Sufi Shrines of the Punjab and Sindh

Overview

On Thursday nights at Lahore's shrines the drums begin after dark, and at Shah Jamal the dhol players drive dancers into whirling dhamal trance until past midnight. Pakistan's Sufi tradition is among the most alive on earth, and this ten-day journey follows it south: the great shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh and the Mughal splendour of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, the mud-brick and blue-tile dome of Shah Rukn-e-Alam rising over Multan, the crumbling tomb-city of Uch Sharif, Shah Abdul Latif's shrine at Bhit Shah with its all-night raag singing, and finally Sehwan Sharif, where the dhamal for Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is a nightly ecstasy of drums, incense and red-clad devotees. Run this with a Pakistani operator: they arrange the visa invitation letter, a car with driver, and access timed to the music. Check current FCDO advice, particularly for interior Sindh, and dress conservatively — women will need a headscarf at shrines and everyone removes shoes. October to February is the season; summer is punishing. Ten days with guide, driver and mid-range hotels runs about £1,300–£1,700. The hospitality will floor you.

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Prefilled for 1 October 2026 — the next best-season window. Search on partner sites — opens in a new tab.