Karachi Tours Guide & Day Trips from Karachi To Sindh & Balochistan

Karachi – the city of lights is undoubtedly the pulsating heart of Pakistan and also my hometown. When I say it is my hometown, there is always a shadow of a doubt. If you don’t know it yet, I’m a third culture kid, and though technically Karachi IS my home town – I’ve lived my entire life in Oman and never really felt that homely connection with Karachi.

Nonetheless, there is so much and so little to talk about Karachi. The beautiful landscape of the city, the vibrant lifestyle, and the dark history – Karachi will never fail to surprise you. In this Karachi tours guide, I’m going to cover all the touristy and (non)touristy things to do in Karachi and throwing light on the contrast between undeveloped and modern sides of the city, and then finally talking about best day trips from Karachi.

If you’re not interested in know about my connection with Karachi and its brief history – please use the Table of Contents below to navigate to the things to do in Karachi section 😊

My Love/Hate Relationship with Karachi

For the longest time in my life, I absolutely hated visiting Karachi! And I cannot be blamed for that, I guess… Karachi is the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan and that means it is super crowded, polluted, and yes quite dirty too compared with the other big cities in the country. My summer holiday breaks in Karachi were cursed with electricity shut down in the peak hot time of the year! And when it used to rain, the entire city used to be drowned and it was a task to differentiate rainwater from the overflowing gutter waters while walking around!

I never ever felt connected with Karachi and I still don’t feel that yet… but now after traveling all over Pakistan, I have started to admire the chaos of Karachi. I think that’s what makes the city what it is – the city of light and life, always busy, always lively, it’s like Karachi never sleeps! While I still wholeheartedly hate the poor urban infrastructure of Karachi, I have certainly fallen in love with its lively and vibrant vibe.

A Brief History of Karachi (and what makes it the heart of Pakistan)

Karachi is the melting pot of cultures in Pakistan. The city is home to people from all parts of the country. Unlike any other city in Pakistan, Karachi is highly religiously diverse too. It was the main city during the British rule on the sub-continent. For this reason, the old commercial district of Karachi still has Victorian architecture buildings and locations named after the British leaders from the pre-partition times. For this reason, Karachi homes to the highest number of migrants from India who migrated to Pakistan during the Indo-Pak partition in 1947.

Karachi was also a part of the hippy trail in the 60s and welcomed travelers from all over the world. Unfortunately, the progressive Karachi failed to endure the test of times and due to poor governance, the city fell to its knees and became the least developed megacity in the country.

From the late 90s to 2016, the city went through the darkest times of its history. Riots, theft, and crime were at their peak and on the progression scale, Karachi moved many years behind. But now things are getting better, which is a gradual process. But it is safe to say that Karachi is now ready to open its arms to travelers wanting to explore the different cultures, religions, and the life of the people who calls this crazy yet amazing city their home.

Places To Visit in Karachi

As I already mentioned earlier, there is so much to see and do in Karachi that it can get overwhelming. For this reason, I have divided all the must-do things to do in Karachi into the following different categories.

Must-see Attractions in Karachi

Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum

The top visited place in all the Karachi tours is the mausoleum of the Founder of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who rests right in the heart of the city. The marble dome-shaped mausoleum is built on a vast area surrounded by gardens from all sides. You can book a guide right at the entrance of the mausoleum or visit there independently, it is your choice. There is a change of guard ceremony every hour at the mausoleum, which is an interesting thing to witness. A museum is there right behind the main complex where personal items of Pakistan’s founder are put on display.

Sea view (Clifton beach)

No Karachi tours guide can be completed without the mention of the only beach accessible to Karachiites in the city. A major part of the Arabian ocean kisses the land towards the southern part of Karachi, which is close to the commercial hub of the city. Sea View or the Clifton beach is the place in Karachi that will be crowded and buzzing with life at any time in the day. Sea view is certainly not the most pristine beach one would want to visit but you will see the true raw emotions and love of the people towards the ocean here!

There are plenty of options for horse riding and camel riding at the beach, (which I don’t approve of because of animal cruelty). You’ll also find tons of street food options at sea view too but eat from them at your own risk because the food there isn’t very hygienic! The beach can get insanely busy during weekends, so visiting on weekday afternoons will be your best bet.

Bin Qasim Park (Clifton Park)

Just adjacent to the crazy Sea View beach is one of the largest public parks of Asia, the Bin Qasim Park. The Park is spread on a huge area, however, with urban expansion in the area, many parts of the park are not any more accessible to the public. Bin Qasim Park is a very well-maintained park in the city and a perfect place to unwind with the family. The park also holds many annual events and programs throughout the year.

Mohatta Palace

One of the historic spots in Karachi tours, which is suddenly getting too much limelight is the Mohatta Palace. The Mohatta Palace is a museum today but it was originally built as the residence of a wealthy Hindu merchant in 1927. The palace is built with pink stones from Jodhpur, in today’s Rajasthan state of India combined with the yellow stone and sand from the Ghizri island in Karachi. The Hindu owner of the palace had to abandon it to move to India during the Indo-Pak partition in 1947. In 1995, the provincial government took charge of the palace and converted it into a cultural site. Today, Mohatta Palace is a cultural museum, and many arts and culture events are held there.

