pink Himalayan salt. Combined with the sacred temples of Katas Raj and the Malot Temple, the region offers an extraordinary insight into the layers of history that have shaped northern Pakistan.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Low Activity
Single Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Accommodation throughout as detailed
- Accompanied by Sam Dalrymple as tour expert throughout
- Accompanied by a local English speaking guide throughout
- Domestic flights in economy class
- Entrance to all sites mentioned
- Group transfers throughout
- Immediate check in on arrival in Islamabad
- Most meals
What is excluded
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters
- Items of a personal nature
- Travel Insurance
- Visas
- Airport departure tax
Other available dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/09/27 | 29/09/27 | 12 days | £6,495 pp | Sam Dalrymple | 15 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
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