15-Day Uchal Festival Tour through Kalash Valley and North Pakistan
About This Tour
The Uchal Festival in the Kalash Valley is a vibrant and colourful celebration of the Kalash people, a unique ethnic and religious minority in Pakistan, usually...
Duration: 15 Days · Tour type: Shared · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Included · Standard · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi, Taxila, Gilgit, Hunza, Naran, Mansehra, Chitral, Swāt, Lower Dir
About Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar sits on the verge of the precipitous Khyber Pass, its old city awash with bazaars and minarets. Come and explore this ancient frontier town of the Persians with a local local guide.
What's Included
- Transportation by coaster/minibus (21 seats), Grand Cabin (13 seats), air-conditioned car, and 4x4 jeeps where needed, according to the itinerary, including all hotel transfers, airport pick-up and drop-off, and visits to the Kalash Valleys as per the itinerary.
- Hotel accommodation in twin-sharing rooms with full meals.
- Services of an English-speaking guide throughout the trip.
- Entry fees for museums, forts, and tourist resorts.
- Toll taxes and parking fees.
Not Included
- Room service.
- Laundry charges.
- Beverages.
- Personal telephone calls and any other items of a personal nature.
- Personal insurance and first aid kit.
- International flight ticket.
Itinerary
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1Day 01
Departure for Islamabad
12th August/Day01: Departure for Islamabad, Pakistan. 12th August/Day01: Departure for Islamabad, Pakistan.
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2Day 02
Arrival in Islamabad and Rawalpindi Sightseeing
13th August/Day-02: Arrival at Islamabad Airport. 13th August/Day-02: Arrival at Islamabad Airport. Meet our staff on arrival. Meet our staff on arrival. Transfer to the hotel. Transfer to the hotel. Sightseeing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Sightseeing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Overnight at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
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3Day 03
Islamabad to Naran through Kaghan Valley
14th August/Day-03: After breakfast, drive from Islamabad to Naran. 14th August/Day-03: After breakfast, drive from Islamabad to Naran. The journey is 270 km and takes about 6-7 hours via Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Kaghan Valley. The journey is 270 km and takes about 6-7 hours via Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Kaghan Valley. Several stops can be made along the way at viewpoints and for tea. Several stops can be made along the way at viewpoints and for tea. After Mansehra, continue to Balakot and then enter the lush green Kaghan Valley, which is like the Alps. After Mansehra, continue to Balakot and then enter the lush green Kaghan Valley, which is like the Alps. Overnight at a hotel in Naran. Overnight at a hotel in Naran.
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4Day 04
Naran to Gilgit via Babusar Pass
15th August/Day-04: Drive from Naran to Gilgit via Babusar Pass at 4170 m. 15th August/Day-04: Drive from Naran to Gilgit via Babusar Pass at 4170 m. The journey is 240 km and takes about 7-8 hours. The journey is 240 km and takes about 7-8 hours. Make several stops at viewpoints and for tea, and of course for lunch along the way. Make several stops at viewpoints and for tea, and of course for lunch along the way. Overnight at a hotel in Gilgit. Overnight at a hotel in Gilgit.
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5Day 05
Gilgit to Karimabad on the Karakorum Highway
16th August/Day-05: From Gilgit, continue to Karimabad, Hunza, on the Karakorum Highway (KKH). 16th August/Day-05: From Gilgit, continue to Karimabad, Hunza, on the Karakorum Highway (KKH). The drive takes about 2-3 hours and covers 99 km. The drive takes about 2-3 hours and covers 99 km. On arrival, visit the fort and bazaar. On arrival, visit the fort and bazaar. Overnight at a hotel in Karimabad. Overnight at a hotel in Karimabad.
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6Day 06
Excursion to Passu Village
17th August/Day-06: Drive from Karimabad to Passu Village. 17th August/Day-06: Drive from Karimabad to Passu Village. The drive takes about 1-2 hours and covers 40 km. The drive takes about 1-2 hours and covers 40 km. After the visit, return to Karimabad. After the visit, return to Karimabad. Overnight at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
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7Day 07
Karimabad to Gopis via Ghizer
18th August/Day-07: Drive from Karimabad to Gopis via Gilgit, Punial, Gakuch, and Gopis. 18th August/Day-07: Drive from Karimabad to Gopis via Gilgit, Punial, Gakuch, and Gopis. The journey is 285 km and takes about 7-9 hours. The journey is 285 km and takes about 7-9 hours. You may make several stops along the way, including Gakuch viewpoint, Khalti Lake, the Tibetan bridge suspension on the Khalti River, and the confluence of the Ghizer and Yasin rivers. You may make several stops along the way, including Gakuch viewpoint, Khalti Lake, the Tibetan bridge suspension on the Khalti River, and the confluence of the Ghizer and Yasin rivers. Overnight at a hotel in Gopis. Overnight at a hotel in Gopis.
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8Day 08
Gopis to Mastuj via Shandur Pass
19th August/Day-08: Drive from Gopis to Mastuj via Shandur Pass at 3800 m. 19th August/Day-08: Drive from Gopis to Mastuj via Shandur Pass at 3800 m. The journey is 150 km and takes about 8-9 hours. The journey is 150 km and takes about 8-9 hours. Shandur Pass is home to the highest polo ground in the world, where the annual polo tournament is normally held between Chitral and Gilgit in the first or second week of July. Shandur Pass is home to the highest polo ground in the world, where the annual polo tournament is normally held between Chitral and Gilgit in the first or second week of July. You will make several stops up to the top at viewpoints, and then descend from the pass down to Harchin Village along the bank of the Laspur River. You will make several stops up to the top at viewpoints, and then descend from the pass down to Harchin Village along the bank of the Laspur River. Arrival in Mastuj and transfer to the hotel. Arrival in Mastuj and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
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9Day 09
Drive to Bomburet Valley via Chitral
20th August/Day-09: Drive to Bomburet Valley of Kalash. 20th August/Day-09: Drive to Bomburet Valley of Kalash. En route, visit Chitral town. The journey takes about 6-8 hours. En route, visit Chitral town. The journey takes about 6-8 hours. Overnight at a hotel in Bomburet, Kalash Valley. Overnight at a hotel in Bomburet, Kalash Valley.
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10Day 10
Full Day at the Uchal Festival
21st August/Day-10: Spend a full day at the festival and follow the festival events, depending on where they will be held. 21st August/Day-10: Spend a full day at the festival and follow the festival events, depending on where they will be held. Overnight in Bomburet Valley at the hotel. Overnight in Bomburet Valley at the hotel.
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11Day 11
Attend the Uchal Festival in Bomburet
22nd August/ Day-11: Attend the festival. 22nd August/ Day-11: Attend the festival. Overnight in Bomburet Valley at the hotel. Overnight in Bomburet Valley at the hotel.
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12Day 12
Bomburet to Swat Valley
23rd August/Day-12: In the morning, drive from Bomburet to Swat Valley. 23rd August/Day-12: In the morning, drive from Bomburet to Swat Valley. The journey is 160 km and takes about 7-8 hours. The journey is 160 km and takes about 7-8 hours. Travel from Bomburet to Chitral 20 km, then continue to Dir by tunnel, and finally to Swat Valley. Travel from Bomburet to Chitral 20 km, then continue to Dir by tunnel, and finally to Swat Valley. Overnight in a hotel in Swat. Overnight in a hotel in Swat.
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13Day 13
Swat to Peshawar with Buddhist Heritage Sites
24th August/Day-13: Drive from Swat to Peshawar. 24th August/Day-13: Drive from Swat to Peshawar. The drive takes only 4-5 hours. The drive takes only 4-5 hours. En route, visit Takht-e-Bahi Monastery and the Buddhist site of Budkada. En route, visit Takht-e-Bahi Monastery and the Buddhist site of Budkada. Overnight in Peshawar. Overnight in Peshawar.
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14Day 14
Peshawar to Islamabad via Taxila
25th August/Day-14: Drive from Peshawar to Islamabad. 25th August/Day-14: Drive from Peshawar to Islamabad. The journey is 180 km. The journey is 180 km. En route, visit Taxila. En route, visit Taxila. Overnight at a hotel in Islamabad. Overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.
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15Day 15
Departure from Islamabad
26th August/Day-15: Departure from Islamabad with drop-off at the airport. 26th August/Day-15: Departure from Islamabad with drop-off at the airport.
Meeting Point
Meeting point: Arrival hall at Islamabad International Airport, just outside the international arrival gates. · Tour start: Islamabad International Airport (ISB)