Frere Hall

A prime display of Victorian architecture and colonial-era in Karachi is the Frere Hall. The hall was built in the 1860s to serve as the city’s town hall. It is now converted into a museum and a library. The Frere Hall is surrounded by a small garden and is situated in a very central location in the city.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Museum and Park

PAF museum is one of the most popular picnic spots for Karachiites. While many Karachi tours often skip it, I still find it an interesting place to learn more about the Pakistani war aircraft and to just hang out where the locals do. The museum houses some of the original fighter aircraft used in the 1960s and 70s Indo-Pak war. The Park around the museum is built on a very big area and it often hosts events and concerts too.

Tooba Mosque (Masjid-e-Tooba)

Every metropolitan city in Pakistan has at least one historic or a beautifully built mosque and for Karachi, Tooba Mosque it is. There is no historic reference associated with the mosque. The unique thing about it is its beautiful dome-shaped structure and marble finishing, which makes it a must-visit place in Karachi.

Abdullah Shah Ghazi Shrine

Cramped between the busy commercial hub of Karachi on one side and the Arabian ocean on the other, the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi stands tall in between. The resting place of the Sufi saint attracts hundreds of visitors and devotees every single day. While some find the energy at the shrine too overwhelming because of the crowd and noise, I think it is the best place to visit in Karachi for an experience like no other.

St. Patrick Church

The grand St. Patrick Church in the Saddar district is the prime example of Karachi being a religiously diverse city. It was one of the first churches to be built in the province on a big scale. The beautiful structure of the church depicts Gothic Revival architecture and it can home 1,500 worshipers.

Quaid-e-Azam House Museum

One of the must-see attractions to visit in Karachi is the Quaid-e-Azam house museum. The house was a personal residence of the founder of Pakistan where he lived from 1944 to 1948 till his death. The museum displays his personal belongings and scripts are written about how he used to spend his last days in the house.

Port Grand

One of the most happening places to visit in Karachi in this Karachi tours guide is Port Grand. An urban waterfront open-air complex that celebrates the diverse food, art, leisure, entertainment, and adventure in Karachi, Port Grand is the ultimate spot to spend a fun day with family and friends. The complex is home to the largest food street in Karachi, a play area for children, and an area dedicated to events and concerts.

Victorian Architecture in Karachi

TDF Ghar

Retaining the history of Karachi inspired by Victorian architecture and design, TDF Ghar is a newly renovated co-working space and a public library. The small complex is built in one of the old houses from the British era in Karachi. The house is renovated by The Dawood Foundation and its name translates to ‘house’ in Urdu. The owners believe that this British-era-inspired house design relives the true spirit of the old cosmopolitan Karachi lifestyle. There’s a rooftop cafe from where the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum can be seen clearly in distance.

Empress Market

The top spot in Karachi to witness the hustle-bustle of the city has to be Empress Market in the heart of the commercial district of Karachi. The beautiful stone complex with a tower at the center was built in the 1800s and it was named after Queen Victoria, the Empress of India. The complex was built to honor the Queen of England and it had a big courtyard around the central tower and four galleries where local shopkeepers used to sell their goods. Today, Empress Market is the oldest market in Karachi and it still is used as a shopping arena where locals sell everything from spices to clothes and potteries.

Mereweather Clock Tower

Close to Empress Market is another very famous spot in Karachi, the Mereweather Tower. Today seen engulfed standing alone on an extremely busy street on the commercial side of the city, the Mereweather Clock Tower was built in 1867 as a memorial for the then Commission of Sindh, William Mereweather. Today the tower is no more open for the public to visit from the inside and all one can do is to have a look at it from a distance.

KMC Building

A massive display of Victorian architecture that often doesn’t make it to every Karachi tour guide is the magnificent Karachi Municipal Corporation Building. This unique architecture is the combination of Victorian architecture integrated the Mughal designs from the pre-colonial times in Pakistan. The huge complex is built with red stone from the Jodhpur city mixed with the yellow stones from Ghizri.

Karachi Tour Spots in The Outskirts of The City

Chaukandi Tombs

Chaukandi Tobs are elaborative tombs of leaders from the Kalamati tribe dated back to the 15th to the 17 century. These unique site is situated within the boundaries of Karachi City and can be reached in less than hours drive from the main city center. The tombs are decorated with beautiful sandstone carvings and looks quite similar to the tombs at the Makli Necropolis.

Mubarak Village

Just a little outside the boundaries of the Karachi metropolis is the small fishing village in the district of Kimari. Mubarak Village is 30km south of the city and it homes around 10,000 people. It’s a perfect place to get away from the hustle-bustle of Karachi and spent some time exploring the village life. There isn’t much to do and see in the underdeveloped small village but it serves as a gateway to the watersport capital of Karachi, the Charna Island.

