Karachi and the Coast, with the Chaukhandi Tombs, Makli and Thatta

Jinnah International Airport is listed with direct flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Istanbul, Muscat, Jeddah, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur among others. Several airlines fly between Karachi and Lahore or Islamabad, so this tour combines easily with our tours in Punjab and the north; domestic flights are quoted separately. Routes change, so check with the airlines.

Usually, but not always. Official ceremonies are held there on 23 March, 14 August, 11 September and 25 December, when public access can be limited, and in July 2026 a Senate committee raised concern about restrictions on public access and asked for the mausoleum to be made fully open. We check on the day; if the chamber is closed to the public you see the building from its gardens or from outside the gates, and we use the time elsewhere.

No fitness is needed beyond an hour or two of walking at a time. Makli is the most tiring stop, because the tombs are spread along a wide ridge with little shade, so bring a hat and water. Karachi is hot and humid for much of the year, with the monsoon from late June to September, when heavy rain can flood streets; November to February is the comfortable season.

We use comfortable hotels, chosen in Clifton, Defence or along Shahrah-e-Faisal, the parts of the city that Canadian travel advice treats as lower risk. Karachi's food is varied: biryani, grilled meat and seafood, along with every other cuisine found in Pakistan. Lunch on the Thatta day is simple local food on the road.

Almost all foreign visitors need a visa before they travel, applied for online at visa.nadra.gov.pk. The free visa prior to arrival was suspended on 1 January 2026, so expect to pay a fee that depends on your nationality and to wait 7 to 10 working days; apply at least four weeks ahead. The UK government notes that your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of your application. We send a visa support letter when you book. No permit is needed for Karachi, Makli or Thatta. Thatta is in lower Sindh, far south of Nawabshah, the line north of which the UK government advises against all but essential travel.

Karachi has occasional strikes and protests, and monsoon rain in July and August can flood roads. We then change the order of the days, drop a stop that cannot be reached safely and replace it where we can. Your guide follows local news each morning, and we would rather lose a visit than drive into a disturbance.