South Punjab 5-Day Tour: Multan, Bahawalpur, Uch Sharif

Five days through saints' shrines, desert sands and one of the world's oldest cities

A 5-day tour from Lahore through South Punjab's historic cities and archaeological sites, visiting Multan's blue-tiled Sufi shrines and bazaars, Bahawalpur's palaces and museums, the Indus Valley ruins at Harappa, Cholistan Desert by camel, and Uch Sharif's saint tombs. The tour includes four nights in air-conditioned hotels, an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets and vehicle transport. Meals are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Lahore to Multan via motorway

• Visit Shah Rukn-e-Alam mausoleum
• Explore Hussain Ghai bazaar

Day 2: Pick up- Multan city tour

• Visit Shah Shamas Tabrez Sabzawari shrine
• Visit Shah Yousaf raza gerdazi shrine
• See Multan Ghanta Ghar clock tower
• Explore blue glazed tile pottery art

Day 3: Bahawal museum - Noor Mahal - Uch sharif

• Visit Noor Mahal palace
• Explore Derwar fort and camel safari
• Visit royal graveyard of Nawab Bahawalpur

Day 4: Uch sharif - Shahi bazaar Ahempuri gate

• Explore Uch Sharif city and shrines
• Shop and explore Shahi bazaar

Day 5: Bahawalpur museum - Drive To Lahore

• Visit Bahawalpur museum
• Explore Harappha museum and archaeological site

The experience

The route begins in Multan, where you walk through Hussain Ghai bazaar, the oldest market in the city, past spice vendors and jewelers, then visit the mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, built between 1320 and 1324 in pre-Mughal style with intricate brick work and glazed tiles that mark Multan's Sufi heritage. You'll also see the shrines of Shah Shamas Tabrez and Shah Yousaf Raza Gerdazi, both prominent Sufi saints, and the Multan Ghanta Ghar clock tower built in 1888 at the heart of the old city. Local artisans demonstrate the blue-glazed pottery tradition that arrived with Persian and Central Asian craftsmen centuries ago, a craft still alive in the city's workshops.

From Multan, the tour moves to Bahawalpur, where you explore Noor Mahal, the palace built in 1875 by Nawab Sadiq Mohamed Khan as a state guest house and now open to the public. The Bahawalpur Museum preserves the region's archaeological and cultural heritage across multiple galleries, and you'll visit the royal graveyard of the Abbasi Nawab family, where tombs display the blue tile work typical of South Punjab. A camel safari takes you to Derwar Fort in Cholistan Desert, a 9th-century fortress made of clay bricks with 40 circular bastions decorated with intricate patterns, where you can photograph the structure from different angles across the sand.

The final stretch reaches Uch Sharif, a city founded by Alexander the Great in 325 BCE and known as the City of Saints for its concentration of Sufi shrines and mausoleums. The tomb of Bibi Jawandi is the prime attraction here, and several monuments are on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. Shahi Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in Bahawalpur, sells local handicrafts including jewelry, traditional khussa shoes, and chunri: a hand-woven textile craft practiced by women in the community for over 50 years. Before returning to Lahore on day five, you visit Harappa, one of the major cities of the Indus Valley civilization dating to 3300–1300 BCE, where the museum holds pottery, seals, terra cotta figurines, and artifacts of gold, silver and bone excavated from the site.

What’s included

• Four nights in air-conditioned hotels in Multan and Bahawalpur.
• an English-speaking guide throughout the five days.
• entrance tickets to all sites including Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Noor Mahal, Bahawalpur Museum, Derwar Fort, Uch Sharif monuments and Harappa Museum.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport from Lahore and back.
• and a camel safari in Cholistan Desert.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pakistan Tours N Guides

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers with five days to spend and an interest in Islamic architecture, Sufi heritage, and ancient civilizations. The fixed itinerary moves through four distinct regions (Multan's shrines, Bahawalpur's palaces, Cholistan's desert, and Uch Sharif's saint tombs) in a single journey, which is what fits all these stops inside the five-day window. Children from age one are welcome, and the tour is wheelchair accessible with air-conditioned transport throughout.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What is the mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan?

Shah Rukn-e-Alam is a pre-Mughal mausoleum built between 1320 and 1324 in Multan, featuring elaborate glazed tile work and intricate brick work. It belongs to a prominent Sufi saint whose title means "pillar of the world," and the tomb has become a landmark of Multan's rich Sufi heritage and Islamic architecture.

Can I ride a camel in Cholistan Desert on this tour?

Yes, a camel safari is included as part of the visit to Derwar Fort in Cholistan Desert. You can take a camel walk to photograph the fortress from different directions across the sand.

What is Harappa and what can I see there?

Harappa was one of the major cities of the Indus Valley civilization, dating to 3300–1300 BCE and representing one of the world's oldest urban civilizations. The Harappa Museum holds a collection of pottery, seals, terra cotta figurines, and artifacts of gold, silver, bone and shell excavated from the site.

Is Uch Sharif really called the City of Saints?

Uch Sharif, located 73 kilometers from Bahawalpur, is known as the City of Saints because of its many Sufi shrines and mausoleums. Several of its key monuments, including the tomb of Bibi Jawandi, are on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list due to their architectural and spiritual importance.

What traditional crafts can I see in Bahawalpur's Shahi Bazaar?

Shahi Bazaar is famous for local handicrafts including jewelry, traditional khussa shoes, and chunri, a hand-woven textile. The craft of chunri-making in the area goes back decades, with women in the community hand-weaving the fabric for over 50 years.

What does the tour include and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes four nights in air-conditioned hotels, an English-speaking guide, an air-conditioned vehicle for transport, and entrance tickets to all sites. Meals, drinks and gratuities are not included and are your responsibility.