No trips found in this category yet. Check back soon!
No hotels found in this category yet. Check back soon!
Chitral and its 1,494 metre elevation in the Hindu Kush, about 9 to 10 hours away from Islamabad by road via the Lowari Tunnel, has something Pakistan doesn’t have. The Kalash people, estimated population of 3,000 to 4,000, reside in the region south of Chitral in 3 valleys, and have a polytheistic religion, language and material culture that completely differs from others in that area. They have a completely unique style of dress and worship, celebrate three complete seasonal festivals, and have been studied by many anthropologists and historians for many decades.
A Chitral and Kalash tour is not comparable to an adventure tour. This package is more of a cultural tour offered through some picturesque and rugged areas.
HospitalityTours.com.pk builds Chitral and Kalash tour packages from our Islamabad office. We provide packages that include a private vehicle or air ticket, hotel in Chitral booked, a guide who knows Kalash valleys and the required traditions of visiting, valley fees and most importantly, registration fees, and itineraries designed around festivals should that be the purpose of the trip. Send us your required dates and number of people via WhatsApp (WhatsApp). Contact provided at the end.
Getting to Chitral
Until July 2017, Chitral could be reached either by a small plane or the Lowari Pass at 3,118 meters, which closed under snow for about 6 months of the year. With the completion of the Lowari Tunnel in July 2017, this is no longer the case. The tunnel comprises 2 bores of 10.4 km total length, and for the first time, successfully links the Dir and Chitral districts through the winter, unlike before.
The drive to Chitral from Islamabad via the Swat Motorway, Dir, and the Lowari Tunnel is about 400 - 450 km and takes 9 - 10 hours. The road is paved and can be traversed in any vehicle. The Lowari Tunnel is a two lane bore in the Hindu Kush and emerging on the Chitral side is the visual confirmation that you are in a completely different place.
The other option is the PIA flight from Islamabad to Chitral which takes about an hour. Flights are weather dependent and get frequently canceled due to cloud in a valley where weather can be especially unpredictable. Unless you want to take a chance, arrange to take the road before you book the flight.
From the north, the road crosses Shandur Pass at around 3,800 meters and connects Chitral to Ghizer and Gilgit-Baltistan. This road is approximately open June to October, and is the basis for the combined Chitral and Shandur Polo Festival listed below.
Built in 1774, the Mehtar of Chitral's residence in the center of Chitral town is today known as Chitral Fort. In 1895, British and Sikh troops were trapped in the fort, by local Pashtuns for almost 2 months, during which the siege was documented extensively. Chitral Fort along with the Chitral River and the beautiful views of Tirich Mir at 7,708 meters, is a short walk.
Tirich Mir is the highest peak in the Hindu Kush range and the highest Pakistani mountain in the Hindu Kush outside the Karakoram. It is an impressive first climb by a Norwegian expedition in 1950. On clear days, Tirich Mir commands the skyline from the center of Chitral Town, and the higher hotels are the reason it is recommended to spend two nights over one.
Golen Valley and Garam Chashma, a hot springs valley at a distance of around 45 kilometers northwest of Chitral, are accessible as day trips and should be incorporated into an extended trip.
The three Kalash Valleys (Bumburet, Rumbur, and Birir) can be reached from Chitral and are the main locations of the Kalash People, a non-Muslim, semi-nomadic population. Bumburet, at around 40 kilometers from Chitral town, is the largest and most frequented of the three valleys. Rumbur is adjacent to Bumburet. Birir is more detached and, therefore, more peaceful.
The Kalash language is a part of the Dardic branch of the Indo-Aryan language family, making it unique from other languages. With a religious system that pre-dates neighboring Islam by a long period of time, and a Polytheistic belief system, the Kalash community is estimated to have between 3000 and 4000 members, making them one of the smaller and last remaining Indigenous religious minorities across the globe.
There is a fee to enter the valley and there is a check post at the entrance. The fee is helpful to the community, so paying it is recommended. A tour guide who omits this or does not inform guests about the entry fee is not providing you the complete information.
Please ask before taking pictures. Some local families are tired of people taking their pictures without asking. A guide who is part of the community will offer a better experience than walking on your own.
Shrines and sacred sites have some restrictions. There are some areas where non-Kalash visitors are not allowed, and refusing access gently is the right thing to do.
Three important festivals in the Kalash valleys are Chilam Joshi in May, Uchal in August, and Chaumos in December.
Chilam Joshi, celebrated in the months of May and June, is dedicated to the summer season. It is a time of song and dance to celebrate the return of the herds from the winter valleys. The festivities are similar throughout all three valleys and last for many days. It is the most convenient festivity to attend for outsiders and draws the most domestic and international tourists. May is a really nice month in Chitral.
The harvesting of walnuts and grapes in the months of August is celebrated in the Uchal Festival. This festival attracts fewer crowds, making it easier for outsiders to observe.
The festival of Chaumos, falling in the months of December, is the most important and sacred festival in the Kalash calendar. It is celebrated over several days throughout all the valleys with many dancing and singing festivities. It is important to note that Chaumos is the Kalash New Year. Post the completion of the Lowari Tunnel in 2017, it has become easier to travel there in winter, however, it is important to reach out to the community and request to be their guest. Interact with the guide and ask what is restricted.
