Itinerary

1. Arrive Peshawar/ Islambad

   • Arrive in Islamabad .

   • Transfer by an air-conditioned coach to Peshawar.

   • At Peshawar check in at the hotel.

   • Later enjoy a city tour, stroll down the bazaar of story tellers (Kissa-Khawani Bazaar), visit the historic Mahabat Khan Mosque and the traditional Caravan Serai next to it.

   • If time permits, visit the splendid collection of Gandhara Buddhist sculpture at Peshawar Museum.

   • Stay overnight at the hotel. 

2. Drive to Chitral City

   • Have breakfast at the hotel, proceed for the fabled valley of Chitral by road. Pass through the lush green plains of Peshawar, ascend the Malakand Pass that brings us to the Swat valley.

   • Drive shortly through the Swat valley to arrive at the village of Dir for lunch.

   • From Dir leave the asphalt road and drive on jeep track to the ascend of Lowari Pass (3,200 meters)- the gateway of Chitral Valley. From the top of the pass you will have fascinating view of the Hindukush mountains stretched towards North.

   • The descend of the pass is more interesting than the ascent, take 96 hair-pin turns to get to the valley floor.

   • Pass through the dry and rocky landscape and arrive at Chitral town.

   • Stay overnight in Chitral. 

3. Visit Kalash Valley

   • Embark on a morning tour of Chitral town.

   • Stroll down the narrow single lane bazaar in the backdrop of Tirich Mir (7,708 M), the highest summit of Hindukush range.

   • Later, drive by soft top 4x4 jeeps from Chitral town to Bomburet village in Kafir Kalash Valleys. The journey takes about an hour and a half.

   • Arrive in Kafir Kalash valley, a tribe of some 3,000 people practicing their old religion that is a mix of animism and fire worship live in the valley.

4. Kalash to Sorlaspur

   • Drive by soft top 4x4 jeeps through the main Chitral valley early in the morning.

   • Follow the Mastuj river upstream. Drive through the dry landscape of Hindu Kush range, and pass many small villages perched on rock faces.

   • Enjoy fascinating views of Tirich Mir (7,708 M), Buni Zom (6,551 M) and Drassan Peak (6,553 M) as you drive North-east. At Mastuj village, turn south on the jeep track to arrive at the small charming village of Sorlaspur.

   • Stay overnight at the campsite. 

5. Shandur Pass polo arena

   • Drive off to the Polo Arena. This wide, flat pass is covered with snow from November to May. In summer it turns into a lovely summer pasture and with two small lakes. Every year Polo lover from Northern Pakistan gather here to choose the Polo Champion of the year.

   • Camp overnight at Sorlaspur.

6. Trek to Sorlaspur

   • Begin the trek with Chitrali porters carrying the loads.

   • Walk through the mountains along the Laspur river. After three to four hours walk arrive in the village of Nalgar- the last permanent settlement on this trek. The tiny village is surrounded by Birch & willow trees and fields of wheat and barley.

   • After resting at the village, continue South-west for another three hours walk to the meeting point of Bashkar river with Kachikani river.

   • Camp overnight at 3,415 m.

7. Trek to Khunzazoe

   • Begin the trek and take a 90 degree turn to south east and follow the Kachikani river, then cross the river on a foot bridge to walk on the right side of the river.

   • At lunch time arrive at a small pasture with some bushes and greenery.

   • Continue walking, the landscape is typical Hindukush: dry and barren.

   • Walking through the boulders arrive at our campsite Khunzazoe, meaning “the place of the queen”. In this landscape it is a royal place with greenery and a fresh water stream, surrounded by snowy peaks in all direction, rising from 4,871 to 5,500 m.

   • Stay overnight at the campsite. 

8. Trek over Kachikani Pass

   • Start the trek early to cross the Kachikani Pass before the snow becomes soft and difficult to walk over. Approach the glacier covered with small stones, then move on to snow and the ascend is gradual steep for about an hour.

   • Approach the wide pass the ascend becomes easier. From the top of the pass at 4,766 meters have magnificent views of snow covered peaks of Hindukush and forested green slopes of Swat Himalayas. The immediate descend of the pass is steep, narrow and covered with soft snow- requiring careful stepping.

   • After an hour of steep descend, the slope becomes easier and relaxing to walk on, with many glaciers flowing in different directions.

   • Camp overnight at Bokhtshal (3,875 meters).

9. Trek to Shonz

   • A rewarding and romantic walk follows through the gradually descending valley filled with turquoise blue lakes, occasional water falls and grooves of birch & willow shrubs.

   • Follow the Bokhtshal stream flowing through the valley to the point where it is joined by another stream flowing from the Bashkaro Pass in the north. The meeting place of the two streams called Shonz is also a popular summer settlement for the Gujjar nomads. This tribe visits the summer pastures every summer, with flocks of goats, sheep, donkeys and horses to feed them on the abundant grass of the pasture lands. They stay here in June to move on to higher grazing grounds and in September & October they move from the mountains to get down to the plains of Indus valley to spend their winters.

   • Meals and overnight at Shonz camp. 

10. Trek to Mahodand lake

    • Begin with an easy down hill trek through the green wooded valley.

    • About an hour after you leave the camp, cross the stream and approach the left bank on a wide track.

    • Around lunch time arrive at the summer settlement of Diwanger, with few houses built with stones and wood to provide the shelter for the goats during bad weather.

    • Walking on gradually descending well marked trek arrive at Mahodand lake- a charming fresh water lake situated in a wide meadow. Around the lake have Deodar and pine tress, that add to the beauty of the secede. The lake also attracts fishing enthusiasts who come here to try their luck for the famous Trout fish of Swat. Enjoy fascinating views of Falaksair (5,918 m) the highest summit of Swat valley.

    • Stay at Mahodand camp (2,890 meters).

11. Mahodand Lake - Kalam

    • Board the soft top 4x4 jeeps for short drive through the pine forests of Swat to the popular summer resort station of Kalam. At Kalam the valley opens up as a fertile little plain that was once the basin of an ancient lake. The town is inhabited by Kohistanis from upper Indus river valley and dominant Pathan population. Pathans speak Pushto this is also spoken in southern Afghanistan.

    • Arrive and check-in to the hotel.

    • Gorge on lunch at hotel.

    • Explore the single lane bazaar and the town.

    • Stay overnight in Kalam. 

12. Mingora

    • Begin the drive from Mingora.

    • Make a short stop in Swat valley to visit the Gandhara Buddhist Stupa at Shigardara.

13. Reserve Days

    • Board Air Conditioned transport for drive through the lower Swat valley to Islamabad.  Driving through the lush green Swat valley and its orchards, arrive at the broad Malakand pass that is the normal entry or exit point into Swat valley.

    • Enroute visit the best preserved Buddhist monastery at Takht-I-Bhai, dating back to 1st century AD. Built on top of a rocky hill surrounded by the fertile green fields of valley of Peshawar, the monastery stands by itself in a peaceful setting.

    • Arrive in Islamabad and check-in at the hotel. 

14. Fly Sweet Home

    • Drop-off at the airport.