Charna Island

Just a short one-hour ferry ride from the Mubarak Village is the small Charna Island, the best place for scuba diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing, and fishing in Karachi. There are plenty of local boatsmen at the Mubarak Village harbor who offers cheap back and froth ride to the Charna Island in their local boats. There are a few registered Karachi tour companies as well to book for any watersport activity but if you just want a short ferry ride in the Arabian Sea, it’s best to hire a local boat. It helps the local fishermen to earn some extra income off tourism and you can enjoy the ocean ride in a beautifully built and decorated local boat.

Manghopir and Manora Island

Manghopir and Monara island are other great getaways for Karachi tours and apt for short day trips from Karachi. The Manghopir island is particularly famous for its crocodile reserve. The crocodiles are believed to be the pets of a saint whose shrine is nearby. The area is populated by the Sheedi people of East African descend who migrated and settled in the outskirts of Karachi years ago. Local transports to Manghopir and Manora are not recommended to use, therefore, the best bet here is to book any local Karachi tour guide for the trip.

Places To Stay in Karachi

Now that I have listed down all the great places to visit in Karachi, here is an overview of the best places to stay in Karachi.

Compare prices and read reviews of all places to stay in Karachi: Booking.com I Hotelscombined

Booking.com

Day Trips from Karachi

Not many people plan to see the beauty of the Sindh province beyond the boundaries of Karachi. There is so much culture and religious diversity, which extends beyond the metropolis city. For more information on traveling in Sindh, read my complete Sindh Travel Guide

Must-Read: A Complete Sindh Travel Guide & Itinerary

Short day trips to Sindh from Karachi

Thatta & Makli Necropolis

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Makli Necropolis and Thatta graveyard is just a short 2 hours drive from Karachi and makes a great spot for a day trip from Karachi. The Makli Necropolis is home to approximately five hundred thousand to one million tombs built over 500 years. When you are in Thatta, do not forget to drive further ten more minutes to the extremely picturesque Shah Jahan Mosque of Thatta.

Bhambore Archeological Site

A short detour on the way to Thatta will take you to another incredible place to visit from Karachi, the Bhambore Archeological site. The history of Bhambhore dates back to the 1st century BC when it was built centuries ago across the Indus River, which has now dried up. The city holds a significant position in the spread of Islam in the region as Islam came in South Asia through Bhambore. The remains of the old city are still very well preserved and it is definitely worth a visit!

Day Trips from Karachi to Balochistan

Balochistan is my favorite province in all of Pakistan. It is raw and untouched and that’s exactly what makes it so desirable to visit. Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan (area-wise), therefore, there is plenty to see and do, but for a short day trip to Balochistan from Karachi, here are the best places to visit.

Gadani

The Gadani shipwreck is one of the largest shipwrecks in South Asia and it is barely an hour’s drive outside of the city, which makes it a perfect near spot to visit for Karachi tours. While on the surface, nothing is interesting about visiting a shipwreck, but what if I tell you that it offers the best sunset views – will that change your mind? Only a small portion of the Gadani beach is accessible to the public when no major shipwrecking procedures are happening. The beach is surrounded by limestones cliffs and offers the best sunsets one can witness in all of Pakistan. It can get busy during the weekends but if you stay around thirty minutes after the sunset, you can have the entire beach with the sky turned red all to yourself!

Kanraj

Kanraj is a newly discovered hidden gem in the Lasbela district of Balochistan. The area is enriched with minerals and the dry land melts down into the beautiful Kanraj river. Kanraj river is easily accessible from Winder, only a short less than two hours drive away from Karachi. If you keep on following the river and go a little further in the town, you’ll end up at Chashma Tubko, which is a natural water spring. Traveling in Balochistan is advised only accompanied by the locals, so book a trip with any of the Karachi tours guide before heading out towards Balochistan.

Cave City (Godrani)

One of the most unique places to visit from Karachi to Balochistan is the Cave City, called Godrani in the local language. A day trip to the Cave City will be a long one as it takes three hours to drive from Karachi to reach there. As the name suggests, the uninhabited city has many small and big caves craved in the limestone mountains all around the area. The exact number of the caves and their history are still unknown. While some historians believe that the caves were used as Buddhist Monastery during the 7^th century when Islam didn’t exist in South Asia, according to the local myths, the caves are owned by a lady named Godrani. This lady is believed to be a holy woman and her shrine still exists in the Cave City.

Irrespective of the actual story behind the formation of the cave city, it is undoubtedly a very unique and interesting place to visit in Balochistan. I spent a beautiful night wild camping in Cave City and it was one of the most beautiful nights of my life! Though many believe the Cave City to be one of the haunted places in Pakistan, during my camping trip I only found it a perfect place for stargazing as there is no night pollution for kilometers!

Phew! If you have made it to the end of this very long Karachi tours guide, thank you for reading! I hope now you are well equipped with all the essential information on visiting Karachi and the must-see places to visit in Karachi.

Looking For More Information on Traveling in Pakistan? Check out my other Pakistan Travel Guides

• A Photo-Heavy Guide on Things To Do in Skardu
• From Terrorism to Tourism – All About Visiting Swat Valley
• The Ultimate Bahawalpur Travel Guide & Day Trips from the City of Nawabs
• A 6-days Adventurous Road Trip Guide to Hunza
• All About Traveling as a Solo Female Foreign Traveler in Pakistan

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