Be sure to confirm festival dates as they can slightly change each year.
Shandur Pass and Polo Festival
The Shandur Pass hosts an annual polo festival celebrating local variations of the sport. The festival takes place at Shandur Polo Ground located at an altitude of 3,720 meters on the border of Chitral and the Ghizer-Yasin District of Gilgit-Baltistan. Freestyle polo matches featuring players from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan are the main attraction of the festival, but camping and the opportunity to enjoy local music and dancing add to the festival experience. The best way to access the festival is to travel by road from Chitral or Gilgit-Baltistan through Ghizer and the pass. From Islamabad, it is advisable to travel to Chitral and return via Gilgit on the northern route to enjoy the entire Hindu Kush and Upper Indus corridor in connected itinerary.
These ten to fourteen day packages from Islamabad cover the whole northern Hindu Kush and the Upper Indus Corridor. The first half of the package is spent in Chitral and the Kalash Valley followed by the polo festival at Shandur Pass.
Five nights, six days. The first day is reserved for travel from Islamabad to Chitral, traversing Dir and the Lowari Tunnel. The second day is for sightseeing in Chitral Town. The third day is for traveling to Bumburet Valley. The fourth day is for visiting either Rumbur or Birir which depend on which is less crowded on the day. The fifth day is for visiting either Garam Chashma or Golen Valley. The sixth day is for the return journey to Islamabad.
Festival package, seven nights. This package includes dates for a visit to a Kalash festival. The Chilam Joshi festival in May and Chaumos festival in December booked accommodation several months in advance in Chitral or Bumburet. Confirmation for the winter road is also needed for Chaumos.
Shandur Combined Package, 10 to 14 nights. This package includes transport from Islamabad to Chitral, 3 nights in Chitral, 2 nights in the Kalash valleys, travel to the Shandur Polo Festival (7 to 9 July), return to Gilgit. This is the experienced traveller's northern Pakistan package.
Hindukush Heights Hotel offers excellent accommodation next to Chitral town. Rooms have views of Tirich Mir and other mountains. It has a particularly advantageous location that the river-level hotels in town cannot match.
Other mid-range properties in Chitral offer practical alternatives. Guesthouses located in the Kalash valleys, where the festivals take place, offer accommodation from basic to more organized set up camp-style.
For the Shandur festival, camping is the only available option. The camping area near the polo festival has provided the necessary accommodation for many traveling campers. The cold is not for the weak during your stay at 3,720 meters in July.
Make sure the Lowari Tunnel is open on the dates you plan to travel; it is open during the winter months, except for occasional closure due to weather. Your operator should provide up to date information.
Check on the PIA flight schedule if you plan to take one way flight. Flights to Chitral are cancelled very frequently due to bad weather.
Check if the current fee per entry to the Kalash Valleys is included in the package and if not, if you will be expected to pay this fee on the spot.
Ensure that the person guiding you has a good knowledge of the Kalash Valleys and the norms that apply to visiting them. General Chitral drivers and guides with good relations to the Kalash are entirely different people and offer different opportunities.
Do not cross Shandur in a normal car. The road from Mastuj to Shandur is rough and requires a 4x4.
Do not plan a return trip from Chitral to Islamabad after the festival. This will be at least a ten hour drive, and the Chaumos festivities will take most of the day.
Bring cash from Islamabad. While there are ATMs in Chitral, they are few and far between and do not work reliably.
How far is Chitral from Islamabad? About 400-450 kilometers via Dir and the Lowari Tunnel - 9-10 hours.
Can you visit Chitral in the Winter? Yes, since the opening of the Lowari Tunnel in July 2017. December Chaumos is possible due to the tunnel and road staying open all year.
What are the main events of the Kalash culture? Chilam Joshi in May, Uchal in August, and Chaumos in December. Note that their dates vary and you should confirm all booking information prior to vacationing here.
Do you need a guide for the Kalash valleys? Guides in the technical sense, no. Guides in the practical sense, absolutely! Walking the valleys yourself is one thing, but actually interacting with the people of the valleys is another thing entirely.
Are there restrictions for photography in the Kalash valleys? Yes. Permission is required before taking photographs of people. Parts of the valleys are off-limits to non-Kalash visitors.
How do you get to Shandur from Chitral? By a approx 100 km long stretch of road from Chitral town. Parts of this road require 4-wheel drive cars.
What is the Shandur Polo Festival? An annual 'freestyle' polo tournament on the world's highest polo ground (3,720 meters) played between teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. It is held on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of July.
Could we do a trip of Chitral along with Gilgit and Hunza? Yes, along the Shandur Pass in summer. After Shandur it goes down to the Ghizer district, and then to Gilgit and then to Hunza on the Karakorum Highway. This is a good route to do from June to October.
Send us your dates, your group size, and if you are booking a trip to attend a festival or for a polo game or touring the valley. We will coordinate the guide, hotel, festival dates, and the drive all at once, and we also take care of the valley entrance fees and registration for you and eliminate the hassle of paperwork on arrival.
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad