Celebrate the Tagham Festival of the Shimshal Valley

Highlights

Besham, Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza, Islamabad

rural, cultural, sightseeing

Private Tour

8 Days

Medium

Description

Witness how the people in the Shimshal Valley celebrate the Tagham festival. This festival marks the start of the spring (agriculture) season in the village after months of the bone-chilling winters. Try the Samn local dish and enjoy a Wakhi dance performance!

Itinerary

Islamabad/besham
- Pickup from the desired location & drive to Chilas via KKH. the eighth wonder of the world,
- Lunch en route in any similar hotel.
- Arrive at hotel check-in, dinner and night stay.
- 8-10hrs drive.
Chilas/ Hunza
- Have breakfast and drive to Hunza with the Pakistani tour guide.
- Stop at the three mountain junction point,
- Lunch en route.
- Arrive at Hunza Hotel dinner and night stay.
Hunza / shimshal
- Enjoy breakfast & drive to Shimshal Valley Shift in the Jeeps.
- Drive to Shimshal valley.
- Have lunch and rest upon arrival.
- Embark on an excursion and head back to the hotel for BBQ dinner & night stay.
1st day of Festival shimshal
- Have breakfast and meet local people who are making preparations for Tagham.
- Male participants go for Pish, Pish with boys.
- Dinner with local families.
2nd day of festinal shimshal
- Have breakfast and join the locals of Shimshal valley.
- The male participants will go Tumang. Female participants will go directly to the festival arena.
- Witness the festival celebrations and enjoy the local dish “Samn” or play Jugun.
- In the evening, enjoy a culture show with music and Wakhi dance.
- Back to Hotel for dinner and night stay.
Shimshal / gilgit
- Have breakfast and drive back to the Hunza valley.
- Enjoy lunch and drive to Gilgit.
- Arrive at Gilgit for dinner and night stay.
Gilgit/besham
- Have breakfast and drive to Besham via same route KKH.
- Enjoy lunch en route.
- Arrive at Besham for dinner and night stay.
Besham /islamabad
- Enjoy an early breakfast and drive to Islamabad.
- Have lunch en-route.
- Arrive at Lahore in the evening/night.

What's Included

Transportation: Luxury Grandcaben Hiace from arrival to departure.

Jeeps to Shimshal Valley.

Meals: All meals during travelling and in the hotels.

Accommodation: 07 nights in the hotel on twin/triple sharing.

First Aid: Basic first.

Fee: All visiting areas permission fee.

Guide: Rock Valley Tours professional Pakistani tour guide.

What's Excluded

International or domestic airfare.

Extras in the hotel like phone calls, laundry, food, etc.

Booking of a personal vehicle.

Any expense due to force majeure, cancellation of flights, landslides, etc.

Travelling & Health insurance .

Covid19 PCR test.

Know Before You Go

The people of Shimshal Valley in particular and those of Gojal Valley, in general, have perfectly preserved the Tagham Festival for centuries now.

In Shimshal, Tagham is celebrated with zeal and zest on the first day of April every year. People of the valley will now formally start farming, including irrigation of agricultural lands.

The Tagham Festival starts with the preparation of a local cuisine called “Semn” in a cooking procedure dubbed in the Wakhi language as “Pirkiten.” Other traditional foods prepared during the festival include “Mul” and “Bath.”

The most interesting and exciting part of the Tagham Festival is the Tumang, during which members of the “Shogun Putuk” (initiators) tribe officially announce start of the cultivation season by setting fire to leaves of a plant called “Yarz” and by throwing wheat seeds on the roof of an old house from inside the house through an opening in the ceiling called “Ricin” in Wakhi language. The next big thing in the Tagham Festival is a game that features a man attired and acting like a bull. He entertains the audience by performing different playful acts.

After the game, the start of a farming season is demonstrated with the Shogun Putuks plowing the field in a traditional way (with the help of bulls), and small children being introduced to farming in a process called “Sk Spunder Khack.” The festival goers then eat the dishes prepared and brought in one place from across the village.

Dates: 29th March to 05th April 2019

Shimshal is situated in Gojal Valley, Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan.

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.

Celebrate the Tagham Festival of the Shimshal Valley

Highlights

Locations Covered

Description

Itinerary

Islamabad/besham

Chilas/ Hunza

Hunza / shimshal

1st day of Festival shimshal

2nd day of festinal shimshal

Shimshal / gilgit

Gilgit/besham

Besham /islamabad

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

Cancellation Policy

Check Availability Hide

Price On Request

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Celebrate the Tagham Festival of the Shimshal Valley

Highlights

Locations Covered

Description

Itinerary

Islamabad/besham

Chilas/ Hunza

Hunza / shimshal

1st day of Festival shimshal

2nd day of festinal shimshal

Shimshal / gilgit

Gilgit/besham

Besham /islamabad

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

Cancellation Policy

Check Availability Hide

Price On Request

